September edge 06

It is our mission here at Warriors Realm to bring information to all who strive to follow the warrior way. We will try our best to accomplish this in the most safe and efficient manor possible. The articles and information posted within Warriors Edge should be used as a guide and not as an absolute. Always seek other sources and view information from as many angles as possible. Warriors realm will also depend highly on its readers to suggest change and transform this e-zine into a usable reference for all our readers. This Mission Statement will change overtime as well. What will never change though is our dedication to bring information to those who wish to pursue the warrior path.

We are now in September, I am trying to get a jump on this Issue of the edge. This is going to be an exciting month. This is a good thing I have to travel to a National Conference for the job that pays the bills and allows me to enjoy the training. The very next weekend is what a group of us has canned as NINJA New Year. This camp is called NEW ENGLAND WARRIOR CAMP it is run by Ken Savage. Ken does an excellent job with the camp. There is always a theme to it. Most of Boston Martial Arts students come to the camp as well as practitioners from all over the country. I would very highly recommend this camp to anyone who has and interest to a fun, safe, empowering and a great amount of training for the weekend. My training is going well I have a few injuries that are healing. I am also looking more and more at securing my Kamae what I mean is I am focusing on my posture. I am working on passing my Pilates instructor certificate. I am enjoying the control logy that is gained from Pilates. This year I am going to try to make a pilgrimage to Japan to train hopefully I will be able to make it. Monetary funds are in demand for it to be possible however. The To-Shin Do classes may be picking up here shortly I hope I am now up to 4 people who are in regular attendance. My greatest hopes with this class is to get a minimum of 10 in reality I would love to get 30. I also am collecting data on a Children's Martial Arts Class. We will see how this goes. Remember we can always use donations, Your support is needed and welcomed. Become a member today and donate.

Remember we are still looking for people to write articles and submit information. Also look forward to next month as we start publishing a fitness column.

This month in empowerment I thought we would cover this little essay. I find it is a good read and gives a great explanation to the diligence it takes to become a warrior. Please read and reread this information as it will make more sense each time you read it.

WARRIORS
 ** Gwydyon Masengale,  P.O.Box 4,  Tolleson, Az 85353**

 
 A Warrior is born with Three Things,
 A Body, A Mind, and A Spirit...

 With these three things a Warrior is to build a Life,
 A Life of Balance, A Life of Peace, A Life of Will. 

  A Warrior is born with Three Things,
   A Body...

 Speed, Dexterity, and Reflexes, these are the gifts of the Gods to 
 A Warrior.  Skills can be learned, but the gifts are rare, and are 
 to be honed to the sharpest of edges and used to build...
   A Life of Balance.

 A physical battle is quite simply an exercise, in which A Warrior
 is given the opportunity to use the gifts of the Gods, and test the 
 skills learned on this plane.  It will at times be necessary to use 
 the gifts and the skills known to A Warrior to build...
   A Life of Peace.

 Through training, the development of the gifts and skills combined can
 become a formidable weapon.  Perfect Balance, Peace of Mind, and An
 Indomitable Spirit are necessary for A Warrior to build...
               A Life of Will...                     

               A Warrior is born with Three Things,
   A Mind...

 Intellect, Creativity, and Common Sense, these are the compasses and 
 maps given A Warrior to help in navigating this existence.  In life 
 A Warrior will make mistakes.  The way these mistakes are handled
 will set the tone of countless lives determining the measure of 
 A Warrior's steel.  A Warrior will accept responsibility for the 
 actions taken, learn from them, and use the experience to build...
   A Life of Balance.

 A Warrior must constantly endeavor to learn all that is to be learned
 of the path ahead, always drawing inspiration from the path which
 lies behind.  For strength is the knowledge drawn from the past, and
 discretion is the wisdom of the future which empowers the Warrior
 to build...
   A Life of Peace.

 A Warriors mind is to be constantly sharpened, for the mind alone
 IS the most formidable weapon the Warrior will ever posses.  
 The balance of knowledge and wisdom is the tempering of the steel 
 that makes A Warrior, lending the strength necessary to build...
   A Life of Will.

  A Warrior is Born With Three Things,
   A Spirit...

 A Warrior will carry a shield of Honor.  The strength of which 
 is in perfect balance with the Honor of the Warrior.


 The Warrior will carry a sword of Truth.  With an edge that mirrors the

 inner peace and honesty of the Warrior.

 A Warrior will wear a helmet of Integrity.  With power matched only 
 by the will of the Warrior.

 While battles can be fought and won with the well trained body.  
 While wars can be waged and won with the tempered and sharpened mind.
 The most perilous test A Warrior will face is the test of the Spirit.
 Here the Gods give no gifts.  A Warrior will have only the strengths 
of the spirit that have been developed in the short life on the physical 
plane.  

  A Warrior is born with Three Things,
  A Body, A Mind, and A Spirit...

  With these Three Things A Warrior must build a Life,
   A Life Eternal...

  My Name is Nite Hawk,

This month lets cover some cardiovascular fitness. Running is a great exercise for this and it only takes a bit of time. First see a doctor to make sure you are healthy enough. If not ask your doctor for some recommendations. Get yourself a good pair of running shoes, If you don't know how to choose them see your local shoe store they will fix you right up. Other than that if you are jogging in the dusk to night time or early morning as I do make sure you have a reflective vest. Keeps those pesky thing called cars from making roadkill out of you or you from finding out you have a heart condition.... I always start people off with a fifteen minute jog no distance till you build some base. This will be good enough to start with. Make sure you keep your shoes in good condition. Depending how often you run. You may need to change you sneakers every 3- 6 months. Have fun and let me know how you make out.

NUTRITION

Let us discuss dieting and dispel some myths associated with it. My view on dieting is the same as everything else in life, if done in moderation you can eat what ever you want. However you must have some nutrition knowledge to make the healthy decision on what and how to eat. I have spent many years working on the road and yes I have had to eat at those fast food joints. I always try to eat a minimal amount enough to feel satisfied not full. I try to choose a healthy food item rather than going for the quadruple monster burger with xxlarge fries and enormous soda. Anyways here is some dieting myths.

EATING LATE PACKS ON THE POUNDS: Think of this if you eat six times a day your body is used to being fed consistently or in moderation. Most people work during the day get home and eat snacks from supper till bed time. That will add the pounds. That type of chaotic eating habit will prevent weight loss. Remember it is the kinds of foods you're eating that put on the weight, not the clock.

EAT FEWER CALORIES TO ACHIEVE A BREAKTHROUGH: Eating fewer calories is a misconception that many people believe will help them break through a weight loss plateau. However if you consume fewer than 800-1,000 calories a day. Your body will turn down your metabolism to conserve energy. The only way to keep your metabolism purring is to exercise. When weight loss slows, walk a little longer, work out more frequently or more intensely, and don't forget to EAT.

These are just a few myths discussed in the book Dieting for dummies. It is well written and can be picked up for 2.95 in most US grocery stores. I enjoy reading all sorts of books on Fitness, Nutrition, and the Martial Arts.

In this consumer alert we will discuss Fraudulent Charitable Donations and the different ways you can protect yourself from being taken by scams and con artists.

Have you ever wondered where the money you donate actually goes, or what it is really used for? Well, here are some facts that may surprise you. Many Charities contribute far less than 50% of the money they receive to actual charitable purposes. In fact, some only contribute less than 10%. The balance of donated dollars is used for expenses such as; mailing, high salaries, travel, and miscellaneous costs. True, not all charities operate this way, although charities that do apply 100% of the funds collected are very rare. With more than half a million federally recognized charities soliciting for charitable contributions, it pays to be cautious when making a donation.
Asking questions about the nature and extent of the organization is the only way you can be sure the money you contribute will in fact go to support worthwhile causes. Whenever you are asked to donate your hard earned money for charitable purposes, make sure to use the checklist shown below. Keep this checklist handy by the phone, and don’t be afraid of asking questions.

1. Ask for written information, including the charity name, address, and telephone number. A legitimate charity or fund-raiser will always provide materials which outline the purpose of the charity, and how and where the funds will be used, and proof that your contribution is tax deductible.

2. Ask for identification. Fund-raisers must identify themselves and the name of the charity for which they are soliciting. If they refuse or, “beat around the bush”, hang up and calls the Attorney General Office’s Consumer Protection Unit. and your local Police Department and report the incident at once.

3. Watch out for similar sounding names. Many phony charities use names that sound very similar and resemble those of respected, legitimate organizations.

4. Know the difference between “tax exempt” and “tax deductible”. Tax exempt means the organization doesn’t pay taxes. Tax deductible means you can deduct your contribution on your federal income tax return. Even though an organization is tax exempt, your contribution may not be tax deductible. If deductibility is important to you, ask for a receipt listing the name, and the amount of your contribution and indicating that it is in fact tax deductible. If you are still not sure, call the one of the philanthropic advisory services shown below. Beware of organizations that use meaningless terms to suggest they are tax exempt charities. For example, the fact that an organization has a “tax ID number” doesn’t mean it is a charity: all nonprofit and profit organizations must have tax ID numbers. An invoice that tells you to “Keep this receipt for your records” doesn’t mean your donation is tax deductible or the organization is tax exempt. Many people in this world are very giving by nature, they are constantly giving to charities for various reasons. The “scammers” know this and will zero in on people with giving qualities. Many clever “scammers” indicate that you have given before to this same charity. Be skeptical of someone who thanks you for a pledge you don’t remember giving. If you have any doubt about whether you’ve made a pledge or previously contributed, check your records. He is most likely handing you a line. Don’t swallow the bait. And never ever give your credit card number over the phone for any reason. Be on the alert for invoices claiming you’ve made a pledge when you know you haven’t. Many unscrupulous solicitors use this approach to get your money.

5. Ask how your donation will be distributed. Ask how much will go to the program you want to support, and how much will cover the charity’s administration costs? If a professional fund-raiser is used, ask how much it will keep of the total. Then call and verify this figure with one of the philanthropic advisory services shown below.

6. Always refuse high pressure appeals. Legitimate fund-raisers won’t push you to give on the spot. If someone does high pressure you walk away or hang up. Legitimate charities don’t apply high pressure tactics.

7. Be wary of charities offering to send couriers to collect your donation immediately. This is some more high pressure tactics. Again walk away or hang up. It is a scam.

8. Consider the costs and do the math yourself. When buying merchandise or tickets for special events or drawings, or when receiving free goods in exchange for giving, remember that these items cost money and generally are paid for out of your contribution. Do the math yourself, it is most likely to good to be true.

9. Avoid cash gifts that can be lost or stolen. For security and tax purposes, it’s best to pay by check, avoid paying by credit card if you can help it. Use the official full name of the charity - not initials - on your check. Again avoid solicitors who want to send a courier or use an overnight delivery service to pick up your donations. Again, walk away or hang up, It is a scam.

10. Before you open your checkbook check out the charity you’re considering with the following organizations:

Philanthropic Advisory Service
Council of Better Business Bureaus
4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1838
(703)276-0100

National Charities Information Bureau
10 Union Square West, 6th Floor
New York, NY 100030-3395
(212)929-6300

American Institute of Philanthropy
4905 Del Ray Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20817
(301)913-5200

Remember modern charity scams now involve use of the telephone. It is one of the easiest tools a “scammer” can use to rob you out of your money. Always remember they will insist that you should make your decision right now. And remember that government industry groups estimate that fraudulent telemarketers swindle American consumers out of billions of dollars each year and nearly one third of their victims are 65 or older. One of the reasons is that older people do not want to hang up or be rude to people. So they stay on the telephone and listen to the “scammer” sell his scam. In same cases it has been reported that even after the victim hangs up the “scammer” will keep calling and harass the older person until they submit to the scam. If you believe you have been a victim of a “fraudulent charitable giving scam” report it to the Attorney General Office’s Consumer Protection Unit and your local Police Department.

This is a great set of guidelines to follow read each one and try to follow the words as closely as possible. I believe Mr. Stephen K. Hayes has done an excellent job of assembling this code for powerful living. To see more of Mr. Hayes' work visit http://www.skhquest.com/

14-Point Code for Powerful Living

Use the Quest Center 14-Point Code of Mindful Action as a guide for making life more enjoyable and meaningful. Take charge of your experience! Quest Center students explore these codes one at a time with each belt grade following white. A Black Belt student can recite and live all 14 points of the Code of Mindful Action.

I respect the property and space of all,
I avoid taking what has not been offered.

I cultivate a positive attitude, a healthy body and a clear mind,
I avoid whatever would reduce my physical or mental well-being.

I communicate health, happiness and peace of mind to everyone I meet,
I avoid violent, disturbing, and unduly critical speech.

I promote harmony and positive momentum to bring the best in everyone,
I avoid causing alienation, doubt, and division among others.

I encourage all to speak purposefully from the heart,
I avoid the dull contentment of gossip and small talk.

I am as enthusiastic about others fulfillment as I am about my own,
I avoid treating others’ successes as the cause of my lacks.

I promote the enjoyment of life, and encourage others with my smile,
I avoid setting myself against the world.

I promote the search for personal realization of truth,
I avoid the seductive comforts of narrow-mindedness.

I accomplish what must be done in a timely and effective way,
I avoid putting off doing that which will benefit me and my world today.

I strive to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind,
I avoid the negative effects of worry, doubt, and regret.

I work to build love, happiness, and loyalty among all members of my family,
I avoid putting temporary personal benefit ahead of the welfare of those I love