During Rental Showings Are You Archie Bunker?

The year 1971 was a very pivotal year for me in terms of growing up and viewing the world differently. I was 10 years old and was getting a look at life around me without rose-colored glasses. For starters, that was the first year I experienced death in my short life?well, at least a death I could remember. My first grandfather passed away when I was three or four years old, leaving me with very faint memories of him. In 1971, when my second grandfather passed away, I was old enough to be effected by his death, and even though I wasn?t extremely close to him, I had enough memories and understood how his passing would impact me.

It was also during this year that I was introduced to Archie Bunker. My newly widowed grandmother suddenly had a lot of extra time on her hands, and to occupy that time, she began watching more television. All in the Family was introduced in 1971 and it quickly became one of her favorite shows. Since she lived almost directly across the street from us, and because kids love to go to Grandma?s house, it only made sense that I was at her place quite a bit. So consequently, I was exposed to Archie Bunker and his views on life.

For those of you who don?t know Archie Bunker, let me describe him for you: Archie believed himself to be America?s most patriotic and vocal citizen. He had an opinion or explanation about anything and everything. Unfortunately, he couldn?t communicate those thoughts without yelling, arguing, labeling, discriminating, or showing his true ignorance and lack of education on whatever topic was at hand. Of course, to make matters worse, he never saw these faults in himself and didn?t want them acknowledged by anybody else.

All in the Family was a great show because it covered topics that had never been previously addressed on primetime TV. By touching on these issues, the cast helped to show all of America something we didn?t really want to admit: There may be a little of Archie Bunker in all of us.

This brings me to the point of the story and why I am beginning this chapter with it. Perhaps we all possess some of Archie Bunker?s negative character traits but just don?t want to ?fess up to it. Some traits are worse than others and some can land you in trouble if you?re not careful, which is why the main traits I want you to be aware of is prejudice and discrimination.

I believe prejudice and discrimination are born of a combination of things. They often begin in the home environment and/or the area and time in which we each live. They continue to thrive through ignorance and lack of education, resulting in an unfounded fear that often deadens one?s sensitivity to the human connection. As you should know, prejudice and discrimination are against the Fair Housing Act (I have much more information covering the Fair Housing Act on my website at http://www.findthatqualitytenant.com), and the reason I bring this up is because every being on earth has things they are prejudiced about or discriminate against. It may not be race, color, religion, or creed, but it could be height, weight, hair color, clothing, or a number of other things. If you?re like most people, you probably aren?t aware that you have prejudice in your psyche. But you do. We all do.

Of course once you have interviewed a tenant prospect, you need to meet them at the dwelling so they can view the rental and fill out the application if they are interested. Since this meeting is the first time that you will actually meet the applicant I want you to realize something of great importance which is this: sight is typically the first of the five senses used when making a prejudiced judgment.

Since you are meeting a prospect at your rental unit to see them for the first time, I want you to remember not to label or pass judgment on your tenant applicant when you first lay eyes on them. I guarantee that often what you expect to see and what you actually do see are not the same things.
Even though your prospect was polite, courteous, and passed all qualifications with flying colors on the phone doesn?t mean when he or she shows up at the rental this person won?t have green spiked hair or body piercings or numerous tattoos?or drive a beat up Chevy when you like BMWs. He or she might wear thick glasses or sloppy clothes, or be fighting a weight problem.

None of this matters. Keep in mind that this person initially passed your qualifications over the phone, so treat his or her as if he or she were a picture perfect, Ivy league college grad dressed for a modeling spot in GQ magazine.

Do not discriminate based on sight; discriminate based on qualifications.

If you discovered your tenant prospect was truly qualified over the phone, and when you get to the house, you don't let prejudice or discrimination cloud your judgment, you may well be on your way to finding a tenant to fit your needs.

About the Author:

Don Conrad is the author of the soon to be released book, How to Find That Quality Tenant. His book and website are dedicated to improving the landlord?s tenant selection process his website, http://www.findthatqualitytenant.com, contains articles, valuable links, real estate forms, and much more.

Read More

Celtic Art In Cross Stitch Basic Medieval Stitch Designs and Instructions

 



Celtic Art In Cross Stitch - Basic Medieval Stitch Designs & InstructionsSubmitted By: Jennifer Walter  

A rt patterns coming from Celts are well known for being vague. Yet the intricate outlines are revered by one and all. Celtic or Celts were more of being a tribe than a complete nation. The rulers for the tribe would be a Queen, a King or even a Chieftain. The roots of their tribe were dispersed all over the European continent and went as far as some fraction of Asia.

History has it that for centuries together Celts ruled over Turkey, Spain, Germany and Britain. The simple reason as to why even today the celtic cross stitch is so famous and prominent is because the people of Celt were wandering souls thus spreading their art form to all places they went. You shall be amazed to know that the art is no less than 25 centuries old. A few patterns are dated around 500 B.C. You can view the basic introductions to this cross stitch art.

Celts were considerably documented for their innovation and also d?cor of all possessions. If compared with those times most of their possessions were embedded with highly vague celtic patterns. One could observe their unusual patterns over all their belongings like clothes, shields, utensils, vessels, and swords and even decorated their walls with similar patterns.

Their passion for their art was reflected in the their jewellery and all the way to having similar patterns as tattoos on the body areas. Not much has changed with time. They still have belief in their mystic nature, and in the old days of the civilization they had many myths and stories that depicted legendary creatures. A close look at their ornaments will revel that such creatures were an indispensable element of their life.

Today Celtic art has its limitation; the design pattern is now mostly seen on craftwork done on armory products like Swords and shields. Nothing to be disappointed about embroideries and tattoos are keeping the traditional craft alive. With time there have been some encouraging additions to this art for instance clip arts, illustrations and stamps.

Most Irish, English and Spanish or German homes are decorated with some or the other design typically showcasing celtic cross stitch. One can find such beautiful patterns on the bed sheets, pillow covers and wall frame. Its not that after centuries have passed this art is facing extinction, there many still have a taste for all things classic and ethnic in nature and style like Celtic cross stitch embroidery. What impresses most it that this form of art is relevant and appealing today as well?

Cross stitch embroidery is one such beautiful art that allows us to explore with several ideas. The patterns are so easy to learn and then follow that after a while it?s a free wheeling process of creating art out of nothing. There is so much with simple lines turning into a magnificent piece of rich colored craftsmanship.

These patterns are vivacious and audacious at the same time. The patterns are easily available and also with available for the beginners to the experts. They are just not easy to make but also can be found in patterns and designs suiting your needs, there are many like those for birthday gifts to special occasions. Knots as well as spirals patterns are there in Celtic cross stitch patterns to cater to your needs.

So what are you waiting for, go out and buy one. You could gift one of these beautiful things as a gift to friends and close ones. Why just buy for gifting away and why not make one that you could always admire for being the special art piece in the living room.

About the Author:

Discover how to craft celtic cross stitch and celtic embroidery when you visit http://www.mycelticcrossstitch.com, the premier celtic cross stitch portal. There are more tips,techniques, designs, patterns and project instructions to help you get started. Get on to the website now!

Article Tags: art, celtic, patterns

Read More

Tattoos Designs In History

 



Tattoos Designs In HistorySubmitted By: Mark Hargreaves  

President Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill's mother had something in common. They both wore tattoos. While Jennie Churchill's tattoo was allegedly covered for the sake of reputation, and Teddy Roosevelt's was simply in a location which was not readily visible, this caused quite a stir amongst most of their day as well as modern-day history buffs.

President Roosevelt's daughter Alice had a tattoo also in a concealed location. Neither Mrs Churchill nor President Roosevelt's artwork lent itself to gaining a sense of respectability amongst the average citizens. Even whilst such notable figures possessed tattoos, they were still found to be socially unacceptable

Ancient Tattoos

Going as far back as any studies go on the question, it is claimed that the Ice Man who lived some 3300 B.C., had some manner of tattoos. Upon discovering the remains, researchers could do little rather than guess that this primitive kind of tattoo was for the purpose of warding off evil spirits, or that it may be some type of rite-of-passage award.

Merged on his spine and behind one knee and on one ankle, the Ice Man had roughly fifty-seven tattoos. It is impossible to do further than speculate as to the actual rationalization for them, it most certainly shows that tattoos aren't unique to current eras nor to the individuals in the present-day world. As the Ice Man was the oldest mummified human remains found in Europe, modern day tattoo fans have history on their side - there's nothing whatever new about tattoos.

In the past, tattoos were connected to an altogether varying nature than during the in recent decades. There was nothing notorious or rebellious about them at all. It used to be that tattoos were reserved for those of high social standing, and were not available to average individuals. Tattoos were only available to and a sign of those who were wealthy, important, and mostly in some high position. Sweden's King Oscar had tattoos; also England's King George IV. In that period tattoos were considered a status symbol.

In other time-periods, tattoos also served specialized purposes. Going the furthest back in American history, assorted Native American tribes utilized tattoos; it was primarily for the goal of showing their position to one's individual tribe. For the Polynesians, tattooing was a mode of relating family history; each individual had his own distinct tattoos to show the story of his family. Some of the earliest explorers on the American continent are said to carry gotten this background from the Polynesians' forms of tattoos.

Two of the oldest Egyptian mummies were discovered to have even had tattoos. These tattoos, which are only found on female mummies, consist of patterns of lines, dots and dashes. As the women themselves were connected to ritualistic practices, it is assumed that the tattoos they had were in some way representative of that fact. It is only speculation on the parts of the researchers, due to their knowledge of the lifestyles of that period in time.

Although Oriental symbols are undeniably trendy for tattoos in America, it is not widely known that both the Japanese and Chinese cultures have held a strong opposition to the occupation of tattooing all through history. With both societal and religious viewpoints agreeing that tattooing is something which ought to not be done, it is still widely held to be a means of contaminating one's body. For the ancient Chinese, tattooing was used as a punishment for criminal practice, putting such visible marks on an individual to forever brand him as a felon.

Article Tags: history, tattooing, tattoos

Read More