Wildflowers and herbs have been useful to mankind in many ways, ever since the beginning of our history, other than subject matter for art and needlepoint. Lately, alternative medicine has taken over part of the front seat for medicinal purposes, due to the each individual wanting some say-so in their medical choices.

Wild plants provide over 25% of the basic ingredients for our modern medicine. Further, some 80% of all pharmaceutical products contain some sort of natural wildflower or herbal product. These statistics show the remarkable impact our natural flora has on man’s well being world wide. But the sad fact is that on average one species of wildflower becomes extinct in each US state per year due to man’s progress: water pollution, deforestation, acid rain, and strip mining.

The phrase to stop “picking the wildflowers” means many things other than simply not picking the wildflowers: it means holding onto the future of natural medicine, along with traditional drugs instead of picking the pretty wildflowers along the road, only to watch them die in a few days.

Cross-stitching can easily transfer these beautiful wildflowers into works of art for many years of personal viewing, education, and appreciating their worth and value. An excellent website, “Alternative Nature Online Herbal”, at www.altnature.com , has many identification photos of these wildflowers, along with their medicinal purposes for many diseases and alternative methods. Many other links, information, and leads are on this website about wildflowers.

Another good website is American Meadows Wildflower Information Lookup at http://www.wildflowerinformation.org/MedicinalWildflowers.asp. Check them out, and you will be astounded at the quality of the photographs and artwork, along with the educational aspects of each plant.

Some high points I found while doing the Internet wildflower research, regarding wildflowers being used for medicinal purposes are: the Madagascar periwinkle, which makes “vincristine” that is used for children with leukemia, increasing their survival rate from 20% to 80%; another one is the Pacific Yew, which forms the drug “taxol” that is now working with many forms of cancer research, which includes ovarian cancer.

The usage of wildflowers for either a beauty form or alternative medicine is becoming very popular during this period in the United States, but has been used for many centuries in other countries for medicine. So, by doing a cross stitch of your favorite wildflower you are tapping into art, history, and medicine at the same time. What a gift this would be for yourself or someone special!

It is widely known that wildflowers are plants that have not changed much over the years, so there is no change in design for the cross stitch work; they are easy to identify and design in today’s times with the Internet available for lots of research.

It is wise to choose the wildflowers that are native to the area you live in for your subject matter; also, if you are making the wildflower cross stitch design for a gift, choose the wildflowers that are native to where the recipient lives. Some ideas are: a cancer quilt, with many of the wildflowers that are presently being used for cancer research (ex: “mayapples” form podophyllin); a heart quilt, with the wildflowers being used for heat disease.

Personally, I would go for a visual effect while designing the cross-stitch wildflowers. Choosing the silken threads for the texture of the flowers on the cross-stitch, and the cotton threads for the leaves and stems would appeal to the eyes, unless the flowers are of the textured coarse type.

Get to know the flowers; touching them if possible, or smelling the fragrance that gently lifts from its beauty, will help with the actual true design you create. The wild sunflower has shades of yellow and golden orange petals with dark sienna and rust centers, and shades of green leaves and stems.

The background can be white, light lavender, or even black if you use the fluorescent colors. Leaving the root and base of the plant as part of its design, can give it a “real look” as compared to a fake artificial plastic look. Also, subtle words of its medicinal properties can be placed lightly behind it for the complete aspect of the plant. Your design, your choice … so enjoy!

What is the cross? Was it a medieval tool to ward off vampires? Is it a fashion statement warn by rockers, rappers, and reggae crowds? Is it a bumper sticker on the back of a mini-van or on a chain dangling from a rear view mirror? Or is it a symbol by which many religious people bow? What is the cross?

Simply stated, it was a tool of execution. The Roman Empire invented and used crucifixion as their primary and practical means of carrying out the death penalty. It was primary because it was horrific. It was practical because it sent a terrifying message; the Empire was not to be taken lightly.

Crucifixion was both physical torture while psychologically degrading. It was not meant to break the criminal in order to get him to recant. It was the final death blow, to the body and the spirit. While the physical-medical-scientific aspects of crucifixion can be found in encyclopedias, one thing is for sure, it was a bloody spectacle. Some criminals, if not most, were introduced to the cross after having been flogged. The back, already bloodied and torn by a crude whip, was then placed on a splintered beam, and the wrists and feet were than nailed to the death tree. Nailed!

Death came slowly by way of the cross. With hours of bodily suffering and emotional anguish, the pain and humiliation was too much for any human to bear. Historically we know that many a criminal was crucified during Rome’s reign. It was a common form of capital punishment, just as the electric chair has been in our country. So I have to ask, when have you ever seen someone sporting a miniature electric chair, hangman’s noose, gas chamber, or a syringe from someone’s neck? The cross is not fashionable. It is death.

The difference is not the means of execution, but the man that hung on the cross two thousand years ago. It was not that Jesus was crucified that made the cross a monument throughout history. Many were executed in the same manner. It would be more appropriate to ask, who is this Jesus that died on the rugged cross? And what was His crime?

Skeptics mock Him, while others worship Him. But what did Jesus say of Himself? If you dare, you can take up the Bible for yourself and read the accounts of His life, death, and yes, His resurrection. Jesus makes astounding claims in the Bible. One of the boldest declarations He made was when He told His disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the father but by me” (John 14:6). Christ’s statement here is one reason why many find Jesus so unattractive. He was very matter-of-fact. Did He say “I am a way, or one of many ways?” Or, “I am a truth, or one of many truths?” Notice His emphatic use of the word “the.” The wording here means that Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the life. And what does that imply? Quite simply, all other ways to God and to heaven are false, fabrications, and farces. And all other deities are phonies. Now before you pick up stones, remember that these words came out of the mouth of Christ Himself.

Furthermore, if you investigate the Gospel of John you will discover the same Jesus claimed to be the expected Messiah (John 4), said He came from above (John 3), stated that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18), and declared that He and the Father are one (John 10). The same Gospel proclaims that this Jesus created the world and then came in the flesh among His creation (John 1). Jesus is God incarnate. And that is who hung on the cross. That is what makes the cross eminent.

What was Christ’s crime? Other than declaring that He was God and the only way of salvation, He also forgave sins and dined with sinners. For these He was ushered to the cross. But was this not the reason He came into the world, to save sinners? Jesus said of Himself, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

So the next time you pick up the Bible and read the Gospels, ask yourself if what I wrote here is true? And whenever you see a cross on a church building, around someone’s neck, or tattooed someone’s limb, remember who it was that hung on that cross and that His crucifixion was for our redemption.

If you are looking at visiting France, then going over the water by ferry crossing is a very popular way of travelling especially from the United Kingdom and for some it can be a lot more fun than sitting in an airport hoping that the plane is going to depart on time!

And with so many different ferry operators, like P&O Ferries, Sea France, Norfolk Line, etc. and with the numerous departure points in and around Europe, which range from Dover in England, Cork in Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Olbia in Sardinia and Bastia in Corsica, you will be able to find the best possible crossing for your particular needs.

Personally, we prefer travelling by ferry crossing to France, as we make it part of our holiday experience and it gives you flexibility of travel, because even though we leave in plenty of time to negotiate the atrocious UK roads, you can quite easily end up stuck in a jam and if it were by plane, you can have a lot more hassle getting another flight, whereas if we are early, sometimes we can get an earlier crossing, or if late, the cross channel operators will do their best to get you on the next ferry, which is not too long to wait, and there is no extra charge providing that you are booking in within three hours either way of your designated time you have booked.

But instead of the standard ferry crossings we think about, for example Dover to Calais that we normally use, there are also speed ferries now operating exclusively for car passengers between Britain and France and the crossing takes just 50 minutes, also SpeedFerries have exclusive port facilities in Dover and Boulogne and offer low cost tickets from £20 one-way on the all year Dover to Boulogne fast ferry service.

Brittany ferries is another cross channel operator that is able to offer the classic cruise, along with high speed services that sail from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth to the ports of Cherbourg, Caen, Roscoff and St Malo in France, and having the option of getting further down into France to places like the port of St Malo, can mean far less driving to get to your desired destination, and this means that whilst on board you can relax while enjoying the many facilities they have to offer, even opting for a cabin that all have en-suite facilities, so you can get a great rest and arrive at your port of call ready and refreshed before the next part of your journey.

Yet for a short ferry crossing, you may just like to do a bit of duty free shopping and catch a bite to eat or a have lovely café latte before walking out on deck to experience the sea breeze and the scenery as you are entering the harbour, but in comparison to a longer ferry crossing, not only do you also have the option of a cabin, but the services on offer are even vaster, with numerous different restaurants, bars, and activities, obviously the ever important onboard duty free shopping and in some cases they even have entertainment such as a band, cinema or disco, mind you, the disco can be an interesting experience in high swells when you really don’t need to move as the boat is doing it for you!!

Obviously, they all have Bureau de Change facilities for exchanging your currency into Euros, which is the French currency, but normally you are only ever provided with notes, so it is also a good idea to use a Euro note to get some change and if cannot do this on board then try and do it as soon as possible, as you will find this extremely useful for things such as a coffee in a petrol station or utilising some of the public toilets.

And even though you can convert your Euro coins back to your own currency onboard the ferries, which you cannot do back in your country, if you think you will be taking a trip to Europe in the near future, it is worth while keeping hold of a few coins for this very reason, as it will save you time and hassle next time around.

Now, you are probably aware that you can also get to France via the Channel Tunnel, which is quicker than even by travelling via high speed ferry as the EuroTunnel will only take around 35 minutes from Folkestone, whereas the high speed catamarans take just under an hour and the ferry crossing is an average of 90 minutes, but we have found that with the onboard ferry facilities that cater for children of all ages, including the provisions of baby food and changing areas for the extremely young through to play areas and then the video arcades for the older children, it can make for a more peaceful trip for the stressed out adults, rather than being stuck in a train, even if it is only for a short time!

And if like us, you have decided on a weekend break, or travelling back over the weekend so that your children get back to school on time, then don’t forget that most places are shut on a Sunday, so if you have certain activities in mind, double check that it is not a national holiday or odd hours, otherwise you will end up with rather a bored party! And as we always say now, planning is very important, especially in France, when they tend to stop for at least two hours every day for lunch! and this is especially important if you are travelling through France and want to stock up with your beer and wine before heading for the ferry port.

But providing you know to avoid the national holidays (which are always cheaper crossings), if you hunt around you can find some excellent deals, right through from day trips to France, a 5 day return, or even an open ended ticket for any length of time you wish to go on holiday in France and we have found that Norfolk Line and Sea France offer some fantastic prices, but not all operators take all credit cards on board, which is the same for paying for your ticket, such as American Express, so it is worth checking if you always use a card such as Amex.

The only other thing we have to say, is enjoy the whole experience, as it can become part of your French holiday.

The rules and regulations for crossing the US/Canada border by land have changed over the years.  It’s sometimes difficult to determine what kind of documentation (i.e. US passport), if any, is required for a routine, short-term US/Canada border crossing.  Knowing the facts before crossing the US/Canada border by land will help save you time and trouble on your trip and lead to fewer delays at border patrol.

The US Department of Homeland Security, in cooperation with Canadian, Mexican and other western hemisphere country officials, has made a number of changes to border crossing regulations and requirements in recent years.  The changes have been implemented in stages, with grace periods allowing some lenience for certain types of travel and travelers.  The department has used media campaigns as well as word-of-mouth education to inform travelers of the most recent changes in regulations regarding crossing the US/Canada border by land, which went into effect on January 31, 2008.  These changes were made in anticipation of the full implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative on June 1, 2009.

Current regulations for crossing the US/Canada border by land state that all adult visitors (ages 19 and up) must present the following documentation at the border

* A current, valid US passport OR

* One form of government-issued identification which bears a photo (i.e. a driver’s license) PLUS

* Proof of citizenship (i.e. birth certificate or naturalization certificate.)

Travel visas are not currently required for short term land travel across US/Canada borders.

Children (ages 18 and under) who cross the border with a verified adult will need to have either a current US passport or documentation verifying citizenship (i.e. a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.)

When the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative becomes fully operational on June 1, 2009, all citizens over the age of 15 will be required to supply one of the following forms of identification when crossing the US/Canada border by land:

* A valid US passport.

* Government-issued proof of identity with photo AND proof of citizenship.

All governments involved in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative are strongly recommending that citizens apply for and carry a US passport when crossing the US/Canada border by land.  A US passport is the only universally accepted form of travel documentation.  Carrying a US passport will greatly reduce your chances of being delayed at the border, whether crossing into Canada or back home to the United States.  Travelers who do not possess a US passport may be looked upon with suspicion, even if other documentation is in order.  Border officials on both sides reserve the right to detain travelers or refuse entry altogether if they feel that something is amiss.  That’s why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is urging all citizens to obtain a US passport.  In the end, it ensures smooth border crossings both for travelers and for border agents.

The designs of Africa have a totally unique look about them, and are not typical of other designs. Their patterns are not simply “another piece of material with art designed on it”, but are made and designed with the love of Africa always in mind. The people of Africa trust in their inner knowledge and fundamental beliefs, and their history is never forgotten as is clearly shown by their fabulous designs.

The material and textiles are designed with their attitudes and behaviors toward all, which is believed to be sacred. Added to their work is the recognition of their country and society, not only by themselves, but also of others. Cloths in other African regions represent their aesthetic quality, symbolism of the regions culture, or individual responsibility.

The quality that is expressed within the African look and feel is demonstrated in their culture and their material, created by their own people. And it is onto this cloth that cross-stitch weaves its powerful communication with those who feel this metaphor.

The warm and vivid colors of Africa’s sunrises and sunsets are interwoven with its folklore and customs, and are impossible to separate from one another.

An excellent resource book to use in regard to Africa colors and designs, if you are not using a pre-designed kit, is “The African Cross Stitch Collection” by Trish Burr, which is for embroidery work but the projects in it are bright and vivid, letting you see how the colors work together, with folklore African stories bringing the work to the very heart. The designs vary from easy to more challenging.

An alphabet and motif library is included in the resource book, which costs approximately US$17.95/UK/£10/Canada$2 3.95. The publisher, Powell.com, has some used copies beginning at $9.95 if you are interested in them, or some used copies from Amazon.com, has an average price of $11.95 each.

If you are interested in the African animal cross-stitch designs, Janye Netley Mayhew has designed several cross-stitch hardback books with Africa in mind. One is entitled, “Cross Stitch Animal Collection” which has the Safari Collection in it, plus many other animals.

The book has the basic techniques needed to complete each picture in the book for cross-stitch design, along with many project ideas. Her watercolor illustrations and colored photographs add to the 128 pages of cross-stitch design information. She also has a book entitled, “Cross Stitch Collection Tigers” and “Cross Stitch Collection on Safari”. The website Alibris, www.alibris.com, has the Safari book in a large range of prices, with the low price of $5.60 from Dave and Charles Publishing as its low bid.

Amazon.com has a price of $9.59 on it. If you plan on having a cross-stitching resource library, such as some of the books listed above, make sure it is the one you want. Check it out, read the reviews and comments. Look at some of the designs if possible. And then purchase the book for your own library.

Another item I ran across in regard to Africa cross-stitch was on one of our favorite websites, good ol’ Ebay. The seller, happy_paws_haven, has a beautiful African cross-stitch pattern for $8.00 plus $2.00 shipping. The money from these patterns is for a rescue animal site for Happy Paws Haven, so you may want to check it out online. The pattern is one of a group of African animals in a headshot with beautiful “Africa” lettering below.

It is nice work and comes on a CD, with the pattern being on 16 letter size sheets. Included are a color key, DMC floss usage summary, and a finished color picture of the pattern in virtual stitches. This pattern can be used in 18, 20, 22, 28, etc. size fabric, with a stitch count of 280 x 355.

In summing up this marvelous topic, be assured you can spend a lifetime researching traditional African patterns and being enthralled by the many striking images of that magnificent continent so beautifully captured in its cross-stitch designs without ever tiring of its sheer fascination.

People nowadays look for unique and interesting jewelry articles to wear as fashion accessories. Religious and patriotic themes are particularly admired by a lot of people since they reflect their pure love and devotion to their religion or country. Among beautiful and exceptional religious jewelry, orthodox crosses and Celtic protection pendants are particularly noteworthy. These pendants are available in tungsten, stainless steel and sterling silver. People who have Irish or Scottish roots love to wear these jewelry articles. These items express Celtic culture and heritage in a beautiful way. Most of these religious articles are available in affordable price ranges.

Orthodox crosses are available in many styles and materials. Eastern and Patriarchal crosses are somewhat different from the traditional cross which is a symbol of Christianity. These crosses are also termed as the Byzantine crosses. The Russian cross is another variant on the traditional cross with a slightly different shape. All these types of orthodox crosses can now be located online. The upper bar of these crosses represents Jesus of Nazareth and the additional lower bar, which is not present in traditional designs, symbolizes hell according to some believers.

Among various religious jewelry articles, Greek orthodox crosses and Greek baptismal crosses are also very popular. These cross pendants are available in pure 18k gold with diamonds and gemstones. Some of these articles are quite expensive because of their high quality and other striking features. If you are looking for affordable crosses, you can buy silver pendants which are not very expensive.

Baptismal crosses are symbols of the Holy Trinity. In addition to these, Phos Zoe orthodox crosses are also quite unique and interesting. Symbols like alpha, omega, sigma and eta are used on these kinds of crosses which represent different concepts. Greek crosses are loved by many people across the globe because of their exclusive symbolism.

Another exceptional religious jewelry article is the Celtic protection pendant which can be found in a number of interesting designs. Celtic sword of protection, dragon vine Celtic knot, Celtic shield of protection, love & unity, and dragon energy are popular themes and are well-liked in all parts of the world. These pendants were worn by ancient priests and religious men who lived in the Western Europe, Britain and Ireland. These beautiful and unique religious pendants feature enameled leaves, beautiful crystals and heart-shaped lovely gemstones. Many people like to wear these pendants as fashionable as well as religious jewelry.

Celtic protection pendants in religious jewelry are mostly made of pewter which is a metal alloy consisting of copper, tin and antimony. Handcrafted pewter jewelry is gaining in popularity nowadays because of its uniqueness and allure. Sometimes pure pewter is oxidized to give it a lovely silver-grayish look. Women particularly like this type of jewelry as it is individual and can be matched with any kind of dress. Classic and contemporary religious articles in this category are truly wonderful. They include pendants, lapel pins, rings, charms, bracelets, and earrings. Pewter is a preferred choice of a lot of people out there because it is lead-free and non-allergic.

America is always known for its welcome attitude to people of the other nations. Its natural approach though welcoming has become inadequate now. This is gaining stance as an issue with an increase in international trading which is bringing more business executives to the country. These business professions exhibit severe cases of culture shocks at the corporate and individual levels. Research was conducted to understand their experiences and attitudes towards the American business culture. Most of the foreign business professionals were based at Atlanta and other cities from the south-east. They were CFO’s, CEO’s, directors, analysts, engineers, managers. More than 50% of them were European with a minimum of 26 countries represented at the study.

The financial cost of is mostly two to four times the salary of the transferee. Relocation at cross- border levels is steep. Employers provide little assistance to integrate them into their business community. Most of these professionals enjoy a certain degree of self-esteem back home and by relocating to a foreign land, physical needs become their priority, thus pulling them downwards. The biggest hurdle is language- understanding American English, even for the native English speakers. The business conversation here is mostly riddled with clichés, slang, expressions from sports like baseball (not played in other parts of the world). Slam dunk, end run, homerun, full court press, curveball are a few that confuse the foreigners. At work the American colleagues are oblivious to this fact. This is a cause of great discontentment to many.

The other main frustrations include basic needs like opening a bank account, buying a car or home, purchase of insurance, connecting utilities, traveling long distance to work and the need to establish credit, with most dealers asking for a 4 year U.S. credit history. Obtaining credit is an issue and they are forced to pay cash often. They end up taking a year to adapt and there is loss in productivity of the individual mainly due to the confusion and isolation caused during this period. Adding to this, the American employees exhibit a lack of cross-culture awareness and skills to draw on the diverse global talents.

The U.S. tax and health discrimination laws are complex and with no knowledge base of the above, this turns to be a nightmare. The biggest discomfort at work is to reconcile to business informality whereas the reality is a strict deference to titles and designations. Freedom of speech is restricted due to a lack of job security or unemployment.

These foreigners pass through the following stages of adjustment:

- They encounter barriers at work and discover the frustrations of their family members

- They look for resources and people to overcome these causes of differences

- They make the necessary adjustments to adapt and blend with their business community

This gestation period is long and affects the efficiency of these professionals.
The following suggestions may ease this transition:

- Capitalize on similarities

- Provide support in terms of basic needs like housing and schooling and a community orientation

- Explain employee benefits and laws in detail

- Assign a mentor during the transition stage

- Offer training and cross-culture coaching by hosting events for the American and Non-American employees

With an expansion in mergers and acquisitions happening the global way, it is vital to prevent the differences due to cultures creating a disharmony in the marriage. Think Global and Act Local remains the mantra of International Trade.

Blue Cross Insurance of California is arguably the most leading insurance company in California where insurance plans are affordable and also easily obtainable. They do not believe in work for-profit policy. You can choose suitable health insurance plan from a pool of health insurance plans provided by them. It is common knowledge that insurance is a shield whereby you save yourself from financial ruin in case of health problems… Blue Cross Insurance of California also provides a large network of highly qualified doctors with all necessary medical facilities. Apart from basic services such as hospitalization, surgeries, and outpatient treatment for sicknesses, Blue Cross Insurance of California are also covering preventive care, care for chronic conditions, vision and dental care, prescription drug coverage etc. Blue Cross Insurance of California provides you the best possible group insurance plans.

There were originally two separate companies Blue Cross and Blue Shield and they merged many years ago to form the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. There are still states where Blue Cross and Blue Shield are considered separate entities rather than a merged company. Blue Cross and Blue Shield health care providers have one company in almost each state. This way, you can get the best of both worlds by taking advantage of affordable health insurance plan premiums, while getting the best overall health care that you deserve.

Currently, this organization has over 30 independent health insurance companies operating on different parts of the country. Blue Cross of California, owned by Wellpoint, is determined about creating low cost products to help the uninsured. Now they are even taking somewhat controversial steps in allowing immigrants without documentation other than that issued by Mexican consulates to avail their plans.

The Blue Cross believes that people after years of hard work and paying appropriate taxes, deserve nothing but the best medical care that they can get. For a few years now, retirees, government and private employees, unemployed individuals, housewives, as well as US citizens working abroad have been receiving some form of benefit from a Blue Cross or Blue Shield health care provider. The Blue Cross offers affordable monthly health insurance premiums and provides you with a choice between short and long-term health coverage, depending on your individual needs. Blue Cross offers discounts on medical procedures, consultations and general health care and has plans for medical supplies in case of an injury or a short period of stay in the hospital.

The Blue Cross of California Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans cover more of the costs of your health care than any other plan type. HMO Plans provide coverage only for services received from doctors and hospitals within the HMO Network. You can choose a specific health care group and physician within the network to coordinate all of your health care needs. As a Blue Cross member, you will also enjoy special member services, including Health Extension SM program, which provides the members information about discounts offered by independent vendors on health products and services and round the clock confidential access to registered nurses to help members manage chronic diseases including diabetes, asthma and congestive heart problems.

There are many places in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland where you will see large numbers of Celtic crosses. Many people confuse the Celtic cross with the High Cross and the Irish Memorial Cross, but it is completely different. The image of this cross is that of a conventional Latin cross with a circle connecting the stem and the arms. One usually associates this as a symbol of the Irish missionaries, but since they are found in England, Scotland and Wales as well as Ireland, it is really seen as a symbol of early Christianity. During the Dark Ages all of these locations did have contact with Ireland.

No one knows for sure how the cross came to be or what it really symbolizes. Some scientists have suggested that the ring inside the cross represents the halo of Christ and others believe it has its roots in the pagan religions of the Celts and Druids who worshipped the Sun. The crosses were erected in sacred places and were used to declare adherence to the beliefs of Christianity. Still other interpretations of the cross see the straight lines representing man and the circle representing woman. This is because a similar symbol exists in Hindu tradition representing the union of man and woman.

The early churches were very small, and since there was always a cross in the churchyard, religious celebrations often took place with the people gathered around the cross. Based on the location of these crosses, though, not all of them were erected for religious purposes. Some may have been landmarks to show the way for travelers on foot and others may have been used as landmarks for those at sea either telling them that an area was safe for landing or to denote dangerous areas around the shoreline.

There are examples of this cross that date back 5000 years or more. According to legends, St. Columba introduced this cross to Ireland and others say that St. Patrick drew the circle in the cross to show a connection between the pagan religion and Christianity. The first crosses were on large rocks that laid flat on the ground. The four arms of the cross could also denote the four points of the compass.

The cross was decorated with carved designs and intricate geometric shapes. Free-standing crosses were very elaborate and were often made from four pieces of stone – the base, the shaft, the head and the upper cross arm – all of which were held together with mortar.

Celtic jewelry, displaying the cross, began to be made in Ireland in the mid-1800’s. Many people wore this jewelry as a symbol of their faith. They were also being placed in cemeteries and churches all over the United Kingdom by 1890. Today, they rarely have any religious significance as they are worn for their beauty. The Celtic symbol of the cross is also used to denote ancestry as being from the Celtic countries. Whatever the original, it is clear that these early crosses were the work of highly trained craftsmen.

Every year millions of students graduate college and begin to start their own lives, one of the biggest worries that these students face is their health insurance coverage. Many students and parents believe that the parents health insurance will cover their children once they leave for college when in reality if a student is over the age of 18 and not a full time student they may not be covered by the parents health insurance. If a student is enrolled in college as a full-time student they are normally covered until they reach the age of 23 under their parents health insurance policy, regardless of their enrollment in college. This means that once a student graduates college, which is normally around age 22 or 23, they are no longer insured under their parents policy. This is a time in a students life when it is very important to be insured.

Right after a college student graduates they are looking for a job and a place to live, for many of these students their first job may not even offer health insurance which can be a huge problem. Without health insurance, it can be very expensive to even go to the doctor when you are sick. Usually most doctors offices have low, co-payments for insurance holders when they visit the doctor, normally between $20-$50, but without insurance doctors a patient has to pay the full cost that the doctor and office charges. Depending on what happens during the visit and if any tests or further evaluation is needed the costs can easily skyrocket up into the hundreds, which is much more than many people can afford. These costs can be very threatening to most people and can cause people to avoid visiting the doctor, which can become very dangerous for the persons health. Also, the longer a person avoids medical care when they are ill when they finally go to the doctor it will likely be much more expensive because they will have gotten more sick.

One of the best insurance companies that have a relatively low and affordable rate for post college students is Blue Cross Blue Shield; in many states across the country they offer low cost insurance for graduated college students. Blue Cross Blue Shield has provided inexpensive health care to more than 99 million people in the United States. Blue cross Blue Shield has over 39 independent, community based locations across the United States which means it is likely that you will have an operating branch in your area, and if there isn’t that is okay too because Blue Cross Blue Shield covers people in all 50 states. More than 80% of hospitals and doctors offices have contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, which makes them one of the top 20 insurance companies in the country.