As most average Americans become increasingly frustrated with the complete lack of compromise and decency displayed by politicians of both major parties, a new organization is giving citizens an outlet to have their voices heard.

Americans for America, a website founded in 2012, offers people the chance to become more engaged into the political process and share their opinions on a wide range of issues facing the country.

We often hear that America is a polarized nation, divided between those on the right and those on the left, said Maryann Mueller, founder of Americans for America. While that might be true of our representatives in Congress, an overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens just want elected officials to work together for the benefit of the nation. This website and organization allows us to share our opinions and have our voices heardeven as lobbyists try to stifle the will of the people.

Americans for America, which is nonpartisan, gives users the opportunity to blog, comment and vote in polls related to a number of key issues. Members may also send messages to members of Congress. Among the features of AmericansforAmerica.com are health and nutrition information, blogs on more than 30 relevant topics, links to state legislator information and important bills in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

Mueller started the website based on a frustration she shares with most Americans, as gridlock and political bickering in Washington, D.C. and in statehouses across the country is crippling the U.S. economy and preventing any meaningful action on issues like Social Security, health care, gun violence, climate change and the shrinking middle class.

Americans for America also focuses on the influence of lobbyists in the political process. Elected officials have come to rely heavily on these individuals and organizations for campaign contributions, with the result being that every bill passed at the state or federal level has been influenced by moneyed interests in some way. This undercuts the core democratic philosophy of a government run by the people, for the people.

With both sides entrenched in ideology rather than reason, the future of America remains in jeopardy, said Mueller. The country we love is supposed to have a responsive government, where tough issues are deliberated on carefully and solutions come about through compromise and collaboration. Unfortunately, even as our country has faced some of the most challenging times in its history, we continue to have elected officials who seem only to care about the people and corporations that fund their campaigns. That leaves the rest of us out of the equation.

To learn more about Americans for America and to get involved, http://www.americansforamerica.com.

Wildlife Properties, a Kansas based recreational and agricultural real estate brokerage, announced today that the firm is expanding its real estate brokerage activities to now include Colorado.

More individuals than ever are looking to farmland and recreational properties as alternative investment option, Managing Broker, Nick Rhodes stated. Although attractive, these types of transactions can be complicated and often require specialized analysis and expertise. We are extremely excited and proud to bring our firms knowledge of agricultural and recreation values and our strong reputation for customer service to the Colorado land market.

Expanding to Colorado is a big step towards the firms long-term growth and client representation plans. The relative proximity of the states and similar types of agricultural land, especially in western Kansas and eastern Colorado, will allow the brokerage to open up more opportunities for Wildlife Properties clients.

Wildlife Properties expansion of brokerage coverage and specialized expertise will benefit many Colorado residents and wildlife enthusiasts when acquiring recreational and farmland investment properties in Colorado. As the economy continues to improve, Colorado residents will have more discretionary funds to purchase recreational wildlife real estate and invest in farmland properties.

In announcing the brokerage expansion, Rhodes added, Colorados enthusiasm for open space makes our wildlife expertise important to buyers and sellers of Colorado real estate.

About Wildlife Properties..Wildlife Properties is an agricultural, hunting and investment real estate brokerage managed by Nick Rhodes. Since 2008 Wildlife Properties has sold Kansas wildlife and farmland real estate as both broker and investor. Rhodes is a former wildlife habitat and rural real estate radio personality licensed to represent buyers and sellers in Kansas and Colorado land transactions.

Wildlife Properties specializes in farmland real estate, wildlife & hunting real estate, certified organic farm properties and country homes. Rhodes has compiled hundreds of valuation opinions for lenders and asset managers making him an expert in Kansas property valuations. Using his valuation expertise, Rhodes also provides research reports for prospective buyers of Kansas properties. More information is available at http://www.mywildlifeproperty.com or by emailing nick(at)mywildlifeproperty(dot)com.

Amagi Metals, a Denver, Colorado precious metals ecommerce retailer, has recently become the worlds largest Bitcoin dealer. Processing more than $ 800,000 in Bitcoin transactions during the month of April alone, Amagi Metals has processed more retail sales of Bitcoins to consumers than any company in the world.

In addition to Bitcoins, Amagi Metals specializes in working with individual investors looking to buy gold coins, bars, rounds, and bullion, as well as to buy silver coins, bars, rounds, and silver shot. Amagi Metals is one of the few online retailers that allows consumers to buy gold and silver with Bitcoins, futher establishing them as the leader in Bitcoin retail sales.

Some people regard Bitcoins as a speculative commodity similar to gold, oil or wheat futures, and to a certain extent, they are. But there are differences, too, and those differences make the cyber-currency attractive to a wide variety of individuals and businesses. Amagi Metals is one of the companies that see enough upside in Bitcoin trading to accept them as payment for their goods.

We feel that the concept of Bitcoins and the technology behind it make it a viable currency. However, we do not feel that Bitcoins offer more long-term security than government-backed currencies like the dollar or the Euro; Bitcoin is a short-term solution to issues with government-backed currencies, and the fluctuations in Bitcoin prices represent significant opportunity for speculative investors, says Amagi Metals owner Stephen Macaskill. Thats why were allowing customers to use Bitcoins to purchase gold and silver from us.

The value of a Bitcoin fluctuates in much the same way as commodities and stocks do. There are Bitcoin exchanges that track transactions and quote Bitcoin values in U.S. dollars or Euros or almost any other currency. Amagi Metals tracks those values along with the market price of metals and are thus able to quote the price of gold, for instance, in Bitcoins.

Because Bitcoin transactions are difficult (some would say impossible) to trace, they have become attractive to persons engaged in illegal transactions, raising concerns about the ethics of using Bitcoins. Macaskill is aware of the concerns and has controls at Amagi Metals to address them.

Because were in the precious metals business, we have always been careful about who we sell to, he says. There are regulations in our industry to prevent illegal commerce, and we apply those to all our purchases, whether theyre in Bitcoins or dollars. Ultimately it comes down to knowing your customer, and we go to great lengths to assure that all of our transactions are on the up-and-up.

Ultimately, whether a business trades in Bitcoins is based on its belief in them as a viable currency. If companies choose to trade in Bitcoins, there are other benefits, such as minimal transaction costs and instant access to funds that make Bitcoins more attractive than traditional money transfers.

Amagi Metals and Macaskill are believers and plan to maintain their position as the leading retailer in the Bitcoin economy.

About Amagi Metals:

Amagi Metals was founded in Denver, Colorado by Macaskill with an overall vision of helping people To pursue financial security and help others to achieve financial independence: ‘We believe that individuals must learn financial responsibility to live in a world of freedom and prosperity. Owning precious metals is a small, but invaluable part of becoming financially responsible.’

For more information, contact

Stephen Macaskill

Amagi Metals

2727 Bryant Street

Suite 450

Denver, CO 80211

A new online auto insurance website has taken the web by storm, offering free insurance quote comparisons for those looking to save on coverage for their vehicles. The name of the website is Carlnsure.com, click here to the website.

Up until the launch of this newly created website, savvy shoppers looking to cut down on the cost of monthly insurance payments would have to get into contact with each auto insurance company individually, fill out the required paperwork, and wait to receive a quote. On top of that, it often requires some careful research to even find out where local auto insurance companies are located.

This new website seeks to eliminate most of the research and time consuming work that has previously been required by policyholders looking to save some money. In today’s struggling economy, many people would love to be able to pay less for their insurance but simply have not felt as though they would ever have the time to comparison shop. Still, it is a general rule of thumb that all drivers should take the time to ensure that they are receiving the best price for coverage by getting new quotes for insurance on a yearly basis.

Click here to get $ 19/month car insurance rates.

In doing this, not only does the policyholder save time, but he or she can save money by finding out which company will offer them the best deal or the lowest policy premium. In addition, it is easy to compare and find out which auto insurance companies offer the best coverage per dollar. From there, drivers can choose the policy that is right for them and proceed to the insurance company’s official website to make their purchase in just a matter of minutes.

This website, which is brand new, offers this service for those shopping for auto insurance and a variety of other coverage types as well. Therefore, those looking to save on home, health, or even life insurance can make this their one stop shop for all of their coverage needs. Those interested in comparing insurance quotes with this website can get started today by simply entering their zip code in the box provided.

Click here to learn more or get car insurance quotes.

On May 16, students, family members, and dignitaries congregated for the seventh commencement ceremony of American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center.

This was the largest graduating class to date. The ceremony opened with master of ceremonies Dick Woodward, AUAs Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Chief Operating Officer, introducing the graduate processional and Dr. Reza Sanii, Associate Dean of Students and Professor and Chair Physiology, introducing the onstage dignitaries. The first speech was from Neal Simon, AUAs President and Co-Founder, congratulating the class of 2013 and advising graduates on their futures.

Right now, you know more about healthcare than 95.5 percent of the world, said Simon. AUA enjoys a good reputation in the medical community because of the quality of its graduates.

Dr. Seymour Schwartz, AUAs Provost and best known for his seminal textbook Principles of Surgery, told the graduates to never be complacent and continue to expand themselves intellectually and emphatically with their patients. Dr. Jabir Singh Nagra, Executive Dean of Basic Sciences, described how humility is essential to being a physician and that graduates should approach practicing medicine with a positive attitude. Dr. Peter Bell, Executive Dean for Clinical Sciences, motivated the graduates to accomplish as much as they can as physicians.

The keynote speaker, Ambassador John Maisto, a retired member of the U.S. Foreign Service and former ambassador to Venezuela, used his own life experiences abroad to prove that a global medical education was essential for todays physicians. He explained how Americans often overlook the Caribbean and how important the region, and AUA in particular, was to the international medical community. He went on to praise AUAs graduates, telling them that they were not only medical graduates but also practitioners in international relations.

AUA is at the forefront to some of the most modern and innovative approaches to medicine, said Ambassador Maisto. Its also incredibly important to the Antiguan economyand healthcare in the Caribbean.

The co-valedictorians, Monique Leung and Veena Patel, and AUA alumnus Dr. Bilal Khan followed Ambassador Maisto. Leung thanked the faculty for their dedication to AUA students and congratulated her fellow graduates for attaining MD degrees. Patels speech praised her parents for their faith in her skills. Dr. Khan shared a story about one of the first life-threatening cases he encountered and told the graduates to always listen to their patients.

Think of your patient as an opportunity to constantly improve, said Khan. Lead by example and appreciate those who taught you. Humility is the most needed trait in this profession.

The ceremony concluded with Dr. Schwartz conferring their degrees and the graduates taking the ceremonial Hippocratic Oath.

About American University of Antigua

AUA was founded in 2004 to address the coming physician shortage and to break down barriers that have prevented underrepresented minorities from obtaining a medical education and subsequent medical licensure. AUA is recognized by the Medical Board of California, approved by the New York State Education Department, and has provisional accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions.

The Design Thinking Conference organized by the Design Management Institute (DMI) will bring to the attention of design managers and leaders the challenges created by a world increasingly complex and always more connected.

Ravi Sawhney, CEO of RKS and Andreas Forsland, Senior Director of Brand at Citrix, are co-chairing the conference, and share the belief that the current changes impact all actors of the new economy, and that design leaders can help businesses and consumers navigate through these troubled waters. The recent changes in the economy have transformed the way we work, says Ravi Sawhney. When I founded RKS in 1980, we were extremely focused on industrial design – what we knew best and what we excelled at. Today, we cannot work in a vacuum anymore. Over the years, RKS has expanded its expertise to research, strategy, service design and interaction to adapt to the changing landscape. What hasnt changed, Sawhney continues, is that you need to create amazing experiences that make people feel good about themselves.

KOR water co-founders Eric Barnes and Paul Shustak have seen firsthand the effect of empowering users. Their iconic water bottle, launched in 2005, was adopted by a tribe of eco-conscious consumers that took it upon themselves to spread the message; a story they will share with the audience of the conference in their speech, Design Everything. Products are Ephemeral; Brands are Forever.

When thinking about designing the next economy you have to scale back and understand the big picture, how things connect together and where they are headed to. Thats why highly recognized design thinkers such as Larry Keeley will be so valuable in giving us the high level view on our profession, says Sawhney. To balance this deep thinking, a couple of author-lead workshops at the end of the two days will give a chance to find concrete applications for the design frameworks described in Triumph of the Commons by Brian Collins, and Predictable Magic co-authored by Deepa Prahalad.

Regardless of which aspect of the economy you happen to be passionate or involved in, now is the time for design to help jump-start transformations where it matters, Andreas Forsland concludes. Let’s connect the dots in Santa Monica and start designing the next economy.

Full speaker lineup and registration details about DMIs Design Thinking Conference can be found at http://www.dmi.org/dmi/html/conference/designthinking13/conference.htm.

About RKS

RKS Design, Inc. is an innovation consulting firm delivering human-focused solutions with global impact. Founded in 1980, RKS utilizes design as a strategic tool advancing clients ability to focus on peoples needs and aspirations while creating sustainable business results and benefits to society. Working domestically and globally and having won over 150 major design awards, RKS credits Maslow and Campbells work as the foundation for its systematic and pragmatic set of frameworks, setting the stage for the creation of experiences that motivate and reward audiences.

Read more at http://www.rksdesign.com.

About The Design Management Institute

With a community of over 24,000 in more than 44 countries, the Design Management Institute DMI is the international authority, resource and advocate on design management, and a thought leader in the areas of design management, design strategy, innovation and creative leadership.

To learn more about DMI please http://www.dmi.org/.

Tour operator Seven Directions has been taking travelers to special places around the Southwest for nearly 10 years, particularly New Mexico. This spring, owner Patrizia Antonicelli added several new in-depth adventure tours to her extensive roster of cultural and sustainable explorations. New guided hiking tours include unique landscapes such as Chaco Canyon, El Morro and the new Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

After many years of conservation effort by a broad coalition of New Mexicans, and weighing in at nearly a quarter million acres, the new Rio Grande del Norte National Monument includes some of the most dramatic scenery and rare wildlife of Northern New Mexico.

For summer, Seven Directions has also added agritourism to farms in and around around Taos and Northern New Mexico, including the landmark sustainability farm at the Red Willow center on Taos Pueblo.

Experiencing New Mexico isn’t just about how gorgeous the landscape is, says Antonicelli. There’s so much to learn here and truly, no other place I can think of that is as authentic; it is unlike any place else. I find adventures for clients that are not just tromping through the landscape, but are about learning and seeing more clearly.

The new national monument extends from Pilar, New Mexico north to the border of Colorado and at its center is the Rio Grande gorge. The 800-foot canyon walls show earth’s journey through time. Tours set out along the river, the high edge of the gorge or across the volcanic plateaus and include sites where one might glimpse ancient Native American petroglyphs on the rocks, witness class V rapids, or spot otters cavorting in the water or a herd of Rocky Mountain big horn sheep perched high on the gorge’s canyon walls.

The El Morro tour includes unique lava fields and rock formations in El Malpais, as well as ancient mesa top cultures where the ancestors of the Zuni people lived, plus s to the nearby Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary and Acoma Pueblo, dating to 1150 C.E. Chaco Canyon’s historic significance is steeped in mysteries about its purpose and why it was abandoned. Visitors often drive to ancient sites. But with a guided hike, they feel connected to the context of the place and to the land itself.

One to two-day excursions are being added through the season.

Seven Directions adventures involve high levels of interaction and intimacy giving guests authentic experiences of New Mexico landscapes and culture. Expert guides lead each adventure, all are well educated about the area’s attractions because they are immersed in the region’s culture and ecosystems. As a proponent of ecotourism, Antonicelli wants not only to share her love of New Mexico’s unusual and pristine places, but to help preserve them as well.

Often, ecotourism takes place in fragile landscapes, where impact has been minimal and travelers and locals alike would like it to stay that way. With an experienced guide, ors explore beautiful spots and see rare species, but they also leave better informed and with a sense of what it takes to preserve such places for generations to come.

One of the guides to the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument is Jim O’Donnell–a photographer, writer, wilderness advocate, archeologist and adventure travel blogger in Taos. He was one of the first to propose the landscapes of the Rio Grande gorge and adjacent plateau as a conservation area, leading ultimately to the passage of President Obama’s proclamation this past March of national monument status.

Sharon Leach is an environmental journalist, as well as publisher and editor of the Mesa Green Guide for Northern New Mexico, a magazine devoted to the sustainability of the region.

My inspiration is the rafter culture here, like Steve Harris, aka ‘The Old Man’ of Far Flung Adventures, says Leach. He’s been working on restoring and protecting the Rio Grande for many years, and he has a way of teaching river ethics while making it fun and thrilling to explore what the landscape offers. That kind of guide is great for ors and good for the land and people here.

Seven Directions works directly with local cultural and food experts, farmers, outfitters and sustainability leaders to give ors a richer experience. This collaboration supports the local economy.

For further information and media inquiries: Patrizia Antonicelli Tel.505.820.3305

About Seven Directions Tours:

Background:

Seven Directions’ logo was created by Native American designer Paul Rangel who explains the meaning behind the term:

The six directions, the four cardinal points plus zenith (above) and nadir (below) permeate traditional Native American thinking and activities. Depending on the tribe or pueblo, the directions are associated with specific colors, corn, animals, birds, mountains, plants, trees, stones and spirits. In sprinkling meal, pollen, other offerings or smoking rituals with the sacred pipe and in ceremonies and ritual games the directions are observed.

The seventh direction represents the centre, the spirit or soul within. Every direction is to be honored in order to receive protection, guidance, and healing and to draw sacred energies into ones life.

Seven Directions | Cultural and Sustainable Tours has established itself as one of the finest sustainable tour operators in the Southwest. They facilitate exceptional tours that create a memorable and authentic experience that is relaxing and profound in every respect. Seven Directions Tours caters to a wide-ranging audience that seeks a hands-on experience by putting them in touch with the landscape and the people. Clients learn salient information in the comfort of a tour they can customize. Seven Directions Tours can accommodate large and small groups, and individuals. They also specialize in Fly & Drive programs that clients can take on by themselves. To learn more about Seven Directions them at http://www.sevendirections.net

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I rarely get to say this, said Steve Jolly, but this is a great time to both buy and sell a home in Nashville!

Sales for April 2013 were up 27% over the same month last year and were up 8% over March 2013. Metro Nashville ended the month with 2780 residential sales. This is the highest sales volume in Nashville for one month since August 2007.

Essential Safe Products, a company dedicated to teaching about eco friendly, healthier choices for families, is providing some tips for greening your Memorial Day road trip, including stashing reusables in your vehicle, using the open road and watching your speed. With so many options for summer travel, ESP wants to help you plan ahead for a stress-free and enjoyable journey using the following guidelines:

1)

Despite the many challenges facing them over the past five years, a majority of small business owners feel their business is performing on track for 2013, according to a new survey from TD Bank. The survey polled over 600 small business owners and found that 60 percent feel their businesses are performing as expected this year.

The survey also asked the business owners about their top challenges for 2013 and the top responses were: growing the business (51 percent), the U.S. economy (45 percent), and cash flow (34 percent). Sunovis Financial works to address the issue of growing businesses and access to capital with Micro Loans and SBA loans on a daily basis.

The results of the survey are not surprising. Many businesses feel that they are doing adequately, however they acknowledge the challenges for growth and capital are still key, said Terry Robinson, president of Sunovis Financial.

Even though a majority of small business owners said that growing the business is their biggest challenge, 50 percent also said that growing their business was also their biggest opportunity this year.

Despite the optimism regarding business performance, the same does not extend to hiring. The TD Bank survey found that just 17 percent of small business owners plan on hiring. That is down from 32 percent who planned on hiring six months ago. On the bright side, 79 percent said they plan on maintaining existing staff levels, up from 59 percent in December.

The reasons mentioned for the lack of hiring incentive included cost controls (50 percent), not enough work to support additional staff (49 percent), and declining revenues (36 percent).

Even though business owners are ready to grow, they are not ready to hire in the current economic environment. As the economy continues to show improvement, Sunovis Financial will be there for small businesses when they are ready to start borrowing for their capital expansion projects. Fast Micro loans can be approved in a matter of days, giving small businesses the chance for growth.