Friday, October 29, 2010

What is the Difference Between Manufactured Homes and Mobile Homes?

Island in the Sun, (55+ Resident Owned Community) in Clearwater
Lot 142 - 3 bedrms, 2 baths,
Built 2007 - $69,999 (Manufactured Home)


The term Mobile Homes is often used interchangeably with the term Manufactured Homes but in fact they mean quite different things. Mobile Homes refers to homes built prior to 1976 when the HUD    (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) code governing building standards for factory-built homes was instituted, greatly improving quality standards. Homes built from that year on should, technically, no longer be referred to as Mobile Homes but instead are Manufactured Homes and are built to a higher standard of quality than yesterday's "Mobil Homes".    

Tuskawilla Trails, (Family, Land Lease Community) in Winter Springs
Lot V18 - 2 bedrms, 2 baths,
Built 2006 - $85,000 (Manufactured Home)


Manufactured homes are popular in family or retirement community atmospheres throughout the United States.

In Florida, Newby Realty offers manufactured homes for sale, in family or 55+ manufactured home communities with options of land owned, land lease and resident owned communities.  Click on the Newby Realty link below to see the beautiful communities we offer!

(Click on a city below to see homes in our community(ies) in that city!) 

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on FacebookNewby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Top 10 Food Contamination Culprits



How Safe Is Our Food?   By Chris Iliades, MD

     Food contamination makes millions of people sick every year. Discover the top 10 riskiest foods regulated by the FDA and how they might cause foodborne illness.
     According to a report by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, food contamination sickens millions of Americans every year. The report ranks the top 10 riskiest foods regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on reported cases of foodborne illness from 1990 to 2006.
1.  The riskiest food is not raw hamburger, as you might suspect, but rather leafy green vegetables, which were associated with 363 outbreaks of foodborne illness. "Consumers need to know about the risks, but they also need to know we have the safest food supply in the world," says Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD, clinical associate professor at Boston University in Massachusetts.
     You may remember the 2006 outbreak of foodborne illness from bagged spinach that was contaminated with the E. coli bacteria. Leafy greens account for almost 30 percent of all foodborne illnesses in foods regulated by the FDA. "The problem with leafy greens is that we eat them raw, so they really need to be washed before eating. But contamination can occur in the home as well as on the farm. Make sure you don't wash meats and greens in the same sink or cut them on the same counter. And watch out for meat dripping down into your refrigerator's vegetable bin," warns Blake.
2.  Next on the list of risky foods are eggs, which have been linked to 352 outbreaks of foodborne illness. Food contamination in eggs is almost always due to the bacteria salmonella. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that for every reported case of salmonella, 38 cases go unreported. You might be wondering how those bacteria get inside an egg. The most prevalent type of salmonella infects the ovaries of hens that lay the eggs. "The best way to protect yourself is to cook your eggs so they are not soft or runny," says Blake.
3.  Tuna is No. 3 on the list with 268 reported outbreaks of illness. The big problem with tuna is not mercury, but a naturally occurring toxin called scombrotoxin. This toxin can build up in tuna flesh if it is not kept cold enough after the fish has been caught and, unfortunately, you can't get rid of it even by cooking. Symptoms include headache, nausea, and palpitations.
4.  Coming in at number four with 132 outbreaks are oysters. "Oysters are another risky food because people want to eat them raw," notes Blake. Most oyster outbreaks are traced to restaurants. Two microbes, known as norovirus and vibrio, cause most of the foodborne illnesses from oysters. The vibrio organism is the more dangerous. It is closely related to the bacterium that causes cholera, an acute intestinal infection. Oysters can be contaminated from the water they grown in or by improper handling.
5.  You would think this American staple would be safe because almost no one eats raw potatoes. The food safety issue here, linked to 108 outbreaks, usually involves potato salad. Salmonella is the main problem again. More than 40 percent of potato outbreaks can be traced back to restaurants and delis where cross contamination has occurred. Salmonella usually causes mild cramps and diarrhea, but in severe cases can cause kidney failure.
6.  Cheese is at No. 6 on the list with 83 outbreaks. Pasteurization makes cheese safer, but many cheeses are not pasteurized. Recently consumers in California were warned about the danger of bacterial food contamination in some Latin American cheeses made with unpasteurized milk. Pregnant women may be in danger from soft cheeses like feta, Brie, and Camembert because they are more likely to be infected with the organism listeria. The CDC says that pregnant women are 20 times more likely than others to be infected by listeria and recommends that they avoid soft cheeses. Although listeria infection may be mild in most people, it can cause a miscarriage in a pregnant woman.
7.  Associated with 75 outbreaks, ice cream is No. 7 on the list. Salmonella and staphylococcus bacteria can cause food contamination in ice cream. In 1994, an ice cream-linked outbreak of salmonella sickened thousands of people across 41 states. Soft ice cream, like soft cheeses, may contain listeria and could be hazardous for pregnant women. "Ice cream food contamination may be more common in homemade ice cream due to raw eggs," warns Blake.
8.  In both 2005 and 2006, tomato contamination with salmonella was big news as hundreds of people became sick across the country. Salmonella can enter a tomato through the soil by way of the plant's root system. Tomatoes can also be contaminated by bacteria or norovirus through cracks in the skin during handling or preparation in a restaurant. Once the tomato has been infected, the only way to avoid foodborne illness is by cooking it.
9.  Sprouts are increasingly popular in salad bars and in the American diet in general. This food, which is the germinating form of seeds and beans, grows best in a warm and moist environment. Unfortunately, E. coli and salmonella thrive in the same environment. There have been 31 outbreaks of foodborne illness due to sprouts. The FDA has been urged to place warning labels on raw sprouts.
10. Cyclospora is a type of parasite that you get when the eggs of the parasite cause food contamination. Raspberries from South America have caused outbreaks. Hepatitis A, a virus that affects the liver, has also been a berry food safety problem. In 1997, 2.6 million pounds of strawberries were recalled because of hepatitis A virus contamination. Berries, linked with 25 food contamination outbreaks since 1990, round out the list of top 10 risky foods.

Legislation is now working its way through Congress to strengthen the FDA food safety program. "Food safety is everybody's responsibility," says Blake, "including the FDA, growers, shippers, handlers, and consumers. The best way to protect yourself is with the four C’s: clean, cook, combat cross contamination, and chill. Don't shy away from fresh produce. It's an important part of your diet. Just use the fifth C — common sense."

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on FacebookNewby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Family Time Together




Families come in all formations, ages and sizes with varied interests and talents. The more we do together, the more bonded we are to one another, the more we know each other, and the more we share with and teach each other.

The first step in developing a close family unit is to spend time together.  If this is something foreign to you, it's never too late to start setting aside family time.  Sharing about your day with one another or going for a walk together is a simple beginning.  Take time to share ideas concerning what each of you would like to do.

Have you considered planning a day trip? Take a camera to snap pictures to preserve the memories of this special day. Share arranging the photos in a scrapbook. Get creative!  Trip ideas: Visit a museum, or go to the zoo, play miniature golf, or go bowling.

Looking for inexpensive outdoor ideas? Go for a bike ride, take a walk (looking at nature, finding bugs, looking for animals, name the trees or flowers you see), go swimming, go to the beach and collect shells and feed the seagulls, go to a park, window shop, plant some flowers, fly kites, go fishing, play ball, go to a playground, have a water balloon fight, feed the birds, go on a picnic, or go skating.

How about some indoor activities? Play charades, research your family tree, play cards, read aloud from a book, try a new recipe, work on a jigsaw puzzle, play music together and sing, put a skit together, rearrange a room, paint a picture, reframe family photos, make a collage of artwork or photos, make some fun snacks (ants on a log – celery topped with peanut butter and then raisins), sew, make cupcakes or cookies and decorate them, make puppets and put on a show, clean out a closet (then have a family garage sale), or play board games. There are endless ideas once you start to brain storm!

Pray together!  You've heard the phrase "the family that prays together stays together".  This is a wonderful example to children from the very start of their lives.  Not only does it strengthen their spiritual growth, it provides the family closeness and support needed to grow as a family.  Everyone's concerns are important.

After it is said and done, (we know time, days, weeks, months, years FLY by), reminiscing about these times with our family become dearer to us.


Quotes:

“There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained."  ~  Winston Churchill

“No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?”   ~  Elbert Hubbard

“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.”  ~  Alex Haley

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida


Bok Tower Gardens (250 acres, 1 square kilometer) is located at 1151 Tower Boulevard, Lakes Wales, Florida. It is one of the most peaceful places in the world.

The story of Edward Bok is remarkable. He was only six years old when he came to America from the Netherlands. As he was about to embark on his journey, his grandmother told him, "Make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it." He always remembered those words.

Indeed he did. The historic Bok Tower and Gardens, Bok's gift to the American people, is one of the most beautiful places in Florida and one of the few places that has been left untouched by the march of time and the unchecked growth of Central Florida.

Through the years visitors have been drawn to this sanctuary because it is peaceful and serene. That hasn't changed. On our visit recently, we were completely drawn in by the garden's beauty, intrigued by the Sanctuary's history and in awe of the tower's majesty. The Sanctuary provided a much-needed respite from a too-busy life and a reminder of why it is often referred to as Florida's Higher Place.

The Gardens
In 1922 Edward Bok set out on another journey. He was so awed by Iron Mountain in Florida, that he acquired a large tract of it and asked America's most famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., to transform the area into a sanctuary that would "touch the soul with its beauty and quiet."

The gardens were carved out of sandy soil atop Iron Mountain, that was originally covered with pines and palmettos. The area was transformed into meandering paths, open spaces and tranquil resting spots that comprise the informal woodland gardens. The gardens complement the Florida native live oak hammock with a mix of native and exotic plants and the beautiful vistas offer views of the Florida countryside and the picturesque tower.

The Singing Tower
Remembering the sound of carillons in his native Holland, Bok commissioned the bell tower to be built as the focal point for the surrounding gardens. The 205-foot tower was designed by architect Milton B. Medary, who drew his inspiration from the Gothic towers and churches of Europe. It was crafted by noted stone sculptor Lee Lawrie. Lawrie used four million pounds of Georgia marble for the ornate structure that took two years to construct. The bells, housed in the top of the tower, were individually cast and tuned. The 60-bell carillon can be heard "singing" daily throughout the sanctuary.

In 1929, the "Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower" was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge. Today it's a National Historic Landmark. Edward Bok's lasting gift to the American people indeed made the world more beautiful... in sight and sound.

Pinewood Estate
Also a National Historic Landmark, this classic Florida winter estate of Edward Bok is located adjacent to the sanctuary and is accessible by a footpath from the gardens. Tour its grounds anytime and enjoy daily scheduled interior tours.

Exhibit Hall and Museum
Edward William Bok lead an interesting and successful life. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author was the editor of the Ladies Home Journal for over 30 years. Under Bok's management, the magazine became one of the most successful and influential publications in America and the first magazine in the world to have one-million subscribers.

The story of Bok's life is laid out in photos and historical memorabilia in the museum along with the story of the Sanctuary's creation and the crafting of the tower. Hands-on exhibits include ringing of a bell from the original keyboard.

Historic Bok Tower Gardens is open every day of the year from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with last admission at 5:00 p.m. Admission is $10.00 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 5-12 and children under age 5 are admitted free. Members are admitted free and group rates for 20 or more are available with advance registration. ~ by Dawn Henthorn

A Final Resting Place…
Mr. Bok died on January 9, 1930 at his home just a short distance from the Tower. He is buried in a crypt a the foot of his beloved carillon.

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on FacebookNewby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Pumpking Carving Tips


Tis the season for Indian corn, Fall wreaths, warm cider, hayrides and bobbing for apples ... be safe, be joyous and be careful carving those pumpkins!

CARVING TIPS



• Draw your design on the pumpkin with a water-based marker beforehand. Mistakes are erased easily with a damp sponge.
• Cut the top and any large areas with a sharp, straight-edged knife. A dull blade is not a safer alternative.
• Serrated metal saws, now widely available in carving kits, are a safer alternative to knives and allow younger children to get in on the action.
• Carve away from yourself; kids should carve only under adult supervision.
• Never hold the knife in a stabbing position.
• When carving, keep a portion of the knife blade in the pumpkin and use slow, steady saw strokes.
• Cut the lid at an angle so the outside diameter is larger than the inside.This prevents the top from falling into the pumpkin when it shrinks.
• Scoop out seeds and stringy flesh with a large spoon or ice cream scooper.
• Carve the facial features closest to the center first and work outward. Cut out the larger features in sections.
• Use an X-Acto knife for details and the tip of a potato peeler to make small circles and curves.
• Remove carved portions by gently pushing them into or out of the pumpkin.
• Reattach a section that is accidentally removed by using a toothpick to pin it back in place.
• Make design holes large enough to provide adequate ventilation for the candle.
• Flatten a spot in the base of the pumpkin for the candle but avoid digging too deep because the pumpkin becomes prone to rot.
• Make sure the flame is not too close to the top of the pumpkin.
• To prolong the life of the jack-o'-lantern, seal in moisture by coating all cut surfaces with petroleum jelly or vegetable oil, or cover it with a damp towel when not on display.
• Consider giving smaller children stickers, tempera paint, or markers to decorate their own pumpkins.

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Farmers' Markets

Farmers' market produce is renowned for being locally grown and very fresh. Farmers' markets often feature produce grown naturally or organically, meats that are raised humanely on pasture, handmade farmstead cheeses, eggs and poultry from free-range fowl, as well as heirloom produce and heritage breeds of meat and fowl. Advocates for the farmers' markets believe the markets help farmers stay in business as well as preserve natural resources.

Throughout our country, these markets are popular and essential to those who become dedicated customers.  To name only a few:

Montpelier, VT – Capital City Farmers’ Market
     40 plus vendors from specialty and small farms provides items such as cheese, maple syrup, mean, wine and hot sauce, and more. They are open Saturdays May through October.

Manhattan, NY – Union Square Greenmarket
     140 farmers and vendors sell to chefs, locals and tourists. Some items you will find are fresh goat cheese, rooftop honey, leafy greens. They are open four days a week, year round.

Madison, WI – Dane County Farmers’ Market on the Square
     This is the largest producer only market in the US. They offer corn, eggplant, cheeses meat and more. They are open Saturdays and Wednesdays.

Des Moines, IA – Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market
     Here you will find corn, goat mea, and kohlrabi (from the cabbage family), to name of few of their offerings. They are open Saturdays May through October.

Washington, D.C. – Dupont Circle Freshfarm Market
     30+ vendors sell meats, pasta, bread, veggies, fruit and more. They are open Sundays year round.

San Francisco, CA - Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market
     90 vendors providing items such as olives, olive oil, Meyer lemons, mushrooms, fruits and more. They are open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Portland, ME – Portland Farmer’s Market
     30+ growers and producers have provided their items since 1917. Here you can pick fruits, blueberries and get meat, eggs and more. They are open Saturdays May through November.

Portland, OR – Portland’s Farmers’ Market at Portland State University
     200 growers and farmers provide crabs, raspberries, yak meat, mushrooms, local beer, olive oil and more. They are open Saturdays March through mid December.

Saint Paul, MN - Saint Paul Downtown Farmers’ Market
     They provide melons, pumpkins, poultry and more. They are open Saturdays April through November.

Seattle, WA – University District Farmers’ Market
     50+ farmers provide to the locals 30 varieties of apples, free range eggs, fiddlehead ferns, sheep and cow milk cheeses and more.

Austin, TX – Barton Creek Farmers’ Market
     Vendors provide okra, avocadoes, peaches, peppers, bison meat, black eyed peas and more. They are open on Saturdays.

Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Farmers’ Market
     100+ vendors provide items such as yak meat, heirloom tomatoes and more. They are open four days a week in the summer and two days a week the rest of the year.

As you travel through these states, perhaps visiting a farmers’ market will be quite a treat! Along with their delicious, edible delights, they offer a bit of ambience all their own!

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on FacebookNewby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Amazing Trivia!


Hummingbirds can weigh less than a penny!

Until 1796, there was a state in the United States called Franklin. Today it's known as Tennessee!
The Earth weighs around 6,600,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons (5,940 billion billion metric tons)!
A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off - it dies from starvation!
Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie!
The average person has over 1,460 dreams a year!
It's against the law to pawn your dentures in Las Vegas!
One in every 4 Americans has appeared on television!
The average American/Canadian will eat about 11.9 pounds of cereal per year!
It's against the law to burp, or sneeze in a certain church in Omaha, Nebraska!
You're born with 300 bones, but when you get to be an adult, you only have 206!
Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete!
Over 10,000 birds a year die from smashing into windows!
The state of Florida is bigger than England!
There are more than one million animal species on Earth!
In Natoma, Kansas, it's illegal to throw knives at men wearing striped suits.
It was once against the law to have a pet dog in a city in Iceland!
Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day!
Thomas Edison, lightbulb inventor, was afraid of the dark!

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Guide to Better Sleep


Rest Easy: Your Guide to Better Sleep ~ By Keegan Sheridan, N.D.

     A good night's rest makes everything else in your life easier. Along with good nutrition and mental well-being, optimal sleep fuels us to live our best lives. The following information provides insight into how sleep affects our health and how good sleep habits can provide just what you need to sleep like a baby once again.
     Our bodies turn their energy inward when we sleep. Instead of expending energy to walk, talk, eat, exercise and digest, our bodies focus on repairing damaged cells and tissues, recharging the immune system and giving our minds some well-deserved time to wander freely through our dreams. Without time to sleep each night, bad things start to happen -- and fast!

The cost of under sleeping
    
     A recent survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that on average people sleep one and a half hours less per night than they did a century ago. While most of those in the poll said they feel best if they've had at least eight hours of sleep each night, the number reporting actually getting eight or more hours of sleep per night fell from 38 percent in 2001 to 28 percent in 2008. 
     Insufficient sleep over time has been linked to depression, decreased cognitive performance, immune suppression, blood sugar imbalance and even obesity. Just one night of poor sleep can cause fatigue, memory loss and decreased mental capacity.
     The bottom line? Sleep should be kept at the top of your to-do list each day. In the same way that making conscious choices about the food you eat helps to put you on the path to optimal health, getting sound, solid sleep each night can go a long way toward promoting your best quality of life.

Six tips for optimal sleep

     Running around frantically just before slamming your head onto your pillow is not an effective way to achieve optimal sleep patterns for most people. Getting into a pattern of consistent, optimal sleep takes some time and can be greatly helped by following some basic sleep hygiene tips. Take a look at the list below and consider integrating a few into your routine for the next week to see if you can complete the following optimal-sleep challenge: Fall asleep within five minutes of lying down, sleep through the night without waking, and rise the next morning feeling rested and refreshed.

1. Shut down your computer and turn off your cell phone and television 30 minutes prior to sleep. Create an environment that is quiet and calm.

2. Remove stimulants (television, stereo, computer, bright lights) from your sleeping area. Keep the bedroom clear from clutter -- remove any unnecessary furniture, piles of clothes, papers and books so things are kept out of sight and the space looks and feels calm and simple.

3. Make sure your sleeping area is as dark and quiet as possible. Consider a fan or other source of white noise to create a consistent environment.

4. Keep a notebook and writing utensil next to the bed. Use them to clear racing thoughts, calm the mind and promote peaceful sleep.

5. Dab a drop of essential oil behind the ears. It should be a scent you've chosen only for sleep time, not something you might associate with your shampoo, dryer sheets, hand lotion, etc. The idea is to associate this scent with the sensation of feeling relaxed and tired.

6. Establish a set sleeping time and try your best to stick to it -- even if your work schedule requires that you work odd hours and even if that means you're sleeping each day from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Creating a sleep diary

     Once you've chosen a selection of sleep habits to follow, you can track your improvement in sleep patterns by creating a sleep diary. On a piece of blank paper create a grid with seven columns. Label the columns from left to right across the top of the grid, noting the date, time to bed, time to sleep, number of times awake during the night, number of times getting up to go to the bathroom, time spent awake, and time spent feeling groggy (1 = not at all; 10 = extremely). Keep this diary next to your bed with your notebook and a pen or pencil. Complete a row on your grid each morning before you get up. Over time, you can track your progress and identify specific aspects that are preventing you from reaching an optimal sleep cycle.
     Just as we all need air, water and food to survive, we also need sleep to be healthy. By making optimal sleep a priority in your life, you may be amazed at the positive impact you can have on your mental and physical outlook. With a few simple rituals in place, you lay the foundation for attaining optimal wellness.

~ Dr. Keegan Sheridan is a licensed naturopathic physician and Kashi's Natural Food and Lifestyle Expert.

Quotes:
"[Sleep is] the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."  ~  Thomas Dekker


"Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber . . . "  ~  William Shakespeare

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on FacebookNewby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Hiding Money

You have heard it before – hidden money found under the mattress, in books, desk drawers, underwear drawers and other places. Hiding money, for “mad money”, an emergency fund, or from a spouse, is more common then one would think.  However, not all hiding places may be as common.

For whatever reason money is hidden, these are some places to keep in mind, should the need to find it arises:
~ Inside a wooden door – since most are hollow, there is room for an envelop, box or bag.
~ Inside a curtain rod – hollow again on the inside!
~ In an old winter coat.
~ In a vacuum – between the interior vacuum bag and pouch lining or inside the extra extension tube.
~ In the hamper – under those dirty clothes!
~ In an artificial plant – under the “soil”.
~ In a picture frame – cash could be easily placed between the picture and back of the frame.
~ In an unused purse – stashed in the back of a closet – in a compartment in the purse.
~ In a toilet paper roll – under the bathroom sink or in the linen closet.
~ In an artificial plumbing pipe – under a bathroom, kitchen or utility room sink.
~ Taped to the bottom of the bathroom or kitchen trash cans.
~ In the vacant space between corner cupboards or counters – a hole big, enough to fit a hand, is made in the wall of the cupboard area, providing a hiding place.
~ Taped to the underside of a table top.
~ In a soup can – some can openers cut a can just below the rim. When put back together, it looks like the can was never opened.

From a burglar’s point of view – the most uncommon place to hide money is in children’s toys! They would look in many other places, but parents putting money in toys is not the norm.

A burglar’s reason to rob is to find money or items they can get money for. Hiding money in your electronics isn’t a good idea. They may not look for money there, but they will take the electronics to sell, and later on find there was money in it.

Another hint from a burglar’s point of view: They look until they find something. Leaving some money where they can easily find it (in obvious places such as under the mattress or in an underwear drawer) is beneficial. (They will stop looking quicker when they find something. BUT it should be a substantial amount of money for them TO stop looking!)

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Autumn Leaf Color - Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?


Autumn, what a phenomenal time of year!  Nature, in all her glory, produces a landscaped painting of vibrant, awe inspiring hue!  How does this happen?  Why is it just in the Autumn?  Read on...

Trees exist on water from the ground and carbon dioxide from the air.  Sunlight is used to help the tree turn these two elements into oxygen and glucose.  This process is called photosynthesis.  Oxygen is a gas used for breathing.  Glucose is a sugar plants use as food for growth and energy.  Chlorophyll is a chemical that helps photosynthesis take place.  Chlorophyll is also what gives pants their green color.

Knowing these facts is helpful in understanding why the leaves become colorful.  With the coming of Autumn, daylight becomes shorter.  This signals the trees that winter is coming and to begin to prepare for it.  During the winter, photosynthesis cannot continue because there isn't enough light or water in which it needs to function.  This means the trees must now live off the food they stored up during the summer.   The green chlorophyll begins to disappear from the leaves as the trees use up their stored food.  As this happens, the orange and yellow colors appear.  Although these colors were in the leaves before this process, they were covered by the chlorophyll.  The red and brown colors come from  glucose or wastes left in the leaves.

As the trees are dormant, meaning their growth is temporally stopped, they have the capability to conserve energy.  "New life" returns in the spring as daylight gets longer and provides the once again needed environment for the tree's growth and energy.

Quotes:

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~ Albert Camus

"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad."  ~ Edwin Way Teale
"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all."  ~ Stanley Horowitz
"October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter."  ~ Nova Bair

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Thursday, October 7, 2010

President Nicknames and More


Nicknames of the Presidents
  • George Wasthingon - Father of His County, The Sage of Mount Vernon
  • John Adams - His Roundity, The Atlas of Independence, Bonny Johnny
  • Thomas Jefferson - Long Tom, The Pen of the Revolution, Apostle of the Constitution
  • James Madison - Father of the Constitution, Little Johnny, Sage of Montpelier
  • James Monroe - The Last of the Crooked Hats
  • John Quincy Adams - Old Man Eloquent, Publicola
  • Andrew Jackson - Old Hickory, The Old Hero, King Andrew the First
  • Martin Van Buren - The Red Fox of Kinderhook, O.K., The Little Magician, Little Van
  • William Henry Harrison - Old Tippecanoe, The Cincinnatus of the West, Old Granny
  • John Tyler - His Accidency, Young Hickory
  • James K. Polk - Polk the Purposeful, Napoleon of the Stump
  • Zachary Taylor - Old Rough and Ready, Old Zack 
  • Millard Fillmore - The Accidental President, the Wool Carder President
  • Franklin Pierce - Hansome Frank, Purse
  • James Buchanan - Old Buck, The Do-Nothing President
  • Abraham Lincoln - The Great Emancipator, Honest Abe, The Rail Splitter
  • AndrewJohnson - The Tailor, Sir Veto, Father of the Homestead Act
  • Ulysses S. Grant - American Ceasar, The Galena Tanner, Useless S. Grant
  • Ruther B. Hayes - His Fraudulency, Old 8 to 7
  • James A. Garfield - The Canal Boy, The Preacher President
  • Grover Cleveland - rover the Good, Old Grover 
  • Benjamin Harrison - Young Tippecanoe, Little Ben, The Centennial President
  • William McKinley - Liberator of Cuba, The Idol of Ohio, Wobbly Willie
  • Theodore Roosevelt - The Rough Rider, The Cowboy, Rough and Ready, T.R.
  • Woodrow Wilson - The Professor, The Phrasemaker
  • William B. Harding - W.G.
  • Calvin Coolidge - Silent Cal
  • Herbert Hoover - Chief, Grand Old Man
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt - F.D.R., The Boss, King Franklin
  • Harry S. Truman - Give'em Hell Harry, Haberdasher Harry
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower - General Ike, Kanasas Cyclone, Duckpin
  • John F. Kennedy - J.F.K.
  • Lyndon B. Johnson - L.B.J.
  • Richard M. Nixon - Tricky Dick, Richard the Chicken-Hearted
  • Gerald Ford - Jerry, accidental president
  • Jimmy Carter - The Peanut Farmer, Cousin Hot
  • Ronald Reagan - The Great Communicator, Dutch, Ronald the Right
  • George H Bush - Old Read My Lips, Poppy , The Resume Candidate
  • Bill Clinton - The Comeback Kid, Teflon Bill, Slick Willie, Bubba 
  • George W. Bush - 43, Bush the Younger, Bush II, The Commander Guy    
  • Barack Obama - Barry, Rock, Bama 
US Presidents Who Died in Office
  • William H. Harrison, 1841
  • Zackary Taylor, 1850
  • Abraham Lincoln, 1865 (Assassinated)
  • James Garfield, 1881 (Assassinated)
  • William McKinley, 1901 (Assassinated)
  • Warren G. Harding, 1923
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1945
  • John F. Kennedy, 1967 (Assassinated)
Vice Presidents That Became President
  • John Tyler Harrison died of pneumonia in 1842
  • Millard Fillmore Taylor died in1850 from illness
  • Andrew Johnson after Lincoln was assassinated in 1865
  • Chester A. Arthur  after Garfield was assassinated in 1881
  • Theodore Roosevelt after McKinley was assasinated in 1901
  • CalvinCoolidge after Harding died of a heart attack in 1923
  • Harry S. Truman after Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1945
  • Lyndon B. Johnson after Kennedy assassinated in 1963
  • Gerald R. Ford after Nixon resigned in 1974
Presidentials Firsts
  • Abraham Lincoln was the first to receive a patent (for a floating drydock).
  • Millard Fillmore was the first president to have a stepmother.
  • James K. Polk was the first president to have his swearing-in reported by telegraph.
  • Hoover was the first to have a telephone on his desk (as well as the first millionaire).
  • FDR was the first to appear on television.
  • Truman was the first to ride in a submarine.
  • Jimmy Carter was the first president to be born in a hospital.
Above information from:  Classroomhelp.com


Airports named after Presidents
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport - New York, New York
  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport - Houston, Texas
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - Washington, DC
  • Gerald R. Ford International Airport - Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport - Springfield, Illinois
  • Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport - Dickinson, North Dakota
Above information from:  Presidentsusa.net 


Did You Know?
•Only five presidents have ever worn facial hair when they sought the office. The last was over a century ago, in 1889; Benjamin Harrison.
•There have been seven left-handed presidents, including three of the last four (Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan).
•The first president to smoke a cigar in office was James Madison. In fact, Madison regularly smoked cigars until his death in 1836 at the age of 85. Madison was also the shortest president at five-feet four-inches tall.
•George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States, and his wife Laura got married just three months after meeting each other.
•40th president of the United States Ronald Reagan broke the so-called "20-year curse," in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.
•Military leader and 34th president of the U.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower loved to cook; he developed a recipe for vegetable soup that is 894 words long and includes the stems of nasturtium flowers as one of the ingredients.
•32nd president of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt was related, either by blood or by marriage, to 11 former presidents.
•Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president, published more than 16 books, including one called Fishing for Fun-And to Wash Your Soul.
•Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States, had chronic stomach pain and required 10 to 11 hours of sleep and an afternoon nap every day.
•Warren Harding, 29th U.S. president, played poker at least twice a week, and once gambled away an entire set of White House china. His advisors were nicknamed the "Poker Cabinet" because they joined the president in his poker games.
•William Taft, 27th president of the United States, weighed more than 300 pounds and had a special oversized bathtub installed in the White House.
•The teddy bear derived from 26th U.S. president Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a bear with her cub while on a hunting trip in Mississippi.
•Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th president of the United States, underwent a secret operation aboard a yacht to remove his cancerous upper jaw in 1893.
•Both ambidextrous and multilingual, 20th president of the United States James Garfield could write Greek with one hand while writing Latin with the other.
•Ulysses S. Grant, 18th president of the United States, died of throat cancer. During his life, Grant had smoked about 20 cigars per day.
•17th U.S. president Andrew Johnson never attended school. His future wife, Eliza McCardle, taught him to write at the age of 17. (Bonus fact about Andrew Johnson: He only wore suits that he custom-tailored himself.)
•Often depicted wearing a tall black stovepipe hat, 16th president of the United States Abraham Lincoln carried letters, bills, and notes in his hat.
•15th U.S. president James Buchanan is the only unmarried man ever to be elected president. Buchanan was engaged to be married once; however, his fiancée died suddenly after breaking off the engagement, and he remained a bachelor all his life.
•Sedated only by brandy, 11th president of the United States James Polk survived gall bladder surgery at the age of 17.
•John Tyler, 10th U.S. president, fathered 15 children (more than any other president)--8 by his first wife, and 7 by his second wife. Tyler was past his seventieth birthday when his 15th child was born.
•9th U.S. president William Henry Harrison was inaugurated on a bitterly cold day and gave the longest inauguration speech ever. The new president promptly caught a cold that soon developed into pneumonia. Harrison died exactly one month into his presidential term, the shortest in U.S. history.


Above information from fireworks.com


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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Stage Your Home Like a Pro to SELL FASTER


With a little work, you can stage your home yourself to make it stand out from the crowd.  ~   By Fleur Bradley of Investopedia


Selling your house in today's tough real-estate market takes a lot of work. Your home needs to look its best to stand apart from the competition, which means you need to stage your home in order to get top dollar. Staging services cost thousands, but with a little work and investment, you can easily do it yourself. Here are staging secrets to help you sell your home faster and for more money.


Say goodbye and depersonalize
Selling a home and living in it are two very different things. If you're like most people, you have family photographs to make you feel at home. Now that you're selling your house, however, it's time to make room for buyers to imagine themselves living there, which means that all of your family photos and personal items have to go. While you're packing away baby pictures, take time to say goodbye to your house; if you have children, get them involved in this process as well. It'll make it easier to start looking at your home as an asset you're selling, rather than an extension of you.


Get packing
Once you've packed your family photos away, it's time to clear some of your clutter. You want to show buyers the space, not your china collection — however beautiful it may be. Christmas decorations, memorabilia and books — anything you can do without for a while should be packed away. Cut back your kids' toys; they'll seem like new ones when you unpack in your new home. Use baskets or containers to store toys and keep things tidy. Consider renting a storage unit; the cost will be worth it, since your home will look much bigger (and considered to be worth more) when it has less stuff in it.


Add some curb appeal
The outside of your home is the first thing a buyer sees — does your home stand out from the street? Clean the exterior of your home, touch up any flaky paint and add some bright annuals to your garden for a quick sprucing up. If you have a porch, set the stage with a potted plant or a chair with a colorful outdoor pillow. First impressions are vital, so don't lose your chance to get buyers in the right mood from the moment they drive up to your home.


Find each room's purpose
Most of us use our spaces in ways that suit our lifestyle: dining rooms become offices, family rooms become playrooms and spare bedrooms become storage areas. Now that you're selling your home, it's time to restore those spaces to their original purpose. Look around your house for furniture that could fit the space, ask a neighbor or friend to borrow furniture or look at thrift stores or online bulletins for inexpensive staging props. Paint, slipcovers or a decorative tablecloth are easy fixes for dated or worn furniture. It's easy to turn a spare bedroom into an office with a simple table, chair and notebook. An empty basement becomes a game room with a table, chairs and a chess board staged to play. Use what you already own, and stage each room so buyers can easily see what its purpose is.


Unify with color
If you've ever been to a new, builder-staged home, you've probably noticed that decorators picked a color scheme throughout the house. It's a stager's trick: homes that have a repeating color scheme seem bigger and more organized. Chances are that you already have a favorite color you like to use in your home — just take a look at your curtains, bedding and towels to find a recurring color. If not, pick a color you like and find ways to repeat this in each room in small ways. Scented candles, towels, framed postcards (you can use your family photo frames) and throw pillows are inexpensive ways to unify your décor.


Furniture placement
Hopefully, when you packed away your clutter, you also stored excess furniture to help make rooms look bigger. Here's another important tip: if possible, avoid putting all your furniture against the wall like many of us do — it actually makes a room seem smaller. If you have a fireplace, position your furniture so buyers can sit, have a conversation and enjoy it. Keep pathways clear and remember: Less is more. You want buyers to see your home's space, not your stuff.


Ready, set, sell!
When you're done, ask an honest friend or neighbor to tour your home and give their input for any final touches. Remember to keep the house staged and looking its best until that offer comes in. With these inexpensive staging tricks, your home will be the best on the block.


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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Origins and Meaning of Names


     Historically, names have served as a fingerprint of life, perhaps a basic clue to one's personality. Knowledge of naming practices in our ancestral country of origin can help us trace our respective families back to a village or a place, tell us their occupation, or it can give us an idea about what our ancestors looked like. The intriguing story of surnames dates back thousands of years. How and where they began, what their original meanings were, and their various spellings, is called the study of onomastics.

     Beginning in the 15th and 16th centuries, family names gained in popularity in Poland and Russia. The Scandinavian countries, bound by their custom of using the father's name as a second name, didn't begin using family surnames until the 19th century, Turkey waited until 1933, when the government forced the practice on its people.

     In nearly every case, surnames were first used by the nobility and wealthy landowners, and the practice then trickled down to the merchants and commoners. The first permanent names were those of barons and landowners who derived their names from the manors. These names became fixed through the hereditary nature of their lands. For the members of the working and middle classes seeking status, the practices of the nobility were imitated, leading to the widespread use of surnames.
     Family names have come down to us in various ways. They may have grown out of a person's surroundings or job, or the name of an ancestor. Most surnames evolved from four general sources:

Occupation
     The local house builder, food preparer, grain grinder and suit maker, would be named: John Carpenter, John Cook, John Miller and John Taylor. The person who made barrels was called Cooper. The blacksmith was called Smith. Every village had its share of Smiths, Carpenters and Millers. The Millers in one town weren't necessarily related to the Millers in the next town.
Location
     The John who lived over the hill became known as John Overhill; the one who dwelled near a stream might be dubbed John Brook.  Many locational surnames originated as place names. You can tell that a surname is a locational place name if it ends with one of the regular place name elements, such as -hill, -ford, -wood, -brook, -well, and so on. Less easily recognized locational surnames end with -ton, -ham, -wick, -stead meaning a farm, or small settlement. Other common locational endings are -don, (a hill), -bury (a fortification) or -leigh, or -ley (a clearing).
Patronymic (father's name)
     Many of these surnames can be recognized by the ten-nination son, such as Williamson, Jackson, etc. Some endings used by other countries to indicate "son" are: Armenians - ian; Danes and Norwegians - sen; Finns - nen; Greeks - poulos; Cypriots - ou; Spaniards - ez; and Poles - wiecz, Prefixes denoting "son" are the Welsh - Ap, the Scots and Irish - Mac, and the Normans - Fitz. So, John the son of Randolph became John fitz-Randolph because "fitz" means son of." In Wales, David the son of John tacked ap" in front of his father's name, and David ap John was soon being called David Upjohn. in Scotland, Gilleain's descendants were known as MacGilleain and later shortened to Madeab, McClean, McLane, and all the other versions.
Characteristic
     An unusually small person might be labeled Small, Short, Little or Lyfle, A large man might be named Longfellow, Large, Lang or Long. Many persons having characteristics of a certain animal would be given the animal's name. Examples: a sly person might be named Fox; a good swimmer, Fish; a quiet man, Dove; etc.
     Many historians believe that surnames derived from places (locational) were the first to become hereditary. Surnames evolving from nicknames or descriptive traits (characteristic) are also of early origin. Surnames taken from occupations came later, and those of patronymic origin were the last to become hereditary. Even though patronymic names have been in use a long time, they would change with every generation: William's son John would be known as John Williamson, while his son William would be William Johnson. Surnames that are the most fun, the most surprising and sometimes even embarrassing, are the characteristic names. One word of caution, though: do not be distressed if your name originally meant something you consider uncomplimentary.
     Remember that definition may have applied to someone who lived centuries ago. There are obvious characteristic surnames, including Longfellow, Redd (one with red hair), and White (white complexion or hair), and their Italian and German counterparts, Bianco and Weiss. You cannot always take at face value what names seem to mean, because of changes in word meanings over the centuries. Hence the English name Stout, which brings to mind a rather fat fellow, is actually indicative of an early ancestor who was easily irritated, a noisy fellow. There are some names that leave us with an immediate picture of a person with a most distinctive physical characteristic: Stradling, an English name meaning one with bowed legs; the French Beaudry - one with good bearing, beautiful; and the Irish Balfe - one who stammered and stuttered.

The Origins of Surnames Around the World
     Although your last name offers you the most substantial clues to your family history, first and middle names can also be valuable in tracing your family tree. We generally think of names with three parts: first, middle and last. First names are called "given" or "Christian" names, because early Christians changed their pagan first names to Christian names at baptism.
     Most first names used in the Western World today originate from five languages: Hebrew, Teutonic (which included Germanic), Greek, Latin and Celtic (which includes Irish, Welsh and Scottish).
     It's fascinating to learn how easily first names fall into obvious categories. Hebrew contributed biblical names, and about one-half of the English-speaking population have first names from the New Testament such as Elizabeth, Mary, John and Joseph. The Teutonic tongues gave us names linked with warlike characteristics, such as Charles (to become adult), or Ethel (noble). The Greek, Latin and Celtic languages also gave us names for personal characteristics and abstract qualities, For example, the Greek name Andrew means "manly," the Greek Dorothy is "gift of God," the Latin Victor means "victory in battle," and the Latin Laura translates to "the air." Names of Celtic origin are almost poetic, such as Kevin meaning "gentle and beloved" and Morgan meaning "sea dweller."
     While there is a wealth of first names available, the actual selection process has been somewhat limited. It is necessary to remember that in 1545 the Catholic Church made the use of a saint's name mandatory for baptism, so for centuries first names have been confined to the John and Mary tradition. In fact, in all western countries during the Middle Ages, there were only about twenty common names for infant boys and girls. And John and Mary were most frequently used. In the 1600's the Protestants rejected anything associated with Catholicism, so in came names from the Old Testament, such as Elijah, Priscilla and Joshua.
     Middle names weren't used until the 15th century when a second "first" name was used as a status symbol by German nobility. Many years passed before this practice became widespread, and in the United States, it did not become popular until after the Revolutionary War, when the fashion was to use the mother's maiden name.

Belgian
     Belgian surnames are either of French or Dutch Origin. In the North, surnames tend to be of a Dutch origin and are similar in nature to those found in the Netherlands. The remainder of the country falls under French influence, particulary the Walloon dialect, and surnames from these areas resemble those of the French.
Chinese
     Although China has over one billion people, there are approximately 1000 surnames, and only 60 of these are common. Most Chinese surnames are only one syllable and are characteristic of descriptive in origin. The most common Chinese names are Wang (yellow), Wong (field or wide water), Chan (old) and Chew (mountain). Since almost all Chinese names are one syllable and easy to pronounce, and because of strong Chinese family and ancestral ties, few names have been changed. The Chinese still place their surnames first, although this practice is no longer followed by the Chinese people living in Western countries.
Czech
     Czech surnames are related to Polish surnames, but they tend to be shorter and easier to pronounce, since they contain fewer consonants. It is common to find a Czech surname derived from a nickname and diminutive forms are also widespread. Many Czechs have German or "Germanicized" names. Some interesting Czech surnames include the following: Hovorka (one who was overly talkative), Kostal (a dweller in a field where cabbages have been cut) and Metnick (one who ground grain, a miller).
Danish
     The vast majority of Danish names are patronymic in origin and end in -sen. Prior to the late 1860's, these surnames were not hereditary, but changed with each generation. The son of Jorgen Petersen would be known by the surname Jorgensen. In 1904 the Danish Government began to encourage the use of surnames other than the traditional -sen names, and many people then added a place or occupational name to their -sen name by hyphenating the two. Other Danish surnames include: Henricksen (the son of Henry; home rule), Krogh (a worker in an inn, or dweller in a corner), Pedersen (the son of Peter; a rock) and Jorgenson (the son of George; farin er).
Dutch
     The use of hereditary family surnames began in the 13th and 14th centuries but did not spread to the Low Countries until the middle of the 17th century. Many Dutch names are recognized by the prefixes van, van der, van den, and ver which mean "from" or "from the." The Dutch van is not like the German von which designates nobility. Characteristic nicknames were also used as surnames by the Dutch, and, like many other cultures, patronymics which changed with each generation were long a fixture in the Dutch name system. The following surnames are of Dutch origin: Drukker (one who prints or works as a pressman), Zylstra (a dweller near a lock, or drainage sluice), Groen (the young, inexperienced, vigorous person) and Hartig (a strong, robust man).
English
     By the end of the 13th century, Englishmen and English personal names were to be found not just in England but in many parts of Scotland, Wales and Ireland as well. These personal names were derived from a variety of sources. Some were biblical in origin, or were the names of saints and martyrs of the early Christian Church. Many were Norman, and a handful were Anglo-Saxon survivals or revivals. Also, saints who were popular in particular regions, such as Cuthbert in the north, might influence the choice of personal names in those regions. The following surnames are of English origin and their usage spread throughout Great Britain: Palmer (a palm-bearing pilgrim returned from the holy land), Weedman (one in charge of a heathen temple), Yale (a dweller at a corner, nook, or secret place) and Schoolcraft (a dweller in a hut in a small field or enclosure).
French 
     Except for the difference in language, the French system of names closely resembles that of the English. French contact with the English during the period of development of English surnames is largely responsible for the similarities. Please find the following surnames of French origin: Chevrier (one who took care of goats), Legault (a dweller by the woods), Pegues (one who produced and sold pitch, or wax) and Rozier (dweller near a rose bush).
German 
     Most German surnames are derived from occupations, colors or locations. Some are from descriptive forms (characteristic) such as Mein (little) and Gross (big). The following surnames are of German origin: Kreuser (one who had curly hair), Schluter (one who worked as a doorkeeper of the prison), Tobler (a dweller in a forest, or ravine) and Shuck (one who made and sold shoes).
Greek
     Most Greek names are patronymic in origin or derive from geographical place names. The most popular Greek name is Pappas, meaning descended from a priest. The following Greek surnames are derived from a religious, or characteristic origin: Kraikos (one who follows God), Xenos (the stranger), Galanis (one with blue eyes) and Psiharis (one who contributes for the good of his soul).
Hebrew
     Up until the early 19th century, most Jewish names were patronymic or locational. However, during the persecutions in Germany, they were forced by law to take permanent surnames. Many were able to pay officials to choose their own surnames, usually one describing beauty. Unfortunately, many were unable to pay and were assigned names that were purposely offensive. Since many European Jews were strictly limited in their choice of professions, only a limited number of surnames are occupational in origin. Below please find some surnames of Hebrew origin. As you will see, they are mostly descriptive in nature: Meier (the scholarly man), Ury (fire, fight), Joffe (the handsome or beautiful person) and Shiffin (descendant of Shifra; beautiful).
Irish
     Hereditary surnames were first used in Ireland as early as the 10th century, but the custom did not become widespread until the 12th century. Because ownership of land was determined by family relationships, pedigrees were accurately maintained from early times. This interest in descent is also the reason most Irish names are patronymics, which are signified by either 0 or Mac. 0 stands for the old Gaelic word ua, meaning descended from, while Mac means son and is sometimes abbreviated to Mc or M'. Because of persecution, many people dropped the 0 and Mac from their names, but in modem times, the use of these prefixes has been resumed. Some interesting Irish surnames include the following: McClary (die son of the clerk), Rogan (one with red hair, or a ruddy complexion), Ryan (the grandson of Rian; little king) and Tamory (the son of the gympanist).
Italian
     All Italian surnames end in a vowel and many of them have been derived from a descriptive nickname. Even after hereditary surnames had become the rule in Italy, descriptive nicknames were often passed from one generation to another and gradually replaced the hereditary surname. This practice has produced numerous animal, fish, bird and insect names. The following surnames are of Italian origin and all end in a vowel: Cannella (a dweller where bent grass grew), Medici (one who practiced medicine), Pelficanno (one thought to possess the characteristics of a pelican) and Rotolo (one who made or wrote on scrolls).
Edited by Lionel E. Mayrand from an orginal article contained in the Mayrand Archives.

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