Joannie Williams

There's good news and bad news this week. The good news is that the three-day Memorial Day weekend is here. The bad news is that this holiday is one of the highest risk times for traffic accidents. The National Safety Council estimates 366 people will die in traffic crashes during the upcoming holiday, while another 19,400 will suffer non-fatal disabling injuries.

"While the Memorial Day holiday signals the beginning of the laid-back summer season for many, it's also a dangerous time on roadways, with more deadly traffic accidents occurring than over New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July," according to the safety council of Louisiana. "It's important for drivers to be aware of the risk and to pay extra attention to safety over this weekend."

Here are some things to think about this weekend.

Wear your seat belt and make sure all passengers buckle up as well.

Never drink and drive. Alcohol is the single largest factor involved in motor vehicle deaths.

Have a responsible designated driver when you head out for holiday activities.

Be aware of and avoid drunk drivers. Some signs include:

• Drivers who turn with a wide radius.
• Drivers at speeds 10 miles below the speed limit or speeding excessively.
• Drivers who are following too closely.
• Drivers who have a slow response to traffic signals.
  

Establish and enforce a driver's ‘distraction-free zone' especially in cars equipped with electronic devices including cell phones, video games and global positioning systems.

Drive defensively and exercise caution especially during inclement weather.

Don't allow the holiday rush to affect your driving. A few extra minutes saved by reckless driving aren't worth the injuries you may cause to yourself and others.

Boating and water sports are also popular activities at this time of year. "Remember that traffic safety awareness applies to the waterways as well as the roadways. Louisiana ranks third among the top ten states for boating fatalities." She offers the following boating safety reminders:

• Wear your life jacket and make sure everyone on the boat wears one.
• Stay sober in your boat.
• Be aware of other boats, swimmers and other people in and on the water

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE JULY 4TH WEEKEND.....

WHAT DOES FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU?

America stands for – freedom, independence, equality, opportunity. It's also a terrific reminder of what makes America a wonderful place for entrepreneurs – we nurture freedom and respect and value differences.

As a entrepreneurs, I need freedom to flourish. But I not only need it for myself, but we need it as a society. A society that allows – even encourages – diversity and difference is a society that is most likely to be inventive, resourceful and entrepreneurial.

Think about it. If we're all the same, we can't create our own way. In a world of rapid change, it's more important than ever for us to be taught to think independently and value creativity if we're going to be able to compete economically. Many people understand why it's important to limit government regulation – but it's just as important – perhaps even more so – to truly embrace social diversity.Just because someone is different doesn't mean he or she doesn't have a lot to contribute.

America has prospered economically because our society has allowed each of us the freedom to be different. America thrives when we tolerate — even celebrate — those who do not follow the crowd, who forge a new or different path. Never forget: the United States has a creative business climate because we also have a tolerant social climate. The two are intertwined.

In other societies where you are not permitted to behave differently or pray differently, it soon becomes difficult to think differently. If you can't "think outside the box," Then how do we create?

This holiday, I'll reflect on the freedoms I enjoy as an American. I'll consider how these freedoms have enabled me to create my own business and also my ideas. I don't have to think the same as others or be the same as others to succeed.

That is what freedom is to me! What is freedom to you?

I want to take this time to wish all of the fathers a "Happy Father's Day

I loved my Dad,He passed 1/16/09 I miss him everyday! So to all Active Rain dad "Happy Fathers Day" and God Bless !!

So how we organize will change too.

We as Home Stagers tell our customers to de-clutter, well here are a few things we can do when trying to de-clutter.

There's no point in buying nice containers and making pretty labels for stuff that doesn't really add any value to your life. And if you have more stuff than will fit in the available space, no organizing strategy will ever be all that good. De-clutter first, and then figure out what you need to buy (if anything) to store it better.

De-cluttering takes time,but plugging away at it will get you results. If you are overwhelmed start by working for 15 minutes a day

Stay focused on this area - don't keep jumping up to put things away in another part of the house. You can have a "universal" bin that you put those things into, and then clear the bin out at the end of your organizing time.

Look for the simplest answer that works, and you'll be more likely to keep things up. And don't fight your natural tendencies. If you always plop the mail down on the first horizontal surface that you come to when walking in the door, then maybe you need a container for the mail right there.

Organizing is not a goal unto itself - it's a way to make your life work more easily. If you can find things when you need them, you aren't tripping over things as you move around your house or office, and you feel good when you are in that space, you are probably organized enough.

Changes in business, family, and heath can mean that changes in how we organize would be useful, too.

So when you are telling your customers to declutter, give them a few helpful tips...