America The Beautiful: Exploring The Roads (And Trails) Less Traveled

Americans are known for seeking the roads less traveled and, in many cases, continuing to journey even after the road ends. More than 50 million Americans went off-roading in 2005, a 42 percent increase since 2000.

For fans of off-roading, there are two considerations when taking to the dirt and rocks of off-road driving: safety and ecology. Safety starts with having the right equipment-a vehicle that's designed for uneven, unpredictable terrain and tough, dependable tires that can take the punishment of dirt, rocks, ravines and more. And by following ecological guidelines, you can help ensure that trails will be enjoyable for other adventurers.

Safety Tips

1. Inform someone of where you are going and when you expect to return.

2. Make sure your vehicle has plenty of fuel.

3. Ride at safe speeds for existing conditions.

4. Travel straight up and down hills-never traverse the face of a hill; it may cause your vehicle to slip sideways or roll over.

5. Cross large rocks or other obstacles slowly, at an angle, one wheel at a time.

6. Cross ravines at a 45-degree angle.

7. Only cross streams at a designated fording point.

8. Never turn around on narrow roads, steep terrain or unstable ground.

9. Avoid stopping in tall grass or brush, which can be ignited by engine heat.

10. Reduce tire pressure to improve traction in tough off-road conditions.

It's the Ecology

1. Drive only where permitted.

2. Keep a trash bag in your vehicle and collect litter left by others.

3. Ride in the middle to minimize the widening of the trail.

4. Avoid slide slipping and wheel spin to prevent erosion.

5. Keep away from wildlife.

6. Steer clear of sensitive habitats: wetlands, meadows, tundra, etc.

7. Clean your vehicle after the ride to reduce the spread of noxious weeds.

8. Observe proper sanitary waste disposal.

Top Trails

To highlight some of the best off-road trails in the country, BFGoodrich Tires, in conjunction with Tread Lightly and United Four Wheel Drive Associations, has launched its Outstanding Trails program. The program is dedicated to the responsible use and preservation of these off-road trails and will aid in the effort to keep these trails sustainable.

"Last year, more than 50 million people sought adventure through recreational off-road driving; the sport is exploding in popularity," said Kaz Holley, brand director for BFGoodrich Tires. "Each one of the trails highlighted in this program is amazing, and embodies the very best in off-roading. BFGoodrich tires and these Outstanding Trails are very similar in nature-both are tough and both are fun to drive on."

The program identifies five of North America's best trails. From desolate desert stretches to towering peaks and rolling hillsides, these trails are unique in toughness and beauty.

After a careful selection process, five of North America's "outstanding" off-road trails were nominated for uniqueness, terrain type and enthusiast following:

• Black Bear Pass, near Ouray, Colo., is a picturesque trail nestled in the San Juan Mountains.

• Pyeatt Draw, a scenic and exciting trail situated in Payson, Ariz.

• Hell's Revenge, with its slick sandstone slopes, brings adventure to thrill seekers in Moab, Utah.

• Historic Naches Pass, also known as the Longmire Wagon Train, takes off-road drivers over the Cascade Mountains in Naches, Wash.

• Upper Tellico Trail, Trail #4, located in the Nantahala National Forest, is located in an area where Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia meet.

As a part of the program, BFGoodrich Tires will host several events at designated trails to highlight the uniqueness of each location as well as to educate off-roaders on the responsible use of each trail. The company will also give a grant to a selected off-road club to help with the costs associated with the trails' conservation.

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America's Spiritual History: The Impulse That Gave Birth To A Nation

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to assert its right to freely exist as an independent society, unhampered by restrictions by a governmental authority that is far away and that does not have its best interests at heart, then it behooves that society and that people to express, in words that are clear and cogent, the reasons for its removal from the authority which it has labored under.  This removal, rather than being an act of defiance and provocation, is an act of self-affirmation and of positive movement toward a future in which the governed shall govern their own communities and society, and in which the voice of the people shall be heard.

There can be no just government without this kind of representation and without this kind of flow between government and governed, and to this end the Republic of the United States of America must seek to separate itself from the ruling authority of Britain, whose history, culture, purpose, and expectations are very different from our own, and who, in the opinion of many, hold and seek to perpetuate policies that are deleterious to the wellbeing of the newly-founded communities of this young Republic.

We ask the people of the world who observe this time with us, to rest assured that we are not making a declaration against monarchy or against any other kind of leadership or rulership that works effectively and justly to serve the needs of the people.  We are stating an underlying principle firmly, clearly, and with specific intention, namely, that government must proceed with the consent of the governed in order to be just, and that the process of representation of those who are governed by those whom they choose to represent them is an essential and critical part of any just and stable society.

We ask the people of the world to recognize our newly burgeoning efforts at self-government and self-representation, so that we may join with other peoples in common purpose, and so that we may create communication with our neighbors and friends that may be mutually beneficial.  The fact that we are newly founded and are an offshoot of a nation with a great and proud history, does not mean that we must be identified solely with these historical roots.  Rather, we seek to be identified on our own terms in relation to what we can offer to others at this point in time, and what others can offer to us.  We extend our hands in friendship to the peoples of the world who seek justice and freedom for their societies and peoples, and declare that we will not rest, we will not lower our advancing interest in liberty and justice, until every citizen of this newly founded Republic of America shall feel that they are adequately represented in a government of their choosing, and that their voice can and will be heard.  It is only by bringing ultimate authority of choice back to the people who are governed that a truly democratic society can exist, and it is with this aim in mind that we set forth these principles today, that shall henceforth be known as the Declaration of Independence.

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America’s Sleep Epidemic: Some Helpful Tips

If you feel tired while reading this short article, it is already happening to you...

An estimated 100+ million Americans have occasional sleep problems, of which 40 million have so-called "sleep disorders", and over 75% of the population is walking around deprived of sleep on a daily basis. Studies show it only is getting worse with each passing decade, and there are no signs of the situation becoming any better. In fact, over the past 5 years alone there has been a startling 33% increase in those of us reporting trouble sleeping! Can you imagine what statistics in another decade will be like? Unfortunately, it does not look like we are heading in the right direction. (You can read more statistics at the following URL: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/.)

In our busy, fast-paced society, it seems we are constantly moving, thinking, and trying to get "more" done. The first thing many of us think of doing when we do have so-called "free time" is to catch up on a little TV or do some activity that we have "not had the time to do", aside from catching up on our sleep. And greater quality and quantity sleep is exactly what most of us really need.

Sleep studies clearly show that not receiving the quality and quantity sleep affects our lives in negative ways, sometimes greatly. It can change the way we see and experience our lives and the world around us in dramatic ways.

Some of the following can help us identify when we might not be achieving enough quality sleep each night:

    * Feelings of tiredness at some point throughout the day
    * Falling asleep within a few minutes when going to bed
    * Decreases in levels of intolerance and increased levels of hostility
    * Reduced ability to concentrate
    * Slowed reflexes
    * Impaired judgment
    * Apathy
    * Unusual weight gain or loss
    * Change in body temperatures that lead to feelings of chilliness
    * Unusual levels of anxiety
    * Falling asleep when inappropriate
    * Reduced creativity
    * Reduced ability to think logically or handle complex tasks
    * Increased levels of self-consciousness with increased levels of anxiety

If you find any of these attributes apply to you, you might want to sleep a little longer or sounder each night.

Amazingly, one of the quickest ways to improve the quality of our lives and waking hours, as the statistics show, is to simply get a better night's sleep. It is such a simple answer to such a complex problem.

If you are having troubles falling asleep, there are things you can do that can help you very quickly. Yes, the following might seem obvious to many folks, but sometimes we miss the obvious. So, let's cover some quick and easy ones first.

Two Things to Avoid: Caffeine and Nicotine

Reduce the levels of caffeine used throughout the day. Studies show that people who have insomnia already have a higher metabolic rate (typically 9%) than those who are sleeping normally. It would take about 4 cups of coffee to raise a normal sleepers metabolism to the same rate. From this metabolic indicator, although the person with insomnia does not feel wide awake and shows all the signs of not achieving enough sleep, we can see that a person who intakes caffeine actually on average is highly physiologically aroused. After all, caffeine is a stimulant!

The short of it...reduce the levels of caffeine intake throughout the day. Obviously, we are not going to say quit totally, even though it can help. Of course, the last thing you want to do is drink the caffeine within a few hours (three or more) before attempting to go to sleep.

List of items, both food and beverages, that may contain caffeine:

    * Coffee - Brewed (drip or percolated), Instant, Many so-called "decaffeinated" coffees
    * Tea - Brewed (drip or percolated), Instant, Many so-called "decaffeinated" coffees
    * Cocoa
    * Chocolate (Light, Dark, Baker's, etc.): Beverage or Food.  This includes hot chocolate milk.
    * Most Sodas: Including "Diet" and "Clear" Sodas - Coke, Diet Coke, Mr. PIBB, RC Cola, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi, Canada Dry, and many others

Next, nicotine intake can have a dramatic affect on our ability to get a good night's rest. Just like caffeine, nicotine is a stimulant. Smoking is the primary way of ingesting nicotine. Smoking can raise blood pressure, stimulate brainwave activity, and increase heart rate.

Studies have shown that smokers actually have greater difficulties falling asleep and wake more times during the night. It is possible the later is a symptom of withdrawal. And, when people have quit smoking after regularly smoking from 1 to 3 packs of cigarettes a day over at least a two year period of time, studies have clearly found it is easier to fall asleep and sleep more soundly with less awakenings at night.

Obviously people are not going to just quit smoking, as most who have the habit realize how addictive it really can be. So, maybe lessen your smoking intake and only do it a certain points during the day. Try not to have any cigarettes close to bedtime and try, like the case with caffeine, to limit your usage to several hours before bedtime, which can help greatly. If you want to quickly work toward getting a better night's sleep and you smoke cigarettes, then to quit smoking is one of the quickest ways to help achieve your goal.

Bedroom Sleep Tips!

There are many more things we can do, to achieve a better night's sleep, including taking a look at different aspects of our bedroom or sleep environments. Many of the following list will be subjective, so you will want to find out by focusing on a few and making small changes through time to what personally works for you.

    * Bed Sheets: comfort... silk may be romantic, but not always practical. Your sheets should "breathe" well.
    * Room Temperature: not too hot and not too cold. Some people find it easier to keep the room cold and wrap up warmly in their bed sheets. If your feet are cold... easy enough... wear socks.
    * Noise or Sound: the less the better, although some people might consider an underlying, constant sound to help with sleep.
    * Humidity: If you find your throat is scratchy/sore, your skin feels dry, or you have congested sinus passages, it might be because your room is too dry. If you feel warm, sweaty, and moist, you might want to see if there is too much humidity in the room.
    * Lighting: the darker the better.
    * Drafts: some people like a draft, while it bothers others. Keep an eye on this one for sore through or tight chest while sleeping. It might mean you have a draft in the room. If you can, open a window and let in some fresh air, as air can become stale while stagnant.
    * Cleanliness: Ok, simple... keep it clean. This can keep the air fresh and help with sleep.
    * Bed Equals Sleep: Use and associate your bed with sleeping only and not other activities. Read or do you "home" work somewhere else... not in bed. Associating the bed with something like work or even TV can keep us up at night. Associating it with relaxing activities, sleep or even sex, can help us fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly at night.
    * Clocks: the click-click-click of mechanical clocks, the brightness from digital clocks, or just having a clock in front of us can be a distraction. For some, the constant sound of clicking might actually be good for sleep.
    * Pillows and Mattresses: Take your time and find what will work for you. The new memory foam pillows, although sometimes seemingly expensive can be worth every penny. Make sure they are high quality products, high-density (approx. 5lbs. per cubic foot) memory foam, as there are a lot of cheap, lightweight memory foam pillows on the market today. With your mattress, take your time and make sure you can test run a bed at home, so you can take it back if yours does not work for you.
    * Biggest sleep tip of all: Take your time and BE PATIENT with yourself. See what works best for you. It's worth the effort. Simply reading each of the above can help make you conscious of ways you might not have noticed in the past, and this will lead to improve your own life, by achieving a better night's sleep. Take your time and be patient.

These are just a few things about our sleep context that can help us achieve a better night's sleep and improve the quality of our lives.

As the statistics clearly show, most of us are walking around half awake every day, which means in all probability we are not living a higher quality of life we could be and other areas of our lives can suffer. Both psychical and psychological problems can arise by not achieving enough quality sleep.

Take the above tips and run with them. Take your time, be patient, and find what has helped others and how you can help yourself improve the quality of your life through a better night's sleep. It's time stop the growth and reverse America's easily unnoticed sleep epidemic.

If you have any questions or comments, you are more than welcome to stop by my website: http://www.stasispillow.com where you can contact me, read a lot more about the topic of sleep, and even take a sleep IQ test and develop your sleep knowledge. Hope some of these tips help! They can really improve the quality of your life. I am proud to say they have helped improve my life and many others. Sleep well!

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America’s Seven Top Nursing Schools

Choosing the right school can make all the difference in your nursing career.  Knowledgeable, supportive instructors are the key to any good nursing education, and the stronger a school is in the department you want to specialize in, the easier it will be for you to pursue the nursing field of your dreams.  If you’re not sure where to specialize yet, it’s generally better to choose a larger school that will give you exposure to many different fields—and is likely to have a strong department in the field you choose.  Following is a list of seven of the most well-respected nursing schools in America.

University of Washington School of Nursing.  Consistently ranked the top nursing school in the country, the University of Washington School of Nursing has the largest number of fellows in the American Academy of Nursing, which is a distinct honor.  It also has global partnerships and opportunities for nurses to study and work abroad, a cutting-edge research program, and its graduates are among the top qualified graduates in their fields.

UCSF School of Nursing.  Located at the University of California—San Francisco, this nursing school places particular emphasis on community outreach.  This school also has a strong research program.  It received the most research funding from the National Institutes of Health for two years in a row, in 2003 and 2004.

University of Texas School of Nursing.  Ranked among the top 10% of graduate schools in U.S. News and World Report’s 2005 survey, the University of Texas School of Nursing continues to get high marks.  According to the school, they have one of the most diverse populations of students in any U.S. nursing school—as well as high student achievement and extraordinary faculty dedication.

University of Virginia School of Nursing.  Another top-10% school in the U.S. News and World Report, this school’s ratings have gone up consistently every year.  Within the school, the Psychiatric/Mental Health and Adult/Medical-Surgical specialties were given particularly high ranks.

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing.  This program was ranked 19th in the country in the U.S. News and World Report for the 2005-2006 year.  High-ranking specialties include internal medicine, women’s health, geriatrics and pediatrics, and AIDS care, which was ranked 4th in the nation.

University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Located in Philadelphia, this school was founded in 1740 by Ben Franklin and continues to be one of the nation’s top nursing schools.  It boasts a low student-to-faculty ratio, lifelong free career support to graduates, and world-class faculty.  The school’s website states that 95% of its nursing students pass the boards on the first try.

University of Michigan—Ann Arbor School of Nursing.  Another consistently top-ranked school, the University of Michigan’s nursing school has one of the most extensive libraries in the country.  It’s located next to the University of Michigan Medical Health Center, with a strong emphasis on clinical application.

Nursing is an exciting, challenging, and rewarding career.  The right school can launch you into a successful nursing career, and give you the support you need to succeed along the way.  There are thousands of great nursing schools in America—and these seven are among the best of the best.

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America's Second Civil War

Reprinted with permission from:

"The Second Civil War in the USA and its Aftermath" by Sam Vaknin (second, revised impression, 2029)

Summary of Chapter 83

"The polities of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries swung between extremes of nationalism and polyethnic multiculturalism. Following the Great War (1914-8), the disintegration of most of the continental empires - notably the Habsburg and Ottoman - led to a resurgence of a particularly virulent strain of the former, dressed as Fascism, Nazism, and Stalinism.

The aftermath of the Second World War brought on a predictable backlash in the West against all manner of nationalism and racism. The USSR, Yugoslavia, the Czech Republic, the EU (European Union, then European Community), the Commonwealth led by the United Kingdom, and the prominent USA epitomized the eventual triumph of multiculturalism, multi-ethnic states, and, in the Western democracies, pluralism.

Africa and Asia, just emerging from a phase of brutal colonialism, were out of synch with these developments in Europe and North America and began to espouse their own brands of jingoistic patriotisms. Attempts to impose liberal-democratic, multi-cultural, tolerant, pluralistic, and multi-ethnic principles on these emergent entities was largely perceived and vehemently rejected by them as disguised neo-colonialism.

The disintegration, during the second half of the twentieth century, of the organizing principles of international affairs - most crucially Empire in the 1960s and Communism in the 1980s - led to the re-eruption of exclusionary, intolerant, and militant nationalism. The Balkan secession wars of the 1990s served as a stark reminder than historical forces and ideologies never vanish - they merely lie dormant.

Polyethnic multiculturalism came under attack elsewhere and everywhere - from Canada to Belgium. Straining to contain this worrisome throwback to its tainted history, Europeans implemented various models. In the United Kingdom, regions, such as Scotland and Northern Ireland were granted greater autonomy. The EU's "ever closer union", reified by its unfortunate draft constitution, was intermittently rejected and resented by increasingly xenophobic and alienated constituencies.

This time around, between 1980 and 2020, nationalism copulated with militant religiosity to produce particularly nasty offspring in Muslim terrorism, Christian fundamentalist (American) thuggish unilateralism, Hindu supremacy, and Jewish messianism. Scholars, such as Huntington, spoke of a "clash of civilizations".

Ironically, the much-heralded conflict took place not between the USA and its enemies without - but within the United States, in a second and devastating Civil War.

Americans long mistook the institutional stability of their political system, guaranteed by the Constitution, for a national consensus. They actually believed that the former guarantees the latter - that institutional firmness and durability ARE the national consensus. The reverse, as we know, is true: it takes a national consensus to yield stable institutions. No social structure - no matter how venerable and veteran - can resist the winds of change in public sentiment.

In hindsight, the watershed obtained during the Bush-Cheney presidency (2001-2009). The social and political concord frayed and then disintegrated with each successive blow: the war in Iraq (2003-7), the botched evacuation and rescue efforts in the wake of hurricane Katrina (2005), the failed assassination attempt on the President's life (2006), the further restrictions placed on civil and human rights in Patriot Acts III and IV (2008), and, finally, the nuclear terrorist attack on Houston in the closing days of this divisive reign.

From there, it went only downhill.

As opposed to the first Civil War (1860-5), the Second Civil War (2021-26) was fought within communities and across state boundaries. It was not territorial and classic - but total and guerilla-like. It cut across the country's geography and pitted one ideological camp against another.

It may be too soon to objectively analyze and evaluate this gargantuan conflict. It was preceded by a decade of violent demonstrations, home-grown urban terrorism, and numerous skirmishes involving the National Guard and even, in violation of the Constitution, the armed forces.

Some historians cast the whole period as a battle of the religious vs. the secular. It clearly was not. By 2021, most Americans professed to being deeply religious, in one manner or fashion. No one seriously disputed the importance of the Church - but many insisted on its separation from the state.

Hence the protracted (and heated) confrontation between pro-life and pro-choice advocates when Wade vs. Roe was overturned by a politicized and weakened Supreme Court in 2007. Hence the drawn out (and violent) debates about the teaching of evolution theory in schools or the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research.

Nor was the Civil War fought between isolationists and interventionists. An ever more brazen brand of post-September 11 global terrorism and a growing dependence on international trade inexorably drove most Americans to accept their new role as an Empire. They actually learned to enjoy it, both emotionally and economically.

Thus, even erstwhile Jacksonian isolationists reluctantly acquiesced in their country's foreign exploits. But they insisted on blatant unilateralism and the projection of American might merely and only to protect American interests. They abhorred the missionary ideology of the neo-conservatives. Spreading values, such as democracy, should better be left to NGOs and charities - they thundered.

The Civil War was not about the preservation of East Coast liberalism, as some self-serving scholars would have it. America was never less racist and homophobic than in the years immediately preceding the conflagration. The debate, again, revolved around institutions. Should changing mores be enshrined in legislation and case law? Should the national ethos itself be rewritten? Should the very definition and quiddity of being an American (white, male, straight) be revisited?

Neo-Marxist chroniclers attribute the causes of the Second Civil War to the growing disparities of wealth between the haves and the haves not. Presidents Bush and Cheney surely reversed L.B. Johnson's Great Society. They and their successors erased the numerous entitlements and aid programs that many of the economically disenfranchised came to depend upon and to regard as a birth right and as a cornerstone of the social contract.

Turning the clock back on affirmative action and food stamps, for instance, indeed provoked widespread violence. But such outbursts can hardly be construed to have been the precursors of the gigantic flame that consumed the USA a few years hence.

Finally, the Civil War was not about free trade (beneficial to the service and manufacturing based economies of some states) versus protectionism (helpful to the agricultural belts and bowls of the hinterland and to the recovering Gulf Coast). America's economy was far too dependent on the outside world to reverse course. Its national debt was being financed by Asians, its products were being sold all over, its commodities and foods were coming from Africa and Latin America. The USA was in hock to a globalized and merciless economy. Protectionism was campaign posturing - not a cogent and coherent trade policy.

So, what were the roots and causes of the Second Civil War?

None of the above in isolation - and all of the above in confluence. For decades, the citizenry's trust in a packed and rigged Supreme Court declined. Politicians came to be regarded as a detached and heartless plutocracy. Americans felt orphaned, cheated, and robbed. The national consensus - the implicit agreement that together is better than alone - has thus evaporated. The outcome was the shots and explosions that rocked the United States (and the world in tow) on January 20, 2021."

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America's Promise Invites Communities Across Country To Come Together For Children And Youth

Last year, America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth and Founding Chairman Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.) launched the first-ever competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The goal: to identify counties, cities and towns working to make their communities great places for young people to grow up. Over 1,000 communities took part in the inaugural competition and winners were named from 40 states.

To continue to build upon the success of the competition, America's Promise is conducting a series of five regional 100 Best Forums to provide communities with an opportunity to share how they provide healthy, safe and caring environments that effectively educate young people and help them become productive citizens.

The forums will uncover, recognize and promote best practices by nonprofits, businesses, government, policymakers, educators, and youth and civic leaders. The sessions will also encourage collaboration within communities to see that all young people receive the Five Promises essential to success: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others. Participants will also be told how their communities can take part in the next 100 Best Communities for Young People competition, slated to begin Fall 2006.

State Farm will serve as the title sponsor for the forums, with additional support provided by the Ford Motor Company Fund and New Century Financial Corporation.

Every community across the country is invited to take part in one of the forums to be held:

• June 8-9, 2006, in Long Beach, California;

• July 27-28, 2006, in Providence, Rhode Island;

• September 14-15, 2006, in Charlotte, North Carolina;

• September 28-29, 2006, in Indianapolis, Indiana; and

• October 12-13, 2006, in Denver, Colorado.

In addition to the exciting sessions and workshops, all forum participants will receive a continental breakfast and lunch each day, and attend an evening reception.

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America's Next Great Writer

Every once in a while a writer comes along that demands we take notice; one that avails just the right meter, tempo, and rhythm; one that can engulf us in a story and keep us glued throughout 200 pages; one that offers a style sure to be emulated by his aspiring peers, both of his generation and generations to come.

Nelson Pahl is just that writer.

With simultaneous debut releases, entitled Bee Balms & Burgundy and Two for Tuesday, Pahl flexes a literary muscle short in supply today—one that whispers, “legend in the making.”

Although the hardcover version of Bee Balms & Burgundy won’t hit stores until March, I had the pleasure of reading the pre-release, limited edition eBook version, which is available at www.NelsonPahl.com and www.IndieMill.com. There, you can even read a sample chapter, to whet your appetite.

Bee Balms & Burgundy is a charming story of latent lifelong love and the quest to conquer all that stands in its way. Nick May is a successful thirty-two-year-old entrepreneur living in Vancouver. He breaks off an explosive, distrusting eleven-month live-in relationship just before he travels home to St. Paul to see his widowed mother. The relationship leaves him cynical about love, to say the least. Once in St. Paul, he discovers next-door neighbor and lifelong pal Mia Lawson, 30, has a couple secrets she’s been dying to share with him. One, unbeknownst to Nick, is that she’s now a post-mastectomy breast cancer survivor, still hoping to conquer her disease. The second secret levels Nick even more.

Pahl not only delves into the oft-taboo topic of breast cancer with literary vigor, but he also revels in it, astutely capturing the female emotions attached to such a dreadful experience. The chemistry between his two main characters borders on the divine, as we ride along upon an always charming but sometimes heartbreaking chariot through Nicky and Mia’s sensual and ethereal yet trying world.

While Indie Nation Magazine bills the book as “…the best love story you’ll read this year,” I beg to differ, slightly; I’ll argue that it might be the best love story you ever read. Bee Balms courageously delves into a subject today’s “socially conscious” novelists won’t go near, and it treats the topic with grace, dignity, depth, and, yes, even endearing sensuality.

Pahl is a wonderful example of why some of America’s best writers now insist on writing for independent presses: A major publishing house would only shackle his rich and witty writing style and subdue his “outside-the-box” storytelling.

Yet, Pahl’s strict and uncommon literary discipline—along with his hand for sensuous descriptive writing and well-crafted dialogue—make him one of the very best writers in today’s fiction scene, indie lit or mainstream. His concise and fluid prose grip the reader from the onset, and then move him or her through the story with liberating ease and optimum intrigue. Through his articulate and warm first-person narrative, we see, feel, hear, smell, and taste everything; we live inside his fictional world; we are the characters.

Nelson Pahl’s writing style single-handedly restores my faith in today’s literature. Consider Bee Balms & Burgundy an essential inclusion to any A-list catalogue.

And, do yourself a favor: Say you read him before the world knew about him—or, before he wins a Pulitzer.

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