Shirk

From alternative music and media to alternative medicine, we're increasingly offered nontraditional replacements to mainstream methods, institutions and practices. Although conventional approaches serve a purpose, growing awareness of their limitations and flaws impel men to explore along the fringe for new, and in some cases, ancient solutions.

So why not alternative weather forecasts? Present day orthodox forecast techniques lack the ability to accurately predict the weather beyond three or four days. Even with the assistance of the largest weather computer in the world, whose lightning-fast calculations approach about 400 million per second, the results of its three-day forecasts are speculative; its six to seven day forecasts are worthless. According to conventional weather forecasters, this is due to the complexity of atmospheric forces and processes.

What some scientists see as complexity, however, might actually be viewed as simplicity when the frame of reference is changed. Johannes Kepler, the 17th century astronomer and discoverer of the planetary laws of motion, experimented with what today would be considered an alternative forecast method that made long-range weather forecasts possible. Kepler observed that the angular relationships among the planets coincided with the formation of weather systems here on Earth that, in turn, produced storms, droughts, floods, etc. His first brush with fame came not because of his breakthrough regarding the planetary laws of motion but because of his accurate long-range weather forecast of the severe winter that put Styermark, Germany on ice in 1593. Since the planets move in repetitive cycles that can be known beforehand, he reasoned, the weather induced by them can also be known beforehand.

We can all see the advantages that such predictions could have. Accurate long-range weather forecasts would bring enormous benefits to the weather derivatives market, agriculture, transportation, construction, and other industries, not to mention the lives that could be saved through advance knowledge of severe weather conditions.

The Weather Alternative's forecast system is based on Kepler's work and takes a look at Hurricane Season 2007. Although no forecast method, be it conventional or alternative, can claim 100 percent accuracy, it is interesting to note the dependability this method offers.

Ken Paone has been working with Kepler's long-range weather forecasting method for about 16 years. His published forecasts have appeared internationally. You can email Ken at kensweather@msn.com. Check out the long-range weather forecasts for Hurricane Season 2007 as well as the results of his past forecasts at http://www.theweatheralternative.blogspot.com

Scratch cards are a cool way to get your youth involved in your church fundraising. They are easy to use and lots of fun for both the fundraisers (youth) and the givers.

The way scratch cards work for church fundraising is each fundraising scratch card holds sixty scratch-off circles. Each circle reveals an amount that the giver will donate to your youth church fundraiser. The largest amount that any one circle will reveal is $2.50. This guaranties that the giver will give a maximum of $2.50 for your church fundraiser per circle.

After your giver scratches off the desired number of circles they are given a coupon book loaded with valuable coupons that can be used in your area. The coupon total is usually around $75 making it a great exchange for the giver.

What really makes a scratch card fundraiser fun is your youth can be hands on involved in raising money. Announce that after church service in a week your youth will be holding a special one time scratch card fundraiser. This will give your congregation a heads up so they know to bring cash with them the following week. Then on the given Sunday have your youth go around in the fellowship hall or meeting area and ask each congregant to please scratch of a circle. Be sure to instruct your youth to guarantee that the maximum donation will be $2.50 per fundraising circle.

Then as your givers scratch off the circles your youth will collect the money and hand out the coupon books. This is a great way to have fun, involve your youth and tap into a majority of your givers.

Shauna Hanus of http://www.laetans.com builds and maintains fundraising websites for churches and small ministries. Shauna has years of experience building websites and internet marketing. For more information on how to get a free fundraising website for your church visit http://www.laetans.com.