How Do We Teach Politics?

Though "US Government and Civics" is taught in high school most people get interested in politics when it affects them personally; sometimes, only when disaster strikes. For instance:

• Cancer survivor who once opposed federal health law challenges Ryan on its repeal
• 'Students aren't quitting': Thousands plan walkouts to protest gun violence, mark 19 years since Columbine
• Hurricane Harvey: Climate change, staggering costs, and people at the heart of it all

Things are a bit more complicated when two or more political topics interconnect, for instance: 

(1) protecting the environment, (2) health care, and (3) the economy.

Probably, if the government loosens many EPA restrictions, more Americans will get sick. Especially at risk are: people suffering from asthma, allergies, bronchitis, COPD, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and also – elderly people and young children.

If at the same time the government does not come up with a working health care plan, Americans will pay for the government's failures. It will also leave Americans with less money in their pockets which will affect the economy.

Naturally, environmental problems threaten the US economy in other ways too. For instance, "red tides" have been reported in the Gulf of Mexico in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Right now (2018), Southwest Florida is experiencing a toxic harmful algae bloom red tide.

Certainly, residents can avoid respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, and tearing) by not going to the beach. Tourists will do the same. It's hard to get people excited about a vacation at the beach if dead fish and birds, turtles, and manatees wash ashore.

But, Florida's economy depends on tourism.

*

Though politics with regards to (1) protecting the environment, (2) health care, and (3) the economy is somewhat complicated, most people can see the various connections.

Things get a bit more complicated when it comes to education. Today, students compete with others around the globe, especially in the IT industry. Failures in education politics (like "No-Child-Left-Behind") can have an impact on students' earning power decades after they graduated.

*

Even more complicated are tax reforms.

Who of us understands all that fine print? Hence, we are supposed to trust our representatives.

T R U S T ?

T R U S T ???

Sadly, that trust is at an all-time low.

The results are shocking to say the least: Since the early sixties overall views of the federal government have fallen from 77% to 19%. More than half of all Americans say “ordinary Americans” would do a better job of solving national problems.

Please find Pew Research's complete study here. Though it was done at the end of the year 2015 I see no reason to believe that these numbers have improved.)

*

It seems to me the only way to avoid problems is to teach our students how to check out the trustworthiness of politicians before an event strikes that causes them to be interested in politics.

We need to teach them to look beyond bold statements and big shows.
Politics isn't supposed to be a circus, it's about life - our lives.

*

Luckily, seventy-three years ago one man showed us the best way:

George Orwell

Trying to learn from the best, I penned a fable about government corruption in a fictitious squirrel world that resembles the United States.

Like most Americans, my squirrel protagonists have hopes and dreams, and enjoy getting together and partying.

Harry is an extremely clever and idealistic, young squirrel who attended the Squirrel Academy to pursue his dream career, Sadly, he finds out that new government regulations hinder him in actually living his dream. Since he has to pay off his student loan he has to work a job he doesn't like very much.

His Great-Grandpa, the oldest community member, has seen it all - the bad times and the good times. He is the first one to get suspicious when he notices strange things happening.

Juanita is an orphaned refugee who is looking for a better life. She also wants to learn new skills and is willing to do more than her share.

Gary Logisquir, Great-Grandpa's best friend and the national nut-checkers champion, is extremely clever but a bit laid back. Seeing Juanita's eagerness to participate in a grassroots movement is a wake-up call for him.

Librarian Maggie Carnegiesquir is a hopeless romantic and a savvy researcher. When put to the test she will stop at nothing to solve a mystery.

Together, the squirrels follow a trail of suspicious events. When they find out what's really going on, they take matters into their own hands. They want to save their republic.

 *

I hope my readers will do the same. 

*

Early reviews:

"...If you enjoyed 'Watership Down' by Richard Adams, and see a lighter bit of current underhandedness thrown in as a plus, you can’t help but to enjoy this book..." L.G. Cullens

"... this time, it is squirrels who stand in for humanity, and this time, the message—while a warning---is one of hope..." Charles Freedom Long

"...I especially liked Great-Grandpa. He was wise and supportive of young Harry's dream to do something great and go on an expedition..." Wanda

"...Imagine reading about Bill Gatesquirrel and Johnny Cashsquirrel, whose theme song is “Everybody Loves a Nut”… (which is an actual Johnny Cash song, by the way.)..." Sherrill S. Cannon

"...Enjoyable poke at the idiosyncrasies of human government transposed onto squirrels in the manner of Orwell's Animal Farm..." Moon Cat

~*~

Gisela Hausmann is multi-award winning author, an email evangelist, and mass media expert.  Her work has been featured in Success magazine and in Entrepreneur, on Bloomberg, and The Innovation Show ― a show for Square Pegs in Round Holes.

Her latest book is the fable, "Are We Nuts?"

To subscribe to Gisela's blogs pls go to:
http://www.giselahausmann.com/free-creative-ideas.html

Gisela tweets @Naked_Determina

©  2018 by Gisela Hausmann

In Case You Missed It: When trying to illustrate societal issues "Squirrels are 'in'"

By Stanslavs via Shutterstock

Honestly, I never thought this could happen to me. Since I am a superstitious author, I never talk out loud about my ideas before I file a copyright of the first draft. Still - the other day, the following occurred.

I was working on finding out if my just released fable "Are We Nuts?" is suitable for American classrooms. The question is complicated by the fact that different schools teach different curricula. So, I was looking for teachers who might want to help me.

My book "Are We Nuts?" is a fable telling of a squirrel society that mirrors our own.

*

In "a nutshell":
After "the Great Disastrous Flood" wipes out humans, squirrel influencers George Squirrelton and Benjamin Franknut convince the surviving squirrels to form the Sciurus States, along the Eastern Seaboard.

A few generations later, some squirrels begin to notice problems:

• tribe council members' straying from the Sciurus States' founding principles, 
• efforts to use technological advancements solely for financial gains, and
• secretive activities at the capital's "Brainhub."

Obviously, I was inspired by Orwell's concept, "To better understand what's happening, let's not talk about people but about fictitious animals."

*

Pursuing my quest to find teachers who would tell me if this book "is suitable for the classroom" and, if so, for which grade level, I got a totally surprising response from a teacher in California.

"... would love to check out your book. As a side note, are you aware of the new play, The Squirrels, that just premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse?..."

Play?
"The Squirrels"?
La Jolla Playhouse?

No. I had NOT heard of it...

*

Obviously, that was one of the moments when the Internet is at it's best.

It didn't take me more than two minutes to find out that playwright Robert Askins, whose play "Hand to God" received five Tony Award nominations, including for Best New Play (2015), had written a new play – "The Squirrels" (2018).

The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote, "La Jolla Playhouse's apocalyptic 'Squirrels,' a dark, funny look at prejudice."

I also found out that "The Squirrels" ran from June 5 to July 8 which crushed my almost uncontrollable urge to buy a plane ticket, fly to the West Coast, and watch the play. Sadly, my new friend, the teacher, was not aware of any video I could purchase.

*

At first glance, this situation looked like every author's or other creative professional's nightmare. Somebody else had a similar idea.

Then, I pondered the issue. Even though I could not watch the play, theater critic Pam Kragen's excellent article made it pretty obvious that my book differed from Robert Askins' play quite a bit.

• From what I read, Askins' play seems to only play out in the now. In contrast, my book is inspired by U.S. history. Its  characters include not only George Squirrelton and Benjamin Franknut but also Steve I'Squirrel, Theo Roosquirrel, Frank Lloyd Wrillel, and other notables.
• Askins' play "The Squirrels" is described as "dark and funny," my own "Are We Nuts?" is a mystery fable that ends on a hopeful note.

Still – how could it be that Askins and I had the same idea, namely to use squirrels to portray our society, right at around the same time?

Typically, animal protagonists are hares, foxes, ducklings, horses, tortoises, mice, and, of course, pigs. Usually, they are portrayed somewhat one-dimensional:

• Hares are fast,
• foxes are sly or vain, 
• ducklings are cute (even the 'ugly duckling' is cute),
• horses are noble and faithful,
• and so on. 

In contrast, Askins and I feature multi-dimensional characters. Squirrels are not only extremely intelligent, they have an astounding number of behaviors and talents that resemble human's.

Squirrels

• evaluate nuts and seeds by turning them in their paws, thereby determining which nuts and seeds should be eaten immediately and which ones can be buried/stored,
• don’t store/hide their loot “just about anywhere” but use "spatial chunking." [This technique could be compared to how people store foods in pantries (cans with cans, baking items together, etc.). Similarly, squirrels bury different kinds of nuts in different geographical areas.] 
• deceive other animals. [If squirrels believe or even know that they are being watched by other squirrels or birds, they will fake bury loot and store them somewhere else safely.]
• use their own “language” of kuks and quaas to warn others. 
• “adopt” orphaned pups if the babies are related to the adoptive mother, and
• last but not least, like humans, squirrels come in all colors – gray, tan, red, orange, blonde, black, and white.

* 

I think what happened is similar to when the light bulb was invented. Edison was not the only scientist who worked on that idea, English chemist Joseph Swan, Canadian inventors Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans, and US inventors William Sawyer and Albon Man did too. 

Naturally, that was not a coincidence. The time was ripe for an electric light bulb. Consequently, many scientists worked on it. 

Similarly, 2018 seems to be the year for multi-dimensional animal protagonists. Fast hares, cute ducklings and greedy pigs won't do. 

Because the time is ripe, Robert Askins and I realized that to portray today's societies we need squirrels who are

• clever,
• choosy,
• greedy,
• capable of deceiving others, 
• savvy, and also
• caring, 

And, certainly, our protagonists

• come in all colors. 

What do you think?

~*~

Gisela Hausmann is multi-award winning author, an email evangelist, and mass media expert.  Her work has been featured in Success magazine and in Entrepreneur, on Bloomberg, and The Innovation Show ― a show for Square Pegs in Round Holes.

Her latest book is the fable, "Are We Nuts?"

To subscribe to Gisela's blogs pls go to:
http://www.giselahausmann.com/free-creative-ideas.html

Gisela tweets @Naked_Determina

©  2018 by Gisela Hausmann

Regarding Countering Global Warming - How about we'll make 164,000 miles of highways do double-duty?

Global warming is a complex issue, there are hundreds of ways to attack the problem. 

Which is why I am wondering why US states don't invest more into one of the easiest ways to counter global warming. 

The United States' National Highway System includes over 164,000 miles of highways. This picture shows a section of Route 66. 

Notice something?

NO TREES!

The land between the highway lanes belongs to the taxpayers hence it could be used to do something good for the taxpayers. 

Let's assume not all 164,000 miles are suitable for planting trees. Let's run the numbers for only twenty percent of highway miles. 

Twenty percent of 164,000 amounts to 3,280. 

Multiply this number by 5,280 to come up with stretches of land 17,318,400 feet long, all of it between highways. 

This land does not have to purchased, it can be put to good use right away.

If the (US) states' governments would plant one tree every 20 feet that would amount to 346,368 trees. 

Does the number 346,368 sound like "a lot of trees"? 

It isn't.

346,368 trees is less than nine percent (8.66%) of the number of trees that died during the Texas drought, in 2011. 

Please see: Energy and Environment Reporting for Texas: Over 300 Million trees were killed by the Texas Drought. (No doubt, the loss of 300 million trees had an impact on the Unites States' weather.) 

Sounds too complicated to take care of 346,368 young trees?

It isn't. 

In the event of a drought happening when the trees are still young and vulnerable they can be watered from trucks. 

This picture was taken in Thailand. 

Too expensive?

Every time I go to the home improvement store I see nice young trees in the fifteen dollar range. I am sure the state governments can get a better price.

Too time intense?

I planted two trees this year. Though I am fifty-six and didn't use sophisticated equipment but only a shovel, I planted each tree in under ten minutes. 

Not enough manpower?

Let inmates do the job. They'd probably be delighted to spend time outside of prison walls and do something constructive. 

In other words – where there is a will, there is a way. 

*

Planting trees is an investment into the future.

Trees 

• produce oxygen,
• intercept airborne particulates, 
• reduce smog, 
• absorb and block sound and reduce noise pollution by as much as 40 percent. 

And, once established, they "work for free" for decades to come. 

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."-- Chinese Proverb

Do you see new trees getting planted in your hometown, neighborhood, county, and/or state? Please share in the comment section. 

Share if you want your state government to plant trees. 

*

Gisela Hausmann is multi-award winning author, an email evangelist, and mass media expert.  Her work has been featured in Success magazine and in Entrepreneur, on Bloomberg, and The Innovation Show ― a show for Square Pegs in Round Holes.

Her latest book is the fable, "Are We Nuts?"

To subscribe to Gisela's Blog pls subscribe at
http://www.giselahausmann.com/free-creative-ideas.html
Gisela tweets @Naked_Determina

©  2018 by Gisela Hausmann

©  Picture "Watering trees with a tank truck, Thailand" by Pakz

If We Don't Watch Out, We Average Americans Will Pay for This. - #Environment

They used to call us tree-huggers 

In my family, we have always reused and recycled. When my children were little and grew like weeds I purchased the majority of their clothes at thrift stores.

As soon as they could walk, they came along when I dropped off recyclables. Especially my son had fun doing that. He never grew tired of shouting "BOOM... BOOM," every time I threw a bottle or a can into the recycle container. 

Of course, we also dried the laundry outdoors. Besides saving on electricity costs and reducing wear and tear on garments, according to the NYT, my family saved 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from going into the atmosphere, per year. 

Yippee ki-yay! Over the years, that's 39,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. 

That was easy!

As an additional benefit, I exercised my arm muscles, on the fly.

Other efforts included a vegetable garden, complete with rain barrel, composter, bird bath, and butterfly garden.

But, whereas, in the early nineties, doing all of that was considered "somewhat obsessive," today, millions of Americans are doing the same. 

THE GOOD NEWS

Come Spring, the check-out lines at home improvement stores are longer and longer; hundreds of thousands of Americans people grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits. 

At recycle centers, the containers are always full. 

Corporations take efforts to protect the environment and offer recycle programs. 

Many state and city governments offer incentives to "go green." 

*

THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS

At the same time,

U.S. EPA grants biofuels waiver to billionaire Icahn's oil refinery - sources (Reuters April 30, 2018)

The Trump administration is lifting key controls on toxic air pollution (VOX, January 26, 2018)

EPA Readies Plan to Weaken Rules That Require Cars to Be Cleaner (NYT, April 27, 2018)

Trump administration ends Obama's coal-leasing freeze (The Hill, March 29, 2018)

plus 71 other Environmental Rules are on the Way Out Under Trump (New York Times)

*

In other words:

The government is UNdoing what we are working for. 

Thirty years ago, NASA scientist James Hansen informed a Senate committee that “the greenhouse effect has been detected and is changing our climate now.” 

Let's put this in perspective. Hansen was not "just some tree hugger." NASA is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government. Hansen was on the United States government's payroll. The government ignored what their own expert told them, for years. 

*

Why on earth would the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) try deregulating some major sources of toxic air pollution, thirty years after we've learned about these problems? 

What about people who have 

• asthma, 
• allergies, 
• bronchitis, 
• COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), 
• emphysema, 
• cystic fibrosis, 
• and also – elderly people and little children?

Considering that Congress wants to do away with Obamacare's protections for people with preexisting conditions, I fear tough times may be ahead for many. 

Those of us who need treatment have to deal the most expensive healthcare system in the Western world. 

*

And, what about storm damage (hurricanes, tornadoes, sand storms...)?

Here is the list of costliest Atlantic hurricanes (from Wikipedia): 

1	Katrina	2005	$125 billion
	Harvey	2017
3	Maria	2017	$91.6 billion
4	Sandy	2012	$68.7 billion
5	Irma	2017	$64.8 billion
6	Ike	2008	$38 billion
7	Wilma	2005	$27.4 billion
8	Andrew	1992	$27.3 billion
9	Ivan	2004	$26.1 billion
10	Rita	2005	$18.5 billion

3 of the top-10 caused death and destruction, last year. Only one of the top-10, Andrew, happened in the last century. 

Houston, TX is still coping with the mold problem stemming from hurricane Harvey. That means expensive reconstruction and remodeling AND more potential health problems. In Houston, 136,000 homes and other building were affected by this hurricane. 

We, the average Americans have to stand up and address our government's ignorance, or we'll pay the price (with hard earned dollars).

How do you see this?

*

Read my fable "Are We Nuts?" and find out how the squirrel citizens of the Sciurus States solve this problem. (Just released)

 ~~~  v  ~~~  

"As relevant as it is entertaining."

@Goodreads
@Amazon
@B&N
@Kobo
@ITunes

*

Gisela Hausmann is multi-award winning author, an email evangelist, and mass media expert.  Her work has been featured in Success magazine and in Entrepreneur, on Bloomberg, and The Innovation Show ― a show for Square Pegs in Round Holes, and "The Brutal Truth about Sales & Selling"-podcast. 

To subscribe to Gisela's Blog pls subscribe at
http://www.giselahausmann.com/free-creative-ideas.html
Gisela tweets @Naked_Determina

©  2018 by Gisela Hausmann

High School Lesson Plan - Social Studies: How does modern technology influence the development of a country?

Lesson 1: How does modern technology influence the development of a  country?

Goal:
Students will discuss the influence of technology

Standards: 8 - Science, Technology, and Society
Modern civilization depends on major technological systems, such as agriculture, health, water, energy, transportation, manufacturing, construction, and communications

Reading Standard:
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts

Process:

Warm-up: Have the students read below posted text (Excerpt from the fable "Are We Nuts?") 

Ask the students if they “recognized” various squirrels’ historic counter parts.  

Discover: 

1) Which squirrels are the counter parts of historic personalities?
2) Why did they squirrels have to form a republic and how will it help them?
3) What are the smartboxes and the power kernels? (Smartphones and batteries)
4) Why did the discovery of the smartboxes change improve living conditions in the Sciurus States?
5) What are the modern counter parts of The Deer Express and the Central Kernel Agency? (The Pony Express and the CIA/FBI). 

Take Action:  
Think of three ways how the smartboxes improved the squirrel citizens’ lives

a) The squirrel tribes could ask for help during food shortages 
b) Individual squirrel tribes could warn other tribes about approaching bad weather like tornadoes or snow storms
c) Since the squirrels could live stream video they could communicate with other tribes without having to travel (which could be dangerous).  

Other Activities:

Research: 

A. How did the Founding Fathers communicate with The People?
B. Who founded the Pony Express and why did it seize to exist? 
C. Watch Steve Jobs’  introduction of the iPhone (https://youtu.be/MnrJzXM7a6o) How did the iPhone revolutionize communication? 

~*~

(Excerpt from "Are We Nuts? A Modern Fable) 

1 – HARRY

It was an extraordinary day. Harry just knew it. The obvious proof was – he had spotted a big, juicy raspberry. Raspberries were so rare, he had only seen them in pictures.

His view of the raspberry bush was partially obstructed by an oak tree he had wanted to climb. Then again, he had already forgotten the oak tree, the acorns, and everything else.

Stepping closer, Harry saw that the raspberry bush had produced only a single berry.

Even better! This meant it was his.

If the bush had produced more than one berry, he’d be required to run back to the burrow, report the finding, and get help with harvesting the sweets. The bounty would be shared by many squirrels. Who knew if he’d be allowed to eat a whole berry? This had never happened before.

There was but one conclusion to be drawn. Better eat the raspberry right now before another squirrel comes by.

Cautiously, Harry climbed the thorny cane, secured the berry with a spider web thread, and carefully lowered it onto a big flat rock right underneath. Then, he jumped down to savor the treat. Slowly, he munched each drupelet separately. Oh, my... what a delicacy!

v

Harry laid back on the rock and reflected on how lucky he was. In history class, he had learned about the famines the squirrel society had to endure after the environment changed. Though there had been forewarnings and signs, the disastrous surge had arrived suddenly. On the coast, tens of thousands of burrows got flooded and millions of squirrels drowned; woods and farmlands got destroyed.

After the waters receded, the fathers of today’s nation, George Squirrelton and Benjamin Franknut, had told his great-great-great-great-great-grandfather’s generation that squirrels had to organize themselves to form a society that helped all squirrels in all of the land. The wisest of the squirrels had come together and written down the rules, for instance, that squirrels could eat a single berry if they found one. Though the guidelines allowed for small indulgences, in general, all decrees focused on securing the safety and health of all squirrels, nationwide.

Still, conditions stayed grim for a long time. Often, the tribes had to move because excessive heat and storms destroyed their food supply. His own mother had died during one of those devastating storm periods. Things only changed when the late, great Steve I’Squirrel discovered that the weird boxes they found in deserted human dwellings could be used to communicate with other tribes. I’Squirrel named them smartboxes. And, clever Bill Gatsquirrel discovered an industrial complex full of power kernels which stored the magic power that kept the smartboxes working. A school was set up so squirrels could learn using the boxes.

President Bill Clintsquirrel, who liked new technologies, promised a smartbox in every classroom in the nation. Legend had it that it took the efforts of more than ten thousand squirrels to distribute the thousands of smartboxes and power kernels to all tribes in all the lands. Luckily, he, Harry, became a beneficiary of this program.

The clever idea lead to great prosperity in the squirrel nation.

The year after the boxes were delivered, the Brighter Future for Squirrels Conference was held for the first time. Steve I’Squirrel and Bill Gatsquirrel were the keynote speakers. They explained how using the newly discovered technologies would help squirrels in taking control of their future.

Harry remembered the event well. Using the smartboxes, I’Squirrel’s and Gatsquirrel’s comments were live-streamed to most squirrel tribes. It was the first time that squirrels watched moving pictures.

Soon thereafter, legendary Jeff Biztree set up a trading platform. Tribes who needed healthy foods could order it by using the smartboxes. And, Bill Russellsquir, Bill Waddellsquir, and Alex Majorsquir set up a transport system to deliver foods to all burrows in the republic. They named their company The Deer Express. The inventive trio accomplished this seemingly impossible task  by setting up partnerships with deer societies. The deer transported squirrel messengers and merchandise in exchange for vital information about the weather, storm damage to woods and fields, updates about the water quality of rivers and lakes, and, of course, predator sightings.

To protect the nation and support their allies, The Squirrel Council also established the Central Kernel Agency for the specific purpose of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating this type of information.

v

Somewhere behind Harry, a branch cracked.

Startled, he sat up and looked around. “Better hide,” he thought. A deer broke out of the woods and ran downhill. Even though he could only glance at it, Harry spotted Phillip Deerrel, his tribe’s finest messenger, on the back of the deer. Obviously, Phillip

returned from making a delivery.

“Phillip is going to climb the career ladder,” Harry thought. “And I? I have been daydreaming, again. If I keep doing this, The Council will never give me permission to go on an expedition.”

Going on an expedition was his ultimate goal. He would have gladly traded the raspberry or even a dozen, if he had that many, just for getting permission to go. The bitter truth was The Council had said “not this year” for the second year in a row and there was no arguing with The Council.

Harry decided to return to the burrow and record the coordinates of the raspberry bush. If, in the future, it’d produce plenty of fruit, maybe he would get promoted; after all, he discovered the bush. And, maybe, a promotion would lead to getting permission to go on an expedition.

~~~  *  ~~~  

Excerpt from "Are We Nuts?"

ISBN 978-1-7324211-1-0 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-7324211-0-3 (ebook)

Library of Congress Control Number:  2018906505

Available at Amazon, B&N, iTunes, Kobo, and other fine book sellers. 

©  2018 by Gisela Hausmann

Map of the Thirteen Original Colonies: This media file is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1923. - Attribution: Centpacrr at English Wikipedia

 ~~~  *  ~~~  

Gisela Hausmann's work has been featured in regional, national, and international publications including Success magazine (print) and Entrepreneur, on Bloomberg, The Innovation Show - a show for Square Pegs in Round Holes, "The Brutal Truth about Sales & Selling"-podcast, and Austria's Der Standard and Das Wirtschaftsblatt. Gisela is a graduate of the University of Vienna, Austria. 

A unique mixture of wild risk-taker and careful planner, she globe-trotted almost 100,000 kilometers on three continents, including to the locations of her favorite books: Doctor Zhivago’s Russia, Heinrich Harrer’s Tibet, and Genghis Khan’s Mongolia. 

For more information about the author please visit her website at www.GiselaHausmann.com

She tweets at @Naked_Determina