Adaptive Switch Labs, Inc. operates its small business from a modest office in Spicewood, Texas, just behind Opie's Barbeque. More than 25 years ago, Rucker and Sandra Ashmore's eldest son Rusty, became a C5 quadriplegic as the result of an auto accident.  Applying his talents and desire to help his son, Rucker began focusing on solving some of the challenges Rusty encountered.  Eventually, Rucker met other parents who had children with various types of disabilities.  Sensing an opportunity to help others, he launched ASL in 1992.  He immediately hired a full-time electrical engineer who began helping him devise new ways to give individuals powered mobility, as well as computer and communication access.

Rucker Ashmore holds several patents for switches and devices created to assist physically-challenged people, including a Sip&Puff switch benefitting those who have high spinal cord injuries.   ASL has grown to include a highly trained staff of 12 individuals who not only design new products, but also consult with and train therapists, teachers, vendors, insurance professionals, and Medicaid case managers.  Through ASL's work, dedication, and ingenuity, more than 10,000 people of all ages - people who most thought were incapable of powered mobility - have gained functionality and success in power that few thought possible.  ASL's values are simple:  they put people first, period!  (Source:  www.asl-inc.com)

Note:  There are about 5,000 cervical spinal cord injuries per year in the United States. High-level quadriplegics (C5 and above) will likely need constant care and assistance. Low-level quadriplegics (C6-C7) can often live independently.

 

 

June is the most popular month for weddings, ranking 10.8% of approximately 2.3 million couples exchanging wedding vows each year, or an average of 6,200 weddings per day.  The average wedding budget is $20,000 and of that the average cost of wedding rings for the bride and groom is $1,016.
 
And, speaking of wedding rings, did you know that gold was among the first metals to be mined because it commonly occurs in its native form (not combined with other elements), it is beautiful and imperishable and because exquisite objects can be made from it.  In pure form, gold has a metallic luster and is sun yellow, but mixtures of gold with other metals such as silver, copper, nickel, platinum, copper and zinc creates various color hues ranging from silver-white to green and orange-red.  The term "karat" indicates the proportion of solid gold in an alloy based on a total of 24 parts.  Thus, 14-karat (14K) gold indicates a composition of 14 parts gold and 10 parts of other metals.  Jewelry manufacturing commonly use 14K gold.  "Karat" should not be confused with "carat," a unit of weight used for precious stones. The term "gold-filled" is used to describe articles of jewelry made of base metal which are covered on one or more surfaces with a layer of gold alloy.  Electroplated jewelry carries at least 7 millionths of an inch (0.18 micrometers) of gold on significant surfaces.  Plated thicknesses less than this may be marked "gold flashed" or "gold washed."  (Resource:  U.S. Geological Survey)

 

 

Answer:  Clients are paid interest on the money above their accounts receivable balance at the same rate Mazon charges interest.

 

 

One of the best things you can have on your desk at work or on your kitchen table is a potted plant.  Not only does it look great but, believe it or not, it can also be a valuable tool for achieving success in every area of your life.
 
So, how can a simple potted plant help you achieve success?  One of the fundamental laws of nature is this:  Anything that does not receive regular attention will deteriorate over time.  If you think about this for a moment, you'll see that this law holds true not only for a potted plant but also for every area of your life - health, relationships, finances.  Having a potted plant on your desk is a great visual reminder of this fundamental law because if you don't water it regularly, it too will deteriorate.  As you water your plant every few days, use this action as a trigger to remind yourself to review your health, relationships and finances on a regular basis.  (Reprinted with permission from Dr. Anthony Fernando, www.anthonyfernando.com)

 

 

The following recent recalls were issued by the U.S. consumer Product Safety Commission.  More details can be found at www.cpsc.gov.  Leg Curl Machines (Mfg: Paramount Fitness, Los Angeles, CA); Lithium-Ion batteries used in Hewlett-Packard and Compaq notebook computers (Imp: Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, CA); "Majestic 360" Floor Cleaners (Mfg: HMI Industries, Strongsville, OH); Special and Narita Hair Dryers (Imp: Universalink Int'l Trading, La Puenta, CA); Wagner Paint Sprayers (Imp: Wagner Spray Tech, Plymouth, MN); Torcofix/Torcoflex and Mountz Torque Wrenches (Imp: Mountz, San Jose, CA); Composite Decks (Mfg: Louisiana-Pacific, Nashville, TN); Fluke Digital Clamp Meters (Mfg: Fluke, Everett, WA).

 

 

June 1: Start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season; June 5: World Environment Day; June 6:  Child Health Day, D-Day; June 7:  Boone Day; June 8: Best Friend's Day; June 11:  King Kamehameha Day (Hawaii), Phillippines Independence Day; June 14: Flag Day; June 17: Bunker Hill Day; June 19: Emancipation Day, Juneteenth; June 21: Father's Day, First Day of Summer; June 24: St. Baptiste Day; June 27: Helen Keller's Birthday; June 28: World War I Day, Paul Bunyan Day.  June 14 through June 20: National Flag Week. June 14 through July 4: Honor America Days. June is also National Rose Month, National Dairy Month and Home Safety Month.

 

 

His birth is said to have been predicted by Hawaiian legend that claimed "a great king would one day unite the islands and the sign of his birth would be a comet."  Halley's comet was visible from Hawaii in 1758 and, therefore it was assumed that Pai'ea was born shortly afterward.  Pai'ea (meaning "hard-shelled crab") acquired the name Kamahameha from the Hawaiian language term for "the lonely one" because of his sour disposition.  At the age of 14, Kamehameha was the only person to ever lift the Naha Stone, which legend said that the man who lifted it was the legendary warrior who would unite all of the islands.  From the age of five, he was raised in the royal court of his uncle and learned the ways of court diplomacy and war.  Upon his uncle's death, in 1782 he was given the prominent religious position of guardianship of the Hawaiian god of war and a small amount of property. Shortly afterward, a group of neighboring chiefs offered Kamehameha kingship, which he accepted.  Battles ensued throughout the years until in 1791 he became king of the island of Hawaii.  However, he was not satisfied with ruling only the Big Island but wanted to rule all of the Hawaiian Islands.  With self-confidence and the encouragement from his favorite wife, and with the help of British and American traders, he was introduced to guns, ammunition and the use of firearms - then he attacked the western islands.  In 1795, Kamehameha set sail with an armanda of 1,200 war canoes and 10,000 soldiers to begin his conquest of the other islands. His might and force was well known.  In 1810 Kamehameha emerged as the sole sovereign of the island chain of Hawaii.  As king, he unified the legal system and used the products he collected in taxes to promote trade with Europe and the United States.  Kamehameha did not allow non-Hawaiians to own land (although this changed in 1848), to ensure the islands' independence even while many of the other Pacific islands succumbed to the colonial powers.  Except for a five-month British occupation in 1843, Hawaii remained independent until it was annexed by the United States in 1898.  Though he entertained Christians, he did not appear to take them seriously and was a staunch follower of  his Hawaiian religion and traditions.  His later years until his death on May 8, 1819 were spent at a compound he built, that is now the site of King Kamehameha's Beach Hotel - the starting and finishing points of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon. According to Hawaiian ancient custom calling for the preservation of his sacred power, his final resting place remains a mystery.

 

 

Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)