Carol Rucker

Silk Mama wants you to clean your silk flower arrangements; but if she could visit your home, she would assure you, dirty silk flowers are nothing to be ashamed of. She wants to help you.

"To get what you've never had, you have to do things you've never done," Shadow Hare explained. True to his philosophy, he is doing something that's never been done on the streets of Cincinnati. He's a superhero.....

When Kelly Ripa issued a casting call for "Great women who want to turn their inventions into a million dollar business," Patricia Sowell knew she was that woman. Just like the notice said, Patricia had "fabulous ideas and a great personality."

By 1994 a diabetic coma and a near death experience had nearly defeated the champion. Forced to examine his lifestyle, James "Buster" Douglas made a commitment to change.

The new Hollywood Casino, scheduled to open June 26, 2009, is 150,000 square feet of casino, big enough to get lost among the new onboard attractions.

Fountain Square stirs nearly every night with the bouncy backdrop of PNC's Summer Music Series. If you're looking for the best Cincinnati has to offer, the cultural, the quirky and even a bit of family fun, Fountain Square 's the place to be.

the Mediterranean diet, which relies heavily on grains and olive oil, is one of the most healthy diets in the world. If healthy eating is your goal, Raya Restaurant offers Tabouli, Fattoush, Falafel, Hummus, Greek salads and other Vegetarian dishes.

If the whole Chicken Hook-up episode left a bad taste in your mouth, and not necessarily the taste of grilled chicken, White Castle is offering a free BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich alternative.

Clad in Daisy Dukes and a bikini top that some say revealed a bit too much of her best assets, Barbe Q made her first appearance in April. Sex sells everything, even barbecue and she proved it.

The processional traveled a short distance, north on Vine St, west on Central Parkway, beneath the Fireman's Ladder arch to the District 1 Police Station. A crowd gathered before the Cincinnati Police Memorial across the street. Officers stood at attention. Bagapipes played. Police dogs and their handlers stood in quiet reverence awaitng a final speech and one last song, "I'll See You Again" by Police Officer, Dionne Winfrey.

Bagpipes and Drums- After speeches on the Square, the crowd lined the street as Hamilton County Sheriff's Pipes and Drums unit played and marched into position behind a group of motorcycle policemen. Horse-mounted officers took their places next, then police retirees and members of the crowd. As the procession made its way north along Vine Street, Cincinnati police officers stood at attention on every corner along the route. A Solemn March- A contingent of officers from area departments kept the pace in police vehicles. Each participating department offered a personal tribute with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

The bean comes ready to use with a USB transfer cord, an AC adapter, Drivers and Arcsoft Photoimpression 4 software on a mini CD. Measuring 3.9 inches by 2 .6 inches, the bean is small enough to carry anywhere.

At noon the bells pealed out, followed by the sound of silence. Citizens and police officers from numerous local districts paused to salute those police brothers who had died in the line of duty.

A Solemn March- As the speakers began the Fountain Square ceremonies, members of Cincinnati's Fire and Police departments saw to the final details. Two fire trucks flanked Central Parkway; angling ladders to near touching, draping an American flag between them, they created an arch under which the procession would pass. It was a short distance, north on Vine Street, west on Central Parkway and beneath the arch to the Cincinnati Police Memorial, across the street from the District 1 police station. A crowd gathered in the street and officers stood at attention. Bagapipes played. Police dogs and their handlers stood in quiet reverence awaitng a final speech and one last song. A single horse stood apart from the rest, draped in black, he was a symbol of the fallen.

A Salute To Fallen Heroes At Noon, church bells pealed across Downtown Cincinnati today. Fountain Square, usually a hub of lunchtime activity, became a solemn space of ceremony and tribute as members of the Cincinnati Police Department and local dignitaries delivered messages in honor of police officers killed in the line of duty. Cincinnatians were not alone. Participating in this annual event were officers from police departments throughout Hamilton County and surrounding areas, as well as several Kentucky jurisdictions. Police departments stood together as one, united in paying respects to their fallen brothers.

Cheaters are liars with habits that tell the tale: sweating, stammering, evading questions altogether. Know your partner's personal lying style, and you will know a lie when you see it.

The Cincinnati Police Memorial is a solemn tribute to local officers. It's police officer statue, eternal flame and roll call of officer's names etched in granite, serves as a daily reminder to passersby of the ultimate sacrifice.

A useful lesson in learning how to ruin your marriage is the lesson of doing nothing. Go beyond an ignored 'Honey Do List,' and way past refusing to cook or clean. Sit on the sofa, watch television, drink beer and do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Ever.

Clips from Reese's video were selected along with several others to be included in a segment airing throughout the day on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10,on the CNN Headline News Channel as well as the CNN.com website under 'Mother's Day Surprise.'

I began scanning radio stations and we marveled that nearly every one was playing "We Are the World." It was a beautiful lesson in cooperation, people coming together that way.

Oprah made it clear everyone had ten days to trade in their coupons for a free meal, but that didn't stop Cincinnati's chicken lovers from backing up the streets the way they'd backed up the Oprah website for the past 24 hours.

So if you ever watched the Oprah Show, saw her give away all that stuff; and asked yourself, "What about me?" your time has come. Go to Oprah.com/kfc and get your chicken hook-up.

I didn't know life could be rough

A company called Hilex Poly wants you to use all the plastic bags you desire with minimal guilt.

The Best of me, I learned from you.

Plastic is a big problem; and not all of it can be recycled into new products; so why not figure out something nice to do with it besides pitch it in the garbage.

Lincoln Ware's Walking club has about a hundred walkers now and they are celebrating nine years of promoting physical fitness in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Just as with automobile Hybrids, Metro's new Hybrid buses combine both diesel and electricity to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions dramatically while maintaining the power necessary to navigate the regional terrain.

Lunchtime passersby, walkers, bicyclists and many others gathered to commemorate Earth Day on Fountain Square

Toward the middle of this video, you will see horse-drawn carriages in the background. I wasn't alive during the days when horses provided the only means of transportation, but seeing those horses allowed me to imagine a simpler time of no gas crisis and no dependence on foreign oil. All you had to do was harvest enough hay and grain to feed your horses and you were good to go. Those days are gone forever, but the Plug-in Hybrid Electrical Vehicle (PHEV for short) might be the next best thing. It's a vehicle designed to make future gas crises a bit less painful.

Betty's voice may fill with emotion as she explains what the Sarah Center Jewelry Program means to her.

I don't think they're so desperate.

Thank goodness I like vegetables.

The "Judge's Pick" award, went to to Greg Reese for his "Greg Reese Loves Cincinnati" video.

Although the rental car company would prefer you purchase additional coverage, most do have insurance on their vehicles; and as.... insurance follows the car.... their coverage is primary.

Your "Insuring Agreement" explains that comprehensive coverage pays for accidental damages to your car caused by anything "other than collision."

A serious examination of New Jersey's automobile collision statistics presents a unique example of why there are variances in insurance rates for metropolitan areas as compared to a more rural location.

What makes your insurance rate different from any one else's is the data collected about you and your personal circumstances.

You've cut out your first piece, now you are ready to take the next step to turn that simple metal shape into something creative.

Claire Huxtable had it all, looks, a legal career and a savvy personality that came across every time she stepped onto the small screen. As the mother of five children, she blended career and home duties beautifully and looked good doing it.

In conjunction with the "Race" exhibit now at the Cincinnati Museum Center, organizations have formed discussions groups and talking circles to encourage open dialogue.

In 2008, a proposed casino for Wilmington, Ohio promised jobs, thousands of them. The issue was voted down by Ohio voters who have rejected gambling amendments several times before

With even the most rudimentary metalwork skills, you can create jewelry pieces that are yours from start to finish, with no beads, no head pins, nothing created by anyone else.

History is written by the winners, they say; and Black Americans were on the losing side for so long, they hardly ever got to tell their own tale, not in the textbooks anyway. We need a few centuries to catch up.

Problems occurred when hurricane displaced residents in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Mississippi were given trailers to live in and began to experience respiratory distress and other symptoms.

The following week the classroom might be empty. They'd stayed away because they didn't see the value in wiring beads together when they had to make sure the gas company didn't cut off their heat.

Lopez was surprised to learn the homeless man, living on the street with two violins, a cello and all of his personal belongings in an orange shopping cart, had once trained at the Juliard School of Music.

The overwhelming theme of this American Anthropological Association project is that race is a creation, a concept neither addressed nor documented during early history.

They no longer offer "Payday Loans." In some locations the change is simply a painting over of the word "Payday," replacing it with "Consumer." Some stores have banners covering up their old identities.

This video highlights Greater Cincinnati Black History sites. The Historic marker in Covington, Kentucky commemorates slave, Margaret Garner and her escape to freedom. A mural near the Ohio River's edge illustrates the Garner family walking across the frozen Ohio river to escape from slavery at a nearby Kentucky farm. Margaret later slew her daughter rather than let her return to bondage. The Opera, "Margaret Garner," was based on this true story. It's a short distance across the river from Kentucky to the Ohio side and freedom. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center sits just beyond the northern banks. Visit Harriet Beecher Stowe House. Her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," motivated abolitionist to action. Six Acres Bed & Breakfast was once a private home and a stop on the "Underground Railroad."

If you have ever planned a funeral, you may already know it's a process wrought with guilt. Few mourners want to ask "how much" when it comes to pricing.

Alex Haley was right; even if you can't find formal records, every family has oral traditions, stories with little bits and pieces of information that might take you where you want to go.

Despite Valentine's Day tales of loneliness and heartbreak; it remains a day for couples like Clarence and Carolyn George, who on August 9, 1947 promised to love, honor and cherish 'til death, and have been keeping that promise for over sixty-one years.

Despite Valentine's Day tales of loneliness and heartbreak; it remains a day for couples like Clarence and Carolyn George, who on August 9, 1947 promised to love, honor and cherish 'til death, and have been keeping that promise for over sixty-one years.

As you may have heard Greg say, he believes in "uniting the political parties with Hip-Hop." He couldn't very well hate ultra conservative Fox News talk show host, Sean Hannity; and he said so in his recent video.

In their early years, Clarence and Carolyn saw the birth of Cincinnati's "Colored" newspapers, The Cincinnati Herald and the Call & Post.

The couple began their decades-long love affair as neighbors and playmates in Cincinnati's Old Dunbar neighborhood, a close knit, working class community of color defined by faith, friends and hard work.

Build yuour bracelet piece-by-piece. Use the shapes you know how to make and experiment with new ones, one added to the other until you have the length you want

If you make jewelry already, borrow the tools from a jewelry-making friend or buy them from a craft store.

Now is a good time to make handcrafted gifts a tradition. Make it a joint decision, a challenge, a pact between you and the one you love.

Margaret had injured her four children with a butcher knife; but was caught before she could finish the task. But she had killed one daughter, released her from a life of slavery. What would you do?

Jewelry makers pull out some wire and a few tools. If you know how to use a jeweler's saw, grab that too. Use these ideas to create a Wearable Valentine.

The "Code" concept, picked up by other quilters, shop owners and writers, became an equal opportunity money maker.

Your insurance premium is based on who you are, what you drive, where you live, what you do and where you go.

It's an uneasy feeling, but you may step inside a rough-hewn slave pen, walk the cold floor and sit on hard wooden benches where slaves sat decades ago.

Greg wanted to be a Rap Star, or whatever they called it back then. At seventeen, he created a Hip Hop promotional video for the local power company.

Lily Ledbetter's legislation didn't change the secret nature of salary information in corporate America, or that men still believe women should receive a lessor salary

People in Hamilton County take their snow emergencies very seriously, but there were still a few cars on the street. And like me, a few folks were slipping and sliding in the snow, ice and slush.

I'll trade away my heart, but only on my terms

Potential artists, groups of community participants, gathered for idea sessions. They presented and discussed designs, then agreed on a theme. Suzanne used their ideas and preliminary sketches to create an enlarged pattern with a mesh overlay.

Traditionally, Procter & Gamble developed new products with an in house team and years of costly research and development, but many of their recent products have come from outside inventors, even competitors.

What if we could at least agree to stop using the 'N' word?

Like my eighty-one year old father, seventy-eight year old mother and most American citizens, I witnessed the moment on television, which did nothing to diminish its power.

You don't deserve a broken heart

For the many Americans who rose from nothing to success.

I stepped off the city bus the day after Dr. King died; and as I crossed the bridge I saw the crowd gathering around the tower.

Why not make your cards by hand for a change? To steal an overused phrase, make your cards Valentines Day Cards You Need?

Because the words are so hard to say

George has had a line of "Green" products dating back to 2004. They were called "Knock-Out" cleaning products back then.

The incident was over quickly. The members of The Who didn't find out eleven of their fans had died until after the concert.

When you were a child you didn't have to think about paying bills or saving money. Dad said "My house, my rules," and that was that.

A person or entity can be legally liable for your injuries if you can prove their negligence in causing them. Negligence, like most legal concepts, has a formula for proper analysis.

In Cincinnati, Everybody Rides Metro, the first national foundation formed by a regional transportation authority, has sought to ease the burden of transportation's economic realities while helping the environment.

When snow falls and you don't do anything to interfere with it's original condition, not salt it, not shovel it; that's a natural accumulation, an act of God, some might say.

"If I were still on the bench and I ordered an eviction order, and the sheriff said, 'I'm not going to do it,' guess where that sheriff would be...in jail for contempt of court." Sheriff Simon Leis

The concept of Moral Hazard is very familiar to insurance professionals, underwriters whose business it is to evaluate all kinds of hazards but to steer clear of those beyond predictability.

So you need all new Christmas tree ornaments this year and you've decided to make them because you need the money for gifts.

The word Kwanzaa comes from,"matunda ya Kwanzaa,"a Swahili phrase meaning 'first fruits.' It's a celebration dating back to ancient times.

It's that time of year again, time to find wrapping paper that won't cost more than the gift inside. Here are a few options in the Cincinnati, Ohio area to help you wrap it pretty and keep it cheap.

It's tacky but also fun and quirky; and since it's created with recycled materials, it's Green.

Perhaps as a kid you learned how to build a snowman; but now you live in a sunny climate where snow never touches the ground.

Not every case ends in settlement; but if you are entitled to money for your injuries and the company is willing to offer, you might never know unless you ask.

There are so many holidays. I get confused trying to stick to just one. I think I'll celebrate them all!

Here's a solution that will provide a unique gift, and put those useless Shopper's Cards to good use, all while helping to make the planet a Greener place to live.

Credit Crunch. Here's a solution that will save money, provide a unique gift, and put those useless credit cards to good use, all while helping to make the planet a Greener place to live.

A predominately Republican Ohio legislature changed laws to allow Early Voting, they didn't foresee "Golden Week," which allowed new voters to register and vote on the same day.

Years of research tracked the outcomes of injury cases where large lump sums were given to people otherwise living on moderate incomes. The bulk of that money, an estimated 90%, was gone within five years.

I've been thinking how Barack Obama being elected President of The United States does not surprise me. I knew it that first day he came to Cincinnati, Ohio,

Thanksgiving excites me

When Buying a Special Anniversary Gift for Your Parents, Forget about tradition. Think new and different.

Since you are taking away the meat, spoil your guests with a full open bar with their appetizers; then lay out a sumptuous vegetarian feast without violating any food-with-faces philosophies.

After hitting Ohio's three major cities in one day, of course he was tired when he hit the stage at the University of Cincinanti's Nippert stadium at just about nine-thirty last night, but he was enthusiastic. "Just two more days," he said.

In 2006, 128,000 Ohio voters cast provisional ballots; of those,10,600 were rejected due to errors such as the wrong precinct...

I Am Barack Obama! The Obama supporter cannot be stereotyped. They are he and she, multicultural, multi-ethnic. Their ages span the generations. We are all Barack Obama.

Excitement, music to inspire the crowd, candidates getting up close and personal and lots of Hope, Barack Obama and Joe Biden give the people what they want.

Just like women and African Americans, young people under the age of twenty-one didn't always have the right to vote

Senator Joe Biden delivered a foreign policy address in Cincinnati on September 24, 2008 before an invitation only gathering in the Museum Center Rotunda at Union Terminal.

If the Issue 6 amendment is approved, a casino will be built in Wilmington, Ohio. The timing is fortuitous as German-based package carrier, DHL, recently announced plans to shut down their Wilmington-based air freight and sorting facility.

There's nothing like being in the midst of an enthusiastic Change We Need Rally. In this video, the crowd waits for Barack Obama and gets carried away with music from the "Obama Soundtrack." All ages, races and ethnicity's are are dancing to an oldies tune called "You've Got To Give The People What They Want." The song lyrics say, "We want the truth... and no more Lies. We want peace, justice and equality... for you and for me." No wonder they are dancing.

This video is an interview with Ann, a Xavier University student participating in Shanty Town. I spoke with her as she put the finishing touches on her cardboard home, which she hopes will draw attention to the basic facts of homelessness. Many of the shanties have relevant statistics spray-painted on their cardboard outer walls. The students will further drive home their point by taking up residence in the shelters they've built during a time when the weather is growing colder by the day.

In the crowd at a recent Cincinnati, Ohio Change We Need Rally, was a group of Firefighters wearing a message of support for Barack Obama where everyone could see it. I spoke with Mark Pelfrey who said Obama is for unions and that's why they support his candidacy.

Standing in the middle of the it all, I could feel the excitement. Unemployed Auto worker, Racquel, introduced Barack Obama as "The next president of the United States" and the Cincinnati crowd went wild.

Xavier Students are building a neighborhood of makeshift homes on the academic mall as a hands-on illustration of the plight of the homeless.

We can feel Barack Obama's energy, his dedication to the things we stand for. I support Barack Obama because I can feel his support for me.

Thursday evening October, 16, actress, Natalie Portman most notably of Star Wars fame, made an appearance at Downtown Cincinnati's Fountain Square, urging the audience to vote early for Obama.

For the average shopper, gas, time and money are in limited supply these days; they no longer wish to indulge in that kind of run around shopping. If you fall in this category, on-line shopping is the option for you.

Some Art Show crowds are, indeed, five dollar crowds. Make the most of it.

Webster's Dictionary defines Change as follows: Change- v- To become or make different; to alter; to put with another; to use to take the place of another; to freshen a bed by putting clean coverings on.

Does anyone believe all those negative ads?

At the Ohio For Obama rally in Cincinnati, Ohio today. I saw a diverse group of supports and spoke with a few who wanted me to pass on their Obama message to the world. Irene Krepps, from Sacramento California is one of those supporters who wanted me to share her thoughts on why Obama is the choice for those of the Catholic faith.

Barack Obama talked about the growing financial crisis and how the next president will have to manage the nation's recovery; then he asked the question "Will that president be looking out for you?"

It's not that I am African-American and he is too. I feel his white half as well. The other half many choose to ignore. I feel the part of him raised in America's heartland.

What do you do when the competition tries to paint themselves as a pair of super heroes? You level the playing field, of course; you become a super heroes too.

According to the American Cancer Society website, 182,460 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women in 2008.

Early Voting began in Ohio on September 30.

Upcycling is the art of taking something used and creating something better. You can go 'Green' in style by making handcrafted jewelry from cast offs.

According to Wikipedia, the term upcycling was coined by William McDonough and Michael Braungart to describe the practice of transforming something disposable into something of greater value.

Thanks to Laura, a phenomenal AC staff member, CP Greg from Cincinnati made an appearance on a Fox affiliate morning show.

Ohioans began casting their votes, taking advantage of the state's "No Fault" Absentee Ballot Law.

Copper can add a new dimension to your metal and wire work jewelry. With a bit of creativity, you can bring your ideas to life.

Joe Biden presented the Obama/Biden views on foreign policy before an invitation-only crowd of 600.

The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety released a study recommending the teenage driving age be raised. Here's another alternative.

The Thanksgiving family potluck is a great way to bring extended family members together.

If you ever buy a fast food sandwich, don't eat it in the dark.

As of Thursday morning 200,000 businesses and residences remain without power. There are three confirmed deaths due to falling trees.

Writing Haiku for Barack Obama and Joe Biden is easy. They inspired me.

The National Organization for women doesn't usually endorse political candidates, but they are making an exception this year.

If you sell on eBay, you can donate a percentage of your selling price to one of your favorite charities.

Clarence Thomas called it a 'High tech lynching' when he was hung out to dry by the media in 1991.

I wasn't being nosey, just curious, when I wandered through my daughters house examining her Green product labels.

Add a little sizzle to your booth and sell more jewelry

Even if you are not paying attention, the messages are getting through. Dark music. Vague, distorted images filling the screen. A tired yet serious voice whispering, "... high gas prices... bad economy... budget deficits ... not ready to lead......."

Learn the rules then break them and create your own.

Some people explain the art of creating handcrafted wire jewelry as though it's oh so complicated, but you can create whimsical, funky or artsy wire jewelry if you learn by simply playing with wire.

To anyone watching Russian Premier, Nikita Khrushchev's black and white sound bite on sixties television, the message was clear, fear the Soviet Union. The New Russia is flexing its muscles, trying to convey that same message.

My daughter made the trip to Denver Last week and shared her pictures with me. The Rednecks for Obama were particularly intriguing.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by swapping or selling your clutter to family and friends.

Republicans have had months to spread Obama rumors. Now it's the other way around.

Before you begin creating your soldered metal work jewelry designs, you should learn the safety issues.

Carol Rucker creates handcrafted jewelry and teaches others to do the same. She believes any one can produce these fun and artsy pieces

Sarah Palin is a woman. Did John McCain choose her to buy women's votes?

Why do big banks want you as a customer? Because your penny-ante transactions generate big dollars in fees.

Upload your idea and sell it on a tee shirt in a Virtual Store

You know you and your kin aren't going to recycle, so pick someone in your family who will be happy to do the job.

The Internet is a jungle, no rules, no etiquette. Somebody had to do it.

Learn to create these simple wire heart earrings with step by step instructions.

This slideshow is an example of designing jewelry using a theme as outlined by my recent instructional article. Pick a theme, any theme; and when you sit down to design jewelry, ideas will come to you more easily.

When you create handcrafted jewelry working from your very own theme, you don't have to worry about getting stuck without an idea.

Capture your ideas in a Design Diary before you lose them forever

There's nothing new about reducing, reusing and recycling.

Of course you're tense, but you need to know what to do to preserve your rights.

My generation grew up with the soulful sound of Isaac Hayes.

Payday loans give consumers an alternative to bank loans for which they do not qualify. Does the state government have the right to jeopardize these loans by cutting interest rates.

These inner city women didn't decide ahead of time to become jewelry artists; but at the Sarah Center, when they received emergency assistance, they were also invited to cut, hammer, solder, use blowtorches, bend and form wire and string beads and that's what happened.

A few years ago, I conducted my own experiment. By letting go of the news, I let go of a daily dose of stress.

Guys have lots of reasons for not taking those coupons to the grocery store, but look at it as a way to turn grocery shopping into a sporting event that can save you money.

When a person buys your handcrafted jewelry, they are buying a little piece of you.

What is Patriotism and who decides?

I wrote this short story in 2006 as a submission for The Shrine Of The Black Madonna Bookstores national writing competition. I won second place in the competition.

Exactly who is it that decides who is patriotic and who isn't?

If your man is cheating, you need to know what to look for. Learn to investigate your cheating mate.

From my experience selling over 800 items on eBay with a 100% positive rating, I'm offering my tips on how you can start doing the same.

For the person who wants to start a business with fewer of the risks involved, this article describes a method where a group can cooperate to share the duties, expenses and profits by working together on a part time basis.