1) First I want to pay my respects to the creator of one of the greatest inventions of the modern era.
John Houghtaling, inventor of “Magic Fingers Vibrating Bed”, died Wednesday, June 17, at his home in Fort Pierce, Fla.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/business/20houghtaling.html?hpw
“The earliest vibrating beds predated the Industrial Revolution and were powered by household servants. Then came steam power, and after that, electricity. Mr. Houghtaling’s great innovation was to separate the motor from the bed.”
I have used Mr. Houghtaling wonderful invention. Have you? You do not have to provide any details. 🙂
2) National Youth Service
In 1973, after over 1 million Nigerian’s died in a civil war, that country created the National Service Youth Service Corps.
From a Christian Science Monitor article about this Youth Corp:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0619/p09s01-coop.html
“Nigeria’s youth-service program had an even more ambitious goal. The National Youth Service Corps has largely reintegrated Africa’s most populous country, bonding many disparate tribes and peoples, and forging one nation. This is no small accomplishment, considering a population that is 50 percent Muslim, 40 percent Christian, and 10 percent animist.
Today, despite clashes between guerrilla rebels and the Nigerian Army in the southern, oil-rich Delta region, words such as “secession” and “civil war” do not seem to be on anyone’s lips. The NYSC “is a good glue that holds this country together,” said Tosin Alagbe who works in the IT sector.
Marching orders for Nigeria’s university graduates to go live in the most primitive rural areas still engender some unease, however. Things become tense when some Christians draftees are sent to live in the north’s overwhelmingly Muslim cities, such as Kano.
TV anchorman Onimizi Adaza shared those apprehensions. He dreaded the Saharan heat, the desert, and the dust, as well as “hostile conservative Muslims who keep to themselves.” But as his year in service passed, the scales fell from his eyes, and he concluded, “They weren’t bad as a people. I still keep in touch with one friend up there.”
I like the idea of a national service requirement for all Americans. In the US we had a military draft until 1973, the year Nigeria began their Youth Services program. I don’t believe any citizen should be required to serve in the military, but some form of public service would be a good thing. I think Missionary servce, the Peace Corp, hospital volunteer work should all qualify.
Do you think some type of mandantory youth services program would be a good idea?
If you do what kind of program would you like to see?
The World Through My Eyes 
6 comments
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June 22, 2009 at 1:59 am
lovewillbringustogether
Never tried ‘Magic Fingers’ vibrating bed.
That is not to say i have never been on a bed that vibrated though 😉
Would hate to see a National military service return to my country.
Love the idea of a national Service (to the community) being introduced doing various charity work. (maybe building homes for the homeless perhaps?)
The only real problem i see with it though is that the ones who NEED it most are always the ones who have ways of getting out of it. (our leaders’ kids and those who are likely to grow up and become our leaders/politicians/CEO’s etc.)
If we are to have one it should be universal. No exemptions.
Otherwise it might as well stay voluntary as now – we are free to undertake any voluntary services.
Even if there is a level of ‘forcing’ the less educated and well off into military service through lack of alternatives that offer the same pay.
<B
June 22, 2009 at 5:32 pm
edfromct
I agree that a National Service should be universal. No exemptions.
Once you starting allowing exemptions you are better off just making it all voluntary.
I also agree that the ones it help the most are likely to be the ones who would object the most, use their parents money and influence to get out of serving.
June 22, 2009 at 7:36 am
Indian Lake Papa
Never been on a vibrating bed.
youth service – we already have that, called enlisting in the military. I was 17.
June 22, 2009 at 6:04 pm
edfromct
I was drafted into the Army when I was 21. I am happy compulsory military service was discontinued. I prefer an all volunteer military.
As long as they can chose between military or non-military service I would like to see mandatory national service for all young people, no exemptions.
June 22, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Rain
I’ve never been on a vibrating bed!
Youth service may be good, I find a lot of young people really don’t know what to do with their lives right after school, so they may travel the world or something, which is really good, but it would probably be better for them to contribute to society in some way like with a service program, although I must be honest, I’m glad they didn’t have one for me! 🙂
June 22, 2009 at 5:50 pm
edfromct
Just being forced, have the opportunity, to live away from home, with people from all segments of society, can help us see how much we are alike. It can help unite people, as it apparently has helped to do in Nigeria.
As long you get to choice the kind of service I am sure you would have learned from the experience. Perhaps you could volunteer to be on the Vodacom Bulls medical staff. 🙂