Articles written by Will Kester - Page 2

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About me - Will Kester

Will Kester is a pseudonym and my birth name. I was adopted and my name changed, so now I write as Will Kester. Maybe someday I'll hear from a relative, or maybe not. In the meantime, having a pseudonym gives me the freedom to write with some degree of separation

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Politics, News & Issues > Politics in the Middle & Near East Iran's human rights problems: Past and present: 1 of 11
Human rights violation in Iran I was in Iran, during the rule of the Shah. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was a Muslim, but gradually lost support with the Shi'ite clergy of Iran, primarily due to his policy of Westernization and recognition of Israel. He was supported by America, but the confrontation between the clerics, the S... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking (Other) Beginner's guide to cooking temperatures: 1 of 11
Learning to cook requires, first, learning what temperature to use for the desired results. I remember calling my mother and asking what temperature to set the stove to boil eggs. "Well, son, you just let them come to a boil." That was more profound than I realized, then. The boiling point is a critical part of cooking tempe... More..
Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests Natural insect and pest control agents for your garden: 1 of 11
One of my favorite tricks to keep pests away when outdoors, I learned when I was in Houston, Texas, where mosquitoes can ruin an otherwise pleasant evening on the patio. When most people think of Houston, they think of the oppressive, searing heat. I think of the balmy summer evenings and warm winter days. With lots of rain ... More..
Relationships & Family > Children & Divorce Dating after a divorce: When the kids don't want you to go out: 1 of 11
Dating after a divorce can be traumatizing to your kids, you, and your date. By all means, avoid it. Still want to date, after your divorce? Here are a few pointers. Your kids don't want you to date anyone, no matter how nice they are. Whoever it is, the kids won't like them. They may tolerate them, and they be as accepting ... More..
Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) True gardening stories: How it all went terribly wrong (humor): 15 of 140
Those of you who have experience with growing mint will guess the punch line, the moment you read the word, "mint." It is prolific, so I'll clue the others in, quickly. See, I didn't know it was prolific, then. The north side of a house is an interesting place to try to decide what to plant. Because it gets the least amount ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics in the Middle & Near East Assessing the future of Iraqi Kurds: 1 of 9
To assess the future of the Kurds in Iraq, we must first understand their history. Carol A. O'Leary wrote about Iraq's Kurdish history in Middle East Review of International Affairs (MARIA), from which I will quote in this article. O'Leary writes, "The Kurds, an Iranian ethno-linguistic group, like Persians, Lurs, Baluch and... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking Meats Tips for barbecuing baby back ribs: 1 of 9
Barbecued ribs may be the best food ever invented. Baby back ribs are the most popular to grill. I love to slow smoke ribs, but use the larger spare ribs for slow cooking, because the fats will melt into the meat during the slow-cooking process, where baby backs fall apart with too much cooking time. That is what makes them ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Party Politics & Ideology Why democracy is or isn't the best method for every country: 6 of 50
I get into trouble, every time I say this, so now, I'll write it. Democracy is not the best form of government for all nations, especially developing countries; a communist form of government is much more correct for developing countries. Easy! Don't panic. Let me explain, and then decide if I'm right or wrong. Many African ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms Our next generation: Are things getting better or worse?: 25 of 202
Are things better or worse, compared to what? My generation was probably the most financially successful, ever in history. We went from a nation of poor in the pre-World War II era to the most powerful and most financially successful country on earth; while we promoted nuclear proliferation, squandered the respect that could... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards Student credit cards: Taking the plunge: 4 of 32
"Hi, may I bother you for a moment?" an attractive upper classman, or person asks. "If you sign up for a free credit card, we'll give you a free T-shirt. All you have to do is fill out this form and in a few days, you can have your very own credit card." "Uh, you mean just fill this out and I can get a credit card? Really? W... More..