After 20+ years of success in my own business and working for other people, I now help other businesses think “outside the office” to help them make their businesses the best they can be. OBCOM Consultants have worked with hundreds of companies, in a wide array of industries, from mom-and-pop companies and start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.
You may have heard of 'thinking outside the box.' OBCOM Consulting offers thinking that is “outside the office.” We are an impartial observer from outside our client businesses and therefore are not encumbered by the history and culture of their business. We offer a fresh approach to identify innovation that is not clouded by where the company is now, or where it has been, but that will allow them to get it to where they want it to be.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Being Prepared...
It is all around us every day. More and more ‘natural disasters’ and terrorism attacks are happening it seems. Hurricanes, fires, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, BIG storms – they seem to be happening with much more regularity these days.
What can we do to have ourselves and our families prepared?
==============================================================================================
From the friend or relative of a good friend of mine:
As you requested, I am going to tell of some of our experiences during the aftermath of the hurricane. I am sending this to a few other family members so that they can perhaps benefit from it.
We returned from Thailand a week after the hurricane hit and so didn't live through the crazy week following it. Our understanding is that when Baton Rouge doubled in size several things occurred:
1. There was no gasoline to find and what little there was involved very long waits at the pumps.
Lesson: it is wise to fill your tank before a known storm, but also wise to never let it get below half a tank as disasters do not always come with warning.
2. It was difficult to find food and ice. So many people moved into the area or were trying to feed themselves in the shelters, stores were not used to or equipped with supplies or supply lines to stock shelves. Lines to check out in the grocery store were 20 deep, often taking 45min. to 1 hour to check out. A week after the disaster it was difficult to find bread, eggs, milk, lettuce, water (especially water), ice, etc.
Lesson: Make sure you have food storage on hand for at least a month and food in your 72 hour kit. Even with stores open it was hard to find food. Make sure that your freezers are full of food and ice. Find out those friends that can make ice and have them make ice for those without power. (During Hurricane Andrew a block of ice was selling for $10.)
3. Many people came out of New Orleans expecting to be gone from home for 24 hours. When the flooding started, they lost everything. Many only had the clothes on their backs. Laundry facilities were not always easy to come by, as well as showering facilities.
Lesson: Make sure your 72-hour kit has at least one change of clothes, perhaps 2 changes of underclothing. Make sure you have soap, one towel, wipes, or sanitizing lotion with you. Bedding is very helpful - shelters do not always have bedding.
4. Those that took some thought into evacuating and evacuated early were more prepared than others. However, even those didn't always come out with important paperwork. Many didn't have their social security cards, car ins. and house ins. Policy numbers, contact numbers for credit cards, and ins., medical ins. ID cards, passports, driver’s licenses, green cards. Those who were trying to recreate these documents were really struggling. Also, photos, genealogy, etc. were lost and missed - much more than houses, cars, and clothing.
Lesson: Put your important paperwork in the same place and pick it up and carry it with you. Make copies of your paperwork and send the copies to someone outside of the area - someone you trust. One suggestion has been to put these onto USBs for easier handling, especially photos and genealogy.
5. Communication was a nightmare!! Our cell phones and land lines didn't begin to function without problems for almost a month. People could call outside long distance, but couldn't call across town. Our family ended up communicating through our two daughters - one in UT and the other one in FL. The Baton Rouge family would call them and the other family members would find out the news from them. They also sent emails to our friends and family through our email accounts since they know our passwords.
Cell phones were no use at all to begin with. Land lines worked, but some people didn't have an old fashioned phone that could be worked with no electricity, they only had cordless. For weeks to make a phone call we had to redial multiple times - 5x or more. The most efficient way of communicating was through the Internet. If there was power and an Internet connection, we could communicate.
Lesson: Have an old-fashioned phone. Perhaps put together a list of members who live close to each other and can physically check on each other. Make sure you have people designated outside of your area that will take your calls and inform other family members.
6. Financially people were very unprepared. Many left without cash, thinking they could charge or write a check. ATM machines weren't working, or they ran out of cash. Banks will not cash checks drawn on other banks. Many establishments would only accept cash, no checks. Some people were really, really in a bind.
Lesson: Make sure you have cash on hand - enough to take care of your needs for at least one week.
7. Many of these people have been displaced from their homes and will not return for at least a year, perhaps two. Some companies have relocated to Baton Rouge, others to completely different parts of the country. Some people with service jobs; for example, housekeepers in the hospitals, lost their jobs with the loss of the hospitals.
Lesson: While this is not easy to prepare for, perhaps it is wise to sit down once a year and consider the options available to you if you were to lose your home and job in a disaster. Do you have family to live with on a temporary basis? Do you have updated job skills? Are there other parts of the country where my job skills are needed? Is my job resume updated and current? (This was really important when we helped some look for work - they didn't have contact information of past employers, or reference contact information.)
8. Living through this is emotionally, physically, and spiritually draining. It becomes important to have an eye on people to look for signs of becoming overstressed.
Well, that is what we learned. I am sure Richard could come up with some other things. I do believe that we are going to continue to see these disasters increase and we must be prepared!! Those who were prepared may have lost a lot, but they had a sense of peace with them.
http://www.tomstates.com/Being_Prepared.html
What can we do to have ourselves and our families prepared?
==============================================================================================
From the friend or relative of a good friend of mine:
As you requested, I am going to tell of some of our experiences during the aftermath of the hurricane. I am sending this to a few other family members so that they can perhaps benefit from it.
We returned from Thailand a week after the hurricane hit and so didn't live through the crazy week following it. Our understanding is that when Baton Rouge doubled in size several things occurred:
1. There was no gasoline to find and what little there was involved very long waits at the pumps.
Lesson: it is wise to fill your tank before a known storm, but also wise to never let it get below half a tank as disasters do not always come with warning.
2. It was difficult to find food and ice. So many people moved into the area or were trying to feed themselves in the shelters, stores were not used to or equipped with supplies or supply lines to stock shelves. Lines to check out in the grocery store were 20 deep, often taking 45min. to 1 hour to check out. A week after the disaster it was difficult to find bread, eggs, milk, lettuce, water (especially water), ice, etc.
Lesson: Make sure you have food storage on hand for at least a month and food in your 72 hour kit. Even with stores open it was hard to find food. Make sure that your freezers are full of food and ice. Find out those friends that can make ice and have them make ice for those without power. (During Hurricane Andrew a block of ice was selling for $10.)
3. Many people came out of New Orleans expecting to be gone from home for 24 hours. When the flooding started, they lost everything. Many only had the clothes on their backs. Laundry facilities were not always easy to come by, as well as showering facilities.
Lesson: Make sure your 72-hour kit has at least one change of clothes, perhaps 2 changes of underclothing. Make sure you have soap, one towel, wipes, or sanitizing lotion with you. Bedding is very helpful - shelters do not always have bedding.
4. Those that took some thought into evacuating and evacuated early were more prepared than others. However, even those didn't always come out with important paperwork. Many didn't have their social security cards, car ins. and house ins. Policy numbers, contact numbers for credit cards, and ins., medical ins. ID cards, passports, driver’s licenses, green cards. Those who were trying to recreate these documents were really struggling. Also, photos, genealogy, etc. were lost and missed - much more than houses, cars, and clothing.
Lesson: Put your important paperwork in the same place and pick it up and carry it with you. Make copies of your paperwork and send the copies to someone outside of the area - someone you trust. One suggestion has been to put these onto USBs for easier handling, especially photos and genealogy.
5. Communication was a nightmare!! Our cell phones and land lines didn't begin to function without problems for almost a month. People could call outside long distance, but couldn't call across town. Our family ended up communicating through our two daughters - one in UT and the other one in FL. The Baton Rouge family would call them and the other family members would find out the news from them. They also sent emails to our friends and family through our email accounts since they know our passwords.
Cell phones were no use at all to begin with. Land lines worked, but some people didn't have an old fashioned phone that could be worked with no electricity, they only had cordless. For weeks to make a phone call we had to redial multiple times - 5x or more. The most efficient way of communicating was through the Internet. If there was power and an Internet connection, we could communicate.
Lesson: Have an old-fashioned phone. Perhaps put together a list of members who live close to each other and can physically check on each other. Make sure you have people designated outside of your area that will take your calls and inform other family members.
6. Financially people were very unprepared. Many left without cash, thinking they could charge or write a check. ATM machines weren't working, or they ran out of cash. Banks will not cash checks drawn on other banks. Many establishments would only accept cash, no checks. Some people were really, really in a bind.
Lesson: Make sure you have cash on hand - enough to take care of your needs for at least one week.
7. Many of these people have been displaced from their homes and will not return for at least a year, perhaps two. Some companies have relocated to Baton Rouge, others to completely different parts of the country. Some people with service jobs; for example, housekeepers in the hospitals, lost their jobs with the loss of the hospitals.
Lesson: While this is not easy to prepare for, perhaps it is wise to sit down once a year and consider the options available to you if you were to lose your home and job in a disaster. Do you have family to live with on a temporary basis? Do you have updated job skills? Are there other parts of the country where my job skills are needed? Is my job resume updated and current? (This was really important when we helped some look for work - they didn't have contact information of past employers, or reference contact information.)
8. Living through this is emotionally, physically, and spiritually draining. It becomes important to have an eye on people to look for signs of becoming overstressed.
Well, that is what we learned. I am sure Richard could come up with some other things. I do believe that we are going to continue to see these disasters increase and we must be prepared!! Those who were prepared may have lost a lot, but they had a sense of peace with them.
http://www.tomstates.com/Being_Prepared.html
Saturday, June 8, 2013
A Thought for today
"It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief.
And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen."
Muhammad Ali [thanks Angelina]
And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen."
Muhammad Ali [thanks Angelina]
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Monday, November 14, 2011
The 12 Most Overrated Jobs
12 Most Overrated Jobs by Daniel Bukszpan
When parents look at their young children and imagine what they'll be when they grow up, many different possibilities come to mind. They dream of little Junior growing up to be a surgeon, or perhaps a commercial airline pilot, or maybe a banker, and they imagine a rewarding future of power, prestige, and high pay.
The reality is actually a little different. The job search portal CareerCast.com , created a list of 12 jobs that are traditionally believed to be great occupations, but that actually look a lot better on paper than they might be in reality.
Despite the public perception of some of these jobs as impressive and rewarding, some have less-than-stellar salaries and frankly lousy hiring prospects. Others come with so much on-the-job stress that the six-figure income barely seems worth it, particularly when the work involves the safety and well-being of others.
Whatever the case, CareerCast.com characterizes all of the following jobs as overrated, but with important caveats: "A job that's overrated doesn't mean it fails to serve an important function in our society. In fact, these jobs play an integral role in our workplace," says the website . "It's just that the hype surrounding them sometimes makes these jobs sound much better than they really are."
What are CareerCast.com's 12 most overrated jobs? Click ahead and find out.
Advertising Account Executive
Income Average: $62,105
An advertising account executive "negotiates to procure accounts, and supervises advertising campaigns for products, companies, and organizations," according to CareerCast.com.
The executive earns an average annual salary of $62,105 for these services, but the position has several overrated factors, including "high stress, weak hiring demand, and an unstable economy," according to the job search site.
Flight Attendant
Income Average: $40,184
In a less enlightened era, flight attendants were known as "stewardesses." But times have changed, and a vocation once solely populated by pretty young women now is practiced by people of both genders and all age groups.
The average salary of a flight attendant is $40,184 -- a not-so-sky-high compensation that's slightly lower than the national average. Flight attendants also have to endure long and exhausting hours, cramped working conditions, and occasionally rude customers -- making the behavior of former Jet Blue employee Steven Slater , who used profanity, and an emergency slide, to escape a customer dispute, somewhat more understandable.
Photojournalist
Income Average: $40,209
Photojournalists take pictures for news outlets, which requires them to travel and document events in real time. For the average person, who slaves away at a repetitive and unchallenging desk job, that life must seem like an exciting adventure.
The job requirements of a photojournalist, however, might convince desk dwellers to stay put. Photojournalists are required to travel to where the action is and take pictures, sometimes in extremely hazardous locations ravaged by war, earthquakes, and radiation. Then, they have to deal with the stress of meeting a deadline. For risking their lives to get some good pictures, a photojournalist earns an average salary of $40,209.
Real-Estate Agent
Income Average: $40,357
Americans purchasing a new home will frequently do so through a real-estate agent. The agent acts as a liaison between the buyer and the seller of the property, with the ultimate goal of negotiating a price on which both the seller and the buyer can agree.
The average salary for a real-estate agent is $40,357. Anyone wishing to become an agent in the U.S. has to earn a license, and the time and cost associated with accomplishing that may give pause. CareerCast.com describes this job as overrated due to the decrease in activity that the profession has undergone since the housing crisis began.
Stockbroker
Income Average: $67,470
It's impossible to walk into a convenience store to buy a bottle of water, a lottery ticket, and 100 shares of stock in Groupon. While many self-directed investors choose to buy and sell stocks online on their own through discount websites such as ETRADE.com, many people instead choose to consult a stockbroker, who coordinates the sale of these and other securities.
The average annual salary of a stockbroker is $67,470, according to CareerCast.com. The primary stressor that makes the job overrated is the burden of being responsible for the financial well-being of multiple clients. This holds particularly true in today's volatile and unpredictable stock market.
Architect
Income Average: $73,193
An architect designs and oversees building construction. Lately, there has been an effort on the part of landscapers and software designers to co-opt the term and re-christen themselves "landscape architects" and "software architects," but for most people, the term remains associated with people who design buildings.
An architect earns an average salary of $73,193. CareerCast.com cites "decreasing employment opportunities tied to the unstable construction industry" as a factor making the job overrated. The amount of education that aspiring architects must undergo to earn a license may be off-putting to potential candidates, as well.
Attorney
Income Average: $113,211
Attorneys have been painted in an unflattering light in much of popular culture, but the fact remains that at some point, many people who don't understand the law will need counsel. This is where the attorney comes in, and without his or her advice, businesses and individuals might find themselves in a legal bind.
An attorney earns an average salary of $113,211 a year, according to CareerCast.com. The search firm cites "lack of job stability in a poor economy, long hours, and deteriorating hiring prospects" as factors that make the job overrated.
Commercial Airline Pilot
Income Average: $106,153
Those wishing to get paid to travel would have a hard time finding a better way to do it than by becoming a commercial airline pilot. Commercial pilots operate airplanes to transport cargo and passengers.
The average salary of a commercial airline pilot is $106,153. While the six-digit sum sounds attractive, pilots have to handle the stress of being responsible for the lives of hundreds of passengers, and must also endure very long hours.
Psychiatrist
Income Average: $160,242
People suffering from depression, delusions, or dissatisfaction with day-to-day life need not suffer silently. Psychiatrists treat these kinds of behavioral, emotional, and mental conditions.
The average salary of a psychiatrist is $160,242. According to CareerCast.com, the factors that make the job overrated are "the responsibility of managing the mental health of others, long hours, and increased regulation."
Physician
Income Average: $192,065
Whether a patient has a lingering cold or suspects something more serious, the first line of defense is a consultation with a physician. This medical professional performs examinations, produces diagnoses, and recommends methods of treatment. The average salary is $192,065.
While the level of stress that a physician encounters may be slightly less than that encountered by a brain surgeon, that doesn't mean the job is easy by any means. CareerCast.com cites "increased regulations, lower compensation, and the required need to stay abreast of medical developments" as factors that make the job overrated.
Surgeon
Income Average: $365,258
No matter how many miles you jog every day, or how closely you stick to your low-fat, high-fiber diet, there is still the chance that at some point in your life, you may need the services of a surgeon. Surgeons are compensated for their considerable expertise, earning an average salary of $365,258.
In addition to performing procedures that can last for as long as 20 hours in some cases, surgeons often experience intense on-the-job stress. Surgeons may be well-paid, but the salaries that they earn come at a high personal price.
Senior Corporate Executive
Income Average: $161,141
A senior corporate executive would seem to have it all. He or she is responsible for the operations, people, and policies of private and publicly traded companies. It's hard to imagine more complex or prestigious responsibilities than those, and the average salary of $161,141.
Despite the positive attributes of the job, it earns the top spot on CareerCast.com's list of Most Overrated Jobs. The firm cites "high stress, shaky stability, and long hours that affect family time" as factors that come with the territory, and make the position much less rewarding than it may seem
[thank you Marvin]
When parents look at their young children and imagine what they'll be when they grow up, many different possibilities come to mind. They dream of little Junior growing up to be a surgeon, or perhaps a commercial airline pilot, or maybe a banker, and they imagine a rewarding future of power, prestige, and high pay.
The reality is actually a little different. The job search portal CareerCast.com , created a list of 12 jobs that are traditionally believed to be great occupations, but that actually look a lot better on paper than they might be in reality.
Despite the public perception of some of these jobs as impressive and rewarding, some have less-than-stellar salaries and frankly lousy hiring prospects. Others come with so much on-the-job stress that the six-figure income barely seems worth it, particularly when the work involves the safety and well-being of others.
Whatever the case, CareerCast.com characterizes all of the following jobs as overrated, but with important caveats: "A job that's overrated doesn't mean it fails to serve an important function in our society. In fact, these jobs play an integral role in our workplace," says the website . "It's just that the hype surrounding them sometimes makes these jobs sound much better than they really are."
What are CareerCast.com's 12 most overrated jobs? Click ahead and find out.
Advertising Account Executive
Income Average: $62,105
An advertising account executive "negotiates to procure accounts, and supervises advertising campaigns for products, companies, and organizations," according to CareerCast.com.
The executive earns an average annual salary of $62,105 for these services, but the position has several overrated factors, including "high stress, weak hiring demand, and an unstable economy," according to the job search site.
Flight Attendant
Income Average: $40,184
In a less enlightened era, flight attendants were known as "stewardesses." But times have changed, and a vocation once solely populated by pretty young women now is practiced by people of both genders and all age groups.
The average salary of a flight attendant is $40,184 -- a not-so-sky-high compensation that's slightly lower than the national average. Flight attendants also have to endure long and exhausting hours, cramped working conditions, and occasionally rude customers -- making the behavior of former Jet Blue employee Steven Slater , who used profanity, and an emergency slide, to escape a customer dispute, somewhat more understandable.
Photojournalist
Income Average: $40,209
Photojournalists take pictures for news outlets, which requires them to travel and document events in real time. For the average person, who slaves away at a repetitive and unchallenging desk job, that life must seem like an exciting adventure.
The job requirements of a photojournalist, however, might convince desk dwellers to stay put. Photojournalists are required to travel to where the action is and take pictures, sometimes in extremely hazardous locations ravaged by war, earthquakes, and radiation. Then, they have to deal with the stress of meeting a deadline. For risking their lives to get some good pictures, a photojournalist earns an average salary of $40,209.
Real-Estate Agent
Income Average: $40,357
Americans purchasing a new home will frequently do so through a real-estate agent. The agent acts as a liaison between the buyer and the seller of the property, with the ultimate goal of negotiating a price on which both the seller and the buyer can agree.
The average salary for a real-estate agent is $40,357. Anyone wishing to become an agent in the U.S. has to earn a license, and the time and cost associated with accomplishing that may give pause. CareerCast.com describes this job as overrated due to the decrease in activity that the profession has undergone since the housing crisis began.
Stockbroker
Income Average: $67,470
It's impossible to walk into a convenience store to buy a bottle of water, a lottery ticket, and 100 shares of stock in Groupon. While many self-directed investors choose to buy and sell stocks online on their own through discount websites such as ETRADE.com, many people instead choose to consult a stockbroker, who coordinates the sale of these and other securities.
The average annual salary of a stockbroker is $67,470, according to CareerCast.com. The primary stressor that makes the job overrated is the burden of being responsible for the financial well-being of multiple clients. This holds particularly true in today's volatile and unpredictable stock market.
Architect
Income Average: $73,193
An architect designs and oversees building construction. Lately, there has been an effort on the part of landscapers and software designers to co-opt the term and re-christen themselves "landscape architects" and "software architects," but for most people, the term remains associated with people who design buildings.
An architect earns an average salary of $73,193. CareerCast.com cites "decreasing employment opportunities tied to the unstable construction industry" as a factor making the job overrated. The amount of education that aspiring architects must undergo to earn a license may be off-putting to potential candidates, as well.
Attorney
Income Average: $113,211
Attorneys have been painted in an unflattering light in much of popular culture, but the fact remains that at some point, many people who don't understand the law will need counsel. This is where the attorney comes in, and without his or her advice, businesses and individuals might find themselves in a legal bind.
An attorney earns an average salary of $113,211 a year, according to CareerCast.com. The search firm cites "lack of job stability in a poor economy, long hours, and deteriorating hiring prospects" as factors that make the job overrated.
Commercial Airline Pilot
Income Average: $106,153
Those wishing to get paid to travel would have a hard time finding a better way to do it than by becoming a commercial airline pilot. Commercial pilots operate airplanes to transport cargo and passengers.
The average salary of a commercial airline pilot is $106,153. While the six-digit sum sounds attractive, pilots have to handle the stress of being responsible for the lives of hundreds of passengers, and must also endure very long hours.
Psychiatrist
Income Average: $160,242
People suffering from depression, delusions, or dissatisfaction with day-to-day life need not suffer silently. Psychiatrists treat these kinds of behavioral, emotional, and mental conditions.
The average salary of a psychiatrist is $160,242. According to CareerCast.com, the factors that make the job overrated are "the responsibility of managing the mental health of others, long hours, and increased regulation."
Physician
Income Average: $192,065
Whether a patient has a lingering cold or suspects something more serious, the first line of defense is a consultation with a physician. This medical professional performs examinations, produces diagnoses, and recommends methods of treatment. The average salary is $192,065.
While the level of stress that a physician encounters may be slightly less than that encountered by a brain surgeon, that doesn't mean the job is easy by any means. CareerCast.com cites "increased regulations, lower compensation, and the required need to stay abreast of medical developments" as factors that make the job overrated.
Surgeon
Income Average: $365,258
No matter how many miles you jog every day, or how closely you stick to your low-fat, high-fiber diet, there is still the chance that at some point in your life, you may need the services of a surgeon. Surgeons are compensated for their considerable expertise, earning an average salary of $365,258.
In addition to performing procedures that can last for as long as 20 hours in some cases, surgeons often experience intense on-the-job stress. Surgeons may be well-paid, but the salaries that they earn come at a high personal price.
Senior Corporate Executive
Income Average: $161,141
A senior corporate executive would seem to have it all. He or she is responsible for the operations, people, and policies of private and publicly traded companies. It's hard to imagine more complex or prestigious responsibilities than those, and the average salary of $161,141.
Despite the positive attributes of the job, it earns the top spot on CareerCast.com's list of Most Overrated Jobs. The firm cites "high stress, shaky stability, and long hours that affect family time" as factors that come with the territory, and make the position much less rewarding than it may seem
[thank you Marvin]
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
thought for the day
"Practice as if it is competition; compete as if it is practice." Peter Vidmar Olympic Gold Medalist Highest Scoring U.S. gymnast in Olympic history - Palm Springs, CA 4/2000
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Growth and Discovery
Growth and discovery are often accompanied by a degree or two of discomfort ~Kevin Hall (thanks Felix)
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Cars of the 2040s
The auto manufacturers are putting out clone copies of 60s and 70s cars. They look great and are adding to the bottom line of the manufacturers. Does anyone believe that 30 years from now they will be putting out copies of a Kia Sonata, Lexus IS, Ford Taurus, a BMW, a Prius, or...really, ANYTHING from today? I'm just sayin'
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Get your pilot's license!
After a nearly four-year drought of openings, the airline industry is on the brink of what’s predicted to be the biggest hiring surge of pilots in history. Boeing has forecast a need for 466,650 more commercial pilots by 2029 – an average of 23,300 new pilots a year. Nearly 40% of the openings will be needed to meet the soaring travel market in the Asia-Pacific region, but more than 97,000 will be in North America, predicts Boeing. A shortage of pilots is already being seen in some countries. The hiring surge is being fueled by rapid growth of travel to Asia, a wave of mandatory pilot retirements in the U.S. (federal law requires mandatory retirement age of 65 for pilots), flight rule changes that increase the time pilots must train, rest and work, and a rebounding-increase in air travel in the U.S. There is also competition from corporations and freight moving firms. The airline industry is facing the questions of where are the new plots going to come from and how are they going to finance them? Beginning pilots make around $22,000 per year after incurring about $100,000 in training and education costs, while the most senior pilots at major airlines earn more than $186,000 annually. (usatoday.com, June 21, 2011)
thouoghts dreams words
Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have the power to create conditions in your life. What you speak about, you can bring about. (thanks Ajay)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Nevada Legalizes Self-Driving Cars
by John Stossel | June 25, 2011
I reported earlier this year about a cool new technology: cars that drive themselves. Google already designed one, and it drove more than a thousand miles on public roads using just a computer chip and a sensor to detect other cars. It only crashed once, and in that case it was rear-ended while it was stopped at a red light.
So why can’t you buy one yet? Because they’re illegal. Outdated government rules in every state require a driver always to be in control of the wheel.
But today, Nevada – at Google’s urging – became the first state to pass a bill that allows driverless cars. Wow--a government that actually repealed a law.
It could have a big impact. According to transportation expert Randal O’Toole, self-driving cars could safely drive close together at higher speeds, since computers have better reaction times than people. About 6,000 robot cars could drive on highways that currently supports 2,000 regular cars – and that means fewer traffic jams, less congestion and fewer idling cars wasting fuel.
We should stop wasting taxpayer money on high-speed rail and move to this cleaner, more convenient technology, that's just around the corner.
I reported earlier this year about a cool new technology: cars that drive themselves. Google already designed one, and it drove more than a thousand miles on public roads using just a computer chip and a sensor to detect other cars. It only crashed once, and in that case it was rear-ended while it was stopped at a red light.
So why can’t you buy one yet? Because they’re illegal. Outdated government rules in every state require a driver always to be in control of the wheel.
But today, Nevada – at Google’s urging – became the first state to pass a bill that allows driverless cars. Wow--a government that actually repealed a law.
It could have a big impact. According to transportation expert Randal O’Toole, self-driving cars could safely drive close together at higher speeds, since computers have better reaction times than people. About 6,000 robot cars could drive on highways that currently supports 2,000 regular cars – and that means fewer traffic jams, less congestion and fewer idling cars wasting fuel.
We should stop wasting taxpayer money on high-speed rail and move to this cleaner, more convenient technology, that's just around the corner.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Service
"Sometimes the nicest thing you can do for someone is to allow them to do something for you.” John Steinbeck
Friday, April 22, 2011
Judgement
We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done. ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (thanks Marshall)
Friday, April 8, 2011
thought for the day
"If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." Alan K. Simpson
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
thought for the day #1150
"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. It is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead-end street." William A. Ward
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
thought for the day
Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
Monday, March 21, 2011
thought for the day
Make what you’re doing today important, because you're trading a day of your life for it.
Monday, March 14, 2011
thought for the day
"The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers." Walter P. Chrysler
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thought for the day
"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The LITTLE difference is attitude. The BIG difference is whether it is positive or negative." W. Clement Stone
Monday, March 7, 2011
If you board the wrong train...
If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (thanks Katie)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
thought for the day
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Thought for the day
The person who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on. Robert Albert Bloch
Friday, January 7, 2011
Good News - Bad News
The unemployment rate drops to 9.4 percent — its lowest level in 19 months.
So what's the bad news?
There were only a small number of new jobs. The unemployment rate dropped because people gave up on their job searches!
And then there are those who are still 'employed' but only work 1 to 4 days a week. They still have a job - and a little pay is better than no pay. For every 10 of these, and I personally know many, there is the equivalency of 1 or 2 'unemployed.'
We are not out of this mess yet.
So what's the bad news?
There were only a small number of new jobs. The unemployment rate dropped because people gave up on their job searches!
And then there are those who are still 'employed' but only work 1 to 4 days a week. They still have a job - and a little pay is better than no pay. For every 10 of these, and I personally know many, there is the equivalency of 1 or 2 'unemployed.'
We are not out of this mess yet.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
thought for the day
A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other - and few people look forward to the new year for a new start on old loving habits. Rajeev Coduru
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
thought for the day
...Pursue the things you love doing, then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you. - Maya Angelou
Sunday, December 5, 2010
thought for the day
The things that are easy to do are also easy not to do. - Jim Rohn RIP (September 17, 1930 - December 5, 2009)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
thought for the day
"Sometimes things got so tough that I did not want to pay the price individually, but there was no price that I wouldn't pay for the group, so I would go the distance." 'Mean' Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steeler, Football HOF
Monday, November 15, 2010
thought for the day
A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step - so watch your step. Jeffrey R. Holland
Friday, November 12, 2010
thought for the day
“We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free” Ronald Reagan
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
thought for the day
"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual -- or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." --Samuel Adams (thanks June)
Friday, October 22, 2010
thought for the day
The rich invest their money and spend what's left; the poor spend their money and invest what's left. --- Jim Rohn
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Buy American
From the Associated Press:
TOKYO – Toyota is recalling 1.53 million Lexus, Avalon and other models, mostly in the U.S. and Japan, for brake fluid and fuel pump problems, the latest in a string of quality problems for the world's No. 1 automaker.
Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will call back for repairs about 740,000 cars in the U.S. and 599,000 in Japan. The remainder are in Europe and other markets around the world.
Over the past year, Toyota has recalled more than 10 million cars and trucks worldwide for a variety of problems, from faulty gas pedals and floor mats that can trap accelerators, to braking problems in its Prius hybrid. In August, Toyota called back 1.33 million Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks in the U.S. and Canada because their engines may stall.
The majority of vehicles this time around need to be fixed for a problem with the brake master cylinder, which could lead to weaker braking power, said spokesman Paul Nolasco in Tokyo
TOKYO – Toyota is recalling 1.53 million Lexus, Avalon and other models, mostly in the U.S. and Japan, for brake fluid and fuel pump problems, the latest in a string of quality problems for the world's No. 1 automaker.
Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will call back for repairs about 740,000 cars in the U.S. and 599,000 in Japan. The remainder are in Europe and other markets around the world.
Over the past year, Toyota has recalled more than 10 million cars and trucks worldwide for a variety of problems, from faulty gas pedals and floor mats that can trap accelerators, to braking problems in its Prius hybrid. In August, Toyota called back 1.33 million Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks in the U.S. and Canada because their engines may stall.
The majority of vehicles this time around need to be fixed for a problem with the brake master cylinder, which could lead to weaker braking power, said spokesman Paul Nolasco in Tokyo
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
thought for the day
"In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt
Thursday, October 7, 2010
thought for the day
People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be. — Harvey MacKay, Author and Business Owner
Friday, October 1, 2010
thought for the day
"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress" Ronald Reagan
Thursday, September 2, 2010
thought for the day
The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread. - Steven Wright
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
thought for the day
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort" Herm Albright
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
thought for the day
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
thought for the day
"The thoughts of youth are bright lights that shine forth like the meteors that oft make brilliant the sky; but the wisdom of age is like the fixed stars that shine so unchanged that the sailor may depend upon then to steer his course." from The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
thought for the day
It's not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs ~ Valclav Havel
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
thought for the day
Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. ~ anonymous
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
thought for the day
Hold your loved ones close, tell them you love them, for if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today! ~ anonymous
Monday, July 5, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
thought for the day
It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in having no goal to reach.--Benjamin E. Mays
Friday, June 18, 2010
thought for the day
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. Jimmy Dean
Friday, June 11, 2010
Coach John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010)
Any follower of the ‘thought for the day’ will certainly know my admiration for Coach John Wooden. I have shared many of his quotes - most of which came from books he has written or books about him. I remember those wonderful basketball teams of the past. I remember the amazing success.
After I met Coach Wooden, I realized how he was so much more that a basketball coach. His life story unfolded to me in the many books by and about him that I have read since then.
Two of my favorites are linked here: Wooden favorite number one Wooden favorite number two
If there ever was anyone who should be emulated in this day and age, who should be a hero, it was Coach John Wooden.
RIP.
May your 2010 be a 10!
Tom
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He was a coach when coaching meant something else, long before the job became a pathway to riches and fame. A coach when student athletes were really students, and the thought of making millions of dollars rolling out basketballs in the gym seemed preposterous.
A coach when it meant more to mold the lives of young men than to proclaim his own greatness. A coach who offered a new life lesson to his charges almost every day.
"Learn as if you were going to live forever," he would tell his players. "Live as if you were going to die tomorrow."
John Wooden didn't live forever. His tomorrow finally came Friday, when he quietly passed away just months before his 100th birthday.
The end came, fittingly enough, on the same UCLA campus where he tutored a player then known as Lew Alcindor. The same place he seemingly couldn't lose with Bill Walton. The place where he dispensed wisdom that his players remembered long after they had forgotten the X's and O's.
"What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player," he would say.
His players listened. How could they not when the man giving advice lived by the same code? He was born on a farm in Indiana without running water or electricity, and his values were as solid as the land his parents worked. He lived into a time he could never have imagined, but nothing changed.
The championships seemed to come as an annual rite of spring. There were 10 of them in all, an accomplishment so staggering that no other college coach will ever come close. The other statistics blurred together over time, but they won't be matched either.
Still, it wasn't the 88-game winning streak, the four 30-0 seasons or even the 38 straight NCAA tournament wins that defined the humble Midwesterner who ended up at UCLA almost by accident.
He had the best players. They came because of him, and they came in spite of him. Playing for Wooden, you see, was never easy. He was the boss, practices were brutal, and things were always done in his meticulous way. The players who bought in would one day become his lifetime friends. Those who didn't would never understand.
The first practice of every season began not with a midnight slam dunk contest, but a demonstration by Wooden on the proper way to put on shoes and socks. Wrinkles in the socks could lead to blisters, he explained, and blisters could lead to losing.
The fundamentals never went out of style, and Wooden never changed his approach. His players learned, and they grew. He taught them how to win, but he also taught them bigger things, like his belief that a life not lived for others is a life not lived well. He wouldn't accept less than their best effort both on and off the court, and that's
usually what he got.
"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but what you should have accomplished with your ability," Wooden would warn them.
Walton was one of those with ability, and tons of it. The redhead was one of the greatest college players ever and the bedrock of the UCLA team in the early '70s that won the 88 straight.
Walton was also very much an individual in a time of individualism. One day, during a break in the season, he showed up at practice with a wild, red beard, ready to play for a coach who didn't allow facial hair.
"It's my right," he told Wooden.
"That's good, Bill," Wooden replied. "I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them. We're going to miss you."
The beard, of course, went. And although Walton finally graduated and moved on, his friendship with his coach grew by the year.
It's been 35 years since Wooden watched his Bruins cut down the nets down one last time, then walked away while still at his peak. Yes, he was the "Wizard of Westwood" -- but he never made more than $32,500 and for years he mopped the floor himself before practice.
He never begrudged the coaches of today the millions they make, but making money wasn't why he got into coaching in the first place. He became a legend because of what his players did on the court, but to Wooden the victories were merely a byproduct of the life lessons that always came first.
Indeed, Wooden did what he preached, living his life for others. His style was authoritarian, but his players graduated and the messages sank in a lot more than they missed the mark. He encouraged them to take chances, urged them to be all they could be.
"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything," he would tell them. "I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."
Wooden didn't make many. He lived an impeccable life, devoid of scandal, still so in love with his wife, Nell, in the years after she died that he would write her a letter each month just as he had done while she was alive.
As word got out about his final hospitalization, students who hadn't even been born the last time he worked a game rallied on the UCLA campus in tribute. Words of tribute, meanwhile, began flowing the moment his death was announced.
But the words that matter most are the ones his players still remember. The same words they've passed on to their children and their children's children.
"Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you," he told them.
As hard as it is to imagine, John Wooden is gone. His dreams, however, live on.
(The above article was written by Tim Dahlberg who is an Associated Press Sports Columnist dated June 5, 2010)
After I met Coach Wooden, I realized how he was so much more that a basketball coach. His life story unfolded to me in the many books by and about him that I have read since then.
Two of my favorites are linked here: Wooden favorite number one Wooden favorite number two
If there ever was anyone who should be emulated in this day and age, who should be a hero, it was Coach John Wooden.
RIP.
May your 2010 be a 10!
Tom
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He was a coach when coaching meant something else, long before the job became a pathway to riches and fame. A coach when student athletes were really students, and the thought of making millions of dollars rolling out basketballs in the gym seemed preposterous.
A coach when it meant more to mold the lives of young men than to proclaim his own greatness. A coach who offered a new life lesson to his charges almost every day.
"Learn as if you were going to live forever," he would tell his players. "Live as if you were going to die tomorrow."
John Wooden didn't live forever. His tomorrow finally came Friday, when he quietly passed away just months before his 100th birthday.
The end came, fittingly enough, on the same UCLA campus where he tutored a player then known as Lew Alcindor. The same place he seemingly couldn't lose with Bill Walton. The place where he dispensed wisdom that his players remembered long after they had forgotten the X's and O's.
"What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player," he would say.
His players listened. How could they not when the man giving advice lived by the same code? He was born on a farm in Indiana without running water or electricity, and his values were as solid as the land his parents worked. He lived into a time he could never have imagined, but nothing changed.
The championships seemed to come as an annual rite of spring. There were 10 of them in all, an accomplishment so staggering that no other college coach will ever come close. The other statistics blurred together over time, but they won't be matched either.
Still, it wasn't the 88-game winning streak, the four 30-0 seasons or even the 38 straight NCAA tournament wins that defined the humble Midwesterner who ended up at UCLA almost by accident.
He had the best players. They came because of him, and they came in spite of him. Playing for Wooden, you see, was never easy. He was the boss, practices were brutal, and things were always done in his meticulous way. The players who bought in would one day become his lifetime friends. Those who didn't would never understand.
The first practice of every season began not with a midnight slam dunk contest, but a demonstration by Wooden on the proper way to put on shoes and socks. Wrinkles in the socks could lead to blisters, he explained, and blisters could lead to losing.
The fundamentals never went out of style, and Wooden never changed his approach. His players learned, and they grew. He taught them how to win, but he also taught them bigger things, like his belief that a life not lived for others is a life not lived well. He wouldn't accept less than their best effort both on and off the court, and that's
usually what he got.
"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but what you should have accomplished with your ability," Wooden would warn them.
Walton was one of those with ability, and tons of it. The redhead was one of the greatest college players ever and the bedrock of the UCLA team in the early '70s that won the 88 straight.
Walton was also very much an individual in a time of individualism. One day, during a break in the season, he showed up at practice with a wild, red beard, ready to play for a coach who didn't allow facial hair.
"It's my right," he told Wooden.
"That's good, Bill," Wooden replied. "I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them. We're going to miss you."
The beard, of course, went. And although Walton finally graduated and moved on, his friendship with his coach grew by the year.
It's been 35 years since Wooden watched his Bruins cut down the nets down one last time, then walked away while still at his peak. Yes, he was the "Wizard of Westwood" -- but he never made more than $32,500 and for years he mopped the floor himself before practice.
He never begrudged the coaches of today the millions they make, but making money wasn't why he got into coaching in the first place. He became a legend because of what his players did on the court, but to Wooden the victories were merely a byproduct of the life lessons that always came first.
Indeed, Wooden did what he preached, living his life for others. His style was authoritarian, but his players graduated and the messages sank in a lot more than they missed the mark. He encouraged them to take chances, urged them to be all they could be.
"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything," he would tell them. "I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."
Wooden didn't make many. He lived an impeccable life, devoid of scandal, still so in love with his wife, Nell, in the years after she died that he would write her a letter each month just as he had done while she was alive.
As word got out about his final hospitalization, students who hadn't even been born the last time he worked a game rallied on the UCLA campus in tribute. Words of tribute, meanwhile, began flowing the moment his death was announced.
But the words that matter most are the ones his players still remember. The same words they've passed on to their children and their children's children.
"Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you," he told them.
As hard as it is to imagine, John Wooden is gone. His dreams, however, live on.
(The above article was written by Tim Dahlberg who is an Associated Press Sports Columnist dated June 5, 2010)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
thought for the day
Everyone chooses one of two roads in life - the old and the young, the rich and the poor, men and women alike. One is the broad, well-traveled road to mediocrity, the other the road to greatness and meaning. But the contrast between the two destinations is as the night is to the day. Which road will you choose? Steven R. Covey
Saturday, June 5, 2010
John Wooden
“I had a very clear request of those I taught: give me complete commitment and total effort. An individual who is willing to deliver those two powerful assets to your team is a prized player whether he’s seven foot two or two foot seven. Many times I reminded those I coached, ‘I don’t care how tall you are. I care how tall you play.’” John Wooden The Essential Wooden RIP
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Who is on the road with you and what are they doing?
Non-scientific(?) but accurate study of driving/cell phone habits.
May 26th. 6 PM Orange county. Feeder street to major 4 lane street.
100 drivers observed.
8 were talking on cell phones while holding them in their hands.
1 lady was putting on her eye liner.
So, as you are driving around remember that eight percent of the cars going by or around you are using their cell phones NOT hands-free (as required by law). And one percent are distracted by makeup application.
Also…….remember that 50 percent of all drivers have Two-Digit IQs.
Yeah, I am feeling safe out there!!!
May your 2010 be a 10! And safe!
May 26th. 6 PM Orange county. Feeder street to major 4 lane street.
100 drivers observed.
8 were talking on cell phones while holding them in their hands.
1 lady was putting on her eye liner.
So, as you are driving around remember that eight percent of the cars going by or around you are using their cell phones NOT hands-free (as required by law). And one percent are distracted by makeup application.
Also…….remember that 50 percent of all drivers have Two-Digit IQs.
Yeah, I am feeling safe out there!!!
May your 2010 be a 10! And safe!
Being Prepared for the Coming Tough Times
Being Prepared for the Coming Tough Times
Bob Uda, PhD (ABD)
For savings accounts, when the stock market crashes and depositors make a rush on the banks to withdraw all of their money, the bank will close/lock their doors, and the late folks will not get any of their money. The Obama government will confiscate all of their money. For social security, the forecast is that the Social Security funds will be depleted in seven years. Hence, there will be no more social security checks after the economic collapse. The following list is how to prepare financially other than debt.
Do any combination of the following:
• Get totally out of debt.
• Operate on a budget.
• Work and earn money to your dying day.
• Get a fireproof safe to keep all of your valuables locked up. Save your money in your home safe.
• Don’t take on large purchases unless absolutely necessary.
• Convert up to 25% of your liquid assets into precious metals (gold and silver). However, this may become risky as the Obama government will confiscate all recently purchased gold owned by private citizens. This was done by FDR during the depression. Keep your gold in old/numismatic gold coins.
• Purchase insurances (home, car, life, disaster, liability, etc.). For life insurance, buy only term insurance and get as much of it as you can.
• Balance out your liquid assets among stocks, bonds, mutual funds, precious metals, and art objects. In other words, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
• Stock your cupboards with nonperishable foodstuffs. Rotate the usage of your food.
• Build up a year’s supply of food, clothing, fuel, and water. When there is no money or food on store shelves, you will be able to barter with your supply. Remember, when there is a rush on stores, all of the food on store shelves will be gone within three days with no replenishment possible.
• Never let your automobiles to go below ¼-tank of gas. Always have enough gas to get you to a safe haven.
• Obtain firearms and ammunition. Keep other weapons (knives, etc.).
• Grow and maintain a good vegetable garden. Plant fruit trees in your yard. Raise edible animals (fowl, rabbits, etc.).
• Learn how to get back to the earth by developing hunting, fishing, and foraging skills for edible fauna and flora.
• Develop new skills. Improve your education/knowledge. Learn about accounting, finance, economics, etc.). Be a lifelong learner. Study daily.
• Keep up daily with what’s going on in the world. Watch Fox News and listen to conservative talk radio. Listen to/watch the Glenn Beck Show daily.
• Read conservative online publications. You get only lies and disinformation from the mainstream media, which is now called the lame-stream or fringe media.
• Buy a good battery operated or hand-cranked radio to keep up with the news during major manmade or natural disasters/emergencies.
• Get a ham radio, become a certified operator, and learn how to use the ham radio.
• Own a cell phone.
• Maintain a good supply of flashlights, fresh batteries, matches, and candles.
• Prepare a 72-hour kit (one each for your car and home).
• Buy good first-aid kits for your home and car.
• Keep in good physical health with proper diet, exercise, and sleep. Keep/use a good supply of multiple vitamins, Omega-III fish oil tablets, prescription drugs, etc.
• Update your will and keep it current.
• Keep connected on the Internet with dependable family and friends.
• Join your Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and participate in its training programs and activities. Become qualified in basic first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Be constantly alert and vigilant.
If you do all of those things listed above that is appropriate for you, you will be able to deal with any economic crash, terrorist attacks, and/or all major natural/manmade disasters. Be prepared to help and assist those who didn't bother to get prepared. Good luck!
Remember: 86% of all couples age 65 and older will need nursing type care in their lifetime. This can have the most devastating effect on your retirement portfolio. With costs running over $6000 a month for care (average care term is just under three years) the need for Long Term Care insurance has never been more critical.
Bob Uda, PhD (ABD)
For savings accounts, when the stock market crashes and depositors make a rush on the banks to withdraw all of their money, the bank will close/lock their doors, and the late folks will not get any of their money. The Obama government will confiscate all of their money. For social security, the forecast is that the Social Security funds will be depleted in seven years. Hence, there will be no more social security checks after the economic collapse. The following list is how to prepare financially other than debt.
Do any combination of the following:
• Get totally out of debt.
• Operate on a budget.
• Work and earn money to your dying day.
• Get a fireproof safe to keep all of your valuables locked up. Save your money in your home safe.
• Don’t take on large purchases unless absolutely necessary.
• Convert up to 25% of your liquid assets into precious metals (gold and silver). However, this may become risky as the Obama government will confiscate all recently purchased gold owned by private citizens. This was done by FDR during the depression. Keep your gold in old/numismatic gold coins.
• Purchase insurances (home, car, life, disaster, liability, etc.). For life insurance, buy only term insurance and get as much of it as you can.
• Balance out your liquid assets among stocks, bonds, mutual funds, precious metals, and art objects. In other words, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
• Stock your cupboards with nonperishable foodstuffs. Rotate the usage of your food.
• Build up a year’s supply of food, clothing, fuel, and water. When there is no money or food on store shelves, you will be able to barter with your supply. Remember, when there is a rush on stores, all of the food on store shelves will be gone within three days with no replenishment possible.
• Never let your automobiles to go below ¼-tank of gas. Always have enough gas to get you to a safe haven.
• Obtain firearms and ammunition. Keep other weapons (knives, etc.).
• Grow and maintain a good vegetable garden. Plant fruit trees in your yard. Raise edible animals (fowl, rabbits, etc.).
• Learn how to get back to the earth by developing hunting, fishing, and foraging skills for edible fauna and flora.
• Develop new skills. Improve your education/knowledge. Learn about accounting, finance, economics, etc.). Be a lifelong learner. Study daily.
• Keep up daily with what’s going on in the world. Watch Fox News and listen to conservative talk radio. Listen to/watch the Glenn Beck Show daily.
• Read conservative online publications. You get only lies and disinformation from the mainstream media, which is now called the lame-stream or fringe media.
• Buy a good battery operated or hand-cranked radio to keep up with the news during major manmade or natural disasters/emergencies.
• Get a ham radio, become a certified operator, and learn how to use the ham radio.
• Own a cell phone.
• Maintain a good supply of flashlights, fresh batteries, matches, and candles.
• Prepare a 72-hour kit (one each for your car and home).
• Buy good first-aid kits for your home and car.
• Keep in good physical health with proper diet, exercise, and sleep. Keep/use a good supply of multiple vitamins, Omega-III fish oil tablets, prescription drugs, etc.
• Update your will and keep it current.
• Keep connected on the Internet with dependable family and friends.
• Join your Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and participate in its training programs and activities. Become qualified in basic first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Be constantly alert and vigilant.
If you do all of those things listed above that is appropriate for you, you will be able to deal with any economic crash, terrorist attacks, and/or all major natural/manmade disasters. Be prepared to help and assist those who didn't bother to get prepared. Good luck!
Remember: 86% of all couples age 65 and older will need nursing type care in their lifetime. This can have the most devastating effect on your retirement portfolio. With costs running over $6000 a month for care (average care term is just under three years) the need for Long Term Care insurance has never been more critical.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
thought for the day
The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it. ...Albert Einstein
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Stock may plunge big-time
According to an article on moneynews.com the worst is yet to come.
Stock may plunge big-time, so investors should get out of the market, says Richard Russell, editor of the Dow Theory Letters. The important indicators are the Dow Jones industrial average and the Dow Jones transportation average, he wrote in a note to subscribers. “If the two averages violate their May 7 lows, I see a major crash as the outcome,” Russell said, according to Bloomberg. “Get out of stocks now (except for gold related shares), and I don’t give a damn whether you have paper losses or paper profits.” “If I read the stock market correctly, it’s telling me that there is a surprise ahead,” Russell wrote. “And that surprise will be a reversal to the downside for the economy, plus a collection of other troubles ahead.”
Russell, 85, has put out his newsletter every three weeks for 52 years.
The market started signaling trouble in early April, when the number of stocks reaching 52-week highs began slipping and the number of falling stocks began to exceed rising ones, Russell says.
Stock may plunge big-time, so investors should get out of the market, says Richard Russell, editor of the Dow Theory Letters. The important indicators are the Dow Jones industrial average and the Dow Jones transportation average, he wrote in a note to subscribers. “If the two averages violate their May 7 lows, I see a major crash as the outcome,” Russell said, according to Bloomberg. “Get out of stocks now (except for gold related shares), and I don’t give a damn whether you have paper losses or paper profits.” “If I read the stock market correctly, it’s telling me that there is a surprise ahead,” Russell wrote. “And that surprise will be a reversal to the downside for the economy, plus a collection of other troubles ahead.”
Russell, 85, has put out his newsletter every three weeks for 52 years.
The market started signaling trouble in early April, when the number of stocks reaching 52-week highs began slipping and the number of falling stocks began to exceed rising ones, Russell says.
Friday, May 21, 2010
thought for the day
To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never before done. --Richard G. Scott
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
thought for the day
Failures are divided into two classes - those who thought and never did and those who did and never thought. --John Charles Sak
Friday, May 7, 2010
thought for the day
There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt. (thanks Chris)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
thought for the day
“When you discover that you’re riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.” - a Sioux Indian saying
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
thought for the day
The ultimate reason for having trials and afflictions is to entice you to become the person it takes to overcome them. Cheryl States
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Home Depot is Hiring!
Bloomberg’s Chris Burritt reports that Home Depot is adding employees for the first time in four years, citing chair and CEO Frank Blake in an interview.
Blake declined to say how many workers home depot will add, but Burritt notes the company, with 317,000 employees, has laid off workers in each of the last three years.
Blake declined to say how many workers home depot will add, but Burritt notes the company, with 317,000 employees, has laid off workers in each of the last three years.
thought for the day
The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
thought for the day
The government deficit is the difference between the amount of money the government spends and the amount it has the nerve to collect. Sam Ewing
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
thought for the day
Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words 'The' and 'IRS' together it spells 'Theirs...'
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
thought for the day
"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" John Wooden
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
thought for opening day
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game; it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. James Earl Jones as Terrance Mann in Field of Dreams
Thursday, April 1, 2010
thought for the day
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams
Thursday, March 25, 2010
thought for the day
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
thought for the day
Any system or blueprint for success is better than none at all. Think on paper. - Brian Tracy
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
thought for the day
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.--Zig Zigler
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
thought for the day
As a leader you have to praise, lavish praise. Like flowers flourish on water, people flourish on praise Sir Richard Branson (thanks Jacqueline)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
thought for the day
Optimism is a matter of mental habit. You can learn to practice the habit of optimism and thereby greatly enhance your chances of achieving success. Or you can drive yourself into the pit of pessimism and failure. - Napoleon Hill
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
thought for the day
If you want to reach a goal, you must "see the reaching" in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal.--Zig Ziglar
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
thought for the day
Your mind, while blessed with permanent memory, is cursed with lousy recall. Written goals provide clarity. By documenting your dreams, you must think about the process of achieving them.--Gary Ryan Blair
Thursday, February 18, 2010
thought for the day
The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it. - Steven Wright
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
thought for the day
A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd. -- Max Lucado
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
thought for the day
Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.--Ralph Vaull Starr
Friday, February 12, 2010
thought of the day
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know 'why' I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
thought for the day
It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.--Ursula K. LeGuin
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
thought for the day
Colors fade, temples crumble, empires fall, but wise words endure. - Edward Thorndike
Friday, February 5, 2010
thought for the day
You've got to think about "big things" while you're doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.--Alvin Toffler
What's up with U.S. Income taxes?
Backdoor taxes to hit middle class
By Terri Cullen Mon Feb 1, 4:09 pm ET
NEW YORK (Reuters.com) --The Obama administration's plan to cut more than $1 trillion from the deficit over the next decade relies heavily on so-called backdoor tax increases that will result in a bigger tax bill for middle-class families.
In the 2010 budget tabled by President Barack Obama on Monday, the White House wants to let billions of dollars in tax breaks expire by the end of the year -- effectively a tax hike by stealth.
While the administration is focusing its proposal on eliminating tax breaks for individuals who earn $250,000 a year or more, middle-class families will face a slew of these backdoor increases.
The targeted tax provisions were enacted under the Bush administration's Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. Among other things, the law lowered individual tax rates, slashed taxes on capital gains and dividends, and steadily scaled back the estate tax to zero in 2010.
If the provisions are allowed to expire on December 31, the top-tier personal income tax rate will rise to 39.6 percent from 35 percent. But lower-income families will pay more as well: the 25 percent tax bracket will revert back to 28 percent; the 28 percent bracket will increase to 31 percent; and the 33 percent bracket will increase to 36 percent. The special 10 percent bracket is eliminated.
Investors will pay more on their earnings next year as well, with the tax on dividends jumping to 39.6 percent from 15 percent and the capital-gains tax increasing to 20 percent from 15 percent. The estate tax is eliminated this year, but it will return in 2011 -- though there has been talk about reinstating the death tax sooner.
Millions of middle-class households already may be facing higher taxes in 2010 because Congress has failed to extend tax breaks that expired on January 1, most notably a "patch" that limited the impact of the alternative minimum tax. The AMT, initially designed to prevent the very rich from avoiding income taxes, was never indexed for inflation. Now the tax is affecting millions of middle-income households, but lawmakers have been reluctant to repeal it because it has become a key source of revenue.
Without annual legislation to renew the patch this year, the AMT could affect an estimated 25 million taxpayers with incomes as low as $33,750 (or $45,000 for joint filers). Even if the patch is extended to last year's levels, the tax will hit American families that can hardly be considered wealthy -- the AMT exemption for 2009 was $46,700 for singles and $70,950 for married couples filing jointly.
Middle-class families also will find fewer tax breaks available to them in 2010 if other popular tax provisions are allowed to expire. Among them:
* Taxpayers who itemize will lose the option to deduct state sales-tax payments instead of state and local income taxes;
* The $250 teacher tax credit for classroom supplies;
* The tax deduction for up to $4,000 of college tuition and expenses;
* Individuals who don't itemize will no longer be able to increase their standard deduction by up to $1,000 for property taxes paid;
* The first $2,400 of unemployment benefits are taxable, in 2009 that amount was tax-free.
By Terri Cullen Mon Feb 1, 4:09 pm ET
NEW YORK (Reuters.com) --The Obama administration's plan to cut more than $1 trillion from the deficit over the next decade relies heavily on so-called backdoor tax increases that will result in a bigger tax bill for middle-class families.
In the 2010 budget tabled by President Barack Obama on Monday, the White House wants to let billions of dollars in tax breaks expire by the end of the year -- effectively a tax hike by stealth.
While the administration is focusing its proposal on eliminating tax breaks for individuals who earn $250,000 a year or more, middle-class families will face a slew of these backdoor increases.
The targeted tax provisions were enacted under the Bush administration's Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. Among other things, the law lowered individual tax rates, slashed taxes on capital gains and dividends, and steadily scaled back the estate tax to zero in 2010.
If the provisions are allowed to expire on December 31, the top-tier personal income tax rate will rise to 39.6 percent from 35 percent. But lower-income families will pay more as well: the 25 percent tax bracket will revert back to 28 percent; the 28 percent bracket will increase to 31 percent; and the 33 percent bracket will increase to 36 percent. The special 10 percent bracket is eliminated.
Investors will pay more on their earnings next year as well, with the tax on dividends jumping to 39.6 percent from 15 percent and the capital-gains tax increasing to 20 percent from 15 percent. The estate tax is eliminated this year, but it will return in 2011 -- though there has been talk about reinstating the death tax sooner.
Millions of middle-class households already may be facing higher taxes in 2010 because Congress has failed to extend tax breaks that expired on January 1, most notably a "patch" that limited the impact of the alternative minimum tax. The AMT, initially designed to prevent the very rich from avoiding income taxes, was never indexed for inflation. Now the tax is affecting millions of middle-income households, but lawmakers have been reluctant to repeal it because it has become a key source of revenue.
Without annual legislation to renew the patch this year, the AMT could affect an estimated 25 million taxpayers with incomes as low as $33,750 (or $45,000 for joint filers). Even if the patch is extended to last year's levels, the tax will hit American families that can hardly be considered wealthy -- the AMT exemption for 2009 was $46,700 for singles and $70,950 for married couples filing jointly.
Middle-class families also will find fewer tax breaks available to them in 2010 if other popular tax provisions are allowed to expire. Among them:
* Taxpayers who itemize will lose the option to deduct state sales-tax payments instead of state and local income taxes;
* The $250 teacher tax credit for classroom supplies;
* The tax deduction for up to $4,000 of college tuition and expenses;
* Individuals who don't itemize will no longer be able to increase their standard deduction by up to $1,000 for property taxes paid;
* The first $2,400 of unemployment benefits are taxable, in 2009 that amount was tax-free.
Auto Industry News...
Toyota’s recent troubles have worsened. The company has recalled millions of cars in the United States, Europe and China because of potentially faulty accelerator pedals. They have tried to assure customers that it could fix the problem by inserting a metal bar into the pedal’s mechanism. A snag also emerged with the braking system on its Prius model. The cost of the recall is estimated at $2 billion.
There was a sharp drop in Toyota’s sales in the United States in January. This proved to be a blessing for other carmakers, particularly for Ford, which saw sales rise by 24% in January compared with a year earlier. Ford recently reported a $2.7 billion annual profit, its first since 2005.
There was a sharp drop in Toyota’s sales in the United States in January. This proved to be a blessing for other carmakers, particularly for Ford, which saw sales rise by 24% in January compared with a year earlier. Ford recently reported a $2.7 billion annual profit, its first since 2005.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
thought for the day
Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.- Lois McMaster Bujold
Monday, February 1, 2010
thought for the day
People who say life is not worthwhile are really saying that they themselves have no personal goals which are worthwhile... Get yourself a goal worth working for. Better still, get yourself a project... Always have something ahead of you to "look forward to"--to work for and to hope for.--Maxwell Maltz
Friday, January 29, 2010
thought for the day
I wanted to marry her when I saw the moonlight shining on the barrel of her father's shotgun. Eddie Albert
Thursday, January 28, 2010
thought for the day
It's not what you gather, but what you scatter, that tells what kind of life you have lived! (thanks Thomas)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
thought for the day
Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Thought for the day
Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy. Robert Half
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