Insurance National Producer Blog

2012 Washington Nationals Pitching Preview

2013-01-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

Ever since moving to the capital city in 2005, the Washington Nationals haven't had a lot to get excited about. But there are a lot of people who think that the Nationals are finally primed to become a serious contender in the NL East after finishing third in its division with an 80-81 record. Washington is expecting their ace, Stephen Strasburg, to come out and play for them for a full season. Aside from that, they went and acquired Gio Gonzalez to give them another young and potent arm in the top of their rotation. Here is the projected starting rotation and closer situation for the Nationals in 2012.

Projected Rotation

Stephen Strasburg (RHP) - Strasburg suffered an injury to his elbow that limited him to five starts at the end of the season. He went 1-1 in the stretch, but had a 1.50 ERA and 0.71 WHIP. What was impressive was that he had just two walks in those five starts. When healthy, Strasburg has the talent and the drive to be one of the best starters the NL has to offer.

Gio Gonzalez (LHP) - Washington traded away four players in order to land Gonzalez, and he was worth it so long as he pitches like he has in his last two seasons in Oakland. The 26-year-old went 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 32 starts last year, following up his strong 2010 season where he went 15-9 with a 3.23 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He is still relatively young and his best years are still ahead of him.

Jordan Zimmerman (RHP) - Don't discount Zimmerman just yet, even with the addition of Gonzalez and the return of Strasburg, Zimmerman still has what it takes to produce at a high level. The 23-year-old righty produced solid numbers of 3.18 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 26 starts, despite returning from Tommy John Surgery.

John Lannan (LHP) - After a sub-par 2010, Lannan bounced back to perform in arguably his best season to date, when he posted a career-low 3.70 ERA and a career-high with 10 wins.

Chien-Ming Wang (RHP) - After signing with the Nationals prior to the 2010 season, Wang finally made his Nationals debut last year. He went 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 11 starts. Provided that he is healthy, he has the potential to win 10+ games and really make the Nationals' staff one of the best the NL has to offer.

Projected Closer

Drew Storen (RHP) - Storen really surprised a lot of people when he saved 43 games in his first season as the Nationals' closer. The expectations for him going forward are off-the-charts as the 24-year-old also posted a 2.75 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 74 strikeouts in just over 75 innings of work.

Be sure to visit us for help beating the baseball odds this season with expert free MLB picks from the top handicappers in the industry.

ISAIAH 9:10 JUDGMENT - Video Review and Interview With Producer Joseph Farah

2013-01-08T11:45:00.001-08:00

In 1970 even the churches were not regularly taught the doctrine of the second coming of Christ more commonly known as premillennial prophecy. Then along came Hal Lindsey's block buster best seller, "The Late Great Planet Earth."

The nation and the world were catapulted into a revival of knowledge that even the Prophet Daniel proclaimed would not be well known or revealed until the last days. A few great works have been added to Lindsey's book and those who had only Clarence Larkin's 1918 version of "Dispensational Truth" were reinvigorated to begin again to start studying the subject of eschatology. (The last things)

Certain signs have been fulfilled in this generation that make it impossible to miss that the generation Jesus spoke of as the one sure to precede the second coming of Christ, is as the Bible says, "at hand."

Of all the latest signs and the greatest teachings and discoveries about Christ's imminent return in power that have graced this generation, none is more specific to America than the parallel Israel and America share in the passages of Isaiah 9: 10 and following.

Since online journalism often falls prey to the speed of surfing and the new lightning speed of digital browsers, I will state both early and emphatically; the Isaiah 9:10 prophecy/parallel is, without doubt, the most important and impressive discovery in this decade. It is a wakeup call that we can only ignore at our own peril.

It was apparent from the beginning that reviewing this documentary would not be easy and the standard review techniques would need to be suspended in lieu of some other means of elucidation. Joseph Farah is an articulate man who in this interview manages to touch on many of the questions anyone may think to ask, but to begin with we will use the four P's to introduce the production.

PRIMARY - In both Old and New Testament days the Lord made it clear to his apostles and prophets and servants that if they went unheard and subsequently unheeded that it was God that was being rejected not the servant. Under inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, God, his message and the messenger stand as one. That being said the primary here is Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. Jonathan is what is known as a, Messianic Rabbi, (Christian) whose message is heard daily on hundreds of radio stations across the nation.

President of the 'Hope of the World Ministries' Cahn is also the Senior Pastor of the 'Jerusalem Center/ Beth Israel located in Wayne, New Jersey. Cahn has ministered to thousands across the globe. He is the author of the bestselling book 'The Harbinger' which is subtitled "The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America's Future"

In a normal review we would hail the long list of accomplishments and roles the principle has played to accent his career. In God's economy he was only looking for someone to be obedient to what they saw or heard and in that vein Jonathan Cahn is best described.

What was spoken of about Cahn's ancient Father Abraham may also be said about him. Little more needs to be said for those whose pleasure it is to serve the living God. To Wit: "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Gal 3: 6)

PRODUCER - Joseph Farah is the producer of the documentary and he is a man who hardly needs an introduction. As the founder and CEO of WND.com (Formerly- World Net Daily) a website that has recently been ranked among the top 500 sites in the world, he is well known for his journalism and his untiring pursuit of the truth.

Like many Christians Farah knows that Jesus said "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Jn 8: 32) When Farah decided that he would not hoard the truth to himself, but make it known to the entire world he became as Jonathan Cahn, a servant. Nothing speaks more about him than that. In the perspective of the Biblical worldview, that title, is the greatest he has ever been granted.

PREMISE - The documentary is used to show the parallel between ancient Israel and America. We are without doubt producing the same behaviors that Israel did before it began to fall under the judgment of God. Since both Israel and America were chosen to represent God's works and his message in our world it might seem apropos that we should both choose a similar path, but since it is a path to our own demise, it is anything but desirable.

In the last 24 hours before Christ's life leading up to and including his crucifixion he fulfilled some 25 major Messianic prophecies (Prophecies related to the first coming of Christ) against the odds of approximately 53,000,000 to one. The parallels between Israel's behaviors and America's reactions to the events of 9/11 have not yet been calculated in the math of compound probabilities, but if it were the odds would also be astronomical.

In the simplest terms - we are repeating the same behaviors as ancient Israel. The video fully explains these parallels, but much more than that, it indicates what we can do as individuals and as a nation to avoid the product of our behavior.

PRODUCT - All great portents are pretty much useless if all they do is entertain. The curiosity of the prophecies of Nostradamus, the sighting of UFOs, the pursuit of missing gospels and 'doomsday' predictions all have entertainment value, but they cannot be used to edify, guide or redeem anyone, thus they begin and end on the lower echelon of human influence we know as entertainment.

When signs or burning bushes are granted by God they have a much higher value. They are known as 'revelation' which means they are God's way of speaking to man. God doesn't just want to be heard like someone shouting over the crowd, he has no opinions or viewpoints. He is the author and finisher of all things, but he does want to make it clear that we play a role in the outcome of all that happens in our lives as individuals and collectively as a nation. This then, is the very heart of this documentary. It is a view of the terrible event we call 9/11 that when seen correctly, will serve to awaken us to our role, subsequent to that event.

It is God's way of saying - 'Now, what are you going to do about it!'

Bresciani - This is Rev Michael Bresciani of the American Prophet.org website and I'm interviewing Mr. Joseph Farah, the Chief Executive Officer of World Net Daily on his production of the movie 'Isaiah 9: 10 Judgment.' Welcome.

Farah - Before you get started I just want to say that, World Net Daily is the name of the website that most people are familiar with, on January first we changed it to WND, and officially we don't use World Net Daily anymore.

Bresciani - You know I should know that because I have a link to your site and a little logo on ours and it does say, simply, WND.

Farah - Old habits are hard to break.

Bresciani - The nine 'harbingers' are broken down into these categories, if I could say them quickly. 1. The Breach, 2. The Terrorist, 3. The Bricks, 4. The Tower, 5. The Gazit Stone, 6. The Sycamore, 7. The Erez Tree, 8. The Utterance, 9. The Prophecy. The first question I have is - it was the Rabbi, Jonathan Cahn who seems the be the person best versed in these harbingers, was he the one that discovered these or did somebody else find them with him, was there a collaboration or did he just come upon them - how did he discover them?

Farah - It is my understanding, although I never specifically asked that question of Jonathan, is that these were things he discovered, and I think I would be accurate in saying that he was led to these discoveries, by the Holy Spirit. He is a great student of the Bible and he is a student of the Bible in original languages and he sees a lot of deeper meanings, much more than the average English speaking Bible student and I think that certainly helps, for instance, knowing the difference between when you read in the King James Version of the bible that the sycamores were replaced by cedars. Well, cedar is not actually the word in Hebrew, it's erez tree, Erez is something, it includes the cedar, but it can be something, it's more generic than cedar and so when you see the sycamore tree in New York City being replaced by an erez tree, then you see the fulfillment of what appears to be prophecy repeating itself. So I think Jonathan is uniquely gifted and studied to be able to have made these discoveries.

The movie itself is a different kind of telling of the book he wrote, The Harbinger, and the Harbinger is a terrific book, but it is actually classified as fiction because it involves fictional characters. It's the telling of a real historical story. He does it in a way, a narrative form, that when I read it as a journalist, I said to myself, wait a minute, I'm afraid people are going to read this and think it's a nice book, but not get the fact that - its real, that its true.

I felt compelled to make this into a video documentary where we could actually show these events that took place because - seeing- is believing - for people. We increasingly live in a world where the visual is much more powerful for some people than the written word. So that was the genesis of the Isaiah 9: 10 Judgment. I knew the 'Harbinger' was going to be an incredibly successful book, which it has been and continues to be the number one Christian book in America this year.

Bresciani - That leads me into the second question I was going to ask you. How is it (The Harbinger) doing in the marketplace? I understand its rising again?

Farah - Yes, it's been consistently on the New York Times best seller list and it's really just a question of whether it's in the top ten or the top twenty five and that sort of depends on the exposure he (Jonathan Cahn) he is able to give it in media.

Bresciani - I had the feeling as I watched the documentary that it wasn't trying to be a 'prophecy,' it was being shown as a parallel, that we (America) are repeating a pattern, and no one could argue with that.

Farah - Well no, and if your familiar with the bible, you know that the bible is a book of patterns. And so it only makes sense that those patterns would continue into the future and to me this story, whether you read it in book form or watch the video, I have yet to see anybody come away with, well that's all coincidence.

Bresciani - Another question that came up is, I wondered if anyone involved like Sen. Daschle, Jon Edwards, Mayor Bloomberg, and the Governor of New York or anyone that's part of the documentary has been exposed to the video and have they made any statements or thrown back any reflections?

Farah - No, not to my knowledge, however, I will say this because this is the journalist in me, I have asked my team, my staff, to make every effort to try to reach out, particularly to Daschle and Edwards. I want to find out from Tom Daschle, who gave the first speech on September 12 and cited Isaiah 9: 10. I wanted to get somebody to talk to him or the aide or the speech writer that came up with that verse as the inspiration for his talk that day.

SUMMARY - The full length audio of the interview with Joseph Farah is 43 minutes in length and a great deal more depth and detail can be found in it, I strongly advise anyone considering the purchase of this video to listen to the entire presentation. It is totally free.

Everybody who watches this video will be impacted. Whether you are just curious about prophecies and how America fits into the biblical scheme of things, or if you are a solid student of prophecy you will be moved and enlightened and challenged by the obviously important message Jonathan Cahn is making in this powerful video presentation.

As a person with both a prophetic calling on my life and as a journalist I feel that our nation is sliding fast toward the place of no return, anything that serves to alert the nation to this misguided race to our own demise rates high on my list as important enough to declare and make known to other Americans.

I like to rate every film or production I review on a scale of 1 to 10. In all three categories, message, production and prophetic value I would be remiss if I did not give Joseph Farah's production of 'Isaiah 9: 10 Judgment,' a very strong - ten.

http://www.americanprophet.org has since 2005 featured the articles of columnist Rev Michael Bresciani along with news and reviews that have earned this site the title of The Website for Insight. Millions have read his timely reports and articles in online journals and print publications across the nation and the globe.

Southland Region New Zealand - Home of the Fiordland National Park

2013-01-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

The Southland Region of New Zealand is sparsely populated but contains some of the most majestic natural wonders in a country which is full of spectacular nature. The region lies at the southern tip of the South Island of New Zealand and includes Stewart Island or Rakiura as it is more commonly known. The two largest cities are Invercargill with about 50,000 inhabitants and Gore with around 12,000 citizens in the area. A large swath of the region is covered by protected national parks with some of the most magnificent sights in the whole country.

Fiordland National Park is the largest national park in New Zealand, covering 7,860 square kilometers and in dramatic fashion. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the Southern Alps, with two of the most visited areas being Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound which are fjords formed by the powerful glacial activity here thousands of years ago. Milford Sound is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country with rocky peaks in the shape of an elephant head and crouching lion towering over the waters below. The area also contains Browne Falls which are (depending on the measurement 619 or 836 meters) the highest waterfall in New Zealand and the equally impressive Sutherland Falls at 580 meters. Boat tours are one of the best ways to see the fjords and temporary waterfalls are often seen in this, one of the rainiest areas on the planet with 6,813 mm of rain on average per year. The region also contains numerous lakes, among them the deepest lakes in New Zealand and the deepest of all is Lake Hauroko at 463 meters in depth.

Rakiura National Park covers over 80% of Stewart Island or Rakiura. The island lies just to the south and is administered by the Southland Region. Due to the absence of any large predators this is a great place to view kiwi in the wild as well as some other rare native birds. The island is well known for its gorgeous sunsets and sunrises along with the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights which is spectacular here. The endangered Yellow-eyed penguin has several breeding sites here and the Southern Brown Kiwi is found here as well along with a number of endangered flightless birds that were recently moved to smaller islands offshore for protection.

Invercargill is the region's largest city and one of the southernmost cities in the world. The rich farmland surrounding the area provides much of its economic activity centered on the dairy industry and the Southern Institute of Technology rejuvenated the city with its zero fees scheme. Oreti Beach is 10 km to the west and was featured in the film World's Fastest Indian which was the story of the local hero Burt Munro who set several speed records on this wide, flat swath of sand. The only indoor velodrome (cycling racetrack) in New Zealand is located here and there are several other sport stadiums as well.

Gore is the second most populated town in the region and is mostly a service town for the surrounding farming areas. The area is well known for its connection to country music and hosts the New Zealand country music awards ceremony every year. The most famous local building is the Creamoata Mill, with the porridge they produced once being considered the national breakfast. Local legends arose from the era of alcohol prohibition when the nearby Hokonui Hills produced Hokonui moonshine, which made Gore more well known to New Zealanders.

The Southland region is mostly mountainous and the similarities to the climate of the British Isles brought a large contingent of Scottish settlers here. Outside of the two largest towns, the area is sparsely populated with mountains and farmland covering the majority of the region. The Fiordland National Park is a must see destination for anyone visiting New Zealand with its fjords, lakes, and waterfalls giving it a unique beauty. As unique as some of the destinations in New Zealand are, the national parks here in Southland will rival and top that of any in the country based on their sheer grandeur. So be sure not to miss the opportunity to at least take a boat ride through either Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound when visiting here.

Lucky Rentals offers campervan rental in Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand. Campervans are an excellent way to check out the country on the open road, and to sleep out in the beautiful natural surroundings that make New Zealand so great.

More Jobs, Fewer and Lower Taxes - Applying the KISS Principle

2012-09-21T06:56:00.001-07:00

Over the past 30 years Federal Tax receipts (Corporate, Personal, Estate, Excise, Gift, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, et al) have averaged less than 20% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Read that again, and don't think for a minute that it's not a large number.

But it's not nearly large enough to pay the bills, reduce the national debt, grow the economy, and come to the aid of all of the people in the world who need us. Why, because nearly half of us (some legally, some not so) pay little or no federal income taxes at all--- and because our elected representatives have no financial management skills.

The only taxes that always get paid are those that reduce the amount of spending money in our pockets and which raise the cost of the goods and services we purchase --- thus retarding economic growth.

There is no doubt that a Federal Sales Tax on consumption by final consumers would produce more revenue than all of the other taxes combined --- but how much, and is it OK to single out things like cigarettes and gas guzzlers for extra taxes?

We need to give it a try, and there would be added benefits: (a) we would be collecting taxes from all of those folk who earn incomes that are just not reported at all, (b) the products we try to sell in world markets would be more competitive, and (c) all of us would have more money to spend on stuff that could actually become lower in price.

There are no purely economic problems with making the shift to a consumption tax --- just political ones. The legislation has been "on the hill", and summarily ignored for decades. We need to apply cool economic sense to the elimination of the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Ponzi scheme.

First KISS: Create Jobs Right Now

Create jobs immediately by eliminating the corporate income tax (and all other fees, local taxes, assessments, ad nauseum) for any corporation that adds 10% to its permanent workforce and/or 20% to its total workforce.

Corporations are not the bad guys, it's the over-paid greedy dogs at the top that need to be leashed and disciplined by their employers --- the shareholders, theoretically anyway. How about this for a start: all salaries above $1 million are paid in the form of dividends on common stock; all bonuses are "divvied up" dollar for dollar between all employees, full time or part time; there are no stock option programs.

Offset the Federal tax revenue loss by outlawing all forms of "earmarks" on any legislation ever; limiting all lobbying efforts to legitimate industry, employee, and public interest associations; and by enacting a 2% Federal Sales Tax on everything purchased by final consumers--- no exceptions, period.

Create "Green Energy Bonds", sold to investors with full federal guarantees, and used to help start up a Green Energy Investment Bank chartered only to provide low interest loans for developmental private sector projects. While we're at it, bring back the distinctions between, commercial banks, savings and loans, and investment banks.

Second KISS: Lower and Eliminate Taxes

Lower taxes immediately by phasing in a mandated private SSRIA* program for all workers, private and public, from 1st day mailroom clerk to President of the US of A. Reduce Social Security Taxes to 3% over a five-year period and use that money to create a deferred, fixed-income, life-annuity for every worker.

Seventy percent of SSRIA investments would include US Government Bonds, state and local Municipal Securities, with the balance managed in non-derivative, individual equity investments regarded as Investment Grade Value Stocks*. No investment income of any kind would ever be taxable by any government.

SSRIAs would be created and managed by fixed-annuity experienced private sector companies, and the annuity contracts would "travel" with the employee until retirement. All SSRIAs would have identical provisions, no sales commissions or marketing expenses, and slightly below industry level investment management fees.

Employees would be assigned randomly to providor companies, and each contract would include "return of premium" term life insurance until annuitized. Add an additional 3% to the Federal Sales Tax to replace the reduction in Federal tax revenue.

Third KISS: Produce Sustainable Economic Growth

Now that we've become more competitive in world markets, assured retirement benefits for all workers, and helped to save the planet, it's time to provide equal opportunity for all of us to attain the American Dream without big brother's assistance.

Replace the personal income tax side of the Internal Revenue Code with a 5% flat tax and an additional 10% sales tax --- maybe even a mandated 2% insurance premium for universal basic medical coverage. But at the end of the process, all reported income pays a 5% income tax --- no exclusions, deductions, adjustments, minimums, period, and done!

Every purchase for final consumption generates a 15% contribution to support what we hope will become a smaller, less corrupt, more creative group of term-limited politicians. And, once the budget becomes balanced, further tax reductions will ensue.

Hey, write your congressperson, make some noise, Tweet, Digg, whatever. Now this is capital "c" change we can deal with --- or at least dream about.

Steve Selengut

[http://www.kiawahgolfinvestmentseminars.com/]

http://www.sancoservices.com

Professional Portfolio Management since 1979

Author of: "The Brainwashing of the American Investor: The Book that Wall Street Does Not Want YOU to Read"

Smoking and Global Warming

2012-09-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

From a hotel room in Central Jakarta, Indonesia news agency Pena's final report describes the development of the tobacco industry today. This report in the form of 65 pages thick magazine with the headline on the front page "Hypocrisy & Myths Behind the Tobacco Industry".

Pena Indonesia claims this report is based on investigative reports on various search tobacco industry documents. Also includes two CD or compact disk that contains thousands of documents multinational industries in Indonesia. As the documents from British American Tobacco or BAT, Philips Morris and others.

The workshop was attended among journalists and health activists. Aim to provide insight into the existence of secret documents related to the coming of the giants of the world tobacco industry and its relationship with Indonesia.

This workshop also received support from the world health agency WHO's Indonesia representative, IAKMI-Public Health Specialist Association of Indonesia and SEATCA-The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance.

Pena Indonesia to work for three months and glared through the computer. Digging thousands of documents online from seven giant cigarette recorded in the period 1960 until the early 2000s. At least there are about 28,000 of thousands more documents from British American Tobacco or BAT Indonesia is stored in digital libraries of the University of California, San Francisco, United States.

Walk through also take place in the site's Legacy Tobacco Documents Library that contains an internal document of Philips Morris, RJ Reynolds, Lorillard and Brown & Williamson. The result is reported and written by Farid Gaban and Alfian Hamzah from Pena Indonesia news agency and Mardiyah Chamim of Tempo Magazine. Coverage and support in the form of grant funding from Essential Action Global Partnership for Tobacco Control, based in Washington.

This story began in 1998. This year may be spelled out in the most unfortunate for the cigarette industry in America. Attorney General State of Minnesota, United States, Hubert Humphrey III blew the whistle loud warning to cigarette industry. Attorney General asked the seven smoking industry giants to open all their secret documents to the public. Aim to find the truth.

These documents are internal documents containing various letters to the authorities, scientists, media tricks to boost the tobacco business. Seven giant companies, among others, from Philip Morris Incorporated, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, British American Tobacco (BAT), Brown and Williamson, the Ligget Group and The Tobacco Institute and The Council for Tobacco Research and the Lorillard Tobacco Company.

American courts have six million documents with 35 million pages. Each page is a seal and code number of lawyers the industry to ensure its authenticity. The court also requires the tobacco industry parties in order to deposit the documents until the year 2008.

While in England, the mountains of British American Tobacco documents typically stored in the warehouse Guilford, Surrey, England. BAT archiving online documents is done by the University of California, San Francisco, United States.

There are seven million documents in the form of scanned documents. And spent about four years to make efforts for their hard work. Unfortunately, according to Duncan Cambell, an American investigative journalist who helped search smoking industry documents, the claim that there are about 181 file that contains thousands of pages of documents had been lost. These missing documents are not clear and it is possible rimbanya associated with regions of other countries, like Indonesia.

One of the investigations of this American smoking industry had contrived movie "The Insider" that tell about the search an American television journalist uncover fraud in the levels toxins. Media in the United States to encourage and influence the people that smoking is a threat. Cigarettes became citizen issues and then encouraging the birth of a strict smoking regulations and basic.

Tobacco industry should be controlled and strictly controlled. For owners in the U.S. tobacco industry is not a condition of a good climate. And ask the American government to the strict rules that only apply in the United States alone. And does not apply to international business networks in different parts of other countries. Post-1998 invasion was in progress. And objectives that cigarette owners are the countries that enter the third country groups.

How to countries in the region, especially Indonesia in association with the document? Indonesia belonged to a third country is not it? Indonesia is a land tender and a haven for the global tobacco industry of the world. Tobacco industry in Indonesia incarnate and was like a "kingdom" of its own. He played many roles and automatic movements do not get a lot of obstacles and barriers.

Either statutory, economic, social to the political path. The smoking industry in Indonesia grew rapidly and slippery. Borrowing the term's largest daily newspaper in West Java, the People's Mind, the tobacco industry as "Spreads and entrenched". Not a lot of media in Indonesia to criticism, preaching especially to make a profound statement relating cigarette industry is. Indonesia received with open field every movement, ideas, and the influence of the tobacco industry in developing its business extensively.

We can learn many things from the tobacco industry documents. Learn how they work, determine the position and influence policy makers, economic, media until the "buy-sell" research. The document gives a clear and detailed. We just need to work hard, carefully detailing, and built of sheets of documents to obtain a complete picture of the building of the world tobacco industry as a whole.

According to the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA)-based institutions in Thailand, in its report Profiting from Death: Exposing the Tobacco Industry Tactics in ASEAN Countries, October 2007, explained that until now the region cigarette consumption of about 50 per cent of world tobacco consumption. And Asia considered as an important market future of the world tobacco industry.

While 10 countries joined to the ASEAN approximately 31 percent or 125.8 million ASEAN youth population are smokers. Or about 10 percent-1, 25 billion-from the number of young smokers smokers of the world continue to increase and the country joined ASEAN contributed to the death rate from smoking as much as 20 percent!

SEATCA is a partnership network of state agencies that merged into the ASEAN which undertakes research, advocacy and capacity building in each of its members. SEATCA work and build advocacy mission to its members who have made ratification of the WHO convention, tobacco control over the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) - including Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam. While Indonesia is the only country in Asia which until this moment has not ratified these conventions.

WHO convention on tobacco control is essential to apply in the cigarette industry in Indonesia. This Convention will regulate and control the tobacco industry. There are about 38 articles in the convention and aims to improve the quality of global health.

Business development to move the tobacco industry is not in the form of a single strategic one. Business strategy will follow the situation in each area of development. He worked to organize and determine the target groups, facilitate the political policies that support good business that comes from the government or the people's representatives, to work with anyone to make promotional efforts and form a fully market.

Tobacco industry to build its image through a variety of ways. From the ad creates a direct communication with consumers by placing cigarette products through billboards, print ads and electronic media, posters, accessories, colors and logo outlets that causes the image of tobacco products.

Promotional activities by distributing free cigarette samples, offers coupons, contests, lotteries, tickets to watch sports games and racing, music concerts, fund a film, talk shows, street party to its activities in the form of corporate social responsibility or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR ) which supports scholarships, environmental aid projects and other activities under the company name or the name of the tobacco industry products. Including providing scholarships to journalists and school children are achievers.

SEATCA survey research on the control status of the rules about promotion, advertising, CSR and sponsorship in seven ASEAN countries in 2007. Including in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Five countries have quite strict rules to regulate the issue ads, prmosi, sponsorship and CSR.

These five countries include Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. Of these five countries, Thailand has very strict rules against tobacco industry and conduct strict limits. Two of the most free, no rules, no control and no restrictions are Cambodia and Indonesia!

Cambodia and Indonesia is a paradise for the tobacco industry. The two countries are relatively poor country is not it? Indonesia is estimated to have poverty rates of 49 percent with the cost of living average of two dollars per day for America. Both do not have rules and restrictions governing tobacco control issues closely.

For the tobacco industry is the most profitable opportunities. Cigarette industry has any power and capital to boost its business and profit maximization. The industry offers a dream potion and promotional advertising to the public to climb out of poverty.

And offer words suggestive ads and interesting success. This is a dream and the dream for all people. Tobacco industry's success by offering a cigarette. Giving up tobacco are one of the main way for each person to climb out of poverty and live success quickly.

Poverty became the land for profit. And the industry was well aware of this condition. Poverty, lack of regional representation and the role of government, lack of political consciousness, and the role of the media who are helpless in cigarette advertising.

AC Nielsen figures show the year 2006 tobacco sector advertising expenditure of Rp 1.6 trillion. Which moron media would lose and the offer of money for it? One media in Indonesia may be conscious and choose not to accept tobacco ads. But the question is the extent to which the power of this medium will survive? And refrain from the onslaught of cigarette advertising.

Cigarettes became the main consumption for the poor. Cigarette consumption throughout the year reached 225 billion sticks. Cigarettes have a 4000 toxic chemicals. And cigarettes are the leading cause of cancer-causing disease, heart and other diseases that cause death in the long run. Every year people die as indicated by the cigarette causes as many as 400 thousand in Indonesia!

The number of smokers Indonesia increased sharply. Based on the national economic survey Statistic The Central Bureau in the period 2001-2004, there has been surge in novice smokers and under the age of 10 years rose 0.4 percent to 2.8 percent. National Commission on Child Protection also get a number that 90 percent of teenagers smoke because of advertising Indonesia. Teenagers became the main target for the tobacco industry.

This figure is worrying, and then in February 2007 several members of the legislature moved to make some rules to restrict smoking. These rules are expected to restrict, control and restrict tobacco issues involving the activities of young children. This rule also requires an increase in cigarette excise tax by 60 percent to minimize people buy cigarettes. And encouraged to expand research on the impact of smoking on health.

In 1999, Indonesia has issued Government Regulation 81 / 1999 concerning Security Cigarettes For Health, Government Regulation 38/1999 on Procedures for the Tobacco Product Advertising Media and Government Regulation 19/2003 regarding the obligations of cigarette manufacturers to include warnings on product packaging.

Indonesia also benefited from this condition. From the cigarette industry sector contribution in the form of tax revenue amounting to Rp 38.5 trillion last year. And this year is expected to increase to Rp 42 trillion.

Cigarette business in Indonesia is very sweet. Two Indonesian families who do business in the ranks of cigarettes in the world's richest list of Forbes Magazine. Rachman Halim family including Gudang Garam owners with assets of U.S. $ 1.9 billion and occupies 538 warning. Budi Hartono and family of the order of Djarum 664 with assets of U.S. $ 1.5 billion.

Indonesia's cigarette tax mostly cheap compared with other countries. Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore set the cigarette tax by 70 percent. While in Indonesia, just set the highest cigarette tax by 40 percent. With this tax rate retail price of cigarettes in Indonesia is the fifth of the price compared to the price of cigarettes in Malaysia.

The price of cheap cigarettes is boosting consumer smokers in Indonesia. Access to cigarettes is very easy. Based on the last survey the WHO and the American Cancer Society, about 70 percent of Indonesian smokers are male. And 3 percent of women smokers Indonesia.

Indonesia plays a dual role misleading. One side of the income he earned from cigarette but on the other hand many of Indonesia will lose its human resources because of damage caused by cigarettes. But health insurance companies in Indonesia which would warranty his client about the consequences of smoking?

Anti-smoking campaign world continues to strengthen. Rich countries and educated aware of the dangers from smoking. Anti-smoking movement harder and try to campaign on this issue at the level of the global movement. Federation of Football Association (FIFA) and even signed an agreement with WHO to regulate and prohibit tobacco sponsorship in the football field.

MTV supports anti-smoking campaign and urged teenagers not to smoke. Countries in Europe and other Asian and ratify the convention followed tobacco control (FCTC).

But resistance to the cigarette industry in Indonesia is still very weak. Anti-smoking movement both from citizens, communities, doctors, including from the media yet strong. WHO Indonesia chose a few names of artists and athletes for the national sports anti-smoking campaign. Among tennis champion Angelique Widjaja, bodybuilder Ade Rai, and model Tracy Trinita.

But not enough to represent all three and move the people of Indonesia to establish anti-smoking movement. Indonesia needs a great figure and steady for anti-smoking movement. Not just a slogan anti-smoking course. But the anti-smoking movement is broad and strategic.

In short, the anti-smoking movement in Indonesia is still classified as impotent. He needs power and a strong force to stem the solid and aggressive opposition from the tobacco industry. And the journalist is to write the movement and continue to oversee the expansion of logging from the cigarette industry.

Advertising and propaganda war going on in the struggle of black smoke world. And Indonesia is a powerful combat areas to map the world of today's global cigarette. This is also related to the local cigarette industry in Indonesia. As the local industry in the Spirit, Malang, Jember and Kediri. Local cigarette industry in Indonesia has also played an important role in influencing the smoking community.

In Indonesia, known as clove cigarettes while smoking outside the product known as white smoke. Local cigarette industry is small kings tobacco and many are in Java. Expansion of the world tobacco industry bosses squirm with aggressive and strong and try to master the current market share. White cigarettes clove cigarettes fight.

Who is most powerful? The smoking industry to build myths, facts and misleading research about smoking. And we know that the victims of the battle is the health of everyday citizens will decline. Indonesia and countries allow their citizens health downfall.

The facts of the dangers of cigarettes and dark tobacco industry's propaganda is clear. Cigarettes are not for compromise but should be controlled and regulated by the government and the legislature. Indonesian society should be aware that cigarettes are now become an alarming epidemic.

The event will end in 2007 Indonesia was elected to conduct a global discussion about global warming. Took place in December in Bali. Global discussions is very important to discuss and take strategic steps related to the issue of global warming and the environment. Indonesia is also classified as bad in the environmental area.

Indonesia, including the red-prone areas in environmental issues such as illegal logging, mining, industrial pollution and waste emissions from motor vehicles. This global discussion will produce decisions and policies are very important. The result will encourage each state leaders and citizens to support and implement strategic measures to curb global warming today.

I was shocked when he read a daily newspaper, the National Journal. At the bottom of the column main page newspaper ads plastered on the implementation of a global warming in Bali later. With a dominant ads with light green color close to the color icon environmental issues.

This print ad includes a statement or countdown days in December 2007. These ads also put the name of a cigarette company, Sampoerna and have the word "Green" which could also be interpreted to refer to one of the main products of the Sampoerna cigarette.

I am sad to see the discussion of global warming will have to obtain sponsorship from the tobacco industry. The business and its profits are the majority coming from Indonesia's poor. Perhaps the sadness I continue to dissolve and be a voice lost and forgotten in the noisy turmoil of global warming event later.

This should be an important note, the mirror itself and becomes a question of us all. Environmental issues are common issues. He departed from his conscience and our common sense. What is worthy of global warming event comes from a tobacco company? Cigarettes, however, the toxin and one of the main causes of death. Is not nothing wrong that the global warming program would come from the tobacco industry?

A pile of tobacco industry internal documents they provided a clear answer. Problem tactics, plans, strategies, political lobbying and build awareness about the error and dirty cigarettes.

I am very sorry critical discussion of global warming there are stains and thorns. This becomes a wedge and a slap on the cliches of the world. As if life and life is going on and started from a cigarette.

Cigarette slogan is not lip service. And strength in the cigarette industry in Indonesia indicate that fact. And this is not true. Tobacco industry is seen to make traps and myths. Cigarettes are an important issue of humanity. Life of the cigarette world full of compromise power, deceit and dark strategy.

And it is probably true in the world struggle of cigarettes, as he had been written by Ben Jonson long ago in The Alchemist (The Alchemist) that "Alchemy was a kind of game, Like a card trick, to deceive man, with great charm".

Conrad really loves his home and family and lives life to the full and has been writing about his knowledge and experience. Feel free to see some of his material at Lawn Tractor Attachments and juice Dispenser [http://juicedispenser.net].

Musings of an American Refugee in New Zealand

2012-09-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Despite my unusual name, I happen to be a woman. I am also an American child and adolescent psychiatrist with more than 30 years of practice under my belt. Seven years ago I emigrated from the US to New Zealand, mainly for political reasons. I describe the unusual events leading up to this momentous decision in my upcoming book - The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee.

Obviously a lot has happened in seven years. I have learned I am not alone in deciding to emigrate out of frustration with the Bush administration. It turns out tens of thousands of Americans emigrated between 2000 and 2008. Polls show most of them were liberals and progressives. In November 2003 expatriate Americans led the London demonstrations protesting Bush's London visit and the war in Iraq. Expatriates also formed major voting blocs for Kerry in 2004 and for Obama in 2008. An unexpected result of creating a new life for myself as an expatriate is the unique perspective it has provided on my former life in the US.

An Awakening: Militarism is the US Government's Number One Priority

Ironically it is only in coming to a remote South Pacific nation, whose population has just exceeded four million, that I can fully appreciate the way military domination and control of the third world takes precedence over all other US foreign and domestic policy. Owing to vigorous censorship that occurs in the corporate controlled media, much of this information isn't readily available to US residents. Prior to the mid-nineties the US relied on economic dominance over smaller countries to extract a continuous supply of cheap resources they couldn't produce domestically - such as gasoline, coffee, sugar, chocolate, nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers and platinum, nickel, chromium, cobalt and other strategic metals. With the decline in US economic strength over the past 15 years, the government has come to rely on its military might to acquire the resources it needs to guarantee Americans' continued high standard of living. It seems to be common knowledge among many New Zealand intellectuals that this is the primary US government agenda.

An Awakening: the News Media Keeps Americans in the Dark about Their Government

It was only on leaving the US that I recognized how successfully the US media monopoly censors and sanitizes public information about international events and government activities. Although Rupert Murdoch's News Corp controls much of New Zealand's access to international news, we still have independent media outlets that regularly challenge and embarrass our government. Presently this type of investigative reporting is extremely rare in the American mainstream media.

An Awakening: the Price Americans Pay for Global Domination

The first thing that hit me on waking up in a new country was the enormous personal cost, in terms of quality life, that Americans pay as citizens of a regime intent on establishing and maintaining a global military empire. For example, although New Zealand ranks as one of the poorer countries in the OECD (22nd out of 30), Kiwis take for granted that their government will use their hard earned tax dollars to provide free health care for all New Zealand residents, a program the public considers essential for the long term well being and sustainability of their country.

In New Zealand it is fairly easy to support universal health care and the taxes that fund it, because this country doesn't invade or occupy other countries and bans the use of nuclear materials as weapons or for energy production. In the US, on the other hand, reaching consensus on joining the rest of the developed world in providing universal government sponsored health care is next to impossible. There is enormous resistance to increasing federal tax to pay for such a program, given that Americans are so heavily taxed already to pay for wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and to maintain a US military presence in more than 50 foreign countries it considers strategic to its interests. In the past five years the number of overseas military bases has increased from 700 to 1,000, as the US military expands into Eastern Europe, Pakistan, North and West Africa (owing to the strategic importance of African oil reserves) and Columbia (owing to the threat posed by left leaning governments in Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia).

An Awakening: the US is Less Democratic than Other Developed Countries

More importantly Americans seem to have no say in the decisions resulting in the allocation of nearly 50 cents of every tax dollar for military related spending. In fact in many ways the US is far less democratic than other developed countries. Although polling shows Americans don't want to spend their tax dollars spent on escalating the war in Afghanistan - that they want to spend them on government sponsored health care - the Obama administration does just the opposite. Obama sends 35,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and persuades congressional Democrats to drop the public option and Medicare expansion from his health care reform bill.

The New Zealand government would face massive street protests for enacting legislation opposed by the majority of New Zealanders. Yet for some reason Americans seem to take for granted that they have no say in decisions that are fundamental, not only to their own personal welfare, but to the long term economic viability and sustainability of their country. It is only in living abroad that I have become aware of this a deep resignation and apathy in the American public. It's a mindset I believe stems from deep and pervasive political repression - which is essential to maintain order in a society dedicated to global military dominance.

An Awakening: the Planet's Newest Third World Country

Obviously there are other important reasons why the US doesn't have publicly sponsored health care like Zealand and all other industrialized countries. The channeling of hundreds of billions of tax dollars into military expansion is only part of the problem. There happen to be other powerful corporate interests - led by the insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies - who invested billions of dollars in the 2008 election to ensure that the Democrats and Obama refrained from enacting publicly sponsored health care. However the prioritization of the military conquest and occupation over the all domestic spending and the secrecy and deliberate misinformation over the phenomenal cost of war - an extremely unpopular public policy to begin with - make it very difficult for Americans to understand much less have a voice in how their tax dollars are spent.

The reality is that exponential increases in US military spending over the past thirty years have resulted in deep cuts in domestic spending for education and important social programs. Most of the developed world understands and accepts that unmet social problems, such as homelessness, mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse, illiteracy, unemployment, child poverty and child abuse seriously compromise the quality of life for the entire society. Yet here, too, the US is more like a third world country than an advanced industrialized society. I only saw this clearly after moving abroad.

As the military budget has increased exponentially over the past thirty years, the commitment to universal education, job training, housing and full employment as essential to meaningful participation in an advanced industrial democracy has vanished from public consciousness. The only "antipoverty" programs that persist are federal and state prisons. The US now exceeds China in its incarceration rate. Which represents an extremely uneconomical use of government funds in a recession. At an average cost of $29,000 each (totaling nearly 100 billion dollars annually), there is no question that locking people up is the most expensive way to address social problems that lead to criminal behavior.

An Awakening: the Loss of Civil Liberties in the US

The negative effect of our government's drive for global military domination is not limited to negative economic consequences - namely our inability to meet basic health, education, housing and social welfare needs. The loss of civil liberties over the last eight years is also more typical of a third world military dictatorship than the participatory democracies enjoyed by most of the developed world. This, too, was something I only fully appreciated after moving abroad.

Most of the covert activities I describe in my book - the monitoring of my calls, emails and financial transactions, the theft of business and personal mail and even the clandestine break-ins - was illegal in the late eighties. However the US government engages in all these activities legally now, thanks to successive versions of the Patriot Act.

Worse still Obama has left most of these laws, which violate basic Constitutional rights, essentially intact. He has also preserved the right of police and federal authorities to arrest and hold US citizens without charge - a violation of the right of habeas corpus guaranteed in the Bill of Rights - an fundamental feature of civilized society dating back to the 1215 Magna Carta.

This loss of civil liberties also occurred in Rome, when its leaders were forced to abandon their democratic form of government to pursue the wars of conquest that resulted in the formation of a vast Roman Empire. In most cases, military conquest and occupation of foreign territory only benefits a tiny elite at the highest level of society. Ordinary people are naturally repulsed by the idea of war and almost universally expect their hard earned tax dollars to be spent on public programs that directly benefit them.

If allowed any meaningful input, they rarely willingly agree to squander government funds on military expansion. This is why a campaign of military expansion can only succeed if the government is effective at suppressing dissent in the ruling country.

An Awakening: How US Militarism Affects the Way Americans Think

The most alarming discovery I made in acculturating myself to a new country was the extent to which I unconsciously bought into all the brainwashing and propaganda I was exposed to as a child in school and as an adult via the mainstream media. When I first arrived in New Zealand I genuinely believed that the US was not only the strongest military and economic power in the world - it was also the best at nearly everything else.

I write about this discovery in my book. Obviously New Zealand has no military ambitions, and Kiwis would feel pretty silly about promoting their country as the most democratic, productive, efficient, cleanest, healthiest, transparent, just and scientifically advanced nation in the world.

I myself feel pretty silly that as a committed leftist I continued to believe - as recently as five years ago - that the US was way ahead of other countries in these areas, as well as in military and economic strength. At some level I have known for at least 20 years that the US was less democratic than other industrialized countries. I also knew that US corporations had significantly weakened American economic influence by moving its industrial base to sweat shops overseas. Likewise I knew that air and water are seriously polluted in the US and its food supply one of the most contaminated in the world - with its reliance on toxic sludge fertilizers, as well as infestation with Mad Cow, E Coli and other illness-causing organisms that the powerful food lobby prevents the government from regulating.

I knew from my own research into alternative AIDS treatments that the US lags far behind other industrialized countries in scientific research. Mainly because it gives powerful corporations the power to dictate most of research Americans scientists engage in and to suppress any negative findings that might impact corporate profitability.

Ironically the US can no longer claim to be the most powerful economic force in the world, a fact rarely acknowledged by the US media. Although they still represent the world's largest economy, the US has less and less sway over the Asian economic powerhouse represented by China, India, Japan and South Korea. The world media frequently reports on examples of the US government caving in to China and India during trade and climate change negotiations.

The loss of American economic influence should be obvious from the steady drop in the US dollar in relation to international currencies. However because the mainstream media never makes this connection, it is rare for most Americans to make it. It never occurs to them that the main reason for the surge in the price of gasoline, food and other imported commodities is the dollar's loss in value on the world markets.

Dr Bramhall is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who emigrated to New Zealand in October 2002 for political reasons. She currently works for the New Zealand National Health Service. She is a long time activist and serves on the National Executive of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. She blogs at http://stuartbramhall.aegauthorblogs.com

Cheap TV Ads

2012-09-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

For those entrepreneurs just starting out with a new business, advertising costs can seem astronomical. This is often the reason why many start-ups forgo traditional television advertising. The cost of a television spot is simply cost prohibitive for a shoestring budget. Finding a company that can produce and distribute cheap TV ads is a great way to begin a television advertising campaign.

As business owners begin their search for the ideal production company, many come across what seems like a steal. Companies offering to produce cheap TV ads for prices that are extraordinarily low are not quite the bargain they seem to be. In some cases, these companies produce generic, robotic or 'canned' television spots. If a business has opted to include television spots in their advertising campaign, these companies are simply a waste of money and time. Instead, entrepreneurs need to find companies that can produce unique, original and exciting spots inexpensively.

The driving force behind any television ad should be an emphasis on what is unique and true about you, your company and your products or services. Building an honest campaign, based on your core values is often the best way to convince potential customers to give you a try. The prefab, canned ads produced by some 'bargain' advertisement companies simply do not allow you to tap into this phenomenon.

Almost as important as the ability to produce original ads is the ability to place them. Professional advertising companies can place your advertisement in markets across the country. By working closely with you on a budget, they can often place ads on national stations for less than you might expect. Only work with companies who are able to promise placement on a variety of spots that are targeted.

Remember that when it comes to placement of a television ad, it comes down to the time of day, the channel and the show. By avoiding top dollar slots, it is often possible to place ads that will still be seen by a large audience. By selecting a channel and programming that is attractive to your target demographic, you will increase the chance of conversion significantly.

When it comes time to design your television ad it is important to pick an advertising company that has the talent, creativity and connections to produce top quality advertisements. The development of animation technology has enabled advertisers to avoid high costs of Ad Production. You can get a very attractive animated TV Ad for the fraction of the cost of a so-called professional production. Here are some important points to consider;

Establish Audience: Make sure that you understand who your audience is and target them. If you are selling B2B services, your audience would be business owners. This is also essential in the TV channels and programs you would like to advertise on.
Establish Identity: Tell the viewers who your company is and what you do. Connect your identity to a slogan, everybody knows who it is when we say "15 minutes can save you 15% or more on car insurance."

Establish Interest: What makes your product unique and what differentiates you from your competition? You have to be able to communicate this message clearly and effectively.

Establish Trust: Mention any professional affiliations, testimonials or awards. Give some statistics regarding your product or services. This will get the attention of the viewer.

Establish Offer: You definitely must have a call to action at the end of the TV Commercial. Provide the viewer with a clear offer such as a "Free 30 minute consultation valued at $500" You have about 5 seconds to make the user act.

Track: Make sure that you can track your conversions by tracking the call to action. This is the most essential step of advertisement; to calculate your ROI.

Purchasing and placing cheap TV ads doesn't mean you have to settle for low quality or off hours. If you would like to advertise on TV and have a budget of over 5K, Contact us, we can help. You can call us at 1-800-736-9618 We can help.

If you enjoyed this article, you also might like our other stories about Internet Marketing Company.

Be Cautious Where You Take Your Classic Car or Muscle Car

2012-09-21T06:53:00.006-07:00

Classic car owners, including those with muscle cars, street rods, hot rods, antiques and vintage trucks, are facing uncertain times as car thefts are on the rise, and actions from thieves are becoming more bold and brazen.

I recently came across a story written by a man who owned a Daytona Blue 1963 Corvette Coupe with all matching numbers. The all-original classic sport car had an immaculate dark blue interior where only the carpet had ever been replaced. The 327 engine was said to produce a rhythmic loping that not only brought a smile to your face, but got you day dreaming of having this beauty parked in your own garage. Then disaster strikes and you're snapped out of your dream and into his nightmare!

The owner of this beautiful piece of American history took his prized car to what he called a small "backwoods" show that a friend and he decided to go to in the spur of the moment. As owner Jacob Morgan, of Bakersfield, CA described, "The event was an annual but rather unofficial gathering of classic car buffs and I was thrilled to bring my car down. Unfortunately, the part of Florida that the event was being held was extremely dry due to drought. About three or four hours after arriving, a man who owned a red GTO (I could not tell you the year because frankly I did not care afterward) decided to start up his ride for the spectators. It was just one backfire but it was enough to start the dry grass ablaze--and guess where my Corvette was parked?

Nearly thirty classic cars were consumed by the blaze started by that backfiring GTO and my Corvette was one of them. Of course I had the car properly insured but they just aren't making 1963 Corvettes any longer and the only one I could find that was similar cost $10,000 more than my policy's payoff. I guess if there is a moral to my sad tale, it is to avoid backwoods car shows at all costs because they are unregulated, disorganized, and very dangerous to classic cars like my beloved 1963 Corvette Coupe."

This may not be your traditional way of losing your prized classic car, muscle car, street rod, antique car, vintage truck or other collectible old vehicle, but it does drive home the point that we need to exercise care in even the most innocent surroundings like a car show! Freak accidents like Mr. Morgan experienced can and do account for many losses to enthusiasts - not just theft or vandalism.

Sadly though, theft isn't a rare thing and the methods are becoming more bizarre. Guy Algar and I have had pieces stolen off one of our own vehicles that we were towing back to our shop while we stopped for a quick bite to eat! We've had a good number of hubcaps taken over the years. And, we actually had the brake lights ripped off of our car hauler while we were in a parts store one day picking up parts for a customer! We've had one customer tell us the story where he had taken his wife out to dinner and had carefully parked his 1969 Corvette at a local restaurant, under a big bright light, and in what appeared to be a "safe" area, only to come out 45 minutes to an hour later to find all his emblems and trim taken right off the car! Thieves have been known to take the entire car hauler (with the classic sitting on top) right off the tow vehicle's hitch ball and transfer the hauler to their own tow vehicle when people are on the road, at a car show, or some other type of event. These are bold moves by people who do not fear the consequences.

Other thefts that have been reported around the country have included:

Dr. Phil just had his '57 Chevy Belair convertible stolen from the Burbank repair shop he had brought it to for repairs.

A 1937 Buick, valued at over $100,000 was taken from a gated community parking garage in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tom of New Mexico reported the theft of two of his collector cars to Hemming. Tom owns about half a dozen collector cars altogether, and to store them all, he rented out a storage unit. Unfortunately, when he went to check on them recently, for the first time in about six months, he found that two were missing - a 1957 two-door Chevrolet Belair and a 1967 Mercury Cougar GT.

There was also a report of a man from Jefferson City, Missouri, who actually recovered his own stolen car, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro that had been stolen 16 years before, after seeing it in a Google search!

In a Los Angeles suburb, a woman came home to a garage empty of her prized 1957 Chevy Bel-Air which had been valued at more than $150,000. The beautiful convertible had been featured in several magazines and TV shows and won dozens of awards at car shows around the country. A neighbor's surveillance camera caught the actions of the thieves and revealed that the Bel-Air was pushed down the street by a pickup truck which had pulled into her driveway just minutes after she had left. The thieves likely loaded it onto an awaiting trailer. It's thought that the thieves spotting the car at one of the car shows, followed it home afterwards, then waited for the opportunity to steal it.

A Seattle collector was the victim of a targeted "smash-and grab" from the warehouse where he kept his cars. The thieves apparently ransacked the building and drove off with a 396/425 four-speed 1965 Corvette Stingray; and a 20,000-mile 396/four-speed 1970 Chevelle SS.

A 1959 Chevrolet Impala was stolen during a Cruise Night. The owner got good news-bad news when the police tracked down because while they did recover the classic car, he had put in a claim for the theft with his insurance policy after the theft many months before, so the car went to the insurance company rather than being returned to him. Apparently detectives recovered the Impala from a chop shop nearly eight months after it was stolen, repainted and modified.

Hemmings News also reported of a reader whose 1970 Ford Maverick was stolen from his home in Missouri. The car was found and returned, but the investigation apparently revealed that the thief had been watching the owner for 2 years, with the intention of stealing it and using it to race with. Chilling thing to find out.

A 1979 Buick Electra 225 Limited Edition was stolen out of a grocery store parking lot in suburban Detroit with the thief escaping with an urn inside the trunk that contained the remains of the owner's stepfather!

After saving for over 40 years, a man from Virginia bought the car of his dreams, a 1962 Dodge Lancer. Buying his dream car, he began his restoration project, which was about 60 percent complete when he relocated to Texas. Without a garage to keep it in after his move, he stored it in a 24-foot enclosed trailer along with a 1971 Dodge Colt he planned to turn into a race car, and kept the trailer parked at a storage lot. At the end of July, the trailer and everything in it disappeared.

The last story actually has a happy ending because it was recovered due to alert shop owners being suspicious of person wanting to unload a Lancer for only $1,500 including the many boxes of parts. After some research, the owner was reunited with his car. Guy and I have been approached on numerous occasions by people wanting to sell their vehicles. Some have hardship stories and the callers are willing to unload the car for a real bargain. We've always walked from these offers, primarily because we're not in the business of buying and selling cars (we're not dealers or re-sellers), but also because we're cautious of a "too-good-to-be-true" price. One call in particular did make us very suspicious, as the woman caller insisted that the sale had to be completed by Monday (she called our shop over the weekend) and the price was extremely low for a rather rare model Mustang. Alert shop owners can be instrumental in aiding in the recovery of stolen classic cars.

But not all stories have a happy ending like this. Classic cars, muscle cars and antiques can make their way to chop shops, end up damaged and abandoned, and even being re-sold on Internet sites such as eBay and Craigslist!

Just yesterday, I reported on a 1954 Chevy Pickup truck which was stolen from a woman's driveway in Oklahoma City. (Ironically this article was already written and scheduled for release today when the news hit. I've added her case because, unfortunately, it emphasizes how common thefts have become.) She wisely reached out to the Hemmings community of enthusiasts for help. Hemmings.com has a huge following, referred to as "Hemmings Nation", and appealing for help to a community of enthusiasts like this can be instrumental in helping to give vital information to police and authorities who can help track and recover a stolen classic car. We applaud the work that Hemmings does.

And, the methods that thieves are using, as you can see, are as varied as the types of vehicles! Even seemingly innocent little car shows and gatherings are places you need to exercise a little caution and care. As I reported in a July article, carjackings involving classic cars are even becoming more commonplace.

Surprisingly, in some cases, the Internet has been helpful in aiding in the recovery of classic cars and muscle cars. There have been numerous stories, much like the Camaro owner above, and a man who found his 1949 Ford through a listing on Craigslist (the two men responsible were arrested and charged with disassembling a vehicle after the owner positively identified it as his) where owners have been able to locate their cars in Internet searches.

For those not so fortunate, insurance is the only consolation. We highly recommend classic car or "collector" car insurance. There are a number of companies that provide this specialized insurance, and it is generally well worth the cost. Classic Car News provided an article, Purchasing Classic Car Insurance, containing a list of companies along with links to contact them. I also recommend Hagerty Insurance's publication, Deterring Collector Car Theft, which has tips on theft prevention.

In addition to the quick-strip thefts, thieves usually always alter, remove or forge VIN numbers, which make identification of the car or truck more difficult. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) are serial numbers for vehicles that are used to differentiate similar makes and models. Much like social security numbers, every vehicle has a different VIN. VIN plates are usually located on the dashboard on newer cars, but are often found in the door jams of older models. VIN plates can be switched with another vehicle for a fast coverup.

The point here is to be aware of your surroundings, including where you park your car. Don't take it for granted that just because you're at an event with fellow enthusiasts that something bad can't happen. Take preventive action by securing your old car or truck. Guy Algar suggests, "Don't forget to take precautions even at home. You may feel safe parking your ride in 'the safety' of your two car garage, but remember, even if you don't have windows where people can peer in and spot your valued car, thieves can also follow you home from work, a cruise, or even the grocery store and plan a theft after surveilling your home and learning your schedule. If you have a ride that catches people's attention, remember that it can also catch the wrong attention!"

RESOURCES:

Hagerty Insurance - Deterring Collector Car Theft

Classic Car News - Purchasing Classic Car Insurance

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

The safety of your classic car or muscle car is extremely important to most owners. Everyone wants to protect their ride with methods that work, and that won't bust the bank. We draw on the experience of experts in Classic Car News' upcoming series entitled "Keep Our Rides Safe", which appear each Wednesday. - Andrea

Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920's through 1970's. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

Have a classic car or muscle car story or question you'd like to share? Visit her blog at http://www.motorheadsperformance.blogspot.com for contact information. Her business website can be viewed at http://www.motorheadsperformance.com.

Seven Sins Common in America, and Why the Bible Teaches That God Hates Them

2012-09-21T06:53:00.005-07:00

There is a confusion in the world that teaches that the Law (Torah) is void in this dispensation of time, and has no affect upon the Christian believer. This is a lie, it is confusion, and according to the degree that such a thought pattern is accepted by a believer is the degree of evil affect that it produces in that person's life.

First, lets establish that in the same manner that Yahweh is Love, He is also Law. We know that John, an apostle of the first century Church coined the phrase which is found in the Scripture: "God is Love." (1 John 4:16) From this love springs the mercy and grace that supplies salvation to all who believe, and in that belief call upon the name of Jesus whom God has appointed the Savior of the world. But just as a coin has two faces and neither of its faces are any more real or lasting then the other you many say that the character of God is not only love, but also law.

What is the character of law? It is that aspect of Yahweh that is just, and judges sin. It is that aspect of Him that is holy, that is completely separate from sin and sinner. It is that part of Him that says in a completely uncompromising way, "This is the way walk in it"....or "Thus saith the Lord", and then the commandment is given. It is the part of Him that says, "Thou shalt, and thou shalt not", and every disobedience to these commands demanding punishment. For He is holy, and an unclean thing can not abide in His presence.

He is truth as is indicated by the words of Jesus in John 8:14, "...I am the way the truth and the life....",and when connected with the wisdom of the psalmist one finds that God's law is referred to as truth. (Ps. 119:142 NKJV) Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth. (Ps. 119:151NKJV) You are near oh Lord, and all Your commandments are truth. So the conclusion is simple. To put God's law on the self and consider it void, or to consider it with out purpose is to put God Himself on a shelf and consider Him void and without purpose.

Some take the Apostle's Paul's remark in the Colossians 2:13-14 as proof, or indication that Christ did away with the Law at the Cross. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (NKJV) I say to you that it is impossible for Christ to have done away with the law, "nailing it to the tree". For to do that He would have had to have taken Yahweh Himself and nailed Him to the cross for the interpretation of this scripture to be that God's law was taken away and nailed to the cross. I suggest, what was nailed to the cross was our offenses, or violations of God's laws, (our sin) not the Law itself. Further, we see in Romans 3:31 that Paul communicates openly that the purpose of the Christian faith is not to make the law of God void, but to establish it. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary we establish the law. (NKJV)

There you have it! In clear and certain terms the proof that God's law is not void, but is in place, and that God Himself is law. So what did the Apostle Paul mean when he said that we are not under the law but under grace? I believe he meant that the grace of God which is found in Christ, serves as a filter that stands between a holy God, (whose absolute righteousness demands complete and unmerciful judgment of sin), and all sinners. This grace is a loving God's way of dealing with a very imperfect creation. Allowing us time and empowerment to respond to Him and put on Christ, which means that those who are in Christ choose to learn His ways and flesh them out. Thus righteousness is produced in the actions of our lives. This process is summed up in this equation which is seen in John 1:17, For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (NKJV) Law + grace = truth in the believer's life. Truth being the right and lawful expression of life that is meant by God for the believer to live. The lifestyle that reflects the person of the Lord Jesus, who is the embodiment of law, and grace,(and its accompanying mercy) and truth.

Having said these things I wish now to list a set of commandments and speak of the meaning of these commandments. For they have meaning behind them. There is a "why" behind each. For a wise God never gives a commandment without a reason. Like unto a parent who will commanded his child to either do, or not do any given thing. The parent may or may not give an explanation as to the reasoning behind the commandment, but there is one there. In like manner the eternal and wise Creator has reason behind all of His law. But to start off, lets first consider an extremely common posting of law that is found in the world. That of a stop sign.

When one pulls up to a stop sign what is it that is being communicated to the person? Undoubtedly the obvious communication is that the person must stop. But why? Nothing is said on the sign as to why the person must stop. This is taken as a thing that is understood by the driver, or if the driver is unable to understand the reasoning behind the command to stop then that driver is not supposed to be driving. The reason for the command is for the driver to stop in order that he can look both ways and thus respond to the traffic that may or may not be present on the road that day. Thus the actual commandment only has value because it allows for the more important reasoning behind it, which is to slow down sufficiently to consider the traffic on the road way, and then act accordingly.

God's laws are like this. The value of them is in the reasoning behind them, and this reasoning goes beyond the immediate sphere of men. Each of these laws have not only an earthly need for fulfillment, meaning they are needed to properly direct the affairs of man on the earth for his immediate good and protection, but also they represent heavenly and eternal realities at the same time. The following are a listing of various commandments of God and brief explanation of the heavenly realities that they reflect. Therein, offering the most extreme reason for obedience to them. For to violate them is to directly slander, or stand in rebellion toward the One who designed the commandments, to not only conduct the actions of men's lives for their immediate good, but to bring forth the true testimony of Heavenly and eternal realities.

Divorce:

In that Yahweh created the man as a living mortal illustration of Himself, and the woman as a living mortal illustration of the Church, and caused that they would come together in marriage, the act of divorce has far greater ramifications then the effects of the dissolutionment of the marriage and family, as extremely horrible as that it. For divorce is a horrendous thing, which often brings extreme damage and pain to the family members involved. Yet the slanderous testimony of heavenly things that is brought forth is the chief reason divorce is hated of God.

Marriage was created by God to represent His relationship to the believer. (1 Cor. 6:17) When one comes to the salvation of Jesus, God becomes the husband of their spirit. In that the man and the woman were created to illustrate in their person, both God and the Church, the act of unlawful divorce gives the signal that God will, or may, divorce believers, or that the believer is permitted to divorce the Lord. Our God is completely faithful and He will never divorce any soul of man until that soul has been proven unfaithful to him and will not turn from that unfaithfulness, (in other words such a one has thrown away his faith) and any soul of man that divorces the Lord will find themselves without a savior, and henceforth be destined to the Lake of Fire.

Adultery:

Again, the Creator designed and created mankind, both male and female, both man and woman to illustrate heavenly realities. The relationship of marriage was designed and the laws pertaining to it are to insure that the obedient will be able to live the fullest, happiest, and safest life possible while in this present life. However, more importantly these same laws are designed so that through obedience to them the full and proper testimony of Heavenly realties are brought forth. When the man, who is a living mortal illustration of God commits adultery with a woman, who is the living illustration of the Church or individual believer, this act is giving the picture that God will be untrue to the relationship of trust and commitment to a soul of man who has become a marriage partner (for again, every soul of man that experiences the salvation of Jesus receives the Lord as the husband of their spirit) The woman who commits adultery by her actions gives the picture of a believer leaving the Lord to enact intimacy with another god. This is idolatry. These pictures are completely untrue. They are slanderous testimonies of the Lord and His dealings with a redeemed soul, and the proper dealing of a redeemed soul with the Savior.

Fornication:

This act is similar to that of adultery. When a man and a woman fornicate it means that they participate in the act of marriage without entering into the covenant of marriage. Thus they by their action are testifying (again, in that they were created as representations of both the Lord and the believer) that God and a soul of man will enjoy the intimacy of marriage without first entering a covenant relationship. In other words, that an unconverted soul who has not experienced the regeneration of the Holy spirit, who is not born again can share intimacy with the Lord. This is an impossibility! Such action is a lie against the truth! The Holy Spirit will not enter and abide with any soul of of man and share communion with that person until that soul has been brought under the blood of Christ and has experienced regeneration. God will not dwell in an unholy place. So the heavenly illustration that fornication brings forth is that of God being married to (sharing intimacy with) a soul of man who is not His, and the woman's part illustrates a soul of man sharing intimacy with God without entering a covenant relationship, without being born again. These pictures are impossible and are altogether slanderous to the truth.

Child Rebellion:

Going beyond marriage is the obvious eventuality of parenthood. For just as the intimacy of the Lord to the Church will bring forth new believers, so it is that the intimacy of marriage, (the act of marriage) will bring forth children. So the relationship, and the laws that govern the relationship between parents and children are illustrative of the relationship that the Heavenly Father has to His own. The Father of every soul made perfect is God Himself, the mother is the Church. The seed of God (His word) sown into the Church (by means of evangelism of the unconverted) brings forth new children to God. When a child acts in disobedience or rebellion to his or her parents it is giving the picture of a child of God acting in disobedience and rebellion to the Lord Himself, and to the Church. Therefore any act or spirit of disobedience of a child to his parent is slanderous to the greater truth that marriage and family are to illustrate in the world. This is why in the Law a rebellious child who will not turn from his rebellion is commanded to be brought forth and stoned to death. For such rebellion can contaminate a society with its poison, and beyond that it is absolute slanderous picture of what the true relationship of Believer to the Lord is to be.

Sabbath Breaking:

The keeping of the Sabbath through much confusion and undoubtedly certain rebellion is by many in this generation neglected. This law was designed by God to cause the seventh day to represent Heavenly and eternal things. The Sabbath day is a banner if you will, that is to be "waved" every seventh day that testifies that God is both the creator and the redeemer of men. And if He is the creator of men, then He is henceforth the master of men. And if He is the redeemer of men, then it is in His name alone that salvation can be preached. The name of Jesus. So to not practice the Sabbath is to give the testimony that you do not believe that Yahweh is the Creator and the redeemer of men. This testimony is a lie. It is a slanderous testimony concerning God our Creator.

Cross Dressing:

The law of God commands that the sexes be adorned distinctively different, the one from the other. This law is found in Deuteronomy 22:5. It is said in this same reading that any man who dresses like a woman, or any woman who dresses like a man is an abomination to the Lord. I myself in blindness and unbelief lived in violation of this commandment until I was 42 years of age. That means I was a Christian with an active testimony for 28 years before the Holy One brought me to the place where I could see His law and be convicted of my sin. The spirit of what is called feminism, which is the disruption or deterioration of Divine Order, (the order of authority:God-Christ-Man-woman) is extremely prevalent in the world and I might add in the church. Satan wishing to corrupt the truth of God has sown much confusion into the world, teaching men that in reference to headship the woman is equal to the man, thus denying and corrupting God's order.

Again remember that the Creator created the human person illustrative of both Himself and His the chief object of His love: the church or individual Believer. The man represents God Himself, the woman represents the Church or individual Believer. Therefore when a woman dresses like a man she is saying by her practice that she is the same as, or equal to a man, which is saying that a believer is the same as, or equal to the Lord. This testimony is slanderous and therefore detestable to God. Therefore cross dressing, or the mixing of adornment is slanderous to God, and therefore an abomination. For remember that clothes have three basic purposes: 1--To protect from the elements. 2--To protect modesty, for all human persons are sexually oriented, therefore the covering of the body is of absolute necessity. 3-Clothes are illustrative. They by their nature are designed to give illustration pertaining to the one that wears them. Even as a police office is known by his uniform, or a soldier by his, or a white color worker by his. In like manner a woman's adornment much signal that she is NOT a male, but female.

Feminism or The Disruption Of Divine Order:

The laws of God that demand the keeping of Divine Order have already been mentioned, but the extreme necessity of the understanding and the obedience to these bears out that they have their own listing and discussion. God's law demands that authority be exercised in this order: God-Christ-Man-Woman. Not only is this the only order that works among men and that can bring forth life and happiness, but it is the only order that reflects Heavenly realities properly. God is the creator and henceforth the master of all things. He has chosen the man Christ Jesus, who is His physical son to be heir over all things, hence Christ is second in the line of authority.

Yahweh made the male person who grows to manhood to be the first representation of Himself, man was made in God's image, henceforth, man is next in authority. The woman was created from the rib of the man and henceforth made after the image of the man, and in that process became the very glory of the man, and henceforth is after the man in reference to authority. These things are of God, and to reverse the order of authority between the man and the woman is not only to disrupt life among men on this earth but it is also to bring forth a slanderous testimony of Heavenly and eternal realities. The which action will come under very severe judgment from Yahweh who created our lives to testify of His truth.

The word America is repent! For you have become a nation steeped in the wisdom of men, but very confused and negligent in regards to God's laws. Flush the worthless and confused preachers and educators that teach for doctrine the wisdom (man's misguided intelligence that refuses to acknowledge Yahweh and His laws) of men. He made man as the highest of all his creation, to live in the honor of knowing Him and His ways, thus by their lifestyle reflecting His truth in the world. He did not create man to wallow in the mire of the immorality that springs forth from the supposed wisdom of men. For the wisdom of men without the fear of God is at best foolishness.

A Watchman

Consider: Genesis 2:1-25, Malachi 2:16, Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19: 3-12, Mark 10: 2-12, 1 Corinthians 6:17, Ephesians 5: 22-33, Exodus 20:14, Exodus 20:14, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, Jude, verse 7,

Gregory DeHart is a Bible teacher who sometimes writes under the pen name of Watchman. Gregory is the sponsor of http://AnAmericanWatchman.blogspot.com, a site dedicated to examining social issues and the preaching of righteousness, and http://MarriageRevelations.blogspot.com, a site dedicated to the practical unfolding of the mystery revealed from the Bible of how marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church. For a Bible based life perspective please feel welcome to visit our sites, saving them as favorites, and please feel free to contact us, or post a comment. To the end that men everywhere would acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As a people of faith come forth in these last days and in spite of the progression of sin, (for it will progress) to bring forth a generation where "...many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee..." (Zechariah 2:11), and ...The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelations 11:15), and for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14).

The Nigerian Banking System and Top Banks

2012-09-21T06:53:00.004-07:00

As in any other nation, the banking and financing system is a very important aspect when it comes to economic development. Before going into the subject, it is important to mention the fact that Nigeria is an emerging market and the banking system is a key factor towards a better life status.

The Central Bank of Nigeria

In the case of Nigeria, the main institution that controls the supply of the currency Nigerian naira is the Central Bank of Nigeria established in 1958 based on the CBN Act. The objectives of the Central Bank of Nigeria changed over time, but today due to the use of capitalization, the banking system has been improved and recovered its strength.

Further on, the recent improvements in the banking system are also the result of the increase in oil prices. It is known that Nigeria is a large oil trader of USA and by applying the right financial objectives the whole nation has something to win - but most importantly more chances towards a better life. The Central Bank of Nigeria enjoyed a great success during the last 2 years due to this trading agreement, as well as the Nigerian people.

Nigeria's economy

Moreover, according to the results of the World Bank the Nigerian GDP almost doubled from 2005 until 2007, reaching $1.754 / capita in 2007. This is an important economic development achievement for an emerging market like Nigeria. Likewise, it is also a sign that Nigeria is effectively and efficiently using the available resources since it is the world's 12th largest petroleum producer.

Besides the petroleum industry, in Nigeria there is also a fast growing telecommunication market that competes at worldwide level with other important operators. In order to maximize the outcomes from the telecommunication sector, the Nigerian government is struggling to expand it to space communications since the nation has already its own space satellite.

The best Nigerian banks

Even if Nigeria is an emerging market, it offers a well-developed financial system comprising local and international financial institutions related to brokerage, insurance, investment but also financing.

In the past years, there were so many small banks available in Nigeria that these became vulnerable to fraud and other bank malpractices. Therefore, in order to provide more reliable financial services, the solution was to perform mergers. In this way, the number of banks available decreased, but the ones that remained had a better capitalization structure and were trustworthy. The current Nigerian banks are able to offer loans with longer terms as compared to before the mergers and this is an important aspect when it comes to financing the local projects.

Surprisingly or not, starting with 2006, the Nigerian financial sector enjoys success and worldwide recognition since many Nigerian banks have reached the list of the world's best 1000 banks. Having this in mind, the best Nigerian banks listed in this report are as follows:

. First Bank

. Zenith Bank

. Union Bank

. Guaranty Trust Bank

. First Inland Bank

. Intercontinental Bank.

To sum up, from an economical and financial point of view Nigeria is rapidly approaching the middle income level and this will lead to a better living status and more investment projects throughout the nation.

Atinuke Saletti - editor and writer of African and Nigerian culture and societies. A contributor for Naija Face (http://NaijaForum.net).

The Real Problem With Health Care - The Answer No One Wants to Hear!

2012-09-21T06:53:00.003-07:00

As we all know, the reforms in health care as of late have been a hot topic. And in many ways it is splitting the population in half. We have those on one side of the field who say it's a government takeover, we're losing our freedoms, we can't afford it and it will worsen the quality of care. Then there are those in favor of it who argue we can't afford not to reform it, the insurance companies are not concerned about the individual and are raising premiums regardless and as a nation everyone should be entitled to better health either as preventive maintenance or even for those with preexisting conditions.

Either position has very strong arguments but what is really at the core of the problem? Some will say that there simply isn't enough competition that will lower costs. Others say there isn't enough regulation. My suggestion here is that the root of the problem runs much, much deeper than any of these surface issues. The root cause is the same factor that impacted the real estate market crash with the sub-prime mortgage issue, the financial meltdown, the foreign wars, the change in political administrations, the weak value of the dollar, the out of control unemployment numbers and the poor economy. All of these are merely symptoms of a system which in and of itself is flawed and broken. We can argue all day about what is the way to fix individual problems but the truth is they are all connected and this problem is proven generation after generation. This is why the gap between the rich and poor is the farthest ever and is still widening. This is why inflation continually increases while wages do not comparatively. This is why the middle-class is dwindling to the point where it one day may no longer exist.

Before I share with you the true culprit behind the health care issue let me ask you a few questions. Do you feel as though you have to work harder and harder for less and less just to get by? Are you concerned with protecting your assets and getting further ahead? Would you like to pass your accumulated wealth on to your children when you die? Do you feel anxiety about protecting your retirement and whether or not it will be enough for you to live comfortably? Do you feel your quality of life is threatened by competition or the government politics? Well if you answered "yes" to the majority of these questions then take a deep breath... look in the mirror... and realize that YOU are the true culprit!

Now before you get defensive and start justifying your actions let me elaborate on what I mean. Each of us who plays the "game of survival" may not individually be the sole source of the economics issue but collectively it is this attitude compounded that causes the social ills of the world. Let's be honest with ourselves. We've all bought into the notion that the costs of living go up year after year. A loaf of bread that used to cost 15 cents 30 to 40 years ago now costs $3.00! And we all accept this fallacy that somehow it takes more money to grow the same wheat to make the bread! Last I checked sunlight still shines on the Earth for free. The price of air hasn't gone up any from zero. And rainwater still falls upon the land at no cost. The seasons are still the same length and the dirt hasn't become any scarcer than before. And if anything, due to technology, the process of actually making bread hasn't gotten any more tedious rather it has probably gotten easier and quicker to accomplish. Why the increase in price then? Why do we accept inflation as if the same everyday processes are now somehow harder or more costly?

The real problem is that we as a society have simply gotten greedier! This notion started many thousands of years ago and we still operate off the same antiquated ideas with very little change or growth in our perspectives. Thousands of years ago as civilizations evolved and grew, the concepts of scarcity and "might makes right" become the social norm. The same practices of animal instinct still exist within the human culture. The strong simply take from the weak! Tribes would invade neighboring tribes and take their resources. And those that had the resources had to protect their accumulations. This idea of ownership & property are the driving forces behind chaos. There were those few cultures such as the Native Americans that recognized that nothing truly belonged to any one individual. They realized that what was good for the whole community was ultimately best for the individual. After all, every single one of us are born into this world with nothing but our naked bodies. However, based upon the accumulations of the parents, one child may enter the world as a wealthy person while another may enter the world in extreme poverty unable to even receive necessary milk for survival. Thus, we are forced from day one, even before we have any understanding of our environments, to accept the evil reality of the "haves" and "have-nots!"

This is the true battle being waged in congress, in political parties, between communities and between nations! Those that have want to protect it and those that don't want to get it. The unfortunate reality is that the "haves" are the ones who generally have the power and the "have-nots" lack it and therefore are the weak. The difference is money, which in this world represents power! Let's remind ourselves that money was created supposedly as a convenient tool to make bartering a simpler process. After all, it is sort of difficult to carry around a pig to trade for some eggs or milk. The problem today is because those who have money hoard it to the point that they don't really need your pig, eggs or milk. Through generations of accumulation and the advancement of technology, the wealthy don't need much that the average working person has to offer. Hence, through desperation and so-called competition the "have-nots" have to accept less and less and are forced to give their only remaining asset left - themselves! And since computers, machines and robots can generally do the same amount of work without getting tired or expecting a paycheck, even your labor has little to no value anymore.

Now I know many will argue that there are opportunities out there for those who "work hard." And based upon our current systems this is true to a degree. But understand a few facts. Ninety percent of the world's wealth is held amongst one percent of the population. Another ten percent controls the majority of the rest. And finally ninety percent of the population lives either in poverty or a couple paychecks away from losing the little they may have. Now if you're in the top 10 percent then surely you probably don't want to change a thing. And if you're comfortable with your lifestyle even though you may never become one of the top 10 percent, you probably want to protect what you do have so you don't become one of those in poverty. But let's remind ourselves that the vast majority of the wealth held within certain families and institutions wasn't earned through honest hard work and invention but rather through violent, barbaric and atrocious means. Through slave trades, invasions, genocides and good old-fashioned pillaging, the "strongest" of those, centuries ago, were able to hoard their acquisitions and then pass them down through their families generation after generation.

Why should I be able to "own" hundreds of thousands of acres of land that I will never be able to personally use? Who says that I should be able to control oil sources that belong to the earth and should benefit everyone? Why is one life more important than another? Why should the few monopoly corporations be able to buy out every new idea or invention that comes along? The only thing guaranteed in life is death and you will leave it the same way you entered it - naked and by yourself! It is foolish to thing that whatever you accumulate in life will somehow be able to be taken with you. In fact, this war between the "haves" and the "have-nots" is not really about big government versus small government or right versus left. It is really about ignorance versus wisdom; love versus greed; compassion versus selfishness! This isn't meant to sound idealistic. I don't expect a utopia overnight but the reality is that we are our own worst enemies. Everyone that buys into the ridiculous notions that life somehow gets more expensive every year is part of the problem. The birds still fly in the air for free. Animals still live off the land without taxes. And the sun still rises everyday in spite of man's attempts to end our ability to witness it.

Leo Tolstoy, the author most popularly known for 'War and Peace,' went as far as to say, "Property is thievery!" Tolstoy, who was influenced by the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, went on to write journals that influenced Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Noble sentiments such as John F. Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country" perhaps should have restated that as "Ask not what mankind can do for you but ask what you can do for mankind" for we in truth created our businesses, institutions and governments to serve us and not the other way around. We allow national pride, culture, languages, religions, gender and personal desires to separate us. Yet it is only through love, unity and the desire to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" that is the true strength of society.

The vast majority of mankind will continue to live in despair because we've bought into lies, become lazy and only seek to benefit ourselves. We must look in the mirror and change ourselves first. Gandhi stated "Be the change in the world that you seek!" We would all benefit to approach our personal decisions, family decisions, outlooks on life and our politics with greater compassion and love for the benefit of all. Never allow fear to drive your choices for fear will only consume you and produce loss for everyone involved. There is a cause known as the Zeitgeist Movement. It is a noble idea on how mankind can improve the world we live in not just for our nation or ourselves but also for the entire world. While I think it is still a little too idealistic based upon man's current understanding and capacity, I do think it is a worthwhile idea towards the possibilities we could enjoy if we just had a little greater trust in one another. We, unfortunately, are still a long ways away from that day. I invite you to search for the video and/ or website. We don't have to accept the evils of the world or that some people lives are not worth saving but we must develop courage and stand up against fear, selfishness and greed.

I'm not a huge Star Trek fan but in one of the earlier movies there was a scene in which the Star Trek crew had traveled from the future back in time to the current present day. A person asked Captain Kirk how much it cost to build the Starship Enterprise and his answer was that "... in the future mankind doesn't do things in terms of dollars or profit but rather for the benefit of society!" We can only put one foot in front of the other but perhaps the day may come in time, somewhere in the distant future, where this sentiment may become reality. We are One.

http://www.the1soulwithin.com

Lateef Terrell Warnick, author of "Journey of the Soul: Day One" Book & Movie at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNbWgdYa6Ss.

Also, founder of 1 S.O.U.L. Social Network & Movement, expresses teachings founded in universal love and the esoteric approach similar to that of the yogi or mystic which declares that the "kingdom of God is within."

1 S.O.U.L. is an acronym for "One Source Of Universal Love" and consists of spiritual writings, social network, blog and non-profit organization. Teachings in harmony with those of "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda, "Conversations with God" by Neale Donald Walsch, "The Power of Now" & "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle, "The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore" by Deepak Chopra, "A Course In Miracles" by Marianne Williamson, "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran, "Beyond Belief: The Secret Book of Thomas" by Elaine Pagel, Swami Vivekananda, Babaji & the lives of Jesus the Christ, Buddha, Krishna who've shown us the way towards enlightenment & Self-Realization!

It Costs How Much to Replace an Employee?

2012-09-21T06:53:00.002-07:00

Retaining your good employees

The Right People in the Right Places

Studies show that the average cost to replace a worker in the US is $17,000.00 (AVERAGE!!). Some HR managers use the rule of thumb that whatever the person's annual salary is - it will cost that much to replace them. One study evaluating the effects of the US Family Medical Leave Act found that "turnover costs for a manager average 150% of salary, including real costs of hiring... and intangible costs such as the new worker's inefficiency and lost productivity while the job is vacant."

Costs of lost productivity are as important as direct costs such as advertising or temporary staff. Total costs easily reach 150% of the annual compensation. The cost will be significantly higher (200% to 250%) for managerial and sales positions.

Bliss & Associates Inc., Wayne, NJ consulting firm

Oh, and if you think you can just hire temporary workers and avoid all those costs, think again. The cost of hiring and getting production from a temporary worker is nearly 40% of their salary, and temporary workers tend to have higher hourly rates than permanent ones - and higher turnover rates as well.

Let's put this in real terms. The lowest number I have seen anywhere says it will cost you at least 30% of an employee's total annual compensation to replace them. Assume you have 100 employees and your average salary is $10.00 per hour. At $10.00 per hour + benefits (at 20% of wages), your employees receive ~$12.00 hour in wages and benefits. Let's say that you have to replace 15% of your employees every year. Taking the most conservative estimate for employee turnover costs that I have been able to find (30% of their annual wages and benefits); each employee you have to replace is costing you $7,488.00.

100 employees X 15% X $7488 (including benefits) = $112,320 per year.

And that is using the most conservative cost percentage I can find. If we decide to use the national average ($17,000 / replaced employee) the cost goes to $255,000.00. By using the 'rule-of-thumb' (100% of their annual salary - $20,800.00/ replaced employee), the cost will go to $312,000.00... Staggering!

Why are the costs so high?

Why does it cost so much to replace a departing employee? Some costs, like paying off accrued vacation time or the cost of a help-wanted ad, are obvious.

Other costs include:

Increased unemployment insurance costs
Lost productivity while there is a vacancy
Time costs for the separation (Exit) interview (If your good employees are leaving, you NEED to know why)
Separation agreement costs (legal, financial, medical, retirement cash-out, etc.)
Overtime from other employees to handle the vacancy (which can lead to burn-out or absenteeism)
Time costs to review resumes
Time costs to interview candidates
Interview expenses for the candidates
Possible travel expenses
Possible relocation expenses
Head-hunter or signing bonus fees
Additional bookkeeping; payroll, 401k, etc.
Additional record keeping for government agencies
Reduced productivity while the new worker gets up to speed
Training programs
Corporate history lost
Morale can be affected
Intellectual property lost

There are also risks associated with losing an employee.

Threat of lawsuit
Bad PR from disgruntled employee
Threat that the employee will take clients to a new firm

What can be done about it?

Job descriptions:

Put together a complete job description with tasks and duties outlined in a clear and concise way so that when someone answers your want ad, they know what they are applying for. Minimize that catch-all phrase "Other duties as assigned". This way, the employee knows what is expected of the position and the manager knows what to evaluate for performance reviews.

Pre & Post employment testing:

Job match/satisfaction can be measured by using the testing and evaluation systems that are available through RP2-Consulting. The cost of these evaluation and testing programs is significantly less than the cost of turnover in the first example above. We can test a candidate before they even show up for an interview and tell you if they have the right attitude, will show up for work when expected and won't take everything in the supply cabinet home with them. We can match new candidates to a given position. We have all heard of the 'Peter Principle' (an individual rises to his level of incompetence). We can look at your existing employees and match their skills and personalities with open positions in the organization. We can also help you identify the right people to put on teams. When teams are balanced (one person's strengths cover another person's weaknesses), results are significantly improved. Finally, managers (and CEO's) need to know their strengths and weaknesses, as those who work with them perceive them. Testing can show you what your true strengths and weaknesses are so that you can focus on improving those things that need to be improved.

Training:

Expecting someone to produce when they do not know how to produce, or what results are needed is absurd. Yet every day, people are hired to do jobs in which they have little or no formal training. Make sure that your employees get the training and guidance they need to meet your expectations. This will lead to better employee job satisfaction and reduced management stress. As a significant side benefit, well-trained employees are more likely to win appreciation for a job well done; and appreciation and recognition among your peers is a huge motivator. We can help you design your training programs to meet your individual needs.

Leadership:

The best plans and initiatives are all for naught if your leadership does not focus on what is working and where you want to go. Have you ever been backing out of your driveway focused on the trash-can you had to avoid hitting at all costs - it's right there in the mirror, just behind the vehicle, if you hit it your whole morning will be ruined - and like a laser, you run right into it...

We go where we focus. One key to your success is to focus on retaining your employees. Working to make them successful is far less expensive than replacing them. Treating them with respect and honor while making them feel like they have a stake in the company and its success will lead to your success. Focus on where you want to go not where you don't want to go. Looking at mistakes and finding fault is focusing on the past and the errors made there. Learn from mistakes and move on. Plan the future your organization wants. Focus on applauding success, both individually and for the team/company.

Eric Omer is an Author, Speaker & Business Coach. A graduate of the University of Texas, (Austin) he has over 20 years of national and international business experience with both small and Fortune 500 organizations. He developed his trademarked '9 Core Business Fundamentals' based on his business consulting experiences. Eric offers a free 2 hour consultation/business evaluation that will show you the strengths and weaknesses in your organization.

Eric is available for one-on-one business coaching, public speaking and training in Leadership skills and Project Management.

For more information about Eric and his company 'RP Consulting' go to [http://www.rp2consulting.com].

Will the US Suffer an Inflation Or Deflation in 2009-2010 Or Both?

2012-09-21T06:53:00.001-07:00

On October 10, 2008, I posited four possible scenarios regarding the outlook for our general economic future. Of those four scenarios, it may be that we are experiencing the most chaotic and potentially destructive scenario, one that may be difficult for many to envisage:

That is the third outcome posited in the article: "In this case, the deflationary forces would win the battle against Federal Reserve easing and government action, at least temporarily. In response to a deflationary calamity, the Federal Reserve may run the printing presses until an inflationary recovery could take place. Gold may do well under this chaotic scenario."

Currently, U.S. consumer demand for goods is abetting and consumers are retrenching as a result of the drying up of the credit spigot. Credit is now only available to the soundest of borrowers. Money may not be readily available to many borrowers to buy new homes, refrigerators, and automobiles. The consequent deleveraging of the average consumer (who is over his head in debt and who cannot borrow more to finance purchases) is a powerful wave in the U.S. Without the proposed mortgage and bank bailout by the Obama administration, millions more Americans might be on the cusp of losing their homes.

In addition, significant layoffs (from the likes of IBM, Intel, and Macy's) have the potential to lead us into a downward economic spiral of decreasing demand and employment. Further, in this economy, we are also experiencing price decreases caused by retailers selling off goods as they liquidate their businesses. In a normal economy where credit is available, these retailers might have been able to go into bankruptcy and then receive financing to operate until they emerged out of it, saving valuable jobs.

Weakened banks are receiving huge cash injections of Federal money, turning them into partial wards of the State. Tens or hundreds of billions of dollars may ultimately be spent by government authorities in bailing out the countless owners of three- or four-bedroom houses whose mortgages are under water.

The Federal Reserve under Chairman Bernanke and the Obama Administration has used and may utilize further the myriad tools at their disposal to extricate our economy from this slump that has shown deflationary characteristics. The Fed can simply print all the dollars that are necessary to stimulate domestic growth, which in the long run makes the dollar worth less. The dollar may simply be inflated away, with the current deflation turning into a great inflation in the coming years, damaging the dollar's local and international purchasing power. It may be that the "cure" for our disease--massive government spending and easy money from the Federal Reserve--will be our undoing.

In Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse, Thomas E. Woods, with foreword by free market thinker Ron Paul, describes the real causes of the current economic and stock market collapse. Woods, "a senior fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute and winner of the 2006 Templeton Enterprise Award," shows how government is not the solution to the current economic crisis, but is actually making the slump worse. Buy this one to gain greater insight into today's economic disaster.

A demonstration of how quickly an economy can change is in the example of the Icelandic financial calamity of 2008. As reported on Wikipedia, Iceland's three largest banks failed and Iceland's government's central bank was not large enough to guarantee the banks' bad debts (something that may not happen here: theoretically, our Federal Reserve's balance sheet is infinite).

Iceland's stock market fell 90%, the local currency inflation rate rose into double digits and the value of the Icelandic krona sharply declined. Unemployment increased. The savings of many citizens were decimated. The movement of capital to and from Iceland is permitted only with permission from the authorities. Citizens who hold foreign currencies must hold them in an Icelandic bank. Iceland's transition from an enviable success story to utter financial collapse all happened in the span of less than a year.

Great Britain's government authorities have effectively nationalized much of the banking sector in response to insolvencies among many formerly powerful banking institutions. The British currency has fallen 30% from about $2.00 to $1.40 per Pound. The Pound does not have world reserve currency status, which may explain why so many market participants are more able to bet against it: it is not widely owned throughout the world and may be available in the scheme of the currency market to be sold heavily. Britain is seen as a declining power in the midst of crisis and its currency is merely reflecting this.

However, Britain suffered mightily from the stagflation years of the mid 1970's, when inflation rose to 25%, but its economy was later revived by the free market policies of Margaret Thatcher. So I would not count Britain out just yet. Much will depend on future U.K. economic policy. That said, I would not be surprised to see a short term rally in the Pound as the difficult reality of the current situation has been well broadcast and has been absorbed by almost all players. The Pound may be oversold.

Since the dollar is still the world's primary reserve currency (though that is in a state of adjustment), it is unlikely at this time that countries such as China and Japan who buy our Treasuries and sell us manufactured goods (taking our dollars in return as I.O.U's, increasing the supply of dollars outside the U.S.), will give up on us completely. However, they may look upon their massive U.S. investments with trepidation as we have lowered our living standards by accumulating massive public and private debt which must now be deleveraged. And there is no guarantee that the deleveraging will go smoothly. It certainly has not up until this point. Our foreign creditors may shudder when they see us run our printing presses to stimulate our domestic economic growth, which may turn the current whiff of deflation in our economy into a galloping inflation and gold price, with double digit interest rates, and may result in the fall of the dollar in future years. During a time of severe stress on the dollar, the Obama administration could conceivably restrict the movement of U.S. capital to and from our shores. As has happened with nations who have followed such a policy, our stock market and the dollar might react badly.

On the subject of free trade, should we enact a protectionist trade policy, such as the trade barriers enacted in the 1930's, we could see additional shuttered storefronts and increases in unemployment, amplifying the current recession. Demand for goods by displaced workers could dry up. Given that so many of the goods used in this country have been produced entirely or in part outside the U.S., the net effect of increased protectionism could be inflationary, reflecting the higher costs of producing more goods by better paid American workers. The big risk is that our tariffs might be reciprocated by our trading partners, which could be a real disaster for the world economy.

A misguided Obama administration might enact strict regulations or increase taxes on industries that are currently performing well (at least relatively): the oil industry and the railroads are possible targets. Some see the railroads as price gougers because they are making excellent profits on hauling a variety of commodities. And last time I checked, at least one railroad was hiring. Before they were deregulated in 1980, the rails stagnated for decades and many rail lines were unprofitable. The deregulation allowed the industry to dynamically alter its business: reducing costs and improving service performance, laying the foundation for a deregulation success story.

Reregulation may restrict the railroads' profits and would likely lead to more layoffs and cuts in service. I believe that under some circumstances, regulation can be effective, but the problem lies when regulations stay on the books for many years or even decades, hamstringing the industries they were meant to "help" as the old regulations become increasingly obsolete. It appears to me that more regulation leads to less overall potential in the economy and could result either in inflation or deflation. The case of the struggling airlines is instructive. Prior to deregulation, airline profits were guaranteed and the public had to swallow the cost. In this instance regulation inflated airfares.

In conclusion, the deflation of many asset class values and some prices at the retail level that we currently see may be followed by a longer period of increasing price inflation caused by excessive growth in the money supply. This scenario could further destabilize our stock market, economy, and our currency markets. If the Obama administration makes economic policy blunders as I have discussed, many market participants may lose confidence in U.S. policy and continue selling the stock market.

However, if there are limited economic policy mistakes, the stock market may find a bottom in 2009 and may rally powerfully from that trough, and then may continue in a trading range (a similar pattern occurred in the rally after the nearly 50% 1973-1974 decline). Reflation winners who may benefit most from the rally are major oil firms and gold firms as well as physical gold. Gold is also insurance should the unthinkable occur and the economy melt down into a broad deflation without near term recovery in sight.

This article contains the opinions and ideas of its author and is designed to provide useful general information to the reader on the subject matter covered. The author may or may not have current positions in the investments mentioned in this work, and the author may from time to time make investments in a manner that is not described here. Past investment performance is no guarantee or prediction of future results and any investments made, based on the opinions and ideas contained in this work, may or may not be successful. The strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every investor or situation, and the author is not engaged in, and should not be construed to be, rendering legal, accounting, investment advisory or other professional services to the reader or any other person. Readers should consult their own advisers for advice particular to their individual circumstances.

For more investment advice, read John's investment advice articles and his investment advice blog

Chinese and US Trade - Assured Mutual Dominance Or Destruction?

2012-09-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

During the Cold War the United States and Russia were playing a game of chicken with nuclear weapons. This was something that was absolutely insane, and eventually it became labeled MAD which stood for Mutually Assured Destruction; meaning if one of the countries launched a nuclear weapon on the other, the other would retaliate and destroy the nation that launched first. This would mean both nations would be destroyed.

Game theory predicts that that's not a game worth playing. Thank God no one played the game, but in reality no one should have ever been sitting at that table anyway.

Now consider the present period, where the United States and the US are locked together in trade. China produces goods to help us nation grow, and then with the money China buys U.S. Treasury notes, which helps finance our debt. If the United States stops buying products, China will stop buying our treasury notes. If the US consumer decides to boycott Chinese goods, the Chinese economy will collapse, but then the United States government will not be able to perform the services promised to the citizens or consumers that didn't buy the products.

Currently the United States of America has a GDP of between 14 and $17 trillion, China has a GDP which comes in number fourth or fifth in the world. Thanks to all the products that the US buys from China - their nation has experienced nearly a 10% year-over-year growth rate for the last two decades. At this rate eventually China and the US will have equal GDP. Some say, that by working together we are assured Mutual Dominance of the planet.

Others say, if we are not careful with the way we do business we both are insuring ourselves mutual economic destruction. And that of course is the topic of the day at The Online Think Tank. Perhaps you will think about it as well, please consider all this.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow thinks everyone should learn about trade and visit all the trade sites online, even this one; mistrade.com

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers. Lance Winslow believes those who use these strategies lack integrity and mislead the reader. Indeed, those who use such cheating tools, crutches, and tricks of the trade may even be breaking the law by misleading the consumer and misrepresenting themselves in online marketing, which he finds completely unacceptable.

Economics, Promissory Notes, and Escrows

2012-09-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

Individuals, families, companies, and nations all make economic decisions. All have limited amounts of money, requiring each to make hard choices on how to spend their financial resources. Each carry their own system of dispensing their finances:

Households make a decision between paying the rent and buying medicine;
Making a decision involving entertainment--it's a choice between buying a ticket to a movie or a football game;
Companies make decisions based on using their savings to purchase more merchandise, take a vacation, or pay bonuses;
Nations too, have to make a decision between spending on natural defense or building highways

In economic terms, families, storekeepers/businesses, the nations--all must economize in order to satisfy their most important needs and wants.

An economy grows when it produces more goods and services: factories, machines, farming, and education. An economy must grow to provide people with an increased standard of living--more and better goods and services. The faster an economy grows the faster the standard of living increases.

Four elements are recognized as productive resources:

natural resources: soil and water;

capital: factories, tools, supplies and equipment; capital also means money to buy things;

labor force: people who work and people who are seeking work, and;

technology: scientific and business research and inventions

Of the four elements listed, capital, the money to buy things, is our subject. Capital is an asset or resource from which one can buy or sell.

A promissory note is an asset or capital. A promissory note is a documented written agreement (sometimes a legal document) that states a promise to pay, and the terms which include the total amount due, amount to pay and frequency (i.e.: weekly, monthly, semi-monthly, annually), interest rate, and the length of time to fulfill the commitment.

Banknotes have evolved over time. Original money was based on precious metals. Banknotes were seen as an essential IOU (a promise to pay note but without a specified payment to pay or payment plan). With the removal of the precious metals from the monetary system, banknotes evolved into the credit card system we know today.

With the increase of technology and computers, the money system now includes credit/debit cards, prepaid credit cards, and online banking.

The value or devalue of the dollar is driven by our economic system as seen by the ups and downs of the Wall Street market (stocks, bonds).

Known types of notes: real estate (residential and commercial property); structured settlements (involving lawsuits with an injured party, and a final judgment, order, decree, deed, lien); and wills (estates, trusts, probate and inheritance).

Terms of a note: principle amount, payment plan and frequency, interest rate, if any, and the maturity date. In the event of a default for failure to pay, language is included on behalf of the payee's rights if foreclosure of assets is involved.

Demand promissory note: Notes that do not carry a specified date of maturity are due on demand by the lendor. The lendor will usually give a few days notice before the payment is due.

Promissory notes when sold, can serve to solve a financial crises to families, companies, or nations to satisfy a need.

Once sold, the promissory note is sent into escrow for safekeeping and monitoring of payments processed.

An escrow can also be referred to as a trust account, or trustee (a financial institution).

The process of an escrow is a documented written agreement given by one person to another person for delivery to a neutral third person after a financial transaction has taken place (i.e. a contract or promissory note). This third person is referred to as an escrow agent.

The agent receives the document from the grantor (the seller-receiver of payments), and holds it for the grantee (the buyer--maker of payments) for handling the paperwork and transfer of funds.

The agent creates a ledger (record of payments), containing the details of the installment of payment schedule:

creates the principle amount due; records the amount paid, and the interest rate;
calculates late fees, if any;
the ledger is posted with any overpayments or adjustments;
accommodates for any custom language, ie. balloon payment;
calculates any early payoffs or balloon payment;
handles any "insufficient funds" checks and forgeries;
sends out any notices as needed to parties;
deposits funds received and transfers to seller;
holds and distributes any funds for property taxes or homeowner's insurance fees;
the agent can deduct an escrow fee for processing and handling activities, including paying off liens, clearing titles and other debts associated with the account

This processing continues until the conditions of the note have been met, thereby protecting both the seller and the buyer.

Most escrow documents are deeds to land. Stock certificates, stocks, bonds, and even cash may be placed in escrow. The terms of most escrows are stated in the promissory note.

An escrow cannot be changed unless all parties agree by modifying the original promissory note.

If parties are intent on creating their own promissory note, and if unusually large amounts of money is involved, it's to each party's interest to discuss it with a reputable attorney.

Ultimate Cash for Notes Network -- Where Solutions Matter

Works with private buyers who invest in buying promissory notes.

Come, visit the Resource Shoppe which has been created to provide any interested consumer on the different types of books on a variety of notes.

Thank you for your interest.

Ms. Mary Pacheco,

Creator/Founder:

[http://www.Ultimatecashfornotesnetwork.com]

pamary6014@gmail.com

Safe, Secure, Confidential

Sustainable Energy and Economic Development

2012-09-21T06:51:00.002-07:00

In recent years, governments are becoming increasingly reliant on market forces to allocate material, human, and financial resources for the selection energy sources for electricity generation. Many nations are privatizing formerly government-owned utilities to introduce an element of competition that can lead to greater efficiency, lower electricity rates, and attract private capital.

Governments are moving toward new regulatory frameworks for making rules and monitoring the application of those rules to ensure that markets work efficiently while, at the same time, advancing social causes. There is an increased globalization of corporate activity, flow of information by modern means, and increased awareness of people. With a growing recognition of the failure of bureaucracies to provide the fundamental necessities of society, the world is moving from centralized planning by bureaucratic elites to more regionalized or localized planning. This fundamental change in the decision-making process is reshaping the future world of energy suppliers and providing a major incentive for adopting sustainable energy resources.

For economic development to take place, something has to be done for the one-third of humanity who struggles to survive without electricity, relying primarily on biomass for heating and cooking. For the many developing nations with no domestic sources of oil and, negative trade balances, the days of recycling petrodollars are at an end. In the past, bank deposits by oil producers were lent out to developing nations to but petroleum. This was a good deal for buyers, who used the loan proceeds to purchase petroleum products, and for suppliers, who received cash for their oil.

The cash from these sales was again places on deposit in banks for another round of petrodollar recycling. Having taken a loss with past 'petro-loans', banks presumably will not be overly eager to enter into new ones. Without being able to borrow petrodollars to fund their purchases of oil, what are the many developing nations without domestic oil reserves and with a negative trade balance to do?

Economic development centered on electricity is the only way to alleviate extreme levels of poverty in areas where human efforts are primarily dedicated to collecting dung, wood, and water. Furthermore, electricity, through communications, increases the awareness of people of the world around them and, through education and training, raises the knowledge level and technical skills of the people, making them better able to help themselves. For every hundred new houses built with electricity, there are about ten or more new businesses that will open. Electricity frees up time from performing domestic chores and provides the power for efficient and reliable manufacturing of goods to meet the basic necessities of life.

Sustainable Energy is coming into its own, partly as a result of decentralization, which allows local people to become more involved with the decision-making process. Also, the price of fossil fuels is making people take a hard look at alternatives. Sustainable energy is now being viewed as a means of mitigating the risk of oil supply disruption, fossil fuel price hikes, and the environmental impact of increased carbon dioxide emissions. Thus, the higher cost of sustainable energy can be rationalized as an insurance premium against the risk of economic turmoil stemming from interruptions in oil flows, price hikes, and climatic change.

For environmental sustainability, it is important to reduce consumption, not substitute oil and gas with renewable sources. Encouraging conservation and enhancing energy efficiency is a starting point to a long-term plan, which will hopefully and eventually ease our dependency on oil.

If you are interested in articles about sustainable domestic energy, see Heartland Energy Colorado
For more articles from this author about varying topics, check out Denver SEO.

How To Painlessly Remove $9 Trillion From Our $16 Trillion National Debt

2012-09-21T06:51:00.001-07:00

Earlier this month the U.S. Federal government national debt went over the $16 TRILLION threshold during the Demcoratic national convention. This debt level is $5 TRILLION higher than when President Obama took office and will grow anywhere from about $3.4 TRILLION to over $7 TRILLION higher in the next five years if no fundamental change is made to the size, scope, and wasteful spending of the Federal government.

Many credible organizations have done detailed economic scenario analyses of what might happen if nothing is done to change the current trajectory of government spending. Hyperinflation, the collapse and devaluation of the dollar, widespread unemployment, a shrinking economy, draconian cuts to government programs, etc. were part of our discussion. Truly dire consequences if we do not get government growth and wasteful spending under control soon.

But there may be some hope. The following recommendations prove that getting government spending under control is possible, is relatively straight forward, is easy to understand and sell to the American public, and will minimize the economic impact on most American citizens.

Most importantly, the work and analysis on how to do the reduction has already been done by many fine analysis organizations in the U.S. Given that the groundwork as already been laid, we do not have to wait for the political class to get around to doing what has to be done, waiting that will never result in an substantial debt reduction actions.

The data below comes from a wide range of government and non-government sources, representing some heavy analytical work and research into how to make our Federal government more inexpensive, efficient and effective without causing unnecessary harm or hardship to most American citizens. The organizations listed below come from the left to the right side of the political spectrum. Sources for the following government budget cut recommendations include:

•U.S. Public Interest Group

•The National Taxpayer Union

•General Accountability Office

•Congressional Budget Office

•Associated Press

•Senate Reports

•The Cato Institute

•Housing And Urban Development

1) Let's start with the tremendous amount of tax wealth annually lost to waste, inefficiencies, and criminal fraud in the following Federal programs:

•Medicare: $60 - $90 billion

•Medicaid: $30 - $40 billion

•Social Security: $100 billion

•One Federal Unemployment Program: $19 billion

•One Federal Food Stamp Program: $2 - $3 billion

•Total: $172 - $222 billion, midpoint = $197 billion

•Savings over ten years if you eliminated 50% of waste, inefficiencies and fraud - $985,000,000,000

2) Annual uncollected taxes due to the Federal government but not collected from tax evaders: $385 billion

•Savings over ten years if you just reduce the illegal tax evasion by 50% - $1,925,000,000,000 ($1.925 TRILLION)

3) The U.S. has about 84,000 combat troops unnecessarily stationed in Europe, about 30,000 combat troops unnecessarily stationed in South Korea, and about 25,000 combat troops unnecessarily stationed in Japan, serving defense purposes that were obsoleted decades ago. The Obama administration is about to unnecessarily deploy about 2,500 troops in Australia. If 75% of these troops were brought home, the country would save about about $212,000,000,000 over ten years.

4) If we cancel the production of the V-22 Osprey aircraft because it is over budget, likely to under perform, and has been designated as not critical by the Sustainable Defense Task Force, we would save $6.2 billion over the next five years.

5) If we cancel the production of the F-35 jet fighter which, according to the Sustainable Defense Task Force, "may represent all that is wrong with our acquisition process" and "would provide a capability that is not warranted considering emerging threats," we would save $22.5 billion over the next five years.

6) If we cancel the military Space Tracking and Surveillance System, which can be replaced with lower cost and more reliable options, we would save the Pentagon $5 billion over the next five years.

7) If we cancel the outdated, unreliable, and unneeded Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, because the General Accountability Office has cited the program's history of cost growth, schedule misses (14 years late), and performance failures as reasons for terminating the program, we would save $16.3 billion over the next five years.

8) The General Accountability Office found that the Army, Navy and Air Force are wasting billions of dollars a year by purchasing items that were either never used or were never required. The GAO identified purchasing reform processes that could save $36.9 billion a year or about $369 billion over ten years.

9) Terminating various unneeded corporate welfare programs would produce substantial savings. These programs include the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Market Access Program, trade association subsidies for foreign marketing, subsidies to large agriculture business and wealthy farmers, tax credits for the blending of ethanol, the ultra-deepwater natural gas and petroleum research program, public timber sales subsidies, and Southeastern Power Administration. Ending these corporate welfare programs would save about $12 billion a year or about $120 billion over ten years.

10) The Federal government owns more than 55,500 buildings that are either not used or are underused. A detailed analysis suggests that if 50% of these buildings were eliminated over the next five years, not an unrealistic target, savings in the area of $48 billion would be realized.

11) According to government audits of Housing and Urban development, the Federal government wastes about $4.5 billion a year due to bad accounting and billing processes. Fix this problem and save about $45 billion over twelve years.

12) Using conservative estimates, annual earmarks, which are usually nothing more than thinly disguised ways for incumbent politicians to fund their re-election campaign with taxpayer money, cost the Federal government about $16 billion a year in unneeded expenses. Eliminating earmarks would save $160 billion over ten years.

13) According to the General Accountability Office:

•The Federal government has 15 different agencies overseeing food safety laws.

•It has more than 20 programs helping the homeless.

•It has 80 programs to help economic development.

•It has 82 agencies working on improving teacher quality, few of which are working if you see how poorly American kids are being educated vs. the rest of the world.

•It has 47 agencies working on job training.

•It has 18 programs working on food and nutrition assistance.

This type of redundancy results in tremendous waste and unneeded overhead, duplicate responsibilities, and inefficient service. A formal Senate report and analysis of the situation, estimates that between $100 billion and $200 billion a year could be saved by consolidating and downsizing these functions. If we take the midrange of the estimates, we end up with $1,500,000,000,000 ($1.5 TRILLION) in savings over ten years.

14) A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report identified savings in the area of government spending on Science, Space and Technology - savings over ten years - $25.26 billion

15) The same CBO report found Agriculture savings over ten years - $3.87 billion. This does not include the termination of unneeded ethanol subsidies and other farm support programs that are no longer needed, given how well the American farming industry is dong today.

16) CBO - Natural Resources and Environment savings over ten years - $32.23 billion. These savings are mostly concentrated in programs that support corporations, not endangering basic government environmental programs.

17) CBO -Commerce and Housing savings over ten years - $5.42 billion. This does not include the savings that could be found by cutting back on the widespread fraud and mismanagement in government housing programs.

18) CBO - Transportation savings over ten years - $141.64 billion

19) CBO - Community and Regional Development savings over ten years - $21.94 billion

20) CBO - Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services savings over ten years - $45.42 billion

21) CBO - Income Security savings over ten years - $68.83 billion

22) CBO - Veterans Benefits and Services savings over ten years - $21.50 billion

23) CBO - Allowances savings over ten years - $2.54 billion

24) CBO - Administrative of Justice savings over ten years - $10.26 billion

25) CBO - Social Security savings over ten years - $388.52 billion. Part of these savings are compatible with the recommendation from "Love My Country, Loathe My Government" which was to raise the retirement age to 70.

Not included the $388 billion is another step which is to uncap the total amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax. The CBO estimates that raising the cap amount the way they want to would provide an additional revenue of $503.4 billion to the Social Security finances over ten years.

This estimate also does not include another Social Security recommendation which was to terminate Social Security payments to anyone whose net worth is over $3 million in assets. People like Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, John Kerry, Barack Obama, and Bill Gates do not need the checks to live comfortably will not get them.

27) CBO - General Government expense savings over ten years - $5.21 billion

28) Since Obama came into office, the Federal payroll has grown by 231,000 civilian employees despite reduced tax receipts, the lingering impacts of the Great Recession, and the overall dire employment situation throughout the country. Since most of us would agree that we have not seen a corresponding rise in the quality of government service since these people have been hired, getting rid of them, like most efficient businesses would do, would not result in a degradation in Federal government services.

If we conservatively estimate that the weighted taxpayer cost (wages, benefits, and retirement costs) for these newly hired employees is $80,000 a year, than letting them go would result in annual savings of about $18.48 billion a year or $184.8 billion over ten years.

19) In any measure of education attainment, U.S. kids usually fare very poorly when compared to the education received by kids in other countries. Usually, the U.S. is bested by a dozen or more countries when it comes to comparing standardized test results. The Department of Education has been around for about thirty years and has done nothing to change this low performance.

Thus, given its nonperformance, the entire department should be eliminated. Cato suggests that this ill performing government entity be terminated at once, its responsibilities becoming the responsibility of the states to educate their own kids and the American taxpayer can save the annual $107 billion cost of the department. Jpwever, we could put a twist to this termination recommendation.

We should phase out the department over a four year period but would send the department's budget as block grants to the states during that four year phase out. The states could use the block grants to improve the teaching ability of their own state's teachers, improve their technology infrastructure, improve their curriculums, and improve their universities' teacher education curriculum.

At the end of four years, the states would be in a much better position to educate our kids, heaven knows the Federal Department of Education has not done anything worthwhile. 10 year savings - $909.5 billion.

30) Much like the Department of Education, the Federal government's Department of Energy has done nothing to get us to a coherent national energy strategy and policy and has not funded any breakthrough energy technologies. Terminate the entity and let the private market research and development new energy technologies. 10 year savings according to Cato - $382.8 billion.

31) Cato has done similar analyses on just about every other Federal organization, some of which we have already touched on. In order to avoid double counting, we will not go into their agriculture subsidy reductions and military spending reductions, given what we have already identified some of them above.

However, they have identified 10 year savings of $21.2 billion from the Commerce Department and if you conservatively accept only half of their Department of Transportation cuts, you get another 10 year savings of $424.4 billion.

These cuts alone would save the Federal government almost $9 TRILLION in expenses and costs over the next ten years with minimal impacts on needy Americans and ordinary American citizens. The $9 TRILLION does not include additional savings that would come from the following areas:

•More military cuts not listed above. Obama's own deficit reduction commission found that $100 billion a year could be taken out of the Pentagon's annual budget without endangering our national defense. Since the defense cuts suggested above do not add up to $100 billion a year, additional savings in this area are available.

•Reining in Medicare and Medicaid costs beyond the fraud and waste savings listed above.

•Deny Social Security payments in retirement to any American who has a net wealth of over $3 million.

•Savings from interest payments not paid because the Federal government took $9 TRILLION of debt out of play.

•The repeal of Obama Care which would save the country from expending an additional $300 billion over the next ten years, if you believe the recent analysis from the head actuary of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

•The termination of the Federal Housing Authority, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac government agencies and the associated hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies they are likely to consume in the next ten years.

•Elegantly privatize some government functions such as what Canada and other European countries have successfully done with their national air traffic control processes and postal systems and allow private contractors do the TSA screening function at all U.S. airports. We know from experience that they can do a far better job for less budget money than government employed TSA screeners.

•Elimination of traditional defined benefit pensions for future Federal government hires since most Americans no longer can receive such pensions. Thus, from a fairness perspective, Americans who cannot get a traditional pension should not be subsidizing pensions for government workers.

•Elimination of life long pensions and benefits for past, current, and future Federal politicians. They are in office to serve their country for a limited amount of time, not create a life long revenue and benefit stream for themselves. Besides, given their horrible performance of nonaccomplishments over the past few decades, they do not deserve such rewards.

People far smarter than this article can determine the value of these additional efficiencies in government operations. In fact, Cato has already done all of this work and summarized it at their "Downsizing Government" website. Their comprehensive analysis found a way to reduce annual Federal government spending over time by about $1.16 TRILLION a year, creating a ten year debt reduction of $11.6 TRILLION.

This is in the same ball park of our $9 TRILLION in identified savings and the additional unquantified savings in the list above. Two separate analyses, about the same results, indicating that this is doable without raising taxes on any American, rich or poor.

And while many of these cuts are one time spending reductions, e.g. the cancellation of some military hardware programs, the majority of these spending reductions are ongoing, annual spending reductions that will continue on beyond the ten year window. These include improved tax evasion detection, reduction in criminal fraud in government programs, and a smaller Federal workforce.

Thus, implementation of these changes will help insure that government spending reductions continue on into the foreseeable future and help keep the national debt from ever getting so large again.

The above cuts are a great start. However, one of the first acts of our next President should be to convene a commission of smart Americans that have already analyzed the need for drastically reduced government spending, put them in a room, and have them work together to overlay their plans together to come out with one overall plan, based on their expertise and past experiences in this area.

Members of this commission would be drawn from at least the following organizations:

1.President Obama's defunct and severely underutilized Deficit Reduction Commission

2.The Cato Institute

3.The Concord Coalition

4.The General Accountability Office

5.The Congressional Budget Office

6.The Urban Institute

7.The National Taxpayer Union

8.The U.S. Public Interest Group

9.Bipartisan Policy Center

10.Others TBD

There you have it. Almost $9 TRILLION in ten year savings, savings and deficit reduction that are attained without raising taxes and with minimal financial impact on most Americans except criminals that currently rip off the American taxpayer to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars a year, defense contractors who are building unneeded military hardware, and unnecessary Federal employees.

And there is potential for more savings from the unquantified further steps listed above, e.g. more military reductions. However, it is unlikely to happen as long as we allow our current set of politicians to continually get reelected. Most of them have been in office too long and have not proven they are able, willing, or competent enough to get the job done.

We need leaders, starting with the President, who are willing to wade into the nitty-gritty working of government to wring out the fraud, incompetence, and inefficiencies that have accumulated over the decades within the Federal bureaucracy.

We need leaders, starting with the President, who are more concerned about the future fiscal integrity of the country than enjoying the overblown perks and benefits of being in office such as photo ops with athletic teams, five week vacations, golf rounds, high salaries for low production, etc.

We need leaders who can pull together and consolidate the budget work already done by the many organizations identified above and can make the sale to the American public that these are cuts are necessarily critical to the continuation of our democracy.

Thus, not only do we need to all of the budget reduction steps outlined and identified above, we also need to implement term limits on all Federal political offices. Those currently serving in Washington are the ones that allowed government spending to get so out of control, they are indeed part of the problem and need to be "reduced" along with government spending, i.e. swept out of office with the rest of the unnecessary Federal bureaucracy.

Walter "Bruno" Korschek is the author of the book, "Love My Country, Loathe My Government - Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom and Destroying The American Political Class," which is availabe at http://www.loathemygovernment.com and onoline at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Our daily dialog on freedom in America can be joined at http://www.loathemygovernment.blogspot.com.

The Borrowing Bankers

2012-09-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

Banks have been around in one form or another for hundreds of years. Early banks were usually individual merchants who needed people with surplus products that they wanted to sell, and other people with other surplus products that they would be willing trade through the merchant for foreign goods. Still other groups of people would borrow surplus goods from the merchant on credit, paying back more than they borrowed from future harvests or labor. The merchant profited from the margin created by charging more than he paid for any commodity. In a community or in a nation, this is the foundation of banking. Banks are the chief outlets for us to store, exchange, and borrow that universal labor receipt we call money.

Who is the largest borrower in the U.S.? The government appears to win hands down, but it is not the largest borrower. The banking system is the largest borrower by far. We think of banks as lenders and as a place to store our surplus money. But like government, banks do not create money; their greatest source of money to lend, is borrowed money. Banks make their profit by charging more for the use of the money that they lend, than they pay to borrow it. So where do the banks get their loans? From people and businesses that put money in savings accounts and checking accounts. Laborers and businesses are the biggest and primary lenders in our economy, because they are the only source of money via productive labor. Banks are only secondary lenders, because they are borrowing from the surplus of our productive labors, which we deposit in them to be loaned to others. When a bank pays interest for our cash and check deposits, it is borrowing those deposits from those who have a surplus over and above their current needs. Without this type of surplus, banks would go out of business immediately. And banks do go out of business during recessions and depressions when there is no surplus labor-money for them to borrow.

A bank must loan as much of the labor-money that it has borrowed as the banking regulations will allow, in order to maximize the amount of interest income it will receive, to pay expenses and make a profit. Bank regulations require that some money be kept in reserve to give back to depositors wishing to withdraw their deposits. Competition between banks forces them to offer higher returns to depositors when they need to borrow more, and to offer lower loan rates of interest to their customers when they have extra deposits to loan. The correct relationship of a bank to its community is that when you deposit money in a savings or checking account you are the lender (the banker) and the bank is your customer (the borrower), paying you for the use of your surplus money. When a bank makes a loan, it becomes the lender; and the borrower is their customer, paying them for the use of the money that is actually borrowed from you and I. Banks want us to feel that they are giving us a service when we loan them our surplus labor-money, and then want us to feel that they are also giving us something when we take out a loan. In neither case is the bank giving anyone anything; they are doing business, earning a profit by renting-out surplus labor at a higher price than they pay to borrow it. The banker is just a middleman in the commerce of laborers bartering with other laborers to use our surplus productivity. However, the bankers have gotten the politicians and especially the Federal Reserve to create laws and regulations that protect banks from failure at public expense. This places the Federal Reserve and bankers in control of commerce and economic opportunity. They are the choke point of all of our economic enterprises because they control the movement of our surplus and stored labor-money.

The current competition among banks and their past relationship to their communities is changing drastically. We used to have two types of banks in the United States (besides the twelve privately owned Federal Reserve Banks). Small community banks received their deposits from their local community and only made loans in their local community. The other type were larger state and national banks, which received funds from big business and taxes taken in by government, and which made loans to big business and to governments. The small banks are disappearing. The regulation, deregulation, and re-regulation of banks have caused our current banking industry to focus on mergers and buyouts to the point where very few community banks remain independently owned. Today most deposits go into large pools of money held by large banking corporations. Those deposits seldom remain in the community. So if you need a loan you are competing with all other borrowers in the nation (and even the world) to get your bank to loan you money.

Loan rates do not reflect the economic conditions in your community like they did in the past. In the past when economic activity was slow and businesses were not borrowing, a bank would lower its loan rates to encourage more borrowing. And they would likewise pay less interest to depositors, which would encourage some to seek to get a larger return by starting a business or expand their current businesses with their own funds. In either case business expansion would occur in the local community. If a community is in recession today, bankers need not try to loan their money at lower interest rates in their community. They will simply transfer that money to other areas of the country where loan rates are higher. This keeps the economically depressed community in recession longer, while the banks use locally deposited money to make a bigger profit, while making areas of strong economic activity even stronger.

Since banks do not create money, but do act as a conduit to move surplus money to areas where it will be consumed, the amount of money in circulation is very important to banks. Several things must occur in an economy for money to reflect the activity of that economy. There must be sufficient dollars to equal the value of the productive labor ongoing in the economy; additional dollars to reflect the savings in the bank or in our pockets, for recent past labor; and still other dollars to reflect the present economic value of stored labor in goods, or factories and farms, infrastructure, etc. Although banks are still a very important component in our economy, they should not be allowed to control the economy, or to conspire with resource owners to abuse labor, from whom they both profit. Government must regulate banks for the benefit of the laborers who create money with their productive labor.

Banks also have a banking system that they deposit some of our money in as well as borrow from. Their banking system is called the Federal Reserve System. Banks are regulated both by federal law and the Federal Reserve System. They must hold certain amounts of our money in reserve, deposited in a Federal Reserve Bank, of which there are twelve. Outside of regulated reserves, banks may lend their depositors' money to individuals, companies, other banks, all levels of government, or even invest it in other markets and other nations. Banks are somewhat subject to economic controls on how they invest or lend our money, because the Federal Reserve can raise or lower interest rates, which banks may receive on deposits or pay on loans that they have in a Federal Reserve Bank. If the bankers in control of the Federal Reserve want to slow down the economy, they increase interest rates on bank deposits in the Federal Reserve System. This encourages banks to keep more of our money on loan to the Federal Reserve and unavailable to loan to businesses and individuals. Less exchange money means less efficient labor exchange, which slows our economic activity. By lowering interest rates paid to banks on their Federal Reserve deposits, the Fed encourages banks to withdraw deposits and offer that money to business and industry at loan rates that will expand our economy by creating jobs to produce more goods and services.

Banks must maintain capital reserves of different amounts on different types of loans they make, against the possible losses the banks would suffer on defaulted loans. At least 8% of the amount a bank lends for industrial and commercial loans must be held in reserve. For Federally insured home loans, just under 2% must be held in reserve. For investment by banks in Treasury Bonds, no reserve is required. So if a bank wants to minimize risk and maximize profits, it puts its money in the market with the least reserve requirements. It sets loan rates for home loans slightly higher to equal the returns available from Government money, considering the reserves that must be held. And in the case of commercial loans, which can generate jobs and surplus labor, the banks may either make no money available or charge such high rates and set such punitive requirements that industry and business are forced to postpone expansion, research and development; while they are encouraged by the marketplace to seek funds overseas. Even to the point of moving manufacturing jobs out of the country to gain foreign investment capital or to compete with other businesses that have already made the move. When bank loans become scarce for business and industry, expect a recession; if mortgage money also becomes scarce, expect a deep recession.

Though we value banks for their willingness to borrow our surplus, and pay us a dividend for the use of our surplus, their existence and continuance stems strictly from the concept of debt. Without private debt, banking would be meaningless and non-existent. In an absolutely free market banks would still profit from our debt structure, but they would not control it. Banks provide leverage to industry and retailers to work against the very laborers whose labor provides 100% of the bank's deposits. And in the last few years they have even taken to profiteering from all large and small transactions going on in our economy; from the writing of a check, to the use of a credit card or a cash machine. All transfers of money for purposes of consumption are now taxed by the banking industry, much of which is foreign owned, to continue raising profits for those owners. The laborer is controlled economically more today than the previous several generations. He or she is working more for less and will have to work longer years to maintain their subsistence, while fees and hidden bank taxes will continue to reduce the laborer's standard of living. Eventually the bankers will get their come-uppance when laborers have nothing left to lend to the banks.

This article is taken from a chapter of my book SOCIAL BENCHMARKS. Other excerpts can be viewed at http://beyondfarenough.blogspot.com/

A Crisis Without Exit

2012-09-21T06:50:00.003-07:00

For several months now we have heard or read statements to the effect that the recession is over. There is so far very little evidence, if any, that this is indeed the case. At this point it would be useful to take stock and review what has happened to date and what the future may hold.

The recession started as a financial crisis that transferred to the real economy, in the process generating massive unemployment. As the downturn became more severe unprecedented measures were taken to stop and reverse the downward slide.

These measures were inspired by the analysis of the Great Depression. The main conclusion reached by the Federal Reserve was that in the 1930's the government had not provided sufficient liquidity to the banking system. Had this been done, the reasoning went, financial activity would have returned to normal, providing enough credit for economic growth to resume.

The prescribed cure for the current crisis was thus to insure that abundant liquidity was provided to the banking system. This was done through the printing of money, zero interest rates coupled with deficit spending, and a variety of programs and devices that provided abundant and cheap funding to the financial sector.

The expected result of these measures was to be a rise in the availability of credit, which in turn would lead to increased borrowing, spending, investment and other business activity.

To-date this has not happened. While the financial sector is awash in money, credit to the general economy has in fact significantly contracted. Except when temporary government subsidies have been available, economic activity is still at a very low level, with no sign of a significant improvement.

The above analysis of the Great Depression might have been correct as far as the nineteen thirties went, but in applying it to current circumstances a critical point was overlooked. Whereas the 1929 economy was national, the present one is integrated within a globalized financial system.

The key characteristic of this system is that capital can freely and instantaneously circulate around the globe. Under such conditions it will naturally move to where it will generate the highest return. U.S. authorities have injected trillions into the system, on the presumption that these funds would be mainly put to work in the United States, as they would have been in the thirties.

Conditions in the U.S., however, are not favorable to high returns on capital: interest rates are near zero, the economy is depressed, and growth is sluggish at best. Assets offering far better returns, be they foreign stocks, commodities, or currencies, are to be found all over the planet. That is where the money naturally flows.

The immense funds disbursed by the U.S. government and central bank have essentially leaked out of the country, leaving the national economy struggling, unemployment at high levels and prospects poor. But that is not all. Another pernicious effect is building up.

Budget and trade deficits, liquidity enhancements and the massive creation of money depreciate the currency, while all assets offering the best returns inevitably rise in value. Because of the sheer size of the U.S. economy and monetary mass, the outward flow of money generates dollar inflation wherever it finds something to acquire.

If the U.S. economy were strictly national, the wholesale increase in liquidity would produce internal inflation. The global financial system sees to it that this inflation instead occurs wherever our dollars end up: in foreign stock markets and property values, for instance, or in the dollar price of commodities such as oil and metals.

Since the U.S. imports far more than it exports, this outside inflation will eventually be imported as well. As the dollar depreciates and imports rise in price, domestic consumption will be choked off just at the time it begins to grow again. The U.S. consumer, being and feeling poorer, will further reduce spending, and the economy will remain stalled.

The entire anti-recession effort would have been for nothing. In fact that very effort will have ensured that the recession will continue into the foreseeable future. The only tangible results will be a much higher national debt, a devalued currency, and a financial industry even more addicted to short-term speculation.

What the country needs to recover is a strong emphasis on domestic investment, which alone will create employment. This is perfectly attainable, but requires a radical departure from the current policies.

Jacek Popiel was born in Poland and educated in Africa, Canada, and the US. His career spanned military service and international business development. He is currently a writer and his first book Viable Energy Now is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For more articles and information: http://www.viableenergynow.com

The Politics of Federal Budget Cuts Considered

2012-09-21T06:50:00.002-07:00

Indeed, I'd like to spend a few minutes talking about crony capitalism and the unintended consequences it creates. Now then, since my politics are right-leaning, although I am a libertarian, I would first like to point out the terrible situation our federal government's budget is in due to the inherent corruption which goes along with all the social services our government provides. The healthcare industry and specifically the health-insurance industry spent quite a bit of time writing The Affordable Health Care Act.

The pharmaceutical industry also has deep pockets for lobbying. And we should never forget the warnings of Dwight D. Eisenhower with his closing remarks on the Industrial Military Complex. It was determined long ago that our nation needed to support the defense industry so that we could ramp up quickly in case there was a war. The capacity to quickly go from 0 to 60 in our manufacturing sector to produce weapon systems to win a war is paramount, and we know this, and learned this lesson from World War II.

Besides, the federal government's number one job is to protect the American people from enemies both foreign and domestic. The reason we have a federal government is to pool the assets of the states for our common defense; our military. Of course, as our nation prospered and had more money folks started to say that we needed to spend more money here at home on our own people. We began setting up social services, and they can be quite problematic. Once you set up such a service, it never seems to want to go away, and it always grows. Just like the government, which is unfortunate because they are the ones running the social services such as Medicare and Social Security - and yes, now ObamaCare too.

The Business Journal in Phoenix posted an article on September 13, 2012 titled; "Arizona could lose 10,000 jobs from Medicare cuts," by one of their best reporters by far; Angela Gonzales. The article stated that a 2% cut in Medicare costs would do this. Okay, but can you even imagine how many jobs they'd lose if Arizona lost a good portion of the defense industry there? Raytheon, Boeing, Motorola, etc., etc., believe me there are some heavy hitters in Arizona when it comes to the defense industry.

Well, today we have to make some budget cuts. We need a more efficient military, running under Six Sigma supply chain efficiency standards, we are going to have to cut 15%, but I believe we can do that through better efficiencies, but we cannot afford to lower our standards, and we must maintain the greatest military in the solar system, not just here on Earth. Think of it like an Olympic athlete holding the world record, best of breed and best on the planet, that Olympic athlete must now beat their own personal best regardless of the competition far behind.

Now then, they say that all politics is local, and since we also have to cut social services, and we still haven't dealt with the healthcare costs rising at 8% per year, it's time to deal with all that too. Merely cutting 24% for Medicare isn't enough, that would only account for the rise in costs of the last three years, we needed to cut 35 or 45% of that prior to those rises. Yes, these are unheard of cuts, and one of the toughest things to do once you promised a population something is to take it away. That's when they really get angry.

Likewise, we've given food stamps to 47 million people, they are getting free food, and they are likely to vote for the Democrats and the socialist leanings to continue to get that free food, and that free money from the government. The Democrats keep promising to continually give away more money without cutting benefits. That's "unsustainable", using their own favored buzzword. On September 12, 2012 there was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal by Anna Wilde Matthews titled "Health-Plan Costs Rise More Slowly" and interestingly enough the title might be a little misleading.

The article explained that businesses were cutting benefits and limiting the use of medical care to make up for the increase in costs. It turns out that the average cost of healthcare for corporate employees went up by an average of $632 last year. That is a significant amount, but it's a lot less than the increase in healthcare costs in the last few years. It's not that healthcare costs have risen any less, they have actually risen more, but companies are combating this by lowering the amount of benefits that employees get.

The government will have to do the same thing, they have no choice, we cannot continue these increasing costs, trillion dollar per year deficits, or blowing up a bubble that we've blown up long enough due to crony capitalism, government giveaways, and politicians that care more about getting elected than doing what must be done to prevent our nation from bankruptcy. It's time that we ditch the politics and do what we have to do.

The government created this nightmarish problem, it cannot afford to sustain it, and it's time to fix it. Unfortunately, no one wants to stand up in Washington DC and be a man, to tell it like it is, or exhibit a tough love attitude with the American people. These are not leaders, and we deserve more. Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.WorldThinkTank.net - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, Food and Island Trivia

2012-09-21T06:50:00.001-07:00

Coffee is the most popular beverage worldwide with over 400 billion cups consumed each year. Coffee Arabica traces its roots to Abyssinia and was introduced into Arabia more than one thousand years ago. The tradition of coffee consumption is certainly one of the most established ones with ties to many cultures as merchants and people kept promoting coffee as a beverage of choice across the world.

In India, tradition gives credit to BaBa Budan, a Moslem pilgrim to Mecca, with the introduction of coffee into Southern India about 1600. The region where Baba Budan settled is still known as the Baba Budan Hills and continues to be an important coffee producing area in this part of the world. In 1699 coffee was introduced into Java. The coffee plants went from Java to Amsterdam in 1706 and a few years later they ended up as seedlings in the Paris Botanical Gardens. This explains how, in 1723, three of these plants went from Paris to Martinique. The French naval officer, Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu, was the person transporting the seedlings. Only one of the plants survived and from it Arabica coffee was established in Martinique. From Martinique, coffee went to Jamaica and to other coffee producing areas of the Western Hemisphere.

Coffee remains a popular and sought after beverage worldwide with many people devoted to finding new flavors, trying out new ways of cooking with coffee, painting with coffee, using coffee as additive for natural pesticides, natural soil conditioners and fertilizers, as ingredient in natural organic cosmetics and many other uses!

Following is some interesting trivia about coffee, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, food and the island of Jamaica.

First, some general trivia:

A cup of coffee contains around 100 to 150 milligrams of caffeine as compared to 30 milligrams of caffeine in the average chocolate bar

75% of all caffeine consumed in the United States is from coffee

The steam rising from a cup of coffee contains the same amounts of antioxidants as three oranges, according to a scientific report from the University of California. Antioxidants are good for you, they are heterocyclic compounds that can prevent risk of some illnesses

The famous Lloyd's of London started under the name Edward Lloyd's Coffeehouse

"To Insure Promptness" was an inscription placed on brass boxes in old London coffeehouses. Customers were encouraged to place money in these boxes to promote good and efficient service from the coffeehouse workers. In time, the acronym, TIP, became a byword and it is what we use everywhere......next time you add the 'tip" to your bill, remember that the tradition originated around coffee

Now, some Jamaican trivia:

"Ackee" is both the national fruit and the national dish of Jamaica

Most Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is exported to Japan

The pimento plant is native to Jamaica and is one of the island's main agricultural export crops to Russia, Germany and the US. The Spaniards called it "Pimienta de Jamaica." Nowadays, it is known as "Allspice, a combination of many spices." Allspice is made from ripe berries dried and pounded to a fine powder. It is used in meat curing, confectionery and food processing. The oil distilled from the leaves is used in men's fragrances.

Jamaican "Jerk" is a unique way of preserving and cooking meat such as pork, chicken, fish or beef. The origin of the word "Jerk" is unknown. It may be from the Arawak Indian language or simply the physical reaction to "pull" or "jerk" meat off the fire. Jamaican "Jerk" is a culinary delight of the island.

What about a Jamaican quick linguistic lesson?

Common greetings: "Yah Mon" (or Man). "Yeah Yeah, Whaapen" (what's happening?). "Y'allright? Whattagwan" (what's going on?).

Responses to greetings: "Mi deh ya" (I am there). "Look pon you de bettah one" (not as good as you). "Cool, everything criss, kopustetic" (give thanks, bless and many others).

Favorite eating phrase: "Goo to eat". A favorite Jamaican meat is chicken, cooked as brown stew, fried or jerked.

Restaurant phrase: "Havin' it" (means "are you eating here or taking it to go?)

"Pepper" usually means "the bottled hot pepper sauce." If what you want is black ground pepper, ask for "black pepper" instead.

So, what about having a cup of delicious Jamaican Genuine Blue Mountain 'Certified' coffee?

Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.

Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Also visit: http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-lensography-TheGourmetCoffeeGuy

Baby Blues - Source of Happiness

2012-09-21T06:50:00.000-07:00

Babies are a gift from a higher power above. They are a bundle of joy. They bring you happiness in many ways possible. Almost all women and men reach a point in their lives where they want to conceive and experience the joys of motherhood. But alas, some couples have difficulties conceiving. There are many reasons why this can happen. But, we are here to focus on a way to overcome this. A well-known method is of course, the In-vitro fertilization method. I am sure many have already heard of this method. But, what do we really know about this method other than the fact that it gives hope of parenthood to many?

In-vitro fertilization method is available in most hospitals of developed and developing countries. To understand it in brief, it is a method where a woman's egg is fertilized by a sperm outside of the womb. A baby produced by this method is called a "test-tube baby". The world's first test-tube baby was produced in 1978. Thus, you can see that this fertilization method goes way back and has been practiced ever since.

The main use of this method is to overcome female infertility. Female infertility is mainly caused by problems and troubles in fallopian tube. Some problems are also due to male infertility. For example, defection of sperm quality. As successful as in vitro fertilization has been over the years, there are still come requirements. Most doctors believe that only healthy ova with an equally healthy sperm and uterus can maintain a pregnancy easily. This is an expensive method that not many can afford. Thus, it is often the final resort for many couples.

In vitro fertilization method has high success rates and is recommended by many experts around the world. Many couples should opt for in vitro fertilization. This is because they would benefit more, rather than conducting tests after tests and surgery after surgery. That is the big advantage of in vitro fertilization. It has a much higher success rate compared to any other infertility treatments.

The main concern rising these days is that the many methods of infertility treatments cause high-order multiple pregnancies. Simply put, many other infertility treatments causes couples to have triplets or even greater. That is why most couples and physicians opt for in vitro fertilization. With in vitro fertilization, couple can choose if they do want twins or even triplets. Because, this method allows couples to choose how many embryos they want to be transferred. Throughout this method, the pregnancy rates continue to increase.

Recently, many couple with infertility problems is turning to the IVF insurance coverage plan. Insurance plans such as this help couples that might not have enough money to opt for in vitro fertilization method. These programs will lower the treatment cost below regional and national averages.

If you are a couple deciding to opt for in vitro fertilization, than you should research your physician's history as well as the clinic or hospitals success rates. Hopefully your dreams of parenthood will come true. Good luck!

Anna has been writing articles online for nearly 3 years now. Not only she does her own study in healthcare, you can also check out her new website Audio Home Theater Systems [http://www.audiohometheatersystems.org/] to learn more about different kind of home theater systems [http://www.audiohometheatersystems.org/].

Helpful Cost Cutting Tips For Small Business Owners

2012-09-21T06:49:00.002-07:00

The secret to having a successful small business or home base business is to create a new way to monitor costs. You also need to realize that business spending can sometimes immediately increase and also decrease the income, and your business will not see any progress.

Most of the business owners realize that they generate income from the business, but they do not recognize where the money spent to. This problem will definitely affect the cash flow of their businesses. Successful business owners know that they have to regularly review their expenses within certain period of time. From this action, they are able to arrange the cash flow smartly and create more saving in their business.

You may review below lists for your consideration in creating good cash flow on your business.

- You can purchase the last year model of your operational needs such as computers, fax, furniture, or others for your office because these needs will always be newly produced by the manufactures every year and the costs of buying them will be higher. From here you can do the saving of you operational needs.

- You can start to purchase stocks in larger quantities and buy them in advance. Larger quantities means lower costs. Repurchase your needs before the stocks run out. And with purchasing them in advance, you will have more opportunity to gain the benefit of sales.

- Try to combine product shipment with consolidating them into one period of time. You can cut your mail cost from this consolidation.

- Turn your preference to probably products that is produced by national manufactures. It means that you can start to use national products to save money.

- Most of smart entrepreneur is aware when and where to buy a stock or products for lower prices. One of the options of have these are to gain the benefit from discounted products. Some companies provides discounts to their member on certain services such as travel, insurance, cargo services, telephone, or others. Taking advantage from the offers of some credit card providers is also a good option for your cash flow.

Aktasio Zikri is International Certified of Neuro Linguistic Programming and Time Line Therapy Practitioner. He plant the applications within the businesses and studies them for entrepreneur mindset development. Visit [http://www-smallbusinesscredit.com] for more information about small business accounting [http://www-smallbusinesscredit.com/small-business-accounting].

Various Professional Courses in India to Take Your Career in the Right Path

2012-09-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

The cutthroat competition in the Indian job market has led to the rising demand for various professional courses that guarantee jobs as well as career growth. Students in India are always on the lookout for job-oriented courses to boost their career further. To their delight, professional courses are now offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Each of these courses has its own eligibility criteria that students need to fulfill before taking admission into these courses. Though engineering and medical courses are the most popular ones, there are also some path-breaking courses with equal scope and prospects for students. These include architecture, law, hotel management and distance Master of Business Administration courses.

Architecture generally involves the techniques of designing and developing buildings and structures by taking into account factors, such as functionality, social and aesthetic conditions. Various courses in architecture are found in nearly all states of the country. Some of them are extremely popular all over the world. There is also the Council of Architecture, established by the Government of India, to recognize and govern the standards of architecture courses in the nation.

Various architecture programmes offered in India include Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.), Masters in Architecture (M.Arch.) and Doctorate in Architecture (Ph.D.). At the postgraduate level, there are also courses like Masters in Planning, Masters in Urban Design, and Masters of Urban and Regional Planning. While undergraduate programmes have a duration of 5 years that includes strong emphasis on both theoretical and practical training, postgraduate and doctorate programs are of 2 and 3years respectively. Some popular architecture institutes in India are IIT-Kharagpur, IIT-Roorkee, Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi, RV College of Engineering in Bangalore, Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies (KRVIA) in Mumbai, etc.

As per the figure worked out by the Bar Council of India, more than 1,500 lawyers get themselves registered for the practice of law every year. There are many different options for making your career in law. You can take up the role of legal officers in countless law firms or business houses, apart from practicing in different courts. Various undergraduate law courses include Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) of 3 years, B.A., LL.B (Hons.) of 5 years, B.Sc., LL.B (Hons.) of 5 years and many more. The range of postgraduate professional courses is vast with Master of Laws (LL.M.), PG Diploma in Labour Laws and Labour Welfare (D.L.L. & L.W.), PG Diploma in Taxation Laws and Master of Comparative Law (M.C.L.). Further studies are also available in the form of Doctor of Laws, and Doctor of Civil Laws. You have the options of pursuing these courses in institutes like National Law School of India University in Bangalore, NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, National Law Institute University in Bhopal and National Law University in Jodhpur.

As India is the ultimate choice for millions of global tourists, the tourism and hospitality sector in the country is witnessing an upsurge. In the pursuit to produce efficient professionals for this booming sector, there are many professional courses in the offering. At the undergraduate level, you'll come across courses such as B.Sc. in Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Tourism, Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM), Bachelor of Tourism Administration (BTA) and numerous 1-year diploma programmes. If you seek to pursue a course after graduation, there are courses like MBA in Tourism and Hotel Management, Master of Tourism Administration (MTA), Master in Hotel Administration (MHA) and Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital Management. You can avail these courses from institutes such as Air Hostess Academy, Amity Business School, Apeejay Institute of Hospitality and Apollo Institute of Hospital Administration.

Last but lot least, distance MBAs are most preferred professional courses by students and working executives alike due to their flexible nature. Like regular courses, these courses are available in almost all disciplines such as finance, human resource, marketing, information system, banking, insurance, international business, hospitality, retail and many more. Many open and private universities offer distance MBAs and post graduate programmes in management. IGNOU, Amity School of Distance Learning, and Annamalai University are some of the popular names.

Mr. Vikas Rathi is providing Infinite Courses, a foremost name in the arena of web sites and portals offering umbrella solution to all education related queries and dilemmas. Explore B Arch Colleges in India, Hotel Management Colleges in India, and much more.

5 Ways to Make Your Next Construction Project Lean and Green

2012-09-21T06:48:00.003-07:00

Sustainable construction is an emergent trend that has begun to make real inroads in projects across the market spectrum. But while many owners are interested in the long-term economic and environmental aspect of green building, they are often scared away by the perceived upfront costs. However, a recent study conducted by the Urban Green Council in one of the most expensive cities in the world found that while it may have been the case in the past, the fundamental perception that it costs more to go green is simply no longer the case.

In the Urban Green Council report in 2008, data was gathered on 107 projects throughout the five boroughs of New York, 63 of which were either pursuing or had achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Surveys were conducted for buildings with and without sustainability goals. Data points included construction costs, design fees, LEED design fees, LEED additional fees, and commissioning fees. The average square-foot construction cost for a high-rise residential building without LEED certification was $436 while the average cost with certification was $440. [1]

The best way to realize these savings is by using an integrated, collaborative process from the beginning. Lean and green only works when it is an integral part of the process, and not something viewed as an add on or supplement to the project.

1. Pre-Construction Planning and BIM

Relying on comprehensive pre-construction services is the best way to ensure a smooth and predictable construction process and a high-quality project that opens on schedule and within budget. Beginning with this kind of collaborative design process helps you to develop a roadmap that accurately depicts the project requirements and improves your ability to put real numbers to the design. It is at this point where you can also effectively examine cost-saving alternatives.

Areas to consider and analyze include:

• Creating opportunities to save money and build efficient, green facilities
• Drawing reviews to reduce errors and omissions
• Collaborating with in-house estimators on pricing and procurement strategies
• Estimating and comparing the life-cycle costs of systems
• Pre-purchasing equipment to expedite delivery
• Verifying system requirements
• Incorporating sustainable building practices
• Instituting cost controls

An exciting way to supplement this kind of collaboration is through the use of advanced technologies, like Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM is a 3D, electronic modeling method that all users can utilize to compare drawings and elements early on in the planning and pre-construction. BIM also affords the ability to examine things like time, cost, and supply chain - to assist in delivering project data in an efficient and actionable manner. This gives owners, architects, construction managers, and subcontractors the ability to avert problems and make project planning and scheduling decisions that save time, money and materials.

2. Schedule Management

Through promoting efficiency in the design-build process, it is possible to simultaneously maximize quality, performance, sustainability and ultimately the overall value of your project. Reducing waste also means eliminating time-wasting activities and keeping your project on time and on budget. Time is money, especially in construction, but time also has a cost in its expenditure of energy and resources. Streamlining each phase of the design-build process helps make the best use of the time, money and resources allocated for your project. In order to accomplish this, it is essential to work with a construction firm that has a solid record of scheduling dependability and keeping all involved parties on a tight and firm schedule. Utilizing a Master Project Schedule which notes and highlights pre-construction milestones for key deliverables and other critical path activities is vital.

Categories typically in a Master Project Schedule include:

• Design deliverables
• Estimating deliverables
• Pre-construction decision dates
• Building permits and approvals
• Procurement and early release design packages
• Critical path construction activities
• Start-up and commissioning actions
• Owner move-in activities

The project schedule is updated and refined throughout pre-construction to reflect the latest decisions and information. During construction, your project superintendent should supplement this schedule with Three-Week Look-Ahead Schedules, which can be sent to your project team, as well as the design team, key subcontractors, and other consultants on a weekly basis. These specialized schedules provide a more detailed picture of the work to be performed over the coming weeks and ensure all trades understand their weekly deadlines and the interrelationship between scope of work and other trades.

Another way to keep a project lean and operating at peak efficiency is though the use of just-in-time construction principals. Using this method, materials are sourced and delivered on a tight and exacting schedule, both reducing overhead and storage costs and maximizing efficiency. The end result is a construction plan that is useful during every stage of building and which requires less space on site for materials - making for a greener job site with lower overhead costs and reduced waste.

3. Material Selection and Sourcing

While in the past owners and architects had to make choices between adhering to brand standards and using sustainable materials, as green building grows in popularity and demand, more and more materials are being produced that meet both aesthetic and sustainability standards.

Consider working with a construction firm with national experience and local contacts that help them to procure locally-sourced supplies and materials wherever possible. But not all materials can be sourced locally. Sometimes it is necessary to use materials from other regions our countries, and working with a national firm makes this a painless process as well. Our experience in sourcing supplies from national and international providers affords us the unique ability to get the exact materials your project requires, while still meeting all scheduling and budgetary goals, and usually in as efficient and eco-friendly way possible.

4. A Comprehensive Plan For Reducing Waste

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 130 million tons of debris from construction sites is dumped in U.S. landfills annually- more than half coming from commercial construction and renovation. Not only is this wasteful and environmentally unsustainable but it is an expensive problem for all parties involved. [2]

While job-site disposal may not currently be on top of your list of budget items, it is an item that needs serious consideration. More state and federal regulations are on the horizon which will restrict the use of landfills and impose tariffs for those who do. This makes the subject of reducing and recycling job-site waste a mission critical part of any building project plan. Accounting for the disposal and recycling of waste early in the process will save time, money, and help to make your project more resource-efficient.

Here are three simple actions to consider:

• Track Your Trash - From the standpoint of efficiency and liability, taking a look at what and how much material ends up in your job-site dumpster can tell you a lot about your crews and your trade contractors. Having a team that routinely tracks your job-site waste stream is a great way to evaluate efficient use of materials.

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - While many discussions begin with recycling, the best way to consider the process of construction waste is reduce, reuse, recycle - in that order. The largest waste components on most job sites: cardboard, wood, and drywall make up 75% of all job-site waste, yet they are fully recyclable. Other ways to reduce and save money include salvaging existing materials which can be resold or donated resulting in less waste and tax savings. In many cities, non-profit building materials resource centers have been established to receive and then redistribute this scrapped material.

• Local Resources are Vital - Builders represent just one group that needs to be involved in construction waste reduction. Others include waste haulers, recyclers, local building product manufacturers, and landfill operators. Using local companies not only helps area trades and reduces your carbon footprint, it also allows you to get the best information on local and regional rules and regulations from people that know them inside and out.

5. Safe Jobs Save Money

Maintaining a safe job site is not only essential to reducing waste and the overall environmental impact of your project, but is vital in helping to protect your business and your bottom line. Strong safety programs prevent injuries, save lives, reduce liability and the risk of litigation. Establishing guidelines, training programs, and a corporate culture around safety is essential and every person involved in your project from field personnel, to office staff, to executive leadership need to be on board and committed to creating safe and injury-free environments and going above and beyond industry standards in all aspects of safety. Ensuring that every person returns home safely should be your number one goal, every day, on every job.

A comprehensive safety program should include:

• Conducting safety training for all employees and subcontractors
• Creating job specific safety plans taking into account unique aspects of project
• Working only with subcontractors with exceptional safety ratings
• Having onsite superintendents that are OSHA trained and CPR and first aid certified
• Performing regular spot safety inspections on all jobsites
• Enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for unsafe practices
• Strict adherence to receiving insurance certificates and signed contracts for every vendor and subcontractor on site

[1] Epoch Times
[2] EPA Study

About Shawmut Design and Construction
Shawmut Design and Construction is a 100% employee-owned company headquartered in Boston with offices in New York, Providence, Las Vegas, and New Haven. Shawmut is a leading ENR top 100-ranked national construction management firm providing client-oriented services in the following markets: Academic, Commercial, Corporate Interiors, Cultural and Historic Preservation, Gaming, Healthcare and Science, Hotels, Restaurants, Retail, and Spas and Health Clubs. http://www.shawmut.com/