Use Well The Days

The New Rules of Money

jer — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:08:00 GMT

There is only one week left to study Robert Kiyosaki's (author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad) newest book online for free here. I'm reading it and it is really good, easy to understand and practical. Did you know that with our money separated from gold, and the ensuing processes that occurred, that the old rules of money (which most of us try to follow, such as saving) no longer apply. The ultra-rich have changed the rules, and Robert spells out the eight new rules of money in this book. Through this recession he has not lost his wealth and is doing just fine. His mission is to help us all learn what the wealthiest know. He has been studying financial literacy for decades and he's an awesome teacher.

The book is so good, that you'll want to purchase your own copy after it is published. But I strongly recommend you get online and start studying it now.

One thing I discovered and greatly appreciate is that on the Rich Dad website, you can find local Cashflow Clubs in your area. These clubs meet to help each other learn financial literacy (the rules of money). They offer Kiyosaki's learning games at a discount or for free (Cashflow 101 and 202), as well as course curriculum and support.

So if you want financial security, start studying Kiyosaki's books and join a Cashflow Club. Have your whole family join and learn these secrets together.

An Ancient Roman Road Map

jer — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:38:00 GMT

Out of the many Roman road maps from the Roman Empire, only one has survived. However, it has survived completely intact, due to the wonderful monks from the Middle Ages. It was lost for 300 years and then showed up in the 1700s as part of the wealty estate of a Mr. Peutinger. So it is called The Peutinger Table today.

This was a road map used by travelers and tourists in the Roman Era. It depicts the entire Roman Empire on a very long scroll. Designed to aid travelers, it is not made to look like a real map, but instead shows all of the roman roads, which town will be reached at the end of each day's travel (about 20-30 miles each day), and with symbols it shows inns, ports, lighthouses, etc. If an inn has one tower, it is a small and crude inn; two towers means a nice guest house; three means even nicer, and four towers with a courtyard would be considered luxurious. Most towns don't show any inn symbols at all--I suppose travelers were at the mercy of whatever that town had to offer.

Here is a link to the entire map--it's beautiful and amazing!

The Origin of Werewolves

jer — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:20:00 GMT

I came across this info in my reading of ancient Roman times. Apparently some ancient authors (Pliny and Plato) spoke of this.

The legend of the werewolves comes from the practice of ancient secret cults which would live in the wilderness. They would capture humans and eat their flesh as part of their rituals. But if the diner accidentally ate some of the human entrails, they were forced to live among the packs of wild wolves. They had to refrain from eating human flesh for nine years before they would be turned back to human form and allowed to return.

Wild, huh?

Heads Up Peoples

jer — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:15:00 GMT

Deadly Swine Flu Outbreak Linked to U.S.

If you haven't already heard the latest news, there has been a very troubling development south of the US border where hundreds of people have come down with a new strain of swine flu and which has already killed 60 people. The following article is the most up to date information that we have at this point...

A new strain of pig flu found in seven people in California and Texas is linked to the virus that has broken out in Mexico and killed as many as 60 people.

A strain of pig flu found in eight people in California and Texas is linked to the deadly bird flu that has killed as many as 61 people and sickened more than one thousand in Mexico.

The head of the Centers for Disease and Prevention said the group was working with the World Health Organization to respond "as rapidly as possible to this threat."

"We do not know whether this swine flu virus or some other influenza virus will lead to the next pandemic," acting director Dr. Richard Besser said. "However, scientists around the world continue to monitor the virus and take its threat seriously."

The strain of flu found in the U.S. are the same as the one that has killed dozens in Mexico, according to the CDC.

"From everything we know to date, the virus appears to be the same," Besser said. "So far, the genetic elements we have looked at are the same."

A child from San Diego who has since recovered from the illness was the most recent case of swine flu in the U.S., he said.

The World Health Organization said it was extremely worried that the virus could start a pandemic across North America as scientists in the U.S. and Mexico tried to determine if the deaths were due to the same new strain.

"We are very, very concerned," WHO spokesman Thomas Abraham. "We have what appears to be a novel virus and it has spread from human to human."

"It's all hands on deck at the moment," he said.

President Obama had been informed and is following the outbreak closely, an administrative official said Friday.

It's unclear how the U.S. victims caught the illness since none of the seven people had contact with pigs and few had contact with one another. Among the victims was a child who has since recovered, the head of the CDC said Friday.

Cases involving swine flu in the U.S. have been mild and only one of the patients had to he hospitalized, according to the CDC.

"It is a virus that mutated from pigs and then at some point was transmitted to humans," Mexico's Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told the Televisa network.

Mexico was forced to shutter schools in its capital and surrounding areas following an increase in the number of kids who reported having flu-like symptoms. The government closed museums, libraries and state-run theaters in the city of 20 million later on Friday.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

Latest News on Harry Potter

jer — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:42:00 GMT

At the end of the article you'll find the brand new trailer and a behind-the-scenes short:

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/by-the-numbers-harry-potter.html#watch

Set your calendars!

Reading the Bible Chronologically

jer — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:03:00 GMT

I have my NIV One Year Chronological Bible. It's amazing the things you learn about history when you actually read a story chronologically like this. I recommend any Bible student to do so. You will learn so much more from it.

Here are some of the things I've been learning, things I've never known before, though I've read the Bible my entire life:

When the Israelites were wandering in the desert for 40 years, they didn't just wander, they spent the latter part of that time conquering peoples and lands in the desert regions. That's why 2-1/2 tribes decided to settle on some of those lands, west of the Jordan, before any of them crossed over into the promised land.

When Moses was about to die, God gave him all of the warnings for the Israelites about obeying Him. Then He told Moses how the Israelites would eventually disobey Him, and how all the curses would come upon them. So God gave Moses a song, for all of the Israelites to memorize and to pass down through the generations. This song was to serve as a witness for when the people would turn away from God. The song is right there, in Deuteronomy 31. It reminds and convicts the people of what God has done for them, and how they have turned away. This is amazing. I never knew this before!

The Hidden Art of Homemaking Lapbook Kit

jer — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:04:00 GMT

Here is a link for a free download of a lapbook kit, to go along with the book The Hidden Art of Homemaking. Lapbooking is the craft of taking a manila file folder and turning it into an interactive book, with lots of hidden mini-books and activities inside. It's a discovery process used in homeschooling but also a fun hobby. This kit could be made by a mom going through the book alone, or with a daughter. Enjoy!

Air Car

jer — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:18:00 GMT

This is amazing--exactly what we need right now!! Since the photos didn't show up in my paste, you can see one photo of this car here. Here is the latest news about this wonderful car, coming to the US!

This is the same company which-a few months back-invented a car that costs only $2500 new. BUT it's not available in the USA.

Why is it that a gasless vehicle that eliminates the reason to buy oil from foreign countries hasn't nipped the minds of US manufacturers? How bad can this be for anybody, anywhere in the world -- except for foreign oil?

The Compressed Air Car, developed by Motor Development International (MDI) Founder Guy Negre, might be

the best thing to happen to the motor engine, and people all over the world.

The $12,700 CityCAT, one of the planned Air Car models, reaches 68 mph, goes for a range of 125 miles. It will

take only a few minutes for the CityCAT to refuel at gas stations equipped with custom air compressor units.

MDI says it should cost only around $2 to fill the car up with 340 liters of air!

The Air Car will be starting production soon, thanks to India's TATA Motors.

Forget corn! That's a joke.

There's fuel, user friendly, pocketbook friendly fuel! What can be better than air?

Cool Concept :)

6-seater taxi should be available in India in 2008:

Now If We will just DEMAND this technology in the USA, we

can tell Saudi Arabia, Venezuela & dirty foreign oil to take a hike!

I resent it, but can see why jobs are going to India & why we are importing

people from India to do jobs that Americans CAN'T.

But I can't see why we have the most unfriendly energy congress in

US history, or why they waste time fussing & fighting while we suffer

HillBilly Housewife

jer — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:13:00 GMT

This is a wonderful site for living frugally, cutting expenses, cooking from scratch, with plans on feeding a family for as low as $45 a week, getting out of debt, etc. A treasure trove!

Born of Hope - Don't Give

jer — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:54:00 GMT

This is hilarious. If you don't know yet, a Tolkien movie is being made, completely voluntarily, by fans, over in the UK. It's about the Dunedain rangers, and I believe it's set before the LOTR story. Watch this funny video, and check out their progress--it's amazing what they're doing.

My First Day at a Horse Rescue Ranch

jer — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:02:00 GMT

My girls and I are planning to volunteer at an animal rescue about a half-hour away from home. We went to orientation, and today I went for my first day of volunteering.

The first thing we do is feed and water the fowl (chickens, ducks and geese--and we get to gather and keep any eggs), feed and water the dogs, and then walk the dogs. Then we move on to work with the many horses.

In preparation for working with horses regularly again, I've been reading Monty Robert's book The Man Who Listens to Horses. This ingenius young man spent weeks studying wild mustangs on the range, and ended up studying and learning how horses communicate to each other. He dubbed their silent language "Equus", and has since learned to use it to saddle-break a horse in less than an hour, using no violence whatsoever.

I'm only a little ways into rereading the book, but I experienced some of this language today with a horse. My friend and I had haltered two young horses, Princess and Fling, and had led them to the round pen to brush and groom them. Princess was perfect, quiet and easy. Fling, though was being a little feisty, and would sometimes nip at Princess, or demand attention. When my friend was away for a moment and I was alone with the two, Fling didn't seem to like the attention Princess was getting, and was starting to cause trouble. So I decided to try Equus, and I squared off to Fling and looked her straight in the eyes, effectively saying "You are being bad, get away from me, you are not welcome here." I didn't hold this posture for too long, just a little while. But the most amazing thing happened--Fling responded to me in Equus. Very quickly she put her head to the ground and started moving her mouth in chewing motions--what Monty Roberts says means "I'm sorry, please let me back in." I responded by looking at her neck instead of into her eyes, and petting her neck, and showing her my flank, so to speak (standing at a 45-degree angle to her, instead of straight on). Then she did what Monty calls "join-up"--she joined up to me! Then I could just walk all around the pen, and she followed me wherever I went, her head right at my shoulder. It was all just like in the book! The most amazing thing!

This was only my first time at the ranch, but I think a horse may have chosen me for a friend. I might see if I can spend time with Fling, and bond with her, eventually riding her. And I'm going to keep reading Monty's wonderful book, so I can learn more!

A Great Craft & Homesteading Blog

jer — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:58:00 GMT

Here's my new favorite blog--Little House in the Suburbs. It's chock full of recipes and instructions for homesteading and craft projects: knitting, soap-making, candle-making, recipes, gardening projects, homemade gifts and toys, etc. The only complaint I have is that I get about a post a day--something I can't keep up with!! But an awesome resource nonetheless.

A Perfect Follow-Up to the Crash Course

jer — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:50:00 GMT

If you have heard of the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, then you are familiar with a rich man whose ministry is to try and teach the rest of the us the secrets to wealth. He is now working on a new book, which is a perfect follow-up to Chris Martensen's Crash Course. It's about how the most powerful and wealthy have changed the rules of gaining wealth, and how to know how to gain and keep wealth, despite our shaky economics. You can sign up to read each chapter as it comes out online, and take part in conversations about it. I am participating, and so far, it's been really good information. Here is the link to Robert Kiyosaki's latest book, entitled Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money. Check it out.

After the Crash Course -- and The Secrets to Wealth

jer — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:01:00 GMT

If you haven't yet watched the videos on Chris Martensen's Crash Course I mentioned in the last post, get going--I'm moving on to discussions of what to do now.

The first step, which all Americans should be doing regardless of anything else, and which we used to do but are no longer doing, is to the follow the basic secrets to wealth-building found laid out clearly in the book The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason.

The first secret to wealth is to save. Ten percent of your income should be set aside in a high-interest savings account, not to be spent on anything. It must be allowed to build up over time. You must adjust your budget and learn to live on the remaining 90% of your income. This is a huge challenge for us today, yet it must be done.

Everyone in the family should be practicing this, from the kids receiving allowances and pay from odd jobs, to Mom and Dad who receive some spending money (allowance) of their own, to the total income being brought into the house.

Btw, I have done some recent research into good savings accounts, and the best I've found is ING Direct, online. While most savings accounts earn less than 1% in interest, ING Direct offers a regular savings account earning almost 3% interest, every month. So if you have $1,000 in there, every month $2.75 is being added to it. Imagine if you added to that account every month, and let it continue to build over ten years or more? That is wealth-building.

So, our first assignment after watching the Crash Course, is to discipline ourselves to save 10% every month, and learn, at all costs, to live off of the remaning 90%.

Do it now and comment on your progress. There are many more steps yet to do to prepare for the next twenty years.

This is Mind-Blowing

jer — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:36:00 GMT

If you haven't yet seen this set of videos, it's time you check them out here. Chris Martenson shows some hard facts on how we're at a pivotal moment in history--and everything is about to drastically change. Watch it and let me know what you think!!!