daily blog

From early childhood and throughout the schooling system, we learn the “3R’s”: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic – the science of numbers. (Nowadays, you need to add a fourth “R”- gRaphing!).
Later, we reach a certain level in our education where were may feel rightly or wrongly (often complacently) that our levels of mastering reading and writing are satisfactory.

However… What about numbers? Generally, we do not fully realize the extent to which numbers control and regulate our lives. We are all identified by innumerable numbers from birth to the very last moments of our lives. Just reflect only on some of our important dates: birth, starting school, finishing primary school, finishing secondary school, the admission to university and then also with every stage of our education imprinted with our marks, marks and marks (percentages!). Then other numbers: the first love (the date, some of us remember!), dates of: marriage, birth of children, the first work, salaries, divorce, then blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, the first operation, the passing away (not yet?) and so on. These numbers are unique to you and unique to me. They all identify you and identify me.

Some numbers quantify information. These are essential to understanding facts, events, processes, laws etc… The US novelist, Nathanel West, 1903-1940, stated aptly: “Numbers constitute the only universal language”.

Studies have shown that even rhesus monkeys can understand the relation between numbers 1 to 9 i.e., they are able to judge whether the specified number is smaller or bigger than the other number.

So, what is the present state of arithmetic? Unfortunately, most of the people satisfy themselves on a very low level of its cognizance. (As an anecdote, I may tell you that I was approached by a lawyer who asked me: “I have to assign a plaintiff 15% of the amount demanded by defendant; how much is it?”). Most people fear numbers if they require any further calculations: making fractions, multiplying, using proportions or inverse proportions, converting to percentages or substituting to formulas. What are the implications of this fact? It often leads to impaired judgement of the average citizen regarding handling their home economics, investment and, as the case may be, the events in their own country and on our globe. As the citizens of a “global village”, we are all affected by events not only in our place or country but even in far-away-countries. Consider these numbers: people affected by HIV, bird flu, tsunami, price of a barrel of oil, tsunami in financial markets, increasing ozone hole, decreasing shoals of fish in oceans, decreasing number of polar bears, the increase in the average yearly temperature, increasing extinction of species of animals and plants. One can present endless number of examples.

The numbers can be puzzling, depressing, shocking, fascinating, mystifying or upsetting. Well, they can be… An educated, intelligent and honest person will perceive them this way. A Polish film director Jerzy Konwicki (renown for his “Ashes and Diamonds”) used to say: “only a cow does not care”.

True, a cow does not know, for example, about the “mad cow” disease and does not understand what it means that a certain percentage of cows are affected by foot-and-mouth disease and bluetongue virus. There are however, unfortunately, also some examples among educated as well as decision making persons, institutions and governments who do not care. They have dubious motives to ignore some numbers (and related facts) they do not like. What will be the consequences of their arrogance to human beings in the future? A Japanese proverb says that more intelligent are those who see further…

Below there are several examples of numbers compiled from the Internet, Time and Trumpet. They may not be exact; however you may find them interesting and worthy of your attention:

65 000 – estimated population of Africa’s black rhinos in 1970
3 600 – estimated population of Africa’s black rhino in 2007
2 000 000 000 000 USD – US cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, so far

3 500 000 – Jews murdered in Poland by German Nazis

32 000 000 – population of Poland before II WW; 24 000 000 after the war

1500 – new HIV infections a day in South Africa

1 000 000 – Americans killed yearly by heart attacks (cardiacnetwork.net)

7:2 – ratio of average number of TV sets to children in the USA

1500 – number of hours, the average USA teenager spends watching TV

67% – percentage of Australian and USA men are overweight

1 in 12- South Africans who had access to the Internet in 2007

15-30 000 000 – men suffering from erectile dysfunction (NIH, USA government statistics)

690 000 000 – number of Asians living on $1 or less per day (Asian Dev. Bank)

142.8 – number of women raped per 100 000 in South Africa; 150 per day

66 000 000 – number of people in the USA suffering with arthritis, the most common chronic health problem in the USA

3% – rate of the green gas increasing per year

7 600 000 – number of cancer death worldwide in 2007

5 200 000 – Americans suffer from full-blown diabetes and don’t know it…yet.

14 000 – dolphins killed annually in Japan

400 000 000 – number of people in the world suffering from depression and mental disorders (WHO).

Look again at the numbers. They alone are meaningless. However, together with the descriptive information, they carry powerful information, obviously to those who are intelligent enough to understand them. Unfortunately, it does not mean yet, that those who understand them and have authority to make decision/s to change some of the numbers/trends are willing to act…

Are you already feeling depressed? You should be… You are intelligent…
Till the next time… (2).

P.S.: While proofreading, my wife counsels me that I have omitted three other important R’s. During a whole life one should learn: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for your own actions. She is absolutely Right!

Wacek Kijewski is the author of stimulating and entertaining resource material on experimental science: “SI Units, Conversion and Measurement Skills” (the 2007 edition, IBN 0629340584, 186 pp, USD97. The book is recommended for students and lecturers science and engineering courses. Visit website: http://www.wacek.co.za and http://www.wacek.co.za/review.html Read seven reviews: UNESCO, UK, South Africa, Botswana, United States, Hungary. His other ezines:”The Travellers Temperature Tips”, “Is IQ a Metric Unit of Intelligence and…Stupidity”, “Al-Gebra and Illuminati Links Discovered”, “How to Measure Cultural Differences in Metric Units”, “The Traveller’s Temperature Predicaments (2). NB: The book is being sold by Amazon and other booksellers illegally.

There is gender inequality in global wealth. Men earn more money. Men invest more money. Men save more money. Men run more companies. Yet women live longer and 50% of marriages end in divorce, so women will be alone at some point in their lives. 3 out of 4 elderly women live in poverty, but most weren’t poor when their men were alive. With the economy slowing down, it is more important than ever to become wealthy. Here are 10 reasons you need to become a rich woman.

1. Independence. Learning to create and control money will release you from dependence on any one person, or the government.

2. Self-esteem. If you learn how to be financially independent, you will grow in self-confidence and this will enhance your relationships at all levels. You can look after yourself and your family financially.

3. Protection of you and yours. In these times of economic doubt, protection of your home and your assets is critical. Creating wealth and understanding money will help protect what you have already.

4. Providing for your family. New ways of creating multiple streams of income can help you enhance life for all the family.

5. Live the life of your dreams. With the wealth you create, you can have that fantastic house, amazing new car and travel when you like. You can send the kids to the best college, and have that new wardrobe. You can live the life of your dreams.

6. Equality. Why should men make all the money? Women are good investors and money managers, as well as great entrepreneurs. We just have some catching up to do.

7. Giving. When you have money, you can give more away. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett gave more to charity than whole countries can earn. The richer you are, the more you can give.

8. Freedom and choice. If you are wealthy, you have the choice over what you do with your time, and your life. You have the freedom to work at what you want, to travel when you want, to spend what you want. You have choices that you do not have now.

9. For your future. There won’t be a government pension for most people, or it will be so little it will mean life on the poverty line. If you want to have a future worth looking forward to, you need to ensure you are financially secure.

10. Just to prove you can do it! Maybe you have always wanted to be rich, you just didn’t know how to do it. Challenge yourself. Find out how and take action!

Joanna Penn is an author, speaker and consultant.
Get your Free “7 Secrets of Millionaires” audio and report at http://www.GirlsCreateWealth.com

Christmas is responsible for more waste and consumption than any other holiday. North American’s trash contributions to the landfill increase by 25% during this time of year – which equates to a minimum of 25 million extra tons of garbage going to the landfill. By recognizing the incredible waste that is generated the urgency to do something becomes apparent.

A truly useful or environment friendly gift that provide some convenience or financial benefits is a better ecological choice. At the same time, you can help alleviate the guilt you might feel during this period of high consumption and travel activities. Here is a brief list of frugal and environmentally sound ideas to inspire you.

For the homeowner – A thermostat control that automatically turns the heat down at night; low flow showerhead attachment; draft cozy (placed in front of doors to prevent drafts) and tubes of caulking or weather stripping. Dimmer switches, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s) or hot water tank and hot water pipe insulation kits are also excellent ideas. Yellow CFL’s are perfect for exterior lighting because they attract fewer insects. Consider making an eco-package combining some of these items for the homeowner.

For the gardener – A subscription to an organic gardening magazine or a membership to a seed organization is always an interesting gift idea. Bird, bat and butterfly houses, baths and feeders – or the patterns to build them – are a wonderful optional gift. Alternatively consider composting worm bin, gift certificate to a nursery or a membership with an environmental group.

Give Services – Rather than giving an item that must be wrapped, consider purchasing tickets to a performance, restaurant gift certificates or services such as lawn care, diaper, cleaning, music lessons, exercise or dance classes, tune-up or tire rotation services. Don’t forget to look at dog walking, babysitting, and massage, spas or gyms when looking at gift certificates. All of these ideas will help you support local businesses that you believe in while giving something that the recipient can truly benefit from.

Give Food – Home preserves such as dehydrated or canned foods make excellent gifts. Those that find cooking tasks cumbersome treasure frozen meals. Snack foods and deserts are appreciated by most anyone; keep in mind that purchasing Brazil or cashew nuts supports a tropical rainforests. Baskets of healthy foods are another wonderful idea to consider – especially if it contains samples from local producers.

Books – Most of us realize the benefits of literacy and supporting local businesses. You can do both by choosing to purchase books as gifts this year. However, we can also leave a legacy with a book of our own. This could be a journal, a collection of our poetry, a family tree that you’ve researched or even a family recipe book. Perhaps you might consider including quotes from family members or people you admire and possibly a few favorite family photos.

Alternative gifts – A reusable coffee filter and whole organic coffee beans makes a nice gift for coffee lovers. Consider slippers and sweaters – the recipient is less likely to turn up their thermostat. Toys and games with positive environmental or education values and those that emphasize cooperation, exploration or creative thinking. If you choose to purchase electronics, consider those powered by solar or rechargeable batteries.

The Tree: Give or purchase a living tree for yourself this year (it removes carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, ozone and nitrogen oxides). A living Xmas tree can be donated to individuals with space on their land, the city, schools or parks when the season is over. Alternatively, plant it in your own yard for privacy, summer shade or soil and water erosion control.

The Photos – For holiday photo memories, avoid disposable cameras. Instead use a digital camera and load directly to your own computer and CD burner. Alternatively, use a normal camera using 36 exposure film rolls and have the pictures put on CD’s at the development outlet. Choosing these options reduces chemicals, paper and waste, while you save some cash.

~ Dave Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk, Purple Snowflake Marketing and Towards Understanding; co-host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca)

Press releases let you use the media to draw attention to your business, which makes it more credible in the eyes of the public. Consider five easy tips on how to make your press release great.

Proper Format: All of your press releases should be written in the proper format. Your goal should be to give you and your business a professional air. You will need to review your press release, checking spelling, grammar, and punctuation before sending it to any media source.

Writing Clearly and Pointedly: Since most media outlets receive a steady stream of press releases, they do not have time to read long ones. No press release should be more than two pages in length. In order to keep your press release at this size, your writing needs to be clear and pointed, answering the most important questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Emphasize Benefits to the Reader: Your press release should encourage readers to do something. Depending on the situation, you might tell them to check out your website, visit the grand opening of your new store, or attend your special event. Your writing should emphasize the benefits that your reader will receive by taking part in whatever it is that your press release is promoting. Instead of just writing a straightforward advertisement, make potential customers see what’s in it for them.

For example, a press release about a new food processor needs to tell readers more than the simple facts that the new product is more compact than older models. Make customers see the benefits they will derive from purchasing it by wording it differently. You could say, “The compact size of our new food processor will let customers maximize counter space while chopping up foods with just as much power as previous models.” This tells your reader why they need to buy your product.

Keep the Mood Interesting: You need to write in a style that will make readers excited about your product. Dress up the facts in an effort to keep things interesting for your readers. With the above food processor example, you can tell customers that “the new compact, counter-saving model will be in stores this spring, just when you’ll need it to chop up fresh veggies to make the perfect summer salad” instead of simply stating “the new food processor will be available in the spring.”

Keep Your Target Customer in Mind: Always remember who your target customers are while you write and submit your press releases. This will also help you to determine what information should be in your press release and which media sources you should submit it to.

You wouldn’t, for example, submit a press release about a children’s health event to a newspaper’s travel editor, since this will not help you get your information to your target audience.

Are you searching for a way to make money on eBay? Find out how to start a thriving eBay business on the Online Auction Advisor website. Visit http://www.online-auction-advisor.com for a copy of my ebook “101 eBay Tips” – a $47 value absolutely free!

PT, for those of you who are not familiar with the initials, stands for many things. Some of the more popular are Perpetual Traveler or Permanent Tourist. Others are Prior Taxpayer, Privacy Thinker, or Prepared Thoroughly. But what is PT all about?

In a nutshell, a PT arranges his or her business and personal affairs as a Sovereign Individual, by unfurling various ‘flags’ or country bases and by treating governments as service providers instead of rulers. For example, there would be a citizenship flag (“second passport”), an official residence flag, a banking flag and so on. Each of these would be from different jurisdictions. That way, you are not bound to any particular country.

The ultimate PT goal is not to be resident anywhere! That is how you become a Permanent Tourist, at least on paper. You might for example spend five months of the year in one home, five months in another, and a couple of months vacationing, visiting friends or taking a cruise in between. That way each country treats you as a tourist and does not consider you a tax resident. You then keep all your assets stashed safely offshore, earn your money over the internet in other countries, and live totally tax free completely legally. If you drive cars, own real estate etc they are all held in company names, or simply rented or leased. So you don’t appear on any government ‘Big Brother’ style databases.

PT is based on the theory that most countries treat tourists better than citizens.

In fact, the beauty of this idea is its simplicity. As a ‘PT’ wherever you are, you always appear to be from somewhere else!

You can usually live and travel in better style and for less money than it costs to remain where you are. You can also chose to enjoy places that encourage the lifestyle and social norms you have always wanted to live.

PT will appeal to a wide spectrum of people who dream of being able to disappear when events and times in life make it convenient to do so. As a PT, a Perpetual Tourist, you run your own life. Using freedom tools such as the flags theories you can put a significant distance between yourself and bureaucrats that want to determine what is best for you, ‘for your own good’ of course!

A Brief History of the PT Theory

The PT theory was, according to urban legend propogated in the books, inspired by Harry Schultz, a Monaco-based newsletter publisher of North American origin who first coined the “three flags” theory back in the 1960s. Schultz’s claim to fame is that he is quoted in The Guinness Book of Records as the world’s highest paid investment consultant.

Later, a writer using the pseudonym W.G. ‘Bill’ Hill wrote a series of books including PT1, PT2 and The Passport Report which were published by Scope International Books in Hampshire, England. This same company published books by authors including Adam Starchild, Reinhard Stern and Jon Golding and Bob Beckman, also under the imprint ‘Milestone Publications.’

Scope went out of business in the mid nineties and was absorbed by an American direct marketing company who are still using much of the material today. The majority of it however has been toned down somewhat, not surprisingly as it is published from within the USA.

Other writers have taken up the PT theme in books like The International Man by Doug Casey, The Internationalist by Nicholas Pullen, and most recently in 2006 by a group mysteriously calling themselves “Grandpa and Others.” They wrote an attractive-leather bound three-volume set of limited edition books known as Bye Bye Big Brother. Or simply “BBBB.”Bye Bye Big Brother is also available in an abridged, paperback version from Vera Verba, a Chicago-based imprint. But hardcore readers should be aware that the abridged version has edited out some of the more cutting edge, controversial material included in the original.

From Three Flags to Six Flags

 The original theory espoused by Harry Schultz and Harry Browne (“How to Find Freedom in an Unfree World”) talked about three flags:

• Have your citizenship somewhere that does not tax income earned outside the country.  
• Have your businesses and speculations in stable, low or no tax countries.
• Live as a tourist in countries where what you esteem is valued, not outlawed.

Later W.G. Hill added two more flags – business havens where you make your money, and playgrounds where you spend your time, as a separate flag to your official residence – thereby creating a five flag theory – the level of complication or sophistication is up to you! Finally, in Bye Bye Big Brother, a sixth flag was added – cyberspace, where all the other five flags come together, a place where you can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time!

Shortcomings and Concerns about the PT Theory – and the Dangers of Camouflage Passports!

View on the PT theory is that it’s a great idea, provided you treat it as what it is: a slightly tongue in cheek knock at the establishment with a wicked sense of humor. A client of mine recently read it and said it was riveting, like reading a novel.

PT is a well thought out idea to break free and escape, especially if you like international living and the traveling lifestyle. It’s probably aimed more at those with well over a million safely tucked away in a Swiss bank seeking the kind of asset protection arrangements that their lawyers would not tell them about… while being less useful (but nonetheless interesting reading) for those who are just starting out on their quest for offshore wealth building opportunities.

PT is certainly not a step-by-step plan you should follow blindly. Indeed, it’s clearly not for everybody. We say, “by all means read the literature.” It’s an idea you can read about, absorb and enjoy… and then adjust to your own situation.

 always had a slightly different vision, and still do today.  What’s the difference? Well it’s not easy to live out of a suitcase, or to have to worry about counting the days you are in a certain country due to limited tourist visas or the concern that you will become a tax-resident. There are more sophisticated plans available today, and we write about them in our newsletter for members. We also tend to focus more on opportunities for creating wealth.

An Important Warning about the Legalities of the PT ‘Six Flags’ Theory

Here’s an important warning. Some of the tactics in the original PT books might have seemed like harmless fun back in the eighties, but in today’s world they could get you into hot water.

By way of example, one of the products frequently promoted was the so-called camouflage passport. Camouflage passports are booklets that look like passports from countries that used to exist but don’t any more – the intention being to fool anyone who might have learned about countries like Ceylon, Dutch Guiana, British Honduras or the U.S.S.R. in their school history classes, but who didn’t know that those countries today are called Sri Lanka, Suriname, Belize and Russia. Camouflage passports were promoted as a way to avoid terrorist attacks, by confusing terrorists in a hijacking situation into thinking that you came from a neutral country rather than a target country like the USA, UK or Israel. However in the current environment merely having a camouflage passport in your possession is more likely to get you labeled as a terrorist than anything else!

Indeed, it has been said that ‘Big Brother’ thinks PT stands for Potential Terrorist!

Peter Macfarlane is an author and lecturer on offshore finance, investment, due diligence and wealth creation matters. He is joint editor of The Q Wealth Report http://www.qwealthreport.com

From early childhood and throughout the schooling system, we learn the “3R’s”: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic – the science of numbers. (Nowadays, you need to add a fourth “R”- gRaphing!).
Later, we reach a certain level in our education where were may feel rightly or wrongly (often complacently) that our levels of mastering reading and writing are satisfactory.

However… What about numbers? Generally, we do not fully realize the extent to which numbers control and regulate our lives. We are all identified by innumerable numbers from birth to the very last moments of our lives. Just reflect only on some of our important dates: birth, starting school, finishing primary school, finishing secondary school, the admission to university and then also with every stage of our education imprinted with our marks, marks and marks (percentages!). Then other numbers: the first love (the date, some of us remember!), dates of: marriage, birth of children, the first work, salaries, divorce, then blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, the first operation, the passing away (not yet?) and so on. These numbers are unique to you and unique to me. They all identify you and identify me.

Some numbers quantify information. These are essential to understanding facts, events, processes, laws etc… The US novelist, Nathanel West, 1903-1940, stated aptly: “Numbers constitute the only universal language”.

Studies have shown that even rhesus monkeys can understand the relation between numbers 1 to 9 i.e., they are able to judge whether the specified number is smaller or bigger than the other number.

So, what is the present state of arithmetic? Unfortunately, most of the people satisfy themselves on a very low level of its cognizance. (As an anecdote, I may tell you that I was approached by a lawyer who asked me: “I have to assign a plaintiff 15% of the amount demanded by defendant; how much is it?”). Most people fear numbers if they require any further calculations: making fractions, multiplying, using proportions or inverse proportions, converting to percentages or substituting to formulas. What are the implications of this fact? It often leads to impaired judgement of the average citizen regarding handling their home economics, investment and, as the case may be, the events in their own country and on our globe. As the citizens of a “global village”, we are all affected by events not only in our place or country but even in far-away-countries. Consider these numbers: people affected by HIV, bird flu, tsunami, price of a barrel of oil, tsunami in financial markets, increasing ozone hole, decreasing shoals of fish in oceans, decreasing number of polar bears, the increase in the average yearly temperature, increasing extinction of species of animals and plants. One can present endless number of examples.

The numbers can be puzzling, depressing, shocking, fascinating, mystifying or upsetting. Well, they can be… An educated, intelligent and honest person will perceive them this way. A Polish film director Jerzy Konwicki (renown for his “Ashes and Diamonds”) used to say: “only a cow does not care”.

True, a cow does not know, for example, about the “mad cow” disease and does not understand what it means that a certain percentage of cows are affected by foot-and-mouth disease and bluetongue virus. There are however, unfortunately, also some examples among educated as well as decision making persons, institutions and governments who do not care. They have dubious motives to ignore some numbers (and related facts) they do not like. What will be the consequences of their arrogance to human beings in the future? A Japanese proverb says that more intelligent are those who see further…

Below there are several examples of numbers compiled from the Internet, Time and Trumpet. They may not be exact; however you may find them interesting and worthy of your attention:

65 000 – estimated population of Africa’s black rhinos in 1970
3 600 – estimated population of Africa’s black rhino in 2007
2 000 000 000 000 USD – US cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, so far

3 500 000 – Jews murdered in Poland by German Nazis

32 000 000 – population of Poland before II WW; 24 000 000 after the war

1500 – new HIV infections a day in South Africa

1 000 000 – Americans killed yearly by heart attacks (cardiacnetwork.net)

7:2 – ratio of average number of TV sets to children in the USA

1500 – number of hours, the average USA teenager spends watching TV

67% – percentage of Australian and USA men are overweight

1 in 12- South Africans who had access to the Internet in 2007

15-30 000 000 – men suffering from erectile dysfunction (NIH, USA government statistics)

690 000 000 – number of Asians living on $1 or less per day (Asian Dev. Bank)

142.8 – number of women raped per 100 000 in South Africa; 150 per day

66 000 000 – number of people in the USA suffering with arthritis, the most common chronic health problem in the USA

3% – rate of the green gas increasing per year

7 600 000 – number of cancer death worldwide in 2007

5 200 000 – Americans suffer from full-blown diabetes and don’t know it…yet.

14 000 – dolphins killed annually in Japan

400 000 000 – number of people in the world suffering from depression and mental disorders (WHO).

Look again at the numbers. They alone are meaningless. However, together with the descriptive information, they carry powerful information, obviously to those who are intelligent enough to understand them. Unfortunately, it does not mean yet, that those who understand them and have authority to make decision/s to change some of the numbers/trends are willing to act…

Are you already feeling depressed? You should be… You are intelligent…
Till the next time… (2).

P.S.: While proofreading, my wife counsels me that I have omitted three other important R’s. During a whole life one should learn: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for your own actions. She is absolutely Right!

Wacek Kijewski is the author of stimulating and entertaining resource material on experimental science: “SI Units, Conversion and Measurement Skills” (the 2007 edition, IBN 0629340584, 186 pp, USD97. The book is recommended for students and lecturers science and engineering courses. Visit website: http://www.wacek.co.za and http://www.wacek.co.za/review.html Read seven reviews: UNESCO, UK, South Africa, Botswana, United States, Hungary. His other ezines:”The Travellers Temperature Tips”, “Is IQ a Metric Unit of Intelligence and…Stupidity”, “Al-Gebra and Illuminati Links Discovered”, “How to Measure Cultural Differences in Metric Units”, “The Traveller’s Temperature Predicaments (2). NB: The book is being sold by Amazon and other booksellers illegally.

This is the second book in the Rich Dad series. Robert introduces the four quadrants and shares with the reader how each person in each quadrant operates. He goes on to explain the changes needed for a person to get from the E or S side of the quadrant to the B and I side. He cited the benefits which come from being on the B and I side which will lead to financial freedom compared to being on the E or S side. The last seven chapters illustrate how you and I can get onto the financial fast track through constant and consistent actions recommended by Robert.

After reading this book, I am well informed of the type of changes I need to undergo and what it takes to get to the B and I side of the quadrant. It’s a total mindset and behavioral change as I myself operate out of the E quadrant. The activities carried out by a person on the B and I side will not make any sense to the person on the E or S side. Some of the many new ways of thinking emphasized in the book that I have to adopt are:

• Working for free: There will not be any positive cash flow coming in during the initial period of a startup.
• Delayed gratification: Many people want to solve their money woes instantly. But it’s only through patience and diligently increasing our financial intelligence that we will be rewarded later on by taking small steps each day.
• Investing is not risky: Without the proper knowledge and skill, many people will find investing risky as they have lost money previously in the stock market or mutual funds through some unreliable source. To them investing is like gambling.
• Finding mentors: They are there to guide you through your journey. They are people who you can turn to when you run into trouble.
• Making mistakes: Expect things to go wrong and learn from the mistakes made. Losing is part of winning.
• Time is your most valuable asset: The rich spend money to save time whereas the poor and middle class spend time to save money.

This book is a must read for people who are thinking of embarking on the process of becoming financially free. I would also like to recommend that you read Rich Dad Poor Dad first if you have not done so. Rich Dad Poor Dad provides the financial basics and fundamental concepts needed for Rich Dad’s Cash Flow Quadrant Get it now!

Raymond Heng specializes in system testing, internet marketing, investment & Stocks/options trading. He writes articles during his free time and contributes them to ezines to share his knowledge with others. He loves travelling too. To read his most sought after articles and tour adventures, visit his web site: http://web.singnet.com.sg/~raindeer

Nokia is a well known company in the field of mobile manufacturing. This Finland based mobile maker has produced many innovative phones including some of the best sellers in the industry. The N series phones produced by Nokia have been appreciated by the common mobile users as well as experts. The technology used to produce these handsets is impeccable. In fact, the continuous R&D done by Nokia over the years has produced fruitful results now.

Nokia N96 and Nokia N96i are the two handsets which have been recently produced. Looking at the features of these two stunning phones, the talk of Nokia N96 vs. Nokia N96i is on the cards. It is being said that the N96i is the upgraded version of the N96, but N96i is having some of the unique features that attract the mobile lovers.

Nokia N96 is the latest hi-tech member of N series phones. This beautiful phone represents a lucrative structure with a dimension of 103x55x18 mm. It weighs only 125 grams which makes it one of the lightest phones in the same category of mobile devices. This handset is a great source of entertainment. One can view high resolution photos on 3.2 inches screen of this device. The colour display shows 16 million colours which give more choices to the users.

On the other hand, Nokia N96i is the latest buzz in the industry with its striking features and functions. It has a double slide design and a rotating classic screen. Its 3 inches LCD screen is capable of showing more than 16 million colours. The N96i is relatively lighter than the N96 phone. It weighs just 110 grams despite having a metallic body. This mobile device comes in some of the attractive colours and designs. The silver colour handsets are getting more demand in comparison to any other camera phone.

Nokia N96 boasts of a 7.1 mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss optical lens. The N96 gives the opportunity to watch news, sports and live TV. A powerful music player, FM Radio and Internet Radio give an ultimate musical experience. Another interesting feature of this phone is the maps section. Now, searching and finding local places and other important information has become easy with this handset and Nokia N82 also.

The Nokia N96 vs. Nokia N96i tussle becomes more interesting when the entertainment features are compared. The N96i is equipped with just 5.5 mega pixel camera which is relatively less powerful than its predecessor. The music player supports all the major file formats like MP3, MP4 and WMV. Stereo double speakers provided with this phone produce a thrilling sound quality. A stereo headset has also been given with the handset for those who travel frequently.

When the matter of web connectivity comes, Nokia N96 does not disappoint the users. Bluetooth, USB 2.0 and WLAN helps to provide fast internet connectivity. The data transmission speed is 3.5G which helps users to send or receive music, files and other data. It has a huge memory space of 10 GB that gives the capacity to store a large number of songs and movies. Similarly, Nokia N96i is equipped with Bluetooth and USB port which gives really fast web connection. The phone has 10 GB inbuilt memory space and 256 MB micro SD card for expanding the memory.

Overall, Nokia has produced two masterpieces in the form of these two phones. Mobile lovers and experts are comparing the features of both the handsets. It leads to the rivalry of Nokia N96 vs. Nokia N96i. One can find some or the other unique features in either of the devices. However, it totally depends on the users which model they want to avail. Both of the handsets are capable to delight the customers with their performances.

additnow.co.uk introducing latest nokia n series handsets Nokia N96 and Nokia N96i and Nokia N82 in UK market.

Reading has always been a difficult chore for me. I call it a chore because when I was young and in school it was one of the hardest thing I ever had to do. I would do anything I could to get away from reading.

Most of the time the subject matter of the books offered in class held no interest to me so I had little interest in reading. I mean, after all, how long can you find joy in watching Spot run? And I didn’t even know Jane or Dick. Why would I want to read about them?

I also suffered a little dyslexia and the jumbled up letters of each word were sometimes a little hard to make sense of. I would need to read some words several times before it made sense. Sometimes I had to read the entire sentence over and over.

Back then, those many years ago, the teachers didn’t have the time or patience to work with each student and they never knew the problems faced by slow readers.

Today I am still bothered by my inability to read correctly. I still find myself rereading words and sometimes even missing words completely. By missing a word or two the whole paragraph is lost or it may take on a wrongful meaning. The need to reread the paragraph is still there.

I have tried some of the reading remedies but it is too late. the damage is already done. Even though I write articles like this and I read a lot of information over the Internet I still find a difficulty in reading.

My disbelief in reading was set in my mind as a very young child. I wish I had developed an interest in reading while I was still young.

What I’m saying in these few word is simply when you see your child struggling over a book don’t just turn away and think that a teacher will take care of it. Each teacher has 20 or more students in the class and may not be able to give the attention needed.

Take an interest in your child’s ability to read. Show him or her that reading can be fun. Read with them. If you read with the child and throw in a giggle or laugh now and then the chore becomes more exciting, fun and desirable.

Like I said before, who wants to watch Spot run? Give the kids something that they like. Something like Hannah Montana or “The Lord Of The Rings” Books they find exciting and interesting. Give them books that were designed for the younger generation.

There is a whole series of Harry Potter books that would be ideal for helping your child enjoy reading. In fact, J.K. Rowlings, the author of the Harry Potter series has written a new book titled “The Tales of Beedle The Bard” Which again, was written with children in mind.

Get a copy of that one and sit down with your children to discover something new. Something no one else has seen.

I wrote this article because all my life I struggled with my own limited reading capabilities. I have missed out on so many exciting and wonderful adventures only gained through reading. At the ripe old age of 68 I still struggle. Don’t let it happen to your children. Give them all the help you can.

I’m sure there are others in your location who would like to help their children learn to enjoy reading. Why not do them a favor and pass this along.

You can find more information about J.K. Rowlings new book at my web address listed below.
Len Roe has written articles for over 10 years. He wrote this article and several more on the subject. If you found it interesting there is more information on his website

http://www.TravelWestVacation.com

Stop by for a visit and more points of interest.

Have you been waiting for some great ticket bargain to make your first trip to the theme park this season. Wait no more….. Six Flags has started their 2008 season with some great online bargains on ticket prices. While other parks around the nation are quite holding on to the daily tickets, Six Flags makes your day more fun with some nice discounts they have been offering at all Six Flags parks around the nation. So what have been stopping you from booking your tickets ? See whats on the table for you.

Six Flags bargains and promotions to all the bargain hunters. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA):
Now you can enjoy the thrills on coasters like Boomerang, Kong, Medusa & Vertical Velocity for 30% less than what you would otherwise pay at the gate. You can now buy your daily tickets for $34.99. Six Flags Magic Mountain Tickets (Los Angeles, CA):
Magic Mountain boasts some great roller coasters that could take your excitement level to new heights. Enjoy the ride on Riddler’s Revenge, Batman, Deja Vu, Goliath, Scream, Tatsu, Viper & X2 for 55% less that what you would pay at the gate. The price of an adult daily ticket at the gate is $59.99 and now you can purchase your tickets at $26.99 before memorial day. After memorial day you will pay $39.99 which is still 33% less that regular price you pay at the gate.Six Flags St Louis (St Louis, MO):
Have you been holding on to your dreams for 2008 to experience on most challenging rides. Now get on to the thrill rides like Batman, Mr. Freeze, Superman, Ninja, Xcalibur & the Boss. Buy your tickets for $5 less than what you would pay at the gate. The regular gate price is $44.99. Six Flags over Georgia (Atlanta, GA):
Has some great roller coasters that can keep you busy throught the day. The thrill rides at Six Flags over Georgia include the Batman, Superman, Dare Devil, Acrophobia, Georgia Cyclone, Ninja and the Goliath. You can enjoy all this fun for 40% less than the regular price of $49.99.Six Flags America (Baltimore/ Washington DC):
Give yourself a treat with some of the best thrill rides in the Baltimore area. Get on to Batwing, Superman, Jokers Jinx, Roar, Mind Eraser and the Tower of Doom. All for 20% less than the gate price of $49.99.Six Flags Great America (Chicago, IL):
Six Flags Great America prices online are 27% less than the price at the gate. You can buy the daily adult ticket online for $39.99. Enjoy some of the best coasters like the Batman, Dark Knight coaster, Dare Devil, Raging Bull, Superman and the Tornado. Dont forget to experience the Giant Drop.Six Flags Great Escape (Lake George, NY):
Lake George Six Flags has been offering $5 off the gate price on the daily tickets. Rides here can take you to high n high which will keep you bolted to the seats thru the day. Enjoy the coasters like Boomerang, Canyon Blaster, Steamin Demon and the Comet.Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio, TX):
You can now grab a sweet 32% discount off the gate price of $46.99. Enjoy the Superman ride followed by Big Bender, Boomerang, Goliath and the Scream. There are two Six Flags in Texas, one in San Antonio and the other in Arlington. Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington, TX):
A whopping 36% off the regular daily ticket price of $47. Rides like Batman, Mr. Freeze, Dive Bomber Alley, Taxas Giant and the Titan are waiting for you.Six Flags New England (Springfield, MA):
Enjoy $15 off the gate price at Six Flags New England. You will definitely enjoy the rides this park has to offer. Rides like Batman, Superman, Mind Eraser, Nightwing and Cyclone will take to the upper limits of a fun & exciting day.Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom (Louisville, KY):
For just $24.99 which is $15 off regular price you will see yourself on the coasters at the Kentucky Kingdom. This park has some unique and fun filled rides like Chang, Himalaya, T2 and the Enterprise. Six Flags Great Adventure Tickets (Jackson, NJ):
Now you can go to Six Flags Great Adventure for $20 less. For just $39.99 you can get the daily ticket online which gives you admission to the theme park plus the wild safari. Most popular rides include Dark Knight roller coaster, Batman, Superman, Kingda Ka and nitro. Take my word…. these rides will make you come to this park again and again.

Six Flags made a lot of new additions and enhanced the parks thought the US. With this great offer Six Flags reported that the attendance for the first quarter was up by 19%. I have been a great admirer of Six Flags theme parks. It’s not only the aggressive pricing of the tickets and discounts they have been offering this season but also the tremendous and continuous improvements it has made in the parks to make ones experience more fun than before.

How can you grab these discounts ?:
For my reference, I would like to credit Mandrekar.com (http://www.mandrekar.com) for putting a nice comphrensive website with Six Flags tickets with all available discounts and promotions. You can click on your local Six Flags park in the Six Flags section and buy the ticket that would be of interest to you and your family. I have not discussed the family and group discounts in this article. There are even better discounts at some of the Six Flags if you go in groups (more than 10 or 15 depending on the park). You can even save on season passes at most Six Flags if you buy family season pass. Please refer to http://www.mandrekar.com

Ken Silverman is a theme park author and blog publisher. He frequently publishes articles and reviews on theme parks. Ken often writes on theme parks and national parks. This season he has started covering topics especially in the Six Flags tickets and Disney World tickets and how a bargain hunting traveller could save much more than an average person on a trip to Six Flags theme park or Disney World resort in Orlando. He is also a tech savvy content manager and graphics designer.