Gold As an Investment is a Smart Choice

In today's tough economic times there are many investors who are beginning to panic. These investors no longer trust the stock market. Yet, these same investors have no idea where to put their money now. This is because a lot of investors seemingly think that their only option is to invest in the stock market. They seem to think that their other option, investing in real estate, is way too risky. What they are looking for are safe, smart investments that will yield them positive results now as well as in the future.

While we do live in such uncertain times, there is still one sure thing: gold as an investment. Investing in gold is a safe investment regardless of where you are from. In fact, the National Bullion Investors, LLC (NBI) states that the price of gold will continue to rise over the course of the next year as many investors will abandon the stock market and begin investing in precious metals instead. This is why it is believed that the price of gold will average $958.60 per ounce by November of this year. Whenever you consider that the price of gold is already at $902 per ounce, this is a major increase that is being expected here.

Over the past 10 years, Alan Greenspan, the highly respected former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve has seen gold as an investment as a wise choice that he has recommended to others as well. He has even gone so far as to say that while fiat money is going to be worthless someday, gold will still be accepted.

Today, there are a lot of people who are beginning to agree with Alan Greenspan. In fact, Jeremy Charles, London's head of precious metals at HSBC, has seen that many people are now beginning to invest in gold as their confidence in the U.S. dollar has been shaken. Jeremy Charles believes that what we are seeing is a structural change in the way that investing is being approached. He doesn't believe that this will be a temporary fix either. Instead, he feels as though gold will still be viewed different even after the current state of the economy improves. Instead, it is believed that gold is going to continue to be a wise investment option for many years yet to come.

Now is a good time to reconsider the investments that are within your portfolio. It is also a good time to be open-minded whenever it comes to new opportunities such as gold as an investment. By diversifying you will be creating a safety net for yourself. However, if you are still not comfortable with investing all of your money in gold, then simply start off slow. Place around 10% of your portfolio funds into gold as an investment. In the end, simply remember that gold is a lot more than the jewelry you wear. It is also something you can pad your savings account with and thus increase your wealth.

UPS Insurance Claims

Did you know that every package shipped within the UPS system is covered by up to $100.00 of insurance protection AT NO COST (with very few exclusions such as documents or perishables)? What happens when your packages does not arrive at its destination or arrives damaged?

If you ship with The UPS Store, you contact the store and the staff will file the claim on your behalf. If you ship at a customer counter or authorized shipping outlet, you will likely have to file the claim yourself. Phone 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877) and speak with a representative to file the claim. Have the following information handy when you call the 800 number or your local The UPS Store (if you shipped with the store):

* tracking number (most UPS tracking number start with the number "1" and the letter "Z" and are 18 characters long)

* whether the contents are missing or damaged

* condition of the damaged items (i.e., shattered, dented, nicked, bent, etc.)

* whether or not the damaged items are repairable or replaceable

* the value of the damaged or missing items

* the telephone number of the recipient

You will be instructed to contact the receiver and have them retain the contents of the package, as well as the packaging material, for five business days. After the fifth business day, the recipient may retain or discard the damaged items. You will have to fax to UPS Claims department a copy of the original invoice for the items, an estimate for repair, or a replacement item. You can go to QVC.COM or HSN.COM or some other appropriate website to find as close a match to the original item as possible, print out this information, and fax it in to the Claims Department.

UPS may decide to visit the recipient and inspect the shipment for proper packaging materials and outer carton. If the inspection reveals that the items were not packaged correctly or an unapproved shipping carton was used, the claim will be denied. Keep in mind that ALL items packed by The UPS Store locations are assumed to have been packed correctly. The few dollars you might save by packaging something yourself might turn into a denied insurance claim if you did not pack sufficiently to meet UPS standards.

So, the safest way to protect your valuables in the shipping process is to have them packed at your local The UPS Store location. Let the packaging experts carefully pack your items to ensure that you will be fully covered in the event there is an insurance claim for the shipment.

Getting Published: Is The Slush Pile A Nice Place To Visit Or Manuscript Limbo?

It was brought to my attention that I had made the slush pile sound like a synonym to the trash bin. Further, due to my personal distaste for the term, I made it sound worse than it actually is. I apologize if that led to any confusion. So, what is the slush pile? Is it a good or bad neighborhood to be in? Is there any way to get out of it and make it to publication? Can you avoid it altogether?

Technically, the slush pile is a stack of unsolicited manuscripts. Your manuscript can also end up there if you aren't careful to address it to the appropriate person. At publishing companies that still accept unsolicited manuscripts, this stack can be frighteningly large. For that reason, many publishers no longer accept unagented material.

Yet, at a number of publishing houses, the slush pile is still alive and well. It's not necessarily a bad neighborhood to be in. However, you want to get out and find your dream home as soon as possible. There are usually some pretty shady characters there. Handwritten manuscripts, poor grammar, an abundance of spelling mistakes, and bad writing might get you out of the slush pile. But, you won't like your new destination.

The trick is in making your manuscript stand out from the rest. When I say, "stand out", I'm not talking about pretty stationary or fancy fonts. Not a good idea. Get clear on the appropriate format. Show that you are professional. And, do your homework. Research the publishers' to learn which ones are accepting work in your genre.

If you're serious about your craft, you'll be happy to know that from this dubious beginning, new authors are still being discovered and published. Out of the slush pile and onto the bookstore shelves, sounds a little like a rags-to-riches story. For many who make it, it is. Keep in mind that the percentage of manuscripts that make it from the slush pile to publication is infinitesimally small.

I'm not saying that it's a lottery game. It most definitely is not. The problem for those who don't make it is your good fortune. There are rules. There is a system, a classic story structure to be followed. Once you understand how to develop life-like characters and plot a compelling story, with twists and surprises in the right places, you will have the ability to write a compelling, salable, novel. In fact, you can write a best seller. Your manuscript will stand out from the rest.

If you want to avoid the slush pile altogether and make it to publication, you have two choices beyond self-publishing. Getting an agent is one option. Unfortunately, that is the most difficult route. Your best bet is to get a publisher first.

The good news is that there is a report that lists publishers who are actively seeking material directly submitted by authors.

Blame the Home Builders For This Rotten Housing Market

"This [housing] market sucks," stated Jamie Reynolds of Orlando, Florida.

Jamie and her husband want to buy their dream home. They can afford a home; they have steady employment; they have great credit...they are a "vanilla" file for any mortgage broker.

So What's The Problem?

The problem is that the Reynolds keep reading the papers and watching the news. The result is that they're not buying.

Why? What possibly could the Reynolds be reading, seeing & hearing to keep them from buying their new dream home?

How Many Reasons To Buy Now?

**Interest rates are historically low...a person with good credit can get ~6% on a 30 year fixed rate loan.

**People, not just Boomers, especially want Florida's mild winter weather. People are still moving to Florida, and the "experts" predict more and more people to continue moving to Florida.

**Rental rates are going up in many parts of the country, despite the number of empty houses owned by investors-speculators.

Who's To Blame?

Is the media to blame for the "comatose" housing market afflicting many parts of the country?

Simple answer. No! But really, who cares? If you're in the market for a new home, stop thinking too much. You have a great opportunity to negotiate a big discount and grab a ridiculously low interest rate.

Let's be clear, the media is not to blame for the slumping housing market, despite the horror stories appearing in the Sunday newspapers.

"Every Sunday, we grab the paper and read the Real Estate section," said Jamie. "Every Sunday," she adds, "almost every home builder has a big ad with "before" pricing and the new discounted price. In every Sunday paper, it seems the builders are slashing prices by $10,000-$30,000 per week. I mean, I swear they're cutting the prices this much...every week."

The media, both print and broadcast, sell advertising and papers.

Who's To Blame?

Should you feel obligated to blame any one group for this protracted housing market slowdown, blame the Home Builders.

That's right, blame the builders...their ongoing tactics are keeping the Reynolds and perhaps countless others from purchasing a home.

In an up market, the builders go for profit. In a down market, the builders go for market share. Therefore, the builders will dump "units" as the builders call them to gain share.

As Jamie iterated, one week the builders' ads in the newspapers show a $349,000 sales price, which just happens to be a blistering $25,000 price cut from the previous week's sales price.

Stop The Madness!

"Who knows, I might open the paper next week and see another $10,000 knocked off the already discounted price," added Jamie.

The home builders apparently cannot understand how this negative sales strategy affects many potential buyers. Despite some valid reasons, why would a buyer who doesn't have to buy today actually buy a new home amidst this price cutting?

The price could, or probably will, be lower tomorrow, if the homebuilders continue their irrational sales tactics.

As unpredictable as the homebuilders' pricing tactics, the media is not responsible for this slumping housing market.

Beyond Slumping Sales Is Tragic Foreclosures....

In fact, the media also is not enabling this weak housing market by reporting increased foreclosures, especially when real people are financially ruined. These are real tragedies afflicting real people and, despite the tragic circumstances, the media wants to put a face behind the tragedy.

Of course, the collateral damage or fallout negatively influences people like Jamie and her husband, who hear about risky adjustable rate or "designer" mortgages and foreclosures and heavy price cuts.

Jamie said, "The Realtors and mortgage people want us to buy. They make really good points about the low interest rates and the inventory. At this time, we're really confused and we don't know who to trust. We hear these stories of people getting these interest only and adjustable rate loans and they are now in trouble. Does that mean that all interest only and adjustable rate loans are bad? We're really confused and can't afford to screw up."

Are the home builders listening? This is exactly what's suppressing the country's housing market. People who do not need to buy a home are mostly sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the builders to capitulate.

Once prices stabilize and people stop seeing $10,000, $20,000, or $100,000 slashed off last week's new home prices advertised in the Sunday newspapers across the country, the market may stabilize.

The market will stabilize when prices stabilize. Prices will stabilize when the home builders change their pricing tactics. The builders' pricing tactics must change to get buyers off the fence.

Reduce Stress With Reiki

Too much stress is something that can have a very negative impact in your life. It can prevent you from enjoying relationships, your job, and even getting the rest you need. Stress can make your mind uneasy and lead to physical aches and pains all over your body. One way to reduce stress is with the techniques of Reiki.

In addition to helping you reduce stress, Reiki can also help you to relax and that will help your body to heal faster from various ailments. It can also prevent you from becoming ill as often. This concept involves finding your life force and making positive changes so your energy flow will be positive as well.

Having positive energy in your life will reduce your stress levels. It doesn't mean you won't have issues to deal with. Yet you will be in a better frame of mind to deal with what comes your way. Decisions can be made that will benefit you instead of draining you physically and emotionally.

Most people immediately feel better when they engage in Reiki. This is because it takes a holistic approach. It is going to benefit your entire body so your mind and your body can work together and feel better than you have in a very long time. In fact, you may not realize just how much stress has taken over until you begin using Reiki techniques.

One of the reasons why Reiki is so effective is because it is simple to take part in. Many other techniques can be frustrating because they are difficult to learn. You won't have this experience with it though. It doesn't matter how old you are or what is going on in your life. Everyone can benefit from it without question.

This type of technique can also help you to get into touch with your spiritual side. It doesn't matter what your personal beliefs are in regards to religion. You will also notice you are more in tone with the feelings of others. This can be your partner, friends, and even co-workers. As a result your relationships are better than before and that will make you a happier individual.

This is a type of healing that is all natural. You won't have to rely upon medications to get rid of certain types of aches or pains. You won't have to use sleep aids as you will be able to get a full night of rest. With your stress level reduced you will be able to enjoy life to the fullest. It will allow you to see the good things in your life and to work through the rest.

If you feel you could benefit from eliminating some of the stress in your life, you should experiment with Reiki. It offers plenty of great benefits for your entire body. It also allows you to develop positive energy spiritually and emotionally. You will feel better than you have in a very long time once you implement it into your life.

A Simple (Audible) Way to Achieve Time Management Skills

Do you always feel a step behind in life? Do you wish you could find more time? Do you have trouble accomplishing all the goals and errands you have each day? Ineffective time management can be a frustrating plague that envelops your life. You feel like you have lost control over your circumstances. This frustration can hurt your relationships, career, and overall health. Achieve time management skills by listening to audio books on the subject. Taking the time to listen to advice from time management professionals can help alleviate the harmful stress of constantly feeling crunched for time.

One of the most efficient ways to improve your time management skills is to base your life activities on a successful time management model. You will be hard pressed to find a time management expert that was born with perfect time management skills. They had to learn the coping skills that helped them to get on track. They are professionals and face the same emotional, mental, and physical demands in their life that you face everyday. Many of them have families and careers that pull for their attention. Therefore, they understand how unproductive time management can negatively affect your life.

You are probably wondering how you will find the time to listen to these audio learning resources when you can't even finish your present daily chores. The key is to listen while you are doing some of those daily chores. You can listen while driving to the grocery store or cleaning your house. Work through the audio books whenever you have a moment to spare or if you are engaging in menial everyday tasks such as folding the laundry.

Get yourself on the road to time management by listening to "The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management" by Hyrum W. Smith. Hyrum W. Smith is a seasoned motivational speaker and creator of the highly successful Franklin series. This audio book provides ten steps you can take to increase your productivity and feel excited about your life.

One of the most time consuming and robust stresses we have in our lives is balancing our work and family lives. There is an unyielding pull between work and family. An optimal balance needs to be achieved for life satisfaction. Listen to "Balancing Work and Family" by Stephen R. Covey to help you balance these two important aspects in your life. This audio learning tool provides small, realistic steps you can do in your life daily to balance work and family. Many of the techniques are a culmination of interviews from mothers, fathers, employees, telecommuters, and many more.

Other great audio resources to download include "Time Management from the Inside Out" by Julie Morgenstern, "Making Time Work for You" by Rebecca L. Morgan, and "How to Master Your Time" by Brian Tracy. These time management resources can work wonders for the productivity in your life. They will help you to prioritize your life and accomplish more in less time. Observing and employing these techniques will help you to achieve more and feel confident about the status of your life.

Should A Think Tank Consider Educational Experience on the Application?

As most folks realize there are some very intelligent folks behind the scenes advising decision makers in corporations, governments, and NGOs. Some of these groups call themselves Think Tanks, which is and ambiguous term in many regards, I mean what exactly is a Think Tank, does anyone really know, and does the dictionary really do the definition justice?

Turns out the answer is no, no, they don't and no it doesn't. You see, there are so many different types of think tanks, many with specific agendas and mission statements, with so many different solutions to provide and stated objectives - you almost cannot categorize any one of them.

Now then, with that known, how does anyone who applies stand a chance at predicting what might be on that application if they decide they are an achieved individual with superb intellect and credentials? That's a good question, and as the coordinator for a think tank, a small one, which operates on online, I can tell you it's not an easy question.

Not long ago, I was asked a question about our application process - Why don't you have educational experience as a question on the think tank application? That's a decent question and interestingly enough, I'd never considered it. So, I stated; regarding your question about "educational experience" - you do bring up a good point, and it was not my intention to offend anyone there, perhaps that should be changed?

You see, I think we also need to consider the non-academics too, as not to offend them. For instance, a champion of industry may have spent 27-years working 15-17 hour days, a literal creative genius game changer, and thus, would have the equivalent of 5 PhDs - except they don't offer such, and a good portion of those folks may have left school to pursue their work in the real world.

Indeed, I also explained another point, because coming from that side of the fence, well, you can see why I missed the inherent need for those with "educational experience" to have their own personal column to fill on the application. Still, he was correct, it probably should be changed, and yes, to his point it is; "Interesting" - not only that it wasn't there, but that his mind picked it up. And so, I thanked him for that thought.

Maybe this is something that all think tanks need to think about, and be sure to thank their applicants and say; "thank you for being patient on the application time, and thank you for providing this information." Okay so, this is some relevant advice on a very important topic for Think Tanks which wish to grow strong. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this.

PSP Game Demos - Good & Bad on PSP Game Demos

I have found PSP Game Demos give both good and bad expectations to my gaming experiences. There is a wide assortment of games made available for PSP, that it should come as no surprise that there are many PSP Game Demos on the internet today.

PSP Game Demos, what are they? Typically when a manufacturer makes a game, they create a Demo allowing the general public to get a small sample of what the game is like in hopes that they will be come excited with the game and purchase it after playing the sample version. The games themselves are typically restricted from allowing the player to set up all the game options that can be done for the game. Also, they may only allow you to play the first couple of levels of the game and restrict the more advanced levels. Other PSP Game Demos will allow you to play only for a certain time frame before the game will lock.

A popular way to get game demos is on the Internet by running searches on Google. You will typically get a lot of hits as there are tones of demos out there to choose from. But more importantly is company that is putting up the web site. When you are looking at these different sites, quality of games can differ drastically. If they are a true gaming company website, then they will have better game selections, faster download times, and more secure sites for security. Whereas, third party sites are more prone to having spam on them, slower download times, and poorer quality games. I have even picked up a virus from a gaming site like this at one time.

Another great way to find PSP Game Demos is by looking at gaming magazines. Gaming companies will advertise their games and post their web sites, in an attempt to reach their readership.

If you are not looking for retail games all the time, I have saved the best for last. I happen to like using a paid-for downloadable gaming websites for game full game versions and game demos that are available. These sites typically charge a one time fee to join, with "no" reoccurring monthly fees. Just pay once and that is it. In addition they tend to have faster download times and offer more secure networks. With the game choices that are available, you will have more selections than you can handle at times. In addition these sites have music, movies, and tv-shows which you can also download by being a member. The cost savings are tremendous and you get the most out of your Sony PSP.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article on PSP Game Demos.

To your enjoyment with your Sony PSP! - PSP Game Demos

Disability Insurance for the Small Business Owner

Even with employees, small business owners can be seen as single-person operations. No matter how much you pay someone to help you manage, market, or produce items for your small business, no one is as invested in its success and revenue generation as you are.

If you should become ill, injured or otherwise unable to work for medical reasons, you may no longer be able to contribute to the success of your business. You may also no longer be able to motivate and oversee employees, and you may not be physically capable of dedicating the time to your business that it needs. Not only will this result in the decline of your overall revenue but it will also mean that your company can no longer pay you an income. This is why all small business owners must invest in both short- and long-term disability insurance policies.

Relying on Social Security

Many individuals take for granted that Social Security disability benefits will be paid to them when they are no longer able to work and earn a paycheck for their small business, however, this is not generally the case. It is notoriously difficult to get the Social Security Administration (SSA) to approve your application for disability benefits. In addition, when relying exclusively on Social Security, you are subject to their definition of disability, their waiting period and their benefit limits.

As a small business owner, you benefit from taking the risks that all entrepreneurs accept. Your drive can directly contribute to the amount of income you're able to take from your business. Accepting the risk of Social Security taking care of you, and limiting your disability income to Social Security levels is not an acceptable risk nor is it reflective of the actual income you could have if you have your own disability insurance policy.

The Benefits of Disability Insurance

One of most important benefits of having a disability insurance policy as a small business owner is that you can buy a policy with a looser definition of disability than the SSA allows. The SSA considers individuals to be disabled when they're no longer able to conduct the duties of any occupation. With your individual disability insurance policy, you can choose a definition of disability that is reflective only of your ability to do the work of your current occupation.

In addition, the SSA does not cover any short-term disabilities. Your disability must last at least one year or be expected to result in death in order to qualify for benefits.

Another concern when you rely on Social Security is not only will you have to wait for your application to be approved but you must also go through the SSA's waiting period of five months before benefit payments begin. When you buy your own disability insurance policy, you can determine what waiting period you're comfortable with. The longer your waiting period, the lower your premium will be as a long waiting period reduces the overall amount that the disability insurance policy must pay out.

Inflation can work against the value of your disability insurance payment. A cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, added to your disability insurance policy will adjust your benefits annually in order to keep pace with inflation.

You also get to determine your own limits when buying a disability insurance policy. You may not be able to get full income replacement from insurers but you may be able to replace up to 80 percent of your income. The closer you want your benefit to be in terms of your actual income, the higher your premium will be.

Another benefit you can add to your disability insurance policy is guaranteed insurability benefits. This will allow you to add additional insurance amounts without going through underwriting again as this benefit guarantees your continued insurability. That means as your small business income goes up, you can mirror that increase through your disability insurance policy without worrying about how your health or age might affect your rates.

If you're a small business owner and you're ready to look at your long- and short-term disability options, give us a call. Together we can develop a disability insurance policy with limits, benefits and a waiting period that fits your budget and your ideals.