OKOA

99 things OKOA

2009-05-19T11:17:00.011-06:00

A friend and one of the blogs that I follow, had this cute list posted. As I read thru the list, I started to laugh. “When will I get to one that I have not yet done?” I wondered. I guess that it just proves that I’ve been around some time. And it not a bad idea to take stock in what one has done every now and then. This will allow you to check where you are at and what you still have to do yet in life.

And if this list is not of your liking, fine make your own, but make it now! Do not allow time to slip by in your life without a things-to-do list. A true list of dreams and goals in anyone’s life will always lead to great things and other kinds of answers…
To participate just copy the list as is and paste in your own blog,
and bold all of the things you have done.

01. Started your own blog
02. Slept under the stars
03. Played in a band
04. Visited Hawaii
05. Watched a meteor shower
06. Given more than you can afford to charity
07. Been to Disneyland
08. Climbed a mountain
09. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in

France

20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Well, got this entire list, but #37, 98 0ut of 99 is not too bad! But this is someone’s else’s list just comparing for fun, and you can bet that I going to add that last one to my own list on the wall of my office, and always keep looking for Other Kinds Of Answers… You do the same...

“LILO’s” Other Kinds Of Answers…

2009-05-10T20:02:00.003-06:00

As I hinted at very plainly in my last post, Inflationary Other Kinds Of Answers… It's time to stop crying over the spilled milk, kick the people out of the sandbox who did not play nice with others, Bury the Unions, for at last they have kicked in the cash bucket and let’s all watch Uncle Sammy’s Tea giving party even closer. A whole lot of folks getting my taxes as hand-outs that I do not think should. If I wanted to invest in them, I would have myself.

My OKOA Readers, our dear economy might seemed to be melting down like a pat of pure butter on a hot used car roof, but for some OKOA people — even you, maybe? — This is a very very good thing indeed. It is time to dust off every OKOA that ever woke you up in the middle of the night. I have six good ideas that I’m pretty sure that have not been tried yet. I’m currently pushing them thru the starting phase, background checking and research… Stay tuned.

First, as always, this is just my opinion and these are actions I am currently doing, as you that read on will find out about! I have been watching and paying close attention for the last number of years, always looking for my other kinds of answers. Not all the answers are of only the Knowledge and wisdom kind that I am looking for. Financial and business OKOA’s are worth looking for also.

What is a “LILO’s”…?

Here is the skinny why and how. At no other time in recent history has it been easier or cheaper to start a new company, maybe even a very profitable company over night, so to speak. We’ll call this type of start-ups “LILO’s”, for “little in, lot out." These are Web-based businesses that cost almost nothing to get off the ground yet can turn into great moneymakers. This only if you work hard, mind your own business and are uncomplaining but know when & how to Twit out about your idea and about the .biz there from.

How do you get started? All that's required is a great idea for a product that will fill a need in today’s 21st century. These days you'd do best if your idea either makes people money safely or saves them money surely. It really needs to work at a level that anyone can understand and use, if you really want it to rocket. Do check that any idea and name there of are clear every way that you can. In other words make sure that they are yours, and make them yours legally.

I first pushed my ideas past a group of “25ish” old friends that are open to this kind of thinking, and do even read this blog. I really can get them all going when the old guy looks over their code-du-jour, and points out errors. Yea, this old guy can read code, and has even come up with a few OKOA things that the friends have liked. That and he shows up with good bagels and Jolt for everybody now and then.

Why these friends as a sounding block, well, they are all of the right age and are code-eaters, and they have one or two LILO sites just starting to get off the ground themselves. Learn from the do-ers and share what you have picked too! That keeps all the costs down and folks living life.

As for their revenue incoming, they just have sold the first site based ad, for the low three figures a month. But it's a foundation: "We've already reached ramen profitability." The main math here: they spend about $100 a month on server space fees and other minor expenses. And they have a start-up company that is up and going! And more important, true cash inflow other kinds of answers…!

True Noodleconomics

The term ramen profitable is coined by Paul Graham, a Silicon Valley start-up investor, essayist and muse to LILO entrepreneurs. It means that your start-up is self-sustaining and can eke out enough profit to keep you alive on instant noodles while your business idea gains traction.

"At this point, it would be hard for companies to get any cheaper," he is quoted. Since everyone already has an Internet-connected device somewhere in their lives, "it's gotten to the point that you can't detect the cost of a company when added to a person's living expenses. A real world company is no more expensive than a semi-full time hobby these days."

Will your idea be the next Facebook? The next Blogger, Digg or Twitter? Who knows? It almost goes without saying that many more start-ups fail than succeed. "The biggest problem facing any website biz is words of mouth distribution." In a world where it's so easy to start a company, how can anyone find yours? Only if a friend shares it with you, out of love, heed or need.

But here again, a bad economy is the LILO's friend. It is easy to say, "The cost of failure is cheap. It's even so low, you can afford to swing the bat way more times." In our bad economy, no one really notices or cares about more failure. Everyone fails at something or somehow, and those that keep trying will make it. That creates a safer and better environment for risk-taking, which is the only way true innovation can occur.

And while not many folks could get hurt from a total failure that you can walk away from. At the same time, launching in a bad economy imposes it own kind of disciplines, forcing entrepreneurs to keep costs low and be smart about marketing and distribution. You can even say it should keep them always looking for other kinds of answers…

Inflationary Other Kinds Of Answers…

2009-04-22T18:09:00.002-06:00

If you watch the news daily, you’d think that our economy was in un-recoverable shambles, that our financial worlds are ending and all investors should stay away from windows in tall buildings. Even to the point that we all should be buying only food, fuel, ammo and toilet paper preparing for the hostility at the end times.

I do not think it is that bad quite yet… As Seasoned Human that has seen times like this before, I think that saving all of your money is a BIG mistake right now.

First, this is just my opinion and these are actions I am currently doing, as the deals right now are better then they have been in years! I have been watching and paying close attention for the last number of years, always looking for my other kinds of answers. Not all the answers are of only the Knowledge and wisdom kind that I am looking for. Financial other kinds of answers are worth looking for also.

I now believe our situation, as a whole, seems dire enough now and First, Yes, an emergency fund is a requirement for any sound financial planning effort and I do have mine in place. But saving every last penny is the last thing you should be doing right now! It is the time to buy the things that you’ve been putting off because every signal out there is telling you to save everything.

The laws of supply and demand are in our favor because very few folks are buying, which means the people who are, will be getting incredible deals, if they are willing to negotiate and put in the time for research, exploring and planning. This goes for minor cost items like simple tools and supplies of life or business, all the way to major capitol Items, such as second homes, rentals and whole businesses.

With no one spending their money, because they’re saving or holding… this means banks won’t be giving you great interest rates because they don’t have to, and they have too much money, or even too much bad debt! That’s only the beginning of this very large financial story…

Apparition of Inflation

The government seems pretty savvy; they know you’ll get upset if they raise the taxes without giving you a very very good reason. Fortunately they have another weapon, printing presses. When the government pumps more money into the money supply, the value of your dollars can decrease. The government has made trillions of dollars in promises to financial institutions, automakers, and many other smaller profile parties through its actions the last few months and it will have to fund them somehow.

Part of it will be funded by borrowing, but some of it will come through increasing the supply of money. Inflation won’t be an issue while we’re in a recession, but it’ll be a beast of a problem whenever we’re no longer scared of the recession. Be warned now and be thinking ahead for Other Kinds of Answers…

Negotiate Deals

The time to buy is when others are panicking. When you have the benefit of timing, you control all the power in periods of economic uncertainty. I’m not talking about just the stock markets, I’m talking about everything! If you wanted a house, now is the time to buy because interest rates are low and home prices are even lower. Heck, even the Government, Federal and State maybe willing to give tax breaks and grants, if you will move now.

If you wanted to make improvements to your house, start talking to contractors because their business is slow and they will be willing to cut deals just to stay in business. If you wanted a car, dealerships will offer great incentives because they need to boost their sales numbers. Even if it’s something as simple as an appliance, you can negotiate the price down and get an energy savings tax credit to boot!

And don’t buy things you don’t need just because they’re a deal, that’s reckless, buy only things you need and negotiate it down to the bare bone pricing. Watch out for hooks in the deal also, things that you have to do to get the GREAT Deal, or are added at the sale’s close…Required Install labor, shipping charges or more fees can eat up any great deal in a hurry

Bank like Banks Do

Ever received one of those offers in the mail that seems like the solution to all your problems? It may have said, "Your home is an untapped resource. Refinance your loan with us and you'll get quick cash to buy something, fund college, add to savings or pay off your debt." You may have been tempted by the idea, but hopefully you didn't bite. There are much better ways to solve problems with debt. Refinance your loan; in the long run could actually cost you much more money. Keep reading…

There is a newer option in the USA and Canada you may not have heard about. You should really consider a look at what can be found at www.aboutu1st.com and I know that everyone has to look at what is best for their own requirements, and this will not be a good fit for everyone. In full disclosure, my own family has been using this idea, and it is working very well, even enough for me to take the time to become an agent sharing the idea with others. And NO, it not a MLM!

Lower Interest Rate Doesn’t Always Equal Saving

First, make sure that you are really saving money if you do refinance. It’s not enough to compare 6% to 4.5%. What you need to do is determine how much interest you’ll be paying if you keep the original loan versus the total cost of the refinanced loan (i.e., interest plus closing cost). To do this correctly, you’ll need a good mortgage calculator. There are many worthy FREE ones on the web. For example, let’s assume your original $300,000 loan is a 30-year fixed rate loan at 6% and you’re refinancing to a 15-year fixed rate loan at 4.5%

Age of the original loan (years)	Interest remaining on old loan	Principal balance to refinance	Interest cost of new loan	Savings before closing costs and other fees
10	$180,620.08	$251,057.36	$94,645.79	$85,974
15	$110,611.51	$213,146.93	$80,353.74	$30,258
20	$53,828.02	$162,011.42	$61,076.08	($7,248)

As you can see from the scenarios above, you could lose money by refinancing to a lower interest rate. In general, it’s more advantageous to refinance newer loans than older ones, because most of your money goes toward paying interest at the beginning of most loans.

Interest Rates Are Low NOW

The federal funds target rate “range” is 0.00% to 0.25%, which means the government doesn’t want you to save, they want you to spend! The federal funds target rate is the target rate the Fed wants banks to lend to other banks on an overnight basis (to meet capital requirements). They achieve this rate by expanding or restricting the amount of money available. If a bank can borrow money from another bank for 0% - 0.25%, what incentive do they have to pay you anything for your savings? Almost none. The end result is that you get almost no interest from your savings, or bank investing, as another way to look at it.

Another quick point, you may even be able to get 18 to 36 month 0.0% financing right now on many items, so you do not have to spend your cash savings right now. Yes, in some cases, you do have to spend at least a certain minimum amount to get those deals, but in many cases, you can reach the minimum by buying two, three, or four items together. Just be sure that you understand all the details of the deal and all the fine print.

In other words, the government doesn’t want you to save your money; they want you to spend it and help boost the economy! And let’s be honest, unless you start spending, the government will only get worse in how it pumps more money into the system, or even has to manage everything by taking over everything.

Reward the Entrepreneurs

The United States was built on the shoulders of entrepreneurs; reward them by giving them your business. Don’t overpay for things because you feel badly about their financial situation, that’s not necessary, but spend your money at the places you like and the businesses you enjoy dealing with. They won’t close a sale unless it makes financial sense to them but they do need the sales. Giving them business will give them additional capital to work with and, if they’re doing well in the downturn, expand and add more available jobs to the system, thus more people out spending.

I firmly believe that the way out of this whole big mess is through business growth spurred on by something, whether its consumer confidence and increased spending or whatever that improves our infrastructure, it will be led by small businesses and entrepreneurs, with other kinds of answers.

Think carefully before you borrow money to do anything. When you borrow, you are guaranteed to lose the amount you pay toward interest. However, you are not always guaranteed a better return on investment on borrowed money. I know this article is heavy on mathematics, but I hope you will enjoy learning about the process and it is pretty clearly about Other Kinds Of Answers...

Tax Day Other Kinds Of Answers…

2009-04-10T07:04:00.006-06:00

Maybe just to see a brighter perceive of other answers, as far as taxes goes, here is a semi-holiday from my own calendar, which I hope by sharing and telling everyone about will help in these days when there seems so little. Always remember, it is when the times are the toughest, the other kinds of answers are both most needed and the easiest to find. Read on...

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America Celebrates Tax Freedom Day® April 13^th, 2009
America Will Work 8 Days Less to Pay Taxes in 2009 than in 2008; Recession, Stimulus Package Push Date of Celebration Up

Read the full Tax Freedom Day report here.

Washington, DC, March 31, 2009 - Tax Freedom Day will arrive on April 13 this year, according to the Tax Foundation's annual calculation using the latest government data on income and taxes.

This is eight days earlier than in 2008, and a full two weeks earlier than in 2007, for two reasons: (1) the recession has reduced tax collections even faster than it has reduced income, and (2) the stimulus package includes large temporary tax cuts for 2009 and 2010. Nevertheless, Americans will pay more in taxes than they will spend on food, clothing and housing combined.

In the study, Tax Foundation Special Report No. 165, "America Celebrates Tax Freedom Day," Tax Foundation staff economist Josh Barro traces the course of America's tax burden since 1900, examines the composition of today's tax burden by type of tax, and finally calculates a Tax Freedom Day for each state.

Taxes and Federal Deficit

Tax Freedom Day moves somewhat independently from an alternative calculation that adds the federal budget deficit to total taxes collected. In 2009, an unprecedented budget deficit over $1.5 trillion produces a date of May 29. This is the latest date in the year this deficit-inclusive measure has ever fallen. The only previous years when taxes and deficit spending comprised a similarly large share of national income were 1944 and 1945, at the peak of World War II. In the postwar era, this date had never fallen later than May 9 (in 1992). Figure 1 below shows Tax Freedom Day as traditionally presented and with the inclusion of the federal budget deficit, since 1967 (click to enlarge).

Tax Freedom Day Fluctuations in Recent Years and Predictions for the Near Future

In 2000, Tax Freedom Day was celebrated May 3, the latest date ever. A string of tax cuts between 2001 and 2003 pushed Tax Freedom Day up by more than two weeks, so that it fell on April 16 in 2003 and April 17 in 2004. For the next three years, incomes and tax collections soared, pushing Tax Freedom Day back to April 26 in 2007.

Since 2006, corporate tax revenues have fallen sharply and are projected to do so again in 2009. Personal income taxes also fell in 2008 and are expected to fall again in 2009 due to the weakening economy and tax cuts in the stimulus package. Because most of this year's stimulus package's tax cuts continue through 2010, Tax Freedom Day could be expected to shift later by a few days next year only if the economy improves. For 2011, both the stimulus package's tax cuts and the earlier Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 are set to expire. The future timing of Tax Freedom Day will depend on which tax cuts Congress and the Obama Administration choose to extend through 2011 and thereafter.

Which Taxes Are the Biggest?

Five major categories of tax dominate the tax burden. Individual income taxes, both federal and state, require 38 days' work. Payroll taxes take another 27 days' work. Sales and excise taxes, mostly state and local, take 15 days to pay off. Corporate income taxes take 6 days, and property taxes take 12. Americans will log 4 more days to pay other miscellaneous taxes, most notably including motor vehicle license taxes and severance taxes, and about 1 day for estate taxes.

Tax Freedom Day by State

Residents of Alaska will bear the lowest average tax burden in 2009. Because of their modest incomes and extremely low state-and-local tax burden, we estimate Alaska's Tax Freedom Day for 2009 to be March 23. Louisiana, Mississippi, South Dakota and West Virginia round out the five states that we project will experience Tax Freedom Day earliest in 2009.

The residents of Connecticut will celebrate last, as usual, working until the 120th day of the year, from January 1 to April 30, before earning enough to pay all their taxes. Because Connecticut's income per capita is higher than in any other state, its residents pay extraordinarily high federal income taxes. Nearby states New Jersey and New York are second and third, respectively, California and Maryland round out the top five.

Tax Freedom Day by State, 2009
State	Days Spent Working to Pay Taxes	Tax Freedom Day	Rank
United States	103	April 13	---
Alabama	92	April 2	44
Alaska	82	March 23	50
Arizona	100	April 10	23
Arkansas	94	April 4	37
California	110	April 20	4
Colorado	102	April 12	16
Connecticut	120	April 30	1
Delaware	101	April 11	20
Florida	99	April 9	27
Georgia	102	April 12	17
Hawaii	103	April 13	14
Idaho	102	April 12	18
Illinois	103	April 13	15
Indiana	98	April 8	28
Iowa	94	April 4	39
Kansas	98	April 8	30
Kentucky	93	April 3	41
Louisiana	87	March 28	49
Maine	96	April 6	33
Maryland	109	April 19	5
Massachusetts	106	April 16	7
Michigan	100	April 10	24
Minnesota	105	April 15	9
Mississippi	87	March 28	48
Missouri	96	April 6	34
Montana	93	April 3	42
Nebraska	98	April 8	31
Nevada	98	April 8	29
New Hampshire	100	April 10	22
New Jersey	119	April 29	2
New Mexico	92	April 2	43
New York	115	April 25	3
North Carolina	99	April 9	25
North Dakota	91	April 1	46
Ohio	101	April 11	21
Oklahoma	94	April 4	40
Oregon	99	April 9	26
Pennsylvania	104	April 14	11
Rhode Island	104	April 14	10
South Carolina	94	April 4	38
South Dakota	88	March 29	47
Tennessee	95	April 5	36
Texas	96	April 6	32
Utah	103	April 13	13
Vermont	102	April 12	19
Virginia	106	April 16	6
Washington	106	April 16	8
West Virginia	91	April 1	45
Wisconsin	103	April 13	12
Wyoming	95	April 5	35
District of Columbia	103	April 13	---

How Tax Freedom Day Is Calculated

Tax Freedom Day answers the basic question, "What price is the nation paying for government?" An official government figure for total tax collections is divided by the nation's total income. The answer this year is that taxes will amount to 28.2 percent of our income, and the stretch of 103 days from January 1 to April 13 is 28.2 percent of the year. Income and tax data are then parsed out to the states, yielding 50 state-specific Tax Freedom Days.

Tax Freedom Day: Origin and Methodology

Tax Freedom Day was conceived by Florida businessman Dallas Hostetler in 1948. He performed the calculation himself and promoted his copyrighted concept until his retirement in 1971. He deeded the intellectual property to the Tax Foundation, and since then the Tax Foundation has used historical data to calculate Tax Freedom Day back to the beginning of the 20th century. In 1990 sufficient data became available to calculate a separate Tax Freedom Day for each state.

Tax Freedom Day is a vivid, calendar based illustration of government’s cost, and it gives Americans an easy way to gauge the overall tax take. We count every dollar that is officially part of national income according to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, and every payment to the government that is officially considered a tax is counted. Taxes at all levels of government are included, whether levied by Uncle Sam or state and local governments. We assume that the nation starts working on January 1, earning the same amount each day and spending nothing. When the nation has finally earned enough to pay all the taxes that will be due for that year, Tax Freedom Day has arrived.

For more information and a full copy the report,
go to http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/93.html.

Some Foolish Other Kinds Of Answers...

2009-04-01T07:05:00.002-06:00

All Fool's Day, also known as April Fool’s Day, is celebrated annually on the first day of April. It is a time for the traditional playing of pranks upon unsuspecting people... the victim of such a prank being called an April Fool.

The origins of this custom are somewhat uncertain, but may have initially been related to the arrival of Spring in late March, at which time Mother Nature is said to "fool" with the human race with sudden and fickle changes in the weather... showers or snow one hour and sunshine for the next, Which happens frequently the in Utah. In fact of the matter, at this very second, it is snowing outside as I type this blog. We have about 5 inches, and it is still coming!

The playing of practical jokes, however, dates back to Ancient Rome and such activities were an integral part of the Hilaria celebrations held on March 25, a celebration which would again appear to be associated with the coming of Spring and the Vernal Equinox, held to honor the resurrection of Attis, Roman God of Vegetation who was linked to the seasonal cycle. In England, an ancient legend states that April Fool's Day commemorates the fruitless mission of the Crow, which was sent out in search of land from Noah's flood-encircled ark.

It is generally accepted that the All Fool's Day tradition began in France during the Sixteenth Century, when the beginning of the New Year was observed on April 1 and was celebrated in much the same way as New Year is today with parties and dancing late into the night. At that time, the festivities ran for a week, beginning on March 25, and included the exchanging of gifts.

In 1582, however, during the reign of King Charles IX, Pope Gregory introduced a revised calendar for the Christian world wherein the New Year fell on January 1. Since it took some time, possibly even years, for many people to even hear word of the change (communications being what they were in the Sixteenth Century) and since others obstinately refused to accept such reform or simply forgot, New Year's Day continued to be celebrated on the first day of April in many areas.

Individuals who had accepted the dates of the new calendar played tricks on those who had not and referred to the unfortunate victims of such pranks as "April Fools," sending them on a "fool's errand" (an invitation to a non-existent party, for example) or attempting to make them believe that something which was true was actually false.

Over time, this practice evolved into an annual tradition of April 1 prank-playing, eventually migrating to England and Scotland during the Eighteenth Century and thus, introduced to the American colonies by British and French settlers.

There is even speculation that All Fool's Day originated in the Hindu festival of Huli or Holi, celebrated in March to commemorate the defeat of evil. Originally lasting for five days, the modern version of this festival covers two days only. On the first day, a bonfire is lit and, on the second, people throw colored powder and water over each other. Holi celebrations are associated with the Hindu Demoness, Holika.

In many cultures, tradition dictates that the pranking period must expire at noon on April 1 and any jokes attempted after that hour will bring back luck to the perpetrator. In addition, any who fail to respond with a good humor to tricks played upon them are said to attract bad luck unto themselves. Such victims are, however, entitled to "turn the tables" after the hour of noon with the retort: "April Fool's gone past...and you're the biggest fool at last!"

It should be noted that not all April Fool superstitions are so negative. Males, who are fooled by a pretty female, for example, are said to be fated to marry the girl...or at least enjoy a healthy friendship with her. Part of these pranks played is to awaking the hapless male into noticing the young lady, by use of her wit and wilds. Maybe another reason for so many spring late weddings...

The style of April Fool's pranks has changed over the years. Sending unsuspecting parties on pointless errands was a particularly prized practical joke in the early history of the celebrations. Today, however, it is often a time of initiation rites into a club or group, especially by the adult population, and it is the children who appear to truly celebrate the day complete with its original sense of abandon. Otherwise, modern pranks tend to center more around bogus telephone calls, text messages and media-driven foolery.

In summary, All Fool's Day is a "for fun only" observance...a time when nobody is expected to buy gifts, receive cards or spend money and there are no vacations from work or school. The primary force behind April Fool's Day jokes and pranks are that they should not be harmful but able to be enjoyed by everyone...especially the person upon whom the joke is played. So, I hope that this will serve as a warning and also supply some Other Kinds Of Answers…

Some Risky Other Kinds Of Answers…

2009-03-26T07:32:00.002-06:00

Are you afraid to start your own business? Are you afraid of losing what little money you now have? Let me ask you simply this: Why?

Sure, maybe you’ll lose all of your money and be completely broke. Then again, you were completely “broke” when you were born too. Plus back then, you didn’t have any experience, or know anything. Yet, you turned out pretty well. You have whatever money you have now, an interesting life, and plenty of stories to tell. If you weren’t afraid of being broke back then, why are you so afraid of being broke now? With all the upheaval in the world today, who knows for certain what lies ahead anyway?

Maybe you have a family and you think you have responsibilities to live up to. Well, your spouse was just fine before he/she met you. If you’re broke now, he/she should still be fine. Besides, your relationship shouldn’t be based on your money, and shouldn’t hold you down from achieving the best goals and dreams. This other person should drive you towards them even harder!

What if you have children? Well, that’s a better argument, but everywhere, kids have grown up without a whole lot of money in the family, and do just fine (I, myself, am one of these kids - I actually did much better than other kids in school because my family didn’t have a lot of money). In fact, you might end up teaching your kids how to take risks correctly and live life better, even if you fail this time. Sure, put some money aside so that the kids don’t starve, but you should be able to pursue your dreams. We even have “safety-nets” from our Uncle Sam, at both the state and federal levels, just in case we do fail, with families to feed.

Another way to think about this is to realize that you are always taking risks in life anyway. If you get on a plane, you have something like a 1 in 500K chance of dying. If you cross a street, you have like a 1 in 1 million chance of getting hit by a car. If you stand around, there’s like a 1 in 1 billion chance that something will just randomly hit and kill you. Anything you do, you’re taking a risk of some sort. When you get to choose what kind of risk you take, why not choose the one most in your favor?

If you’re planning on working all your life, you risk never being much career wise. You risk never making it big, and getting the things you want. In fact, the chances of that are almost 100% that working for someone else will get you no where anyway.

You risk sacrificing the glory you could have had and living a very mediocre, uninspired life. On the other hand, if you lean towards your own business, you risk losing a probably mediocre life, in exchange for the chance to get everything you’ve ever wanted. While I’m using business as an example here, this applies equally to other areas of your life such as living, or trying other new things as well.

A lot of taking risks is being okay with the possibility of failure. You have to overcome the fear of losing everything you have now. If you think about it though, you started with nothing, and will end with nothing anyway. No matter what you do, you will have nothing eventually. It’s almost like the natural state of things.

In some role playing games I’ve played, once you’ve gotten up to a very high level in a class, you have the option of going back to level 1 with a whole new class, but starting again with better skills. Pretty much every person who plays games like that and gets to that choose to be reformed with better skills will do it. Well, this is like that. You try, and if you fail, you’re basically in the same situation as you were in when you were born, except much more experienced. It’s like starting a brand new life with a much better background as a starting point. Isn’t that even more exciting than the first time around? You’re never too young to try again.

Another way to look at this is to look at the difference between you being alive and you being dead. If you’re not trying anything, then it would not be that different than if you were dead. You wouldn’t have made much of an impact, and no one would care whether or not you have even lived.

You see, the option to take a risk is basically a freedom of choice. When there’s no risk, there’s not as much freedom involved. For example, what’s the value of a choice between two things that are exactly the same? Whenever you make a choice, there needs to be a risk of missing out on the other choice that makes the new choice itself worthwhile.

So use your freedom and choose the life you want! I still happen to want to be a billionaire, and will still work at just that, but if you want to lead a normal happy life, you can take a risk by well, just being normal. Just know that you’re risking the other lives you could’ve lead by doing just that safe life.

No matter what the situation is though, if you don’t try, you have no chance of succeeding. Most of the time (like asking for a simple favor); there is only a very small penalty for failure anyway. Most of the time, it is just a “No”, so why not give it all a try? Even if you fail to reach the moon, you’ll still be among the stars. And who know what Other Kinds of Answers, you may find along the way!

Through Simplicity, Other Kinds Of Answers…

2009-03-20T07:28:00.002-06:00

I have developed a deep and abiding desire for simplicity lately. However, this desire of simplicity does seem to always interfere with my desire to acquire “stuff” in my pursuit of happiness . My Motto for the past year has been "make it simple."
I started with "keep it simple" but quickly realized that my life was not yet simple, so how could I say “keep it simple”, when I needed to first "make it simple". Now I realize that once life becomes simple (I have not yet surrendered to the idea that it can never be simple), the task changes into preventing the natural sequence to complexity.

I look back into the past. Into the nineteenth century, and say, “that was a far simpler time.” Therefore, I am puzzled when I read that Henry David Thoreau, a nineteenth century man, struggled with the desire to simplify his life as well. It was because Thoreau struggled with the complexity of life that he “went to the woods”. He did this “because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

SIMPLIFY. SIMPLIFY. SIMPLIFY.

Thoreau writes of the misfortune of those that inherit farms and implements, the stuff of 18th century life. He explains “…these are more easily acquired than got rid of.” He tells the story of a deacon who died and an auction was held for all his possessions, mainly those pulled out from the basement, and pulled down from the attic. These were sold to men who were going to drag them home in order to store them in their own basements and attics until they too died. Then again they would be pulled out from the basement and pulled down from the attic and sold at auction again. I do believe I may have had some of those very same items stored in my very own garage….

Within the year, (having perhaps complained too many times over too many years about all the stuff in the garage that I couldn’t park two cars in my two car garage) our now adult children will organized a yard sale at our house. Now my wife and I have had these events in the past: carefully sorting through the stuff of life and deciding what would go in the sale (most did not go).

Our children will haul everything out of the garage and then remove all their leftover items that they want or need. Then with what is left, will then required my wife and I decide what we would take back into the garage – and explain why, right there on the spot. This will be a very painful process, but truly a way that only very few things made their way back into our garage. I think that we should get an early start! (Maybe Tuesday morning, with the sale on Saturday morning...?)

Everything else that did not make it back inside will be sold or trashed. At the end of the yard sale, there will be more money in our coffers, our driveway will be clear, and two cars will fit in the two car garage! With this sale, we will not miss anything that we no longer have. “More easily acquired than got rid of.”

Learning, Learning, Learning.

Another one of my tutors of the bookshelf, Richard Foster (in Celebration of Spiritual Disciplines) wrote: “Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us.” This thought started a process of introspection: “Why was I seeking simplicity?” To be certain, I was bothered by the stuff of life. And, yes, I was bothered by the bills that resulted from acquiring, repairing, and maintaining the stuff of life.

I wanted simplicity. Maybe simply because I didn’t want to be bothered with any of the items collected during a fifty year old man’s lifetime. That did not seem like a truly noble enough goal. Just having less stuff seemed some what un-American, to me! Time to fall back on my European roots.

As I continued to reflect upon Richard Foster’s statement, I slowly began to realize that it was my possessions that were destroying me. Simplicity soon was no longer the goal, but the means to a goal – the goal of enjoying life to the fullest. It was, almost a complete circle back to the reason why Thoreau went to the woods. In short, I wanted to live deliberately.

William Wallace says in Braveheart, “all men die, but not all men truly live.” I wanted the dash on my tombstone, the dash between birth date and death date, to be a truly significant and meaningful dash, not merely a blank line offering separation between the two events.

This began a further refinement, a centering of the soul; a change from simplicity meaning the mere reduction of clutter, the de-cumulation of “stuff”, through a process of reducing the activities in which I intentionally engage, into a process (yet incomplete) of determining what is most important.

I chose to live deliberately; I desire to fulfill the purposes for which I was uniquely created. This line of thinking began to move me from the “stuff of life” that could be counted, boxed and stored to the other “stuff of life”, those things I occupied my time doing.

Within a manufacturing environment “simplify” is to eliminate non-value added activities, that is, those that do not satisfy a specific customer requirement. Within the environment in which I now work, the same principle applies – we can only eliminate those things that do not satisfy a specific customer requirement. Sometimes they don’t seem to know, except that “we’ve always done it that way”. So our processes are effectively blocked from being simplified.

In my life, what are the “specific requirements” that I have? What is it, in my personal life, which effectively blocks simplification? Unless I understand those, I cannot achieve excellence through simplicity -- I will simply divest myself of “stuff”. And if I do not take into account my beloved spouse’s requirements, I risk far worse consequences. It is life itself that I seek, not mere existence. Trying to reduce my “specific requirements” has been a difficult, on-going, task.

Here I found help in another tutors of the shelf, David Whyte (The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America who wrote this:

If we have little idea of what we really want from our lives, or what a soulful approach to our work might mean, then often the only entrance we have into soul comes from the ability to say a firm no to those things we intuit lead to a loss of vitality. This way is traditionally known as the via negativa, or negative road…. The via negativa is the discipline of saying ‘no’ when we have as yet no clarity about those things to which we can say yes!

Douglas Adams wrote much about the great question of life, the universe and everything (the question whose answer is 42) in his Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series. When dealing with the quandary of this answer, Adams has his advanced computer explain: “I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you’ve never actually known what the question is… so once you know what the question actually is, you’ll know what the answer means.”

It seems, whether a nineteenth century philosopher or a twentieth century science fiction writer or a corporate poet – all circle around the same fact that Alice faced before the Cheshire Cat. If you don’t know where you want to end up, then it doesn’t matter which direction you go. Until I know what my “specific requirements” are, I cannot reduce the non-value added activities….

Making something simple is very difficult.

Making my life simple is even more difficult.

Finding Other kind of Answers can be simply difficult.

But the true point of beginning seems to be: knowing what I want out of life. For me, that process has included the saying “no” when I lack clarity about those things to which I can say “yes” to.

This has been a difficult transition, an incomplete (as yet) transition. Have I “missed out” on occasion? Yes -- a glorious yes, a resounding yes, and even a simple yes. But it has eliminated a lot of pointless busyness out of my life. It has allowed me to slow down.

I open a Lowe’s catalog and covet. I open my Best Buy weekly flyer and covet. I visit Barnes and Noble and drool as well as covet. My process is not complete for there is still the coveting. But I make no purchases based upon my coveting. I wait at least 24 hours. I have discovered I really can live without “that” – the last 24 hours proved I can in fact “live without it”.

Another "small" step or habit now out of my life, that I can now share with everyone is that I do not smoke anymore. With all the simplifying of late, it just seemed to fit. So I did it, with help of patches and pretzels, I am now 8 weeks smoke free this morning, Feels Good to be Free!

This past fall and early winter, each very cold Thursday evening a good friend and I would go to Borders for a hot coffee and thirty minutes of friendship. We would go to visit together, and we would visit with our friends on the shelf, as we talked about life en all.

There were many times I would resolve I wanted to purchase something, determine to do so the next Thursday, and by the next Thursday wondered why I was so intrigued by that object just the week before. Perhaps that is why my garage had originally filled up with “stuff” purchased for $10 and sold in a yard sale for $4. As I have intentionally sought to simplify my life, both the material “stuff” of life and the immaterial “stuff” of life, I have discovered that I enjoy my present possessions more. The pursuit of simplicity is reorienting my life so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying me.

In my introspection I've determined that what I want most is a rich soul life. I wish to nourish my soul. The puritans had a saying, “Acquire thy soul with patience.” That is what I have been in process of doing. Even before I knew it had a name.

David Whyte wrote: “… we understand that though the world will never be simple, a life that honors the soul seems to have a kind of radical simplicity at the center of it.”

I like that expression “radical simplicity”. I am in process. Simplicity is not the goal, it is the means to the goal of a rich and fulfilling soul life. Excellence of life is the goal, excellence through simplicity of Other kinds of Answers...

One TRILLION Other Kinds Of Answers…

2009-03-14T07:18:00.013-06:00

All this talk about "stimulus packages" and "bailouts"...

A billion dollars...

A hundred billion dollars...

Eight hundred billion dollars...

One TRILLION dollars...

What does that look like? I mean, these huge numbers are tossed around like so many doggie treats, so when a fellow great thinker thought he'd take Google Sketchup out for a test drive and try to get a sense of what exactly a trillion dollars looks like. I really Loved it, and had to share with all of my readers and post it!

Now those of you that read OKOA when I do post something, are going to know that if you want weird info clearly, you have found the right place to find it!

I really think that this post is going to be my largest every!

We'll start with a $100 dollar bill. Currently the largest U.S. denomination in general circulation. Most everyone has seen them, slightly fewer have owned them. Guaranteed to make friends wherever they go. It has always been my fav bill of U.S. Currency!

A packet of one hundred $100 bills is less than 1/2" thick and contains $10,000. Fits in your pocket easily and should be more than enough for day or two of shamefully decadent legal fun.

Believe it or not, this next little pile is $1 million dollars (100 packets of $10,000). You could stuff that into a grocery bag and walk around with it.

Now I have held just over $2 million dollars in cash in my hands. Not really that hard of a thing to do, as long as you can get access to that kind of cash. It sure felt good, even for the few minutes that it was there!

While a measly $1 million looked a little unimpressive, $100 million is a little more respectable. It fits neatly on a standard pallet...

And $1 BILLION dollars... now we're really getting somewhere... Ten Pallets!....

Next we'll look at ONE TRILLION dollars. This is that number we've been hearing so much about. What is a trillion dollars? Well, it's a million million. It's a thousand billion. It's a one followed by 12 zeros.

You ready for this? It's pretty surprising.

Ladies and gentlemen... I give you $1 trillion dollars U.S....

(And notice those pallets are double stacked and the Dot of a person still standing to the left of the pallets.)

So the next time you hear someone toss around the phrase "trillion dollars"... that's what they're talking about. That is really a lot of Other Kinds Of Answers...

(step by step calculations & dimensions are HERE for those who may be interested in getting a copy, in PDF.)

Well… Other Kinds Of Answers…

2009-02-25T14:22:00.005-07:00

Well… Yes, the busier that life gets, the more a blog goes without a new posting. Not trying to make any excuses, a big part has been my fault. But there have been just a few things going on from about mid January to late February of this year. Let’s see if I can’t get all my loyal readers back up to OKOA speed.

Well… After a busier then expected “Retail Holiday Season”, I got to get away for a few days in late January. From snowy foggy cold northern Utah by airplane to sunny mild dry northern California, Just a bit of quick Business and see the Family there trip. Short and sweet, no frills (did have a really neat BBQ Burger at Hooters…Try it!). Just me traveling, one bag, nothing checked, and only THREE minutes to get thru TSA at the SLC Airport. I thought that either I missed part of the check, or the TSA is starting to really get good at what their doing. Return trip home was good also.

Well… Then back to work and home life for quick bit, snow to clear so it can snow some more that also needs to be cleared. One of the truly big things happened at 21:34 on 02/02/09, we got a new granddaughter! Senta is very beautiful and healthy! 8lbs 14ozs and 20.5 inches. Mother and Father are doing great too! Still don’t know why babies have to arrive so late in the day, but that always seems to be how it works out. I got very little sleep for the next few days and even less computer time. I know she is worth all the efforts made!

Well… Just 5 days after our blessing of the grandbaby, Grandma, Grandpa, And the rest of the kids without kids yet, and spouses all meet in L.A., then boarded a cruise ship headed for Mexico!

Warm and Sunny Mexico, The Cruise was very nice, way too much nonstop food, sleeping-in every morning and laying in the sun all day reading books. But at only $120.00 dollars a day, (NO Joke!) an internet connection is not going to happen on board the cruise ship for me until I earning about $120,000.00 a month! $3.65 can of soda-pop only happened once!

Something will be coming about a captive assemblage that we paided for, in the near future!

Well… I think that they make cruises a week long so three things will happen –

(1) You won’t gain too much weight, so you can’t get or fit off the ship.
(2) It might be cheaper to buy and run your own Yacht if you wanted more time.
(3) You will love the trip enough to plan another cruise within three years!

Well… Then back to work and home life, snow to clear so it can snow some more that also needs to be cleared. And of course an OKOA Blog to get caught back up on. I am truly sorry for the very un-planned lack of posts, stuff happened!

So have hope out there, and hope that I don’t get my own Yacht soon.

Well... My readers may never hear from me again!

Did you see this Other Kinds Of Answers…

2009-02-01T12:30:00.001-07:00

If you happened to be on the Web, Saturday morning, the truth that any and all website can harm your computer if it is hooked to the internet! So be forewarned and read on…

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"This site may harm your computer" on every search result?!?!
1/31/2009 09:02:00 AM

If you did a Google search between 6:30 a.m. PST and 7:25 a.m. PST this morning, you likely saw that the message "This site may harm your computer" accompanied each and every search result. This was clearly an error, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to our users.

What happened? Very simply, human error. Google flags search results with the message "This site may harm your computer" if the site is known to install malicious software in the background or otherwise surreptitiously. We do this to protect our users against visiting sites that could harm their computers. We maintain a list of such sites through both manual and automated methods.

We work with a non-profit called StopBadware.org to come up with criteria for maintaining this list, and to provide simple processes for webmasters to remove their site from the list.We periodically update that list and released one such update to the site this morning. Unfortunately (and here's the human error), the URL of '/' was mistakenly checked in as a value to the file and '/' expands to all URLs. Fortunately, our on-call site reliability team found the problem quickly and reverted the file.

Since we push these updates in a staggered and rolling fashion, the errors began appearing between 6:27 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. and began disappearing between 7:10 and 7:25 a.m., so the duration of the problem for any particular user was approximately 40 minutes.Thanks to our team for their quick work in finding this. And again, our apologies to any of you who were inconvenienced this morning, and to site owners whose pages were incorrectly labeled. We will carefully investigate this incident and put more robust file checks in place to prevent it from happening again.

Thanks for your understanding.

Update at 10:29 am PST: This post was revised as more precise information became available (changes are in blue). Here's StopBadware's explanation.

Posted by Marissa Mayer, VP, Search Products & User Experience
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See the pictures I got from the web.

Maybe this little reminder from Google, a company that I trust and use most everyday of my life on the web, and I also own stock in. From the little errors, we all can learn so much, in our daily quests to find Other Kinds Of Answers…

Truly Boring Other Kinds Of Answers…

2009-01-06T23:59:00.003-07:00

In this world full of wonders, only the human race could invent “boredom”. I have been to nearly every part of this planet we call Earth, with the only continent that I have not stepped foot on yet, being Antarctica. I have even been under the North Pole, by US Navel Submarine. How one could ever be or even find they are bored, is to me somewhat of a real mystery. Guess I am a naturally industrious human, and have not often find myself bored, please note the words “not often”, as boredom can and will get us all, from time to time. Just be ready for it!

When someone is bored, they mainly don’t like what they’re doing, but don’t really know what else to do. The missing element here is a good idea. So, when you feel the pang of boredom, take it is a strong signal to stop and THINK! If you don’t like what you’re doing, shouldn’t you STOP doing it? Boredom is a state of passivity and its opposite is a state of activity and creativity. It is our human nature to rise to and thrive on challenges. What is boredom, but the clear absence of a challenge, as I see it?

Boredom is a condition characterized by wandering attention, impaired efficiency, and low levels of overall arousal. It is sometimes confused with fatigue, but boredom usually results from too little stimulation, motivation, and interest. It commonly occurs in those who regularly deal with monotonous routines. Unlike fatigue, boredom leads to a lack of desire to anything, rather than an inability to anything. Boredom is one of the main reasons why people stop doing things.

Boredom truly stimulates the search for better ways to things like nothing else can. How many improvements in processes and ways of producing things have come about because the people doing the job are so damn bored with going over same thing again and again? My guess is that it’s the single biggest spur to working smarter, above any cost-cutting or abstract ideas of ‘constant improvement’ is only bored people looking for other kinds of answers.

It’s become a truism that vast amounts of creativity and improvement are available from simply asking those who do some job how they might do it better. Those dull places where processes never change, and people spend their working days with minds numbed by boredom, relieved only by gossip, get that way because the people in charge are control freaks who can’t stand that anyone might have an independent idea to improve things.

Boredom can be an absolutely horrible disease that is unfortunately very contagious. The overall effects of this disease will vary between person to person. Would you believe that some people could, and have died from boredom? I have read that it was boredom that killed Elvis Presley. Sadly, yes, the King is dead! Sorry if my blog is the one breaking this horrific news to you!

People who use the sentences "I could die of boredom" or "I'm dying of boredom" or some form of the previous seem to have been affected by this disease many times. When affected more than once, you can become more vulnerable to this ailment. If someone you know is using the above “quoted” terms, get them help at once. The easiest cure is almost painless (most of the time), Near continuous entertainment is one workable answer. And just getting them to think a little bit, will help lead them to a workable cure.

Boredom may be a boring subject, but it’s an important one because it is the source of much misery. You see, it is accompanied by, or leads to, feelings of loneliness, emptiness, helplessness, inadequacy, sadness, despair, and even depression, in my humble option. When allowed to spin out of control, any of these listed topics, there can be serious repercussions. For example, some may try to escape boredom by turning to drugs, gambling, or alcohol. Yet, all they succeed in actually doing is compounding their problems. Addictions from each of these traps could lead the truly bored in a world of darkness from which they cannot seem to ever escape. So, something as innocent as boredom can have severe consequences if it is not dealt with quickly and correctly.

If we are not bored when we are busy, I feel that we should be happy when we are sometimes bored. Why? Because boredom could tell us that we have some free time. And this free time is a valuable resource that can be used to enrich our lives. It’s this period that can be devoted to friends, family, rest, or personal development. When we’re at work or in school, there are only a few ways to spend our time, but during our time off, we are free to use it as we see fit. We can use it to create meaning in our lives and experience greater fulfillment. But only if we take the time to stop and think before we act.

In any learning environment, a common cause of boredom is a clear lack of understanding; for instance, if one is not following or connecting to the material in a class or lecture, it will usually seem boring. However, the opposite can also be true; something that is too easily understood, simple or transparent, can also be boring. Boredom is often inversely related to learning, and in any schooling, it may be a sign that a student is not challenged enough, or is too challenged. An activity that is predictable to the students is likely to bore them greatly as well. I learned this fact very much as I taught school at the middle and high school levels, in the past.

I also truly believe that a little boredom is frequently a positive thing as it allows us to truly ponder, brood and reflect. It's almost as if we are forced to do these things when we are bored. There is also the potential for us to moan, degrade and waste away. The choice is up to each of us human beings in our life. It's hard to figure out what causes one person sometimes to channel their boredom into energy and self-improvement, or sometimes to allow it to stagnate deep within their soul.

Although it has not been widely studied, research on boredom suggests that boredom is a major factor impacting diverse areas of a person's life. People ranked low on a boredom-proneness scale were found to have better performance in a wide variety of aspects of their lives, including career, education, financial and autonomy. Boredom can even be an early symptom of clinical depression. Boredom can also be a form of learned helplessness, a phenomenon closely related to depression. Some philosophies of parenting propose that if children are raised in an environment devoid of stimuli, and are not allowed or encouraged to interact with their environment, they may fail to develop the mental capacities to do so later in life.

Now while this blog is based on only my reading, life experiences and studies, I plan to keep sharing my found opinions and points of knowledge, as I feel and come across them. All the while trying my hardest not to bore any reader that happens across my blog, and while still trying to find many Other Kinds Of Answers…, at the same time.

Ten New Year Other Kinds Of Answers…

2008-12-29T07:08:00.005-07:00

New Year's is the only holiday that celebrates a passage of time. Perhaps that's why, as the closing seconds of the year tick away, we humans become introspective. Inevitably, this mental examination of our own feelings and motives turns to thoughts of self-improvement and the annual ritual of making resolutions, which offer the first of many important tools for remaking ourselves for the better, we can only hope.

Simply by subscribing to blogs and bookmarking web sites (such as THIS ONE) that could give you some new thoughts or other ideas. Then make the time to scan your feeds and bookmarks for interesting posts every week. Even limiting your reading time to an hour per week means you can read at least a dozen thought-provoking posts in the time it takes to eat your lunch. Hey, you may even learn something that could be worth while, or give you an answer of another kind…

OKOA Resolutions Basic Ideas…

1. Debt Reduction and Savings Building

One of the first things you have to do before any debt can be eliminated is to stop adding to it. If you continue to unnecessary spend, you are only fueling the problem, and adding on to the debt, not resolving it. Keep some kind of daily diary of all money spent, whether it is by cash, check, credit card, etc. Once you know where your money is going, then, and only then, can you take the steps needed to prepare a good plan that you can live with and make huge strides to plan your debt away. It is not easy, but well worth it.

Make a resolution now to stop charging anything and to get financially stable. If you can't pay cash for it, you don't need it, make it just that simple. At first, apply all you can to get rid of any debt owed, then as the debts are paid, start a saving account, and pay yourself first by putting away at least 5% of your net income. Then as you learn this simple habit better, each year increase the percentage put away by 2-5%. It is amazing how fast the total will add up, and how good it feels to have the cash to cover should something happen.

2. Lose Weight and Get in Better Physical Shape

Physical activity builds physical vitality. With every year of your life, you have more to gain from being physically active; as your age-related risks of chronic disease increase, regular exercise generally slows or reverses that trend. In fact, you're even more likely to notice the benefits of regular exercise if you already have a persistent condition reminding you that you’re getting older by the second.

Are you ever going to be fit again as long as you live? The answer is unless you make a resolution to get fit – you’re never going to be fit – ever. The choice is yours; it begins by opting for the stairs instead of the elevator, fruit in place of sweets, and enthusiastic rather than sedentary activities.

3. Learn Something New

People throughout the world are realizing that a strong resolve to lifelong learning is more than just education and training beyond formal schooling. A lifelong learning framework encompasses learning throughout the life cycle, from cradle to grave and in different learning environments, formal, non-formal and informal. Some of the side effects from this action could also help your own body, mind and inner-self.

Perhaps you are considering a career change, or having one forced upon you, want to learn a new language or musical instrument, or just how to become a better cook? Whether you take a course or read a book, you'll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating and beneficial resolutions to keep. Challenge your mind in the coming year, break out of currents routines and challenge every comfort zone and watch your horizons expand to who knows where.

4. Stick to a Budget

It’s been said that the best defense is a good offense. Developing and sticking to a realistic budget is a brilliant offensive move as it prevents overspending and ensures peace of mind. In today’s often uncertain world of downward trends and bailouts, having a firm grip on your own financial matters is more then key!

Many people find it very difficult to stick to a budget. It does take hard work and a lot of self-discipline, at least in the beginning. The good news is that most people find the longer they can stick to a budget, the easier it becomes.

5. Enjoy More Quality Time with Family & Friends

More and more people are resolving to spend more quality time with family and friends this year. This means you must consciously decide to actively and purposely work on improving your situation every day. You may need to do such things as reschedule business activities to make time for your friends, help your children set and achieve worthwhile goals, and setting aside at least an hour a day for the family, every day.

Starting right now, you can begin to make choices and take day-to-day actions that will create nothing short of a phenomenal family or friends. You can choose to have this if you just resolve to do it and know where to put your focus. Making our lives stronger and healthier is important to our communities, our state and our world as a whole.

6. Quit Smoking

Becoming a non-smoker is probably one of the best decisions you can ever make, and is a life changing as well as a life-saving and a debt reducing decision. The benefits to your health, relationships, finances, vitality, the environment and to your sense of self-esteem for having conquered a really hard-to-kick habit will make any and all of your efforts and determination more than worth while. The resolution to become a non-smoker will also help you to live longer, have more time and enjoy the finer things in life.

Once you’ve made the resolution to stop, acted upon it and succeeded, you'll feel great about what you have achieved. Resolving to give up this habit is your decision, and will improve your life from that moment on. No one else can make you quit, and no one can help you make the resolution. You have to do it yourself, you have to want to do it, and you need to do it now!

7. Increase Income

A new year provides a sense of getting a free do-over, so you can try again and get it right. Many people resolve to find better jobs or to take a new approach to the jobs they've already got. It's corny, but true -- most of us get reflective at this time of year and if we are in jobs already, we begin thinking: Am I on the right path? Do I like where my position and my company are headed? Am I even in the right career?

So you've been hearing that voice again, the one that says you're not doing what you were born to do. That may be true, but how do you figure out what you should be doing? To begin answering this question, examine whether your current career path matches your core interests, beliefs, values, needs and skills. Resolve to ask and answer those essential questions before making any new career changes.

8. Volunteer and Help Others

A popular, non-selfish New Year's resolution, volunteerism can take many forms such as spending time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or even help building a house for others to name a few. Volunteering has risen sharply in the years since we began making resolutions. This suggests the likely emergence of a new civic generation and a resolve to make a bigger and better difference with our lives.

Resolve to replace the pursuit of success and materialism with the pursuit of contribution and generosity. For this to occur, the critical question must move from, “How can I become successful?” to, “What can I contribute that will significantly impact other people's lives?” By focusing on what we can contribute, we will automatically become successful. Try it and see for yourself.

9. Delegate effectively

We all want to work less and get more done. Here's one of the greatest secrets of time management: successful delegation. Start by writing down every activity you and yours undertake for an entire week, and then review the results hard. There are likely a number of activities that won't help you achieve your goals, or could be done better by others. Focus on working to get those low-priority activities either delegated better or dumped all together.

While writing down everything, be sure that all items are in roughly scheduled order as to when they are actually getting done. This simple act may even show how a task is taking up multiply time slots and who could do the task needed in one stop, at one time. This in it self, will free up more time for all.

10. Get Organized

Resolve this year to plan your days, reduce interruptions, clean off your desk, say "No", and make detailed lists. The benefits of getting more organized include being able to save time, as you no longer look for the same things over and over again or need to replace things you can’t find at all.
You will reduce stress because when you know where everything is, there’s no last-minute rush to find what you need and get out the door on time for school, soccer practice, or that important business meeting.

You will also find yourself being much more productive, as all the time you once spent looking for things can now be used to do more important or more enjoyable tasks. Most people define being organized as quickly and easily able to find what you need. While this is certainly true, organization is so much more. The ability to staying organized lets you focus on accomplishing your most important goals. That’s the true benefit of being organized.

Here's Hoping For Our Success...

It’s a stark irony of the Western calendar that the odometer turns over smack dab in the middle of winter—the one time of the year when most people can’t rouse themselves to clean their own bathrooms, much less make an ambitious, life-changing, behavioral U-turn. If you’re the type who likes to ring in the New Year with an engraved in stone list of resolutions, I hope that my list above will give some ideas that you have not come up with or even tried yet.

Now, for the rest of us, don't just read the above list and start making excuses, just think how nice it would be to have the time or inclination to really try this year. You can actually do any one, two or the needed of the above list! These could boost your life, in many ways, just by bookmarking this blog or printing it out and at least working on a couple of the above points over the coming months. Soon you will be noticing the benefits. Good luck, have a great year ahead and never stop building upon your success, while always be looking for Other Kinds Of Answers…!

Healthier 2009 supplemental Other Kinds Of Answers…

2008-12-23T09:04:00.007-07:00

Well, with another year almost behind us, it is time to start to look ahead to 2009. As this will be the year that I will turn the big 50, I have looked into many things, such as diet, sleep, and other activities that will help keep all of us going for a lot of years to come. Not quite ready to pack it all in yet, got a lot more living to do.

What you put into your body affects more than just your weight; food doesn’t just quiet a rumbling belly, it influences your moods, has an effect on energy levels and your overall health. It’s now time to open a new skylight to your soul and take in the healthier panorama that will truly feed your mind and body in 2009. By now hopefully, either you are taking vitamins already or have decided that the benefits of taking some vitamins daily could be a true key to a healthy, and more vibrant you in the years ahead of all of us, If you are taking the right dietary supplement.

Water-soluble vitamins travel freely through the body, and excess amounts usually are just excreted. The body needs a good water-soluble vitamins and minerals in daily, regular doses and these vitamins are not as likely as fat-soluble vitamins to reach toxic levels. A truly balanced diet usually provides enough of these vitamins, but in today’s busy world, how many of us get a truly balanced diet? Truly most all of us humans older than thirty years, and some with other lifestyles, like vegetarians may need to use a good dietary supplement to get enough of the basic daily requirements just to be healthier overall.

And keep in mind that our bodies also cannot make vitamin C and our capacity to store vitamin C is limited. We must, therefore, take in some daily. You are likely to need even more vitamin C if you are under a heavy stress load, have any healing wounds or infections, or if you smoke. Vitamin C also serves as a powerful antioxidant. It works synergistically with vitamin E as a free-radical scavenger. Recent studies also suggest that the combination of vitamins C and E in daily doses can even help reduce some the risks of developing of diseases. Remember that water-soluble vitamins, the B-complex group and vitamin C, dissolve in water and the excesses are eliminated in our urine. We need a continuous supply of them in our diets to ensure proper health and nutrition.

A BIG Question: LIQUID VS. PILLS dietary supplements?

What kind of vitamins do I take? Liquid or pills? What dosages? How many? Should I have to pay for dozens of individual vitamins instead of just taking a single dietary supplement? I have done some great research, so you do not have to spend hundreds of hours on the info for dozens of different pills that you have to swallow. Can you imagine swallowing as many as 10 or 15 pills a day, just to get your vitamins? Just buying that many different vitamins a month could cost you around $300.00 Dollars or more. But read on, you are about to be let in on the dirty little secret that pill manufacturers don't want you to know about.

You can only put a very small amount of ingredients into a pill. Why? Think of a pill as if it was a nearly full suitcase. The pill is the suitcase and the inside is full of clothes and everything else you need for a trip. The only space left is for the things you buy when you get where you are going. This is the space available to put actual active ingredients (such as vitamins) inside the pill. Everything else is needed to keep the pill stable (or to get you where you are going).

Because of this, as much as 80% of a pill can be fillers, binders, chelating agents and film coatings. In order to get the amount of vitamins that you can get with a high quality liquid dietary supplement, you would need to take at least 12 pills a day. Why swallow 12 or more pills a day when you can take as little as a One ounce of a high potency liquid dietary supplement and get more vitamins, minerals, fruit, vegetable and plant extracts than you could get by taking dozens of pills? It just doesn’t make sense, but day after day people take a basic “once a day” dietary supplement and believe they are getting what they need. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you aren't even getting close via this pill method.

Decades ago, simply taking dietary supplements was accepted as a novel way to give your body what it needs. Due to the advances of science, we now know that just because you take a dietary supplement does not mean that your cells are efficiently absorbing the nutrients. This action is called Bioavailability; The proportion of a dietary supplement that reaches its site of action in the body and the rate at which or degree to which a nutrient is absorbed and made available for the body’s use. Simple put you want the highest bioavailability level you can get; more of what you are paying for and taking in is getting to your cells.

There is something New on the supplement market...

Consequently, there has been a long-standing quest to discover a legitimate breakthrough technology that would allow efficient and maximum cellular absorption of nutrient-sized particles. Well, in September 2008, something new came to the dietary supplement market, Called Max N-Fuze, by Max International. For full disclosure, I am taking this product and have been on it from release date, feeling really great and that this is working for me. What's in it...

Max N-Fuze uses a patent-pending nanotechnology to efficiently deliver targeted nutrients that are capable of readily being absorbed and utilized at the cell level. This breakthrough technology consists of enveloping nano-sized nutrients in a highly purified water cluster and efficiently delivering the nano-sized particle to your body’s cells. And it is an easy to shallow liquid that tastes great, in single serving easy opening daily packet. No fuss, no muss, and no Solid pills! Not only do people not get the vitamins they really need, they fail to absorb the vitamins they taking due to the vitamin being sold in a solid pill form and then they get stuck with paying the full retail price for all of these vitamins because they buy it in a retail store that has to pay for overhead, employees, a physical store and more. Why not get your vitamins, minerals, and more, together in one great tasting and proven effective product, delivered direct to your door, a full 30 day supply without hassle? Yes, right to your mailbox and at wholesale pricing?

Ok, How About Pricing, What is Retail and Wholesale? The Retail price for Max N-Fuze is $85.00 plus flat rate shipping of $9.95 and where applicable state taxes. The Wholesale price is $69.00, same shipping and applicable taxes, plus you are in full control of the whole process, via the internet or toll-free phone number, as to when and where it is shipped. Customer service folks is great, quick and they are in Utah, not halfway around the world!

Max N-Fuze was subjected to vigorous safety testing at Clemson University. Additionally, Max International is a member of the Institute of Nutraceutical Research (INR). The INR is a leading research group that consolidates the intellectual and physical resources of the faculty at Clemson University and links these resources to South Carolina Nutrition Research Consortium (SCNRC) involving the South Carolina Research Authority, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of SC in a unique partnership.

Max N-Fuze is an unparalleled breakthrough in liquid vitamin and mineral supplements, using cellular absorption and nanotechnology. This may seem complicated, but really all this means is that nano-sized nutrients are being delivered directly to the cells. This means the maximum amount of vitamins in the minimum amount of time, actually cutting cellular absorption down to one hour rather than 18-36 hours. Ready to Try some, Just click on any of the Max N-Fuze , or just drop me a E-mail, for more in-depth info, questions or service.

Very Powerful words and products - and also part of the reason I joined Max International. I was not only searching for change in my lifestyle, but I wanted to feel better, have more energy, and be involved in something positive. The science behind Max N-Fuze is truly amazing, the reasons we should all take it are over-powering, but there are enough articles about that. The reason for this blog is more about the life changing direction our lives can take when we are part of something that is bigger than us. Finding truly powerful Other Kinds Of Answers...

These above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This statement has been added to comply with federal, state, and local laws.

Just got to love the Other Kinds Of Answers…

2008-12-15T23:56:00.003-07:00

I really did start this OKOA Blog, mainly to see what “I” could learn from it. But partly due to my always looking for other kinds of answers, my life paths have never been boring, straight, or perfect. I have met a lot of neat fellow humans along the way and do not want to re-do much of what I’ve been through. The story continues, and here’s hoping the journey will be on-going for a while.

The latest “Fork” in my thoroughfare of life actually came from a reader of my little blog, in the form of a short comment by e-mail. Simply put, “Love it!!! Please keep typing your blog; I think I’m getting it!” Seems that this blog is getting read, mostly by friends, co-workers and family, but even they are recommending, share it or send a link on to others. From those simple acts of sharing, folks that I never thought would see it are and that is fine with me.

Now before I get too deep into the e-mail, let me share a little something that was taught to me many years ago. My tutor for this instance was a great man, now passed away, that I loved and admired very much. He was my Father’s Dad, my Grandpa “Dee”. He was a big Dutchman that was quiet, stalwart, firm, intelligent, could fix most anything, and loved his grandkids. When “Dee” did take the time to speak or told us something, all us grandkids listened well, because to not listen, was always trouble.

I happen to ask him one day about some kind of boy’s life choice question, and He, in return, asked if I knew the difference between a “Fork” and a “Y” in the road yet? This was something that my then youthful brain had not even vexed about, and I guessed back an answer, “not yet”? He smiled, and then said, “A ‘Y’ is where the road you’re on becomes two roads, a left or a right choice. A ‘Fork’ is where you are on the left or right and they meet to become one road ahead. Just remember you have many choices on the roads of life.” He then added “Don’t forget to look back down the other “Fork”, if just to see what could be down there.”

We don’t think of a "fork in the road" as an integral part of daily life. Usually it indicates some defining moment of change -- the end of a one thing or the beginning of a new one. The accepted thing about forks in the road is that they are obvious to everyone -- if not before, at least after the fact of stumbling across one.

A fork in the road presents us with choice: Do we continue on the same path we have been following all along, or do we take a different path? Maybe the new path will lead us somewhere, maybe it won't. It's hard to know before we try. There's a risk involved in making a decision, and it can feel very scary. The problem we face is whether or not we're willing to take the risk of making changes.

Sometimes, there is a one additional problem. It's not just that we are hesitant to follow a new path... we are not even aware that it exists. We do not see any fork in the road. Yet, there is usually a fork in the road... even when we're so blinded by our old ways of thinking that we can't see it. Making changes starts with seeing the forks in the road, where we once didn't even notice them.

And here is the three dollar word of the day is: Bifurcation; meaning the splitting of a main body into two parts or any place where one thing divides into two. Unless you are heavy into biology, it is a word that most of us will never even come across in our normal lives. It is a great word for scrabble though.

In closing, just keep going down the road and try to find all the Other Kinds Of Answers you can… They will show up when you least think about them and you may even get two from one.

Nastier Other Kinds Of Answers...

2008-12-09T20:19:00.002-07:00

A hard working co-worker came up to me today, getting ready to leave the building in a hurry, coat in hand, and a full hour before normal shift end. I had to ask “Are you Ok?” and quickly followed that up with; “Is it anything I can help with?” With a quick blink of very teary red eyes and a weak smile, “No… thanks, E.” was all they said, before producing work keys checked out this morning were returned to me, logged in, punched out and out the doors was gone? Hope you get the same feeling something could be wrong…as I just did.

I want to chase after, but could not go, Not that I never have, just it was so busy this time of year. This is someone that I would call a friend, someone that I have played with their kids, one that held my arm as I could barely walk. This person is one of the true leaders in my work place, and can even issue a butt chewing when needed or earned with a smile given back as change. I guess anyone can have a bad day, make a career-ending mistake, or have a run-in with a Nasty!

Now I should add that I have no idea what happen to get this person in this state. I’m not going to ask, because I just don’t want this person to re-live the events again. It could be anything from bad or urgent news from the home life, a run-in with a frenzied out of control consumer, (and you know who you are!) Even the best holiday retail arena work demands pull or over load the best employee to their knees every now and then. Still my gut feeling, which I have come to trust quite well, is given me an alert not for a fire, a riot, or doom, Just a Nasty out prowling.

I immediately began to reflect on the various Nasties who I have worked with over the years. I thought of five people in particular who didn’t know what a carrot is, but they had a mountain of sticks. They need a mountain of sticks because they wear them out or break them so quickly - figuratively bashing those that don’t do exactly what they want, when they want over the head, backs or careers. More even frustratingly they will often employ their clubs when they only have a very small amount of facts, often clubbing a semi-innocent person. And once proven wrong, they can barely muster to say “I apologize,” instead they are out clubbing the next person like a jockey in the home stretch, in second place.

By clubbing, I am referring to the nasty, accusatory, paper work driven and even sometimes public scolding that a large number of us have had the displeasure to witness (or experience). You know the type – the ones that has nearly every working member of the organization is in fear of and only serves to public point the finger at an individual(s). More often than not, its purpose is to cover the butt of the person doing the clubbing. This is because they are admitting that, while the subject of the clubbing is near and dear to them, they couldn’t manage to stay engaged in the mission to help keep it on track. But they will now cast blame, after the fact, where they believe it should be. Go back and re-visit these events you have had, with a key player or even a leader, do they accept any responsibility? I am willing to bet that in 80% of the cases that answer is NO.

What these individuals never seem to understand is that this behavior does not accomplish what they hope. My belief is that they feel that by publicly chastising people, it will motivate that employee to work harder the next time. While I am not a Psychologist, I have to believe that this actually de-motivates people as well as it creates bitterness and resentment. It can often lead towards the escalation of this nastier behavior as de-people begin to lob their own verbal grenades at others in the work place, and could even start or lead to full inner-department wars.

I would also argue that as a result of these behavior productivity decreases, which is exactly the opposite effect that the “club” holder would argue they were trying to accomplish. I’ll even be willing to go a step farther out on this limb, with the point that it is the “club holder” will someday club the wrong person, let’s call them a “quiet land mine” type and BLAM! We all will be on the ten o’clock news.

If there was no upper intervention following a “clubbing” the employees learn that they need to “CYA” from this point forward. So they begin to document every step and wait for countless approvals and signoffs before they move forward. Projects and work begin to take much longer than they could or should, often because the employees are covering their butts by documenting where the problem has probably always existed – with the person(s) doing the clubbing. The net effect is that the mood of the group drops and so does overall sales.

I disagree completely with publicly embarrassing a colleague and those that do it should be disciplined. And when it is done with a lack of clear evidence the penalty should be more severe – up to and including termination, No matter their place or rank in a company. People who are too busy to pick up the phone, or visit with a colleague that they “believe” missed the target, in order to gather data and possibly council them (if necessary) are too busy to continue to work for the organization.

Because of the nature of business, retail asks employees to deal with a lot already - from 40 hour work weeks, nearly 7 day work weeks, and on and on. We should not hire or tolerate nasties that make work life even more difficult then it is. And when you consider the overall price of unproductive behavior, loss of sales and possibly future legal activity, Nasties can produce a very tangible negative financial impact on the whole organization.

So to the Nasties, a lot of us little folk have very long memories, and One day, you may need us for something, that could make or break you. I only hope that the welt marks from the clubbing you have issued, don’t get in the way of us helping you and that you will start looking for Other Kinds Of Answers…

16 OKOA to thwart holiday stress and despair …

2008-12-08T19:06:00.004-07:00

When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and despair in the first place, especially if you know the holidays have taken an emotional toll in previous years.

Take back control of holiday stress and despair

Remember, one of the basic keys to minimizing holiday stress and despair is that the holidays can trigger stress and despair. Accept that things aren't always going to go as planned. Then take active steps to manage stress and despair during the holidays. You may actually enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you ever could.

These are very simple OKOA things to head off holiday stress & despair. Not all original, and they may not all apply but this list has helped me in the past:

Acknowledge your feelings. If a loved one has recently pass away or you aren't able to be with your loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness or sorrow. It's OK now and then to take time just to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season. Memories should be the best part of any holiday plans.
Seek support. If you feel isolated or down, seek out family members and friends, or community, religious or social services. They can offer support and companionship. Consider volunteering at a community or religious function. Getting involved and helping others can lift your spirits and broaden your friendships. Also, enlist support for organizing holiday gatherings, as well as meal preparation and cleanup. You don't have to go it alone. Don't be a martyr; you are still among the living of life.
Set differences aside. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all your expectations. Practice forgiveness. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time a needed discussion. With stress and activity levels high, the holidays might not be conducive to making quality time for relationships. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress and despair also.
Get an earlier start. There's no rule that says that all Holiday activities have to be crammed into the few weeks. Set your own time table and plans, you can decorate your home for the holiday season in July if you want (or even, like I do, leave some Holiday lights up all year round.) Food for the holiday season can be bought in advance, and holiday gifts can be bought any time of year. Stretching out your holiday activities over a longer period of time can really reduce your holiday stress and despair.
Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items. Then be sure to stick to your budget. If you don't, you could feel anxious and tense for months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Donate to a charity in some one's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange. Most people in today’s world will understand, as they are trying to live in it also.
Plan ahead, but be flexible. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make one big food-shopping trip. That can help prevent a last-minute scramble to buy forgotten ingredients — and you'll have time to make another pie, if the first one's a flop. Expect travel delays, especially if you're flying or driving. Allow for those things that can not be planned for – Weather, misc. events, and add yours here...etc...
Learn to say no. Believe it or not, people will understand if you can't do certain projects or activities. If you say yes only to what you really want to do, you'll avoid feeling resentful, bitter and overwhelmed. If it's really not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to eliminate something else from your plans to make up for the time lost.
Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for several weeks, talk with a doctor or a mental health professional. You may have other issues that the holiday madness and stress has only brought closer to the surface of life.
Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a dietary free-for-all. Some indulgence is OK and even normal, but overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have healthy snacks before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and schedule time for physical activity.
Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Steal away to a quiet place, even if it's to the bathroom for a few moments of solitude. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.
Rethink resolutions. Resolutions can set you up for failure if they're unrealistic. Don't resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines. Set smaller, more specific goals with a reasonable time frame. Choose only those resolutions that help you feel valuable and that provide more than only fleeting moments of happiness.
Look at the bigger picture. Ask yourself honestly, "Will this matter in a year? In five years?" The general answer is usually no. Realizing this makes a stressful situation seem less overwhelming. This year try asking how much stress are you willing to endure for the holidays?
Be realistic. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Hold on to those you can and want to. But accept that you may have change or let go of others. For example, if your adult children and grandchildren can't all gather at your house as usual, find new ways to celebrate together from afar, such as phone calls, sharing pictures, e-mails or even videotapes.
Avoid the hype if you can. Yes, every retail outlet and commercial center on the planet is having a SALE; we all know this is going to happen. Add to that everyone else is stressed out, trying to cope and get thru the holidays just like you are. People watching and finding other ways to do things can be fun. Doing nothing on a holiday can be great for your health and is O.K.!
Forget about perfection. Holiday TV specials are filled with happy endings. But in real life, people don't usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Something always comes up. You may get stuck late at the office and miss your child's school plays, your sibling may dredge up an old argument, your partner may burn the cookies, and your parent may criticize how you're raising the kids. All in the same day. Accept the imperfections in yourself and in others.
Share your stress with others needing to vent also. You may not be able to change a frustrating stressful situation, but that doesn't mean your feelings are not justifiable nor unsolvable. Phone a close friend, schedule a meal, or even just go window shopping and talking. You’ll feel better after talking it out aloud and even sharing other kinds of answers with them…

Remember the Key trigger points of holiday stress and despair.

Holiday stress and despair are often the result of three main trigger points. Understanding the main trigger points can help you plan ahead on how to accommodate them better.

* Finances. Like your relationships, your financial situation can cause stress at any time of the year. But overspending during the holidays on gifts, travel, food and entertainment can increase stress as you try to make ends meet while ensuring that everyone on your gift list is happy. You may find yourself in a financial spiral that leaves you with despair symptoms such as hopelessness, sadness and helplessness.

* Relationships. Relationships can cause turmoil, conflict or stress at any time. But tensions are often heightened during the holidays. Family misunderstandings and conflicts can intensify — especially if you're all thrust together for several days. Conflicts are bound to arise with so many different personalities, needs and interests. On the other hand, if you're facing the holidays without a loved one, you may find yourself especially lonely or sad. Handle either case with great care and respect.

* Physical demands. The strain of shopping, attending social gatherings and preparing holiday meals can wipe you out. Feeling exhausted increases your stress, creating a vicious cycle. Exercise and sleep — good antidotes for stress and fatigue — may take a back seat to chores and errands. High demands, stress, lack of exercise, and overindulgence in food and drink — all are ingredients for a basic holiday illness.

Remember to go easy on yourselves; the holidays are just a small part of a entire year.

Have a Very Merry and Happy whatever holiday, and God's Blessing, One and All!

Earl,
Other Kinds Of Answers...

It is time for Other Kinds Of Answers to this bitter pill…

2008-12-04T17:55:00.002-07:00

Turn on your television for even thirty minutes and you are likely to catch a commercial for the latest sleep aid, erectile dysfunction pill or depression medication presented first by sad, alone folks often filmed in black and white, then suddenly happy, attractive people in living color. Funny that I have never seen them even take the medication in question? Wonder if that simple action on TV is against a law or a FCC regulation somehow? I guess I’ll have ask my Doctor or TV station about that one.

Pharmaceutical companies spend roughly $18 billion a year marketing their many prescription drugs to us. Direct-To-Consumer ( DTC ) promotion of medications including but not limited to: ad in newspapers and magazines, TV ads, coupons, and industry and company funded websites, newsletters, and patient support services. I have read that on average, an adult in the U.S. is exposed to 100 minutes of DTC television ads for every minute spent seeing a doctor. And DTC promotion seems mainly to be only on a handful of drugs – the ones that are most profitable, by my own research. Marketing dollars seem primarily spent on the newest, most expensive drugs, for which some or all the risks may not yet even fully be known. Anyone else feeling like a lab rat yet?

Now do not get me wrong, I will admit to giving more than my fair share of my paychecks to the Pharmaceutical companies, under doctor’s Rx. And I have picked-up Over-The-Counter ( OTC ) items for myself and loved ones for years. I am also pretty sure that all the Pharmaceutical companies want to stay in business, and are doing a good job at testing everything they make. And all those pens, pads, tissue boxes and other items adorned with prescription drug logos found in most doctors' offices, I know, are just another kind of ad for some meds out now. I have taken marketing courses in college, and do understand “branding” well.

Hey, even I have some products that I take, that work well for me, and I am willing to share what I have found with everyone that wants to hear about them. So here is my DTC promotion for a water based Nano-nutrient supplementation called N-Fuse and a second product called MaxGXL that can increasing your glutathione level naturally, thus should increase your energy levels, detoxify your body and strengthen your immune system. Just click this text to learn more.

And it is not all bad news, things are getting better as more questions are asked. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, ( http://www.phrma.org ) has adopted revisions to its code of conduct on interactions between sales representatives and physicians, effective Jan. 1, 2009. They even have a Complaint Link on their home page, where and to whom your complaint goes, I don’t know.

In the U. S., DTC ads are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ). However with that said, the FDA does not approve ads before distribution and lacks the staff to monitor the accuracy of all the DTC ads. When the FDA learns of a misleading ad, the agency can complain in writing and require the company to stop using the ad. But such letters are rare, and it may take many months for the FDA to force a drug company to stop circulating a misleading drug ad.

These ads for drugs don’t provide consumers with all known risks. The drug companies are not required to provide such info as long as the ad refers the consumer to an Internet site, a print advertisement, a toll-free telephone number, or a health care provider. Also the FDA which regulates prescription drug ads does NOT regulate so called help-seeking ads, which are basically selling diseases rather than drugs.

Now, just for those that I may have lost during my ranting, my main issue today is the above in blue. Selling diseases…, not for me, No Sale Here! I have enough of my own now. I only really hope that we will just turn off these ads and our TV’s too, have an apple or something else healthy, while we all go for a brisk thirty minute walk daily, outside on this beautiful world all we live, with the ones we care about, still looking for Other Kinds Of Answers…

Some other Links to ponder over:

Medical Education Project - PharmedOut ( http://www.pharmedout.org )

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/11/25/drug-companies...

http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jul/20-drugmakers-prepare-for-a-smackdown

A complex natural substance subject, essential to structured OKOA…

2008-11-20T13:30:00.003-07:00

First off, I am not a doctor, health nut, guru, athlete or anything even so close.

I am a 49 year old male that tries to live a healthy lifestyle, with few minor vices. I do take an excellent water based Nano-nutrient supplementation product called N-Fuse daily, with my above normal physical and mental active lifestyle.
Both my doctor and wife want to see another 15 pounds on me, but that isn’t going to happen anytime soon, I hope.

I feel eating a healthy, but reduced balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein gives your body a "basic parts account" of nutrients to meet the demands of daily living. But with all the erratic eating habits, highly processed foods and the weird national tendency of strange diets can throw anybody's intake levels way out of whack fast.

These actions in turn, can undermine energy, the body's performance and even a persons overall health, in my humble opinion. I also feel, most Americans tend to eat much more protein than they really need daily and by these actions alone may increase the risk of developing all the chronic diseases going around today. (Please re-read the opening line of this post, this is just one guy’s opinion!)

I read somewhere it is estimated that over 55% of the dry weight of your body is protein. Proteins are everywhere in the body - in muscle, bone, brain cells, blood cells, skin, hair, fingernails, etc.

Constant processes of repair and renewal takes place inside our bodies with the aid of protein. Maintenance, repair and growth of body tissue is accomplished by the digestion of protein into sub-units called amino acids. In this form these amino acids can enter cells where, following instruction from DNA, they can be synthesized into new proteins as is needed. Protein is therefore essential for healthy living.

Protein cannot be stored and needs to be replenished daily. Muscle wasting can occur if protein intake is inadequate as it may be needed for more important body functions. However, most people eat more than they need in terms of protein. The train of though that strength athletes followed is that the more material you supply the body the more it will build. This may not be true, in newest findings out as of October 2008. The body will only use the precise amount of protein it needs. The rest will be excreted in the urine and excess amount may even cause liver and kidney strain. It can also cause an increase in calcium loss in the urine as well as dehydration.

There are nine amino acids that must be supplied by our food intake. Out of more than 20 identified, our bodies cannot manufacture these and thus protein restriction will have its consequences. Some specific proteins require these amino acids to synthesize and failure to provide them results in muscle breakdown and other protein functions named earlier. Breakdown is detrimental to weight loss. (Please re-read the opening line of this post, this is just one guy’s reading!)

The most concentrated sources of protein come from flesh sources like beef, chicken, turkey and fish. High protein diets should be avoided, especially from animal sources as they are usually high in fat, cholesterol and linked to early disease and death. Protein in animal and dairy foods should be avoided as they are high is saturated fats and cholesterol. Better sources are egg whites, legumes like beans, soy products, and grains. Poultry, fish and low fat dairy products should be used as optional protein sources.

Protein along with fats, are the building materials of the body. Therefore you must authorize construction by stimulating the body through physical activity like exercise. If you don't, only minimal amounts of these foods should be eaten. Too much building material and not enough work inevitably cause a deposit which will inevitably contribute to weight gain. But perhaps the worst part is that these foods, (proteins and fats) are not the ideal storage foods as excess can contribute to heart disease, cancers and even early death.

So, with that whole thought, now what Other Kinds Of Answers am I after Today?
Just that it is a week till Thanksgiving Dinner, have a Happy Holiday and a little forewarned thinking…

The New Frugality: Americans return to the basics...

2008-11-15T17:24:00.002-07:00

Frugality is making a BIG comeback. To which Other Kinds of Answers, i.e. Looking at every option, cost and way should become the norm. Fearful that economic conditions could get worse and stay that way, Americans are showing an enthusiasm for thriftiness not seen in decades.

This behavioral shift isn't simply about spending less money. The New Frugality emphasizes stretching every dollar to the max. It means bypassing the fashion mall for the discount chain store, buying secondhand clothes and furniture, or trading down to store brands.

There's more business for repairmen of the old and less for salesmen of the new. Consumers are clipping more coupons and swiping their credit cards less. It may even mean a come back of using cash on hand only.

Consumer experts say it's difficult to predict how long the pullback will last, particularly among generations of consumers that have never in their lifetime seen such a sharp economic downturn.

While I have lived thru times like this a couple of times before now, I can only hope that the entire scope of the problem will not keep everyone from trying to find the Other Kinds Of Answers...

It's a Dog OKOA, You may not understand...

2008-11-13T10:24:00.002-07:00

Now this is the kind of thing that needs a Other Kind Of Answer!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The story That started it all.

So I wrote this.One day you go to bed and you are a blogger whose boyfriend is your only reader, and only because you threaten him if he doesn't, and then you wake up, and your dog is in the paper and and on the news. My dog has fan mail now.

I was joking with a member of the media last night that my beautiful, whining, obsessive-compulsive, sometimes hyper, scared of her own shadow, momma's girl mutt has caused such a wave of attention, but I still cannot sell my car. (Hint, it is still for sale, so if you don't get the dog, you can get the car that has Izzy's shed hair in the back seat!

I have received offers from families as far away as Illinois and New York. Military veterans, people whose dogs recently passed, or people who felt touched. Some can't take Izzy, but wanted to send an e-high-five for my volunteer deployment, or to wish Paul and me well.

I love that people get it. People don't get credit default swaps, they may not be able to name the President of Afghanistan (hint, it is Hamid Karzai). Hell, I am not naming names, but some folks didn't know that Africa is a continent and not a state. But everyone gets this:

So, if it takes Izzy to get people to start thinking about the sacrifices citizens may have to start making to glue this country back together, then she is a happy volunteer.
Just as long as the media people bring milk bones and throw tennis balls while the cameras are in her face.

To everyone who has written, sorry I haven't responded, but I will get to each of your emails and phone calls. I am impressed and moved, so thank you for making a cynic second guess her assumption about Americans.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for Queen Isabella Dogbooty on Fox 13 tonight.

And PS: There was a question on the Salt Lake Tribune's website as to whether or not I am a "Joe The Plumber Republican Plant." Because obviously, I am single and unemployed and apparently attractive so I should just fall into the arms of Prince Charming to be saved. Dammit. Exposed. I will be waiting (with bated breath) for the GOP to send me my pay check.

Posted by Julianne at 8:50 AM 6 comments
Labels: air force, iraq, politik, Queen Isabella Dogbooty, the pooch

The Best part, in my way of thinking, I get a great Dog to love and play with, while helping a Service Member Deployed for the USA. A Win-Win Other Kind Of Answer, That is easy and could happen if the first family-to-be should pass on the great offer. Just have to keep looking...

about time to get "OKOA" Started...

2008-11-11T23:11:00.004-07:00

OKOA...?

Well, "Other Kinds Of Answers" is the main way that, at nearly 50, I have really learned the most in life. So I guess, it is kinda my way of saying " I'd rather be lucky then good". It is just me.

Not that hard work, and two complete trips within higher Ed schools, 12 years in the Navy, and having traveled 7 times around the world, haven't taught me a thing or two in my days.

No, it really has been when I tried to see why 2 + 2 = 4, that I have learned the plain most in my life.

I guess that if one asks enough questions, it truly is the other kinds of answers that will teach one the truest things in life. Beyond book learning, hands on grit, sweat, and doing. Never knowing what will be the outcome today, or even if what you working on will work out OK.

And while a blog is another thing that I have wanted to try at, this is where I plan to give both ideas a go at the same time. Sharing wisdom earned, and open some new things, just to see if I can get some Other Kinds Of Answers...