"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored."

Earl Nightingale
1921-1989, Radio Announcer, Author and Speaker

I just read an article on Gold in the New Yorker magazine. Gold is prob ably the worst investment since its never kept up with inflation. But in the minds of most people it does. The truth is: Gold is a fear currency. Most people now are running to gold due to uncertainties around the world. In fact Gold requires a great fool come along who believes tomorrow its worth more today for it to go up. In fact, India buys 21% of all the worlds gold. China is probably 2nd due to the vast amount of gold jewelry worn in India/China.

"The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams."

Og Mandino
1923-1996, Author and Speaker

Cancellation of indebtedness. The IRS code states that if you have a debt canceled you owe tax on the amount of the debt that is canceled. Aren't you glad the Grace of GOD doesn't work this way!

The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has. Will Rogers

"A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something."

Wilson Mizner
1876-1933, Author

http://www.lasyones.com/
Try these, I'm told they are THE BEST meat pies in the world!
People in LA love food, I guess that's why I could live in this country real easy!

Jesse and Michelle & I are here for the bigglest show in the south: The Helen Britt Jewelry show, today over 20,000 women will decend on the Ernest Morial Convention Center, we have to get moving about 8am to get a parking place, the show opens at 10am. We are set up and ready to go. The show from one end to the other is at least a mile long.

I'm setting at Copeland Cheesecake Bistro in New Orleans last night, a TV is playing a basketball game in the bar, the bar is open so every one can see the basketball game. Its normally loud, lots of people talking and conversation. All of a sudden, silence in a crowded restaurant, all eyes went to the TV. And as I looked, an ALL OUT riot was going on in the game. Fans were attacking players, players attacking fans. The restaurant was silent, utter SHOCK, amazement.
We had Bananas Foster Cheesecake: VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Al Copeland started Popeye's Chicken several years a go and has an upscale chain here Copelands and this new concept with Cheesecake.
He's a real innovator.

"Let there be nothing within thee that is not very beautiful and very gentle, and there will be nothing without thee that is not beautiful and softened by the spell of thy presence."

James Allen
1864-1912, Author of "As a Man Thinketh"

A man's worst enemies can't wish on him what he can think up himself.
-- Yiddish Proverb

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

Oprah Winfrey
TV Personality, Producer and Author

Yahoo! News - Microsoft Sees $100 Million First Day for 'Halo 2' Game
How about a product that has this kind of demand? A game, not even
a cure for cancer or AIDS? Wow this world had a lot of disposable income to spend.

"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

St. Francis of Assisi
1181-1226, Preacher, Founder of the Franciscan Order

local6.com - News - Man Survives Jump Into Lion's Den
How about going to church with this new convert?

GETTING FIRED UP:
CREATING ENERGY
In organizations, people who
have good ideas are relatively
common. What’s uncommon
is the ability to get customers,
team members, and
bosses to buy into — and act
on — the ideas.It’s important to identify, cultivate,
and support people
with that kind of dynamism.
That’s because such energizers
have a disproportionate
effect on a group’s achievements.
So, in the opposite way, do
de-energizers. They’re people
we instinctively avoid,
because their negativism
drains the life out of others.
Generally, individuals with
integrity — honesty and
trustworthiness — energize.
People lacking integrity deenergize.
In social interactions, energy
gets created in two ways:
• First, through a person’s
behavior and the way it
inspires trust.
• Second, through helping
a group establish achievable
goals.
Energizers don’t oversell
ideas. Rather, they build
confidence by establishing
five conditions:
1. A compelling vision or
goal.
2. A possibility for a team
member to contribute.
3. A strong sense of engagement.
4. A perception of progress.
5. A belief in an idea’s
potential to succeed.
Let’s look at these conditions
more closely, starting with a
compelling vision or goal.
Energy gets produced from a
focus on possibilities — on
what could be rather than
what has been.
Where energizers see realistic
opportunities, de-energizers
see impenetrable barriers.
As for the second dimension
— an individual’s ability to
contribute meaningfully —
energizers make group members
feel a personal investment
in an idea’s shaping or
attainment.
Energizers produce a strong
sense of engagement by giving
group members a feeling
of full participation in important
conversations. People
who radiate energy not only
make their points effectively,
but also listen carefully to
others.
As for generating a perception
of progress, energizers
help the team see its efforts
bearing fruit. People lose
interest in a journey when
there are no mileposts.
Finally, energizers fortify a
continuing belief that the
goal is worthy and attainable.
Naturally, as a leader, you
want to radiate energy and
conviction. To that end, ask
yourself several questions,
starting with three about
your behavior:
• First, do you weave relationship
development not
just into your rhetoric,
but into your actions?
• Second, do you consistently
back up your
words about a project
with actions?
• Third, do you address
tough issues with
integrity and sincerity?
Questions four through eight
deal with unconscious tendencies
you may have that
could de-energize colleagues.
• Fourth, do you generally
see possibilities in others’
suggestions — or identify
only difficulties?
• Fifth, do you focus less
on an individual’s contributions
than on disagreements
about particular
issues?
• Sixth, do you fully
engage yourself — mentally
and physically — in
meetings and conversations?
• Seventh, do you demonstrate
flexibility —
rather than try to force
others toward your way
of thinking?
• Eighth, do you use your
own expertise — or lack
thereof — appropriately?
These eight questions can
serve as a self-test. Also,
they can help address issues
in a network where energy is
flagging.
To this point, we’ve seen how
using social network analysis
can show how people communicate
with others. In the
following sections, we’ll
examine strategies you can
implement to improve your
networks.
■ ■

This is from a book: The Power of Social Networks: Rob Cross
Andrew Parker

"When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind, and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power."

Phyllis Bottome
1884-1963, Writer

"If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won't, you most assuredly won't. Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad."

Denis Waitley
Author, Speaker and Trainer

I wonder if politicans really lose there voice right before the vote or do they do it for gaining "Sympathy votes" ? Its really hard to tell when they are playing or real! Would anyone vote for a politician for sympathy?