Past issues

Mindconnection eNL, 2001-09-30

In this issue:

1. Self-defense tips
2. Terrorism isn't limited to ragtag groups: protection tips
3. Featured course
4. Recommended reading
5. Fitness tip
6. Preparing for winter (northern hemisphere folks)
7. Thought for the day

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1. Self-defense tips

Long-time subscribers  know about my martial arts background.  This isn't pansy-type studio martial arts dancing so typical of many martial arts schools. This is martial, as in Mars, the god of war kind of stuff. And what I am going to tell you is worth digesting and incorporating into a regular program of practice. You do not need to be barefoot or learn how to hold your hands some goofy way to be able to fight. You don't need to be rippling with muscle, either, though it helps.

Now, my picture there is just a stage shot for photo purposes. It's generally a poor idea to kick any higher than the knee. Someone like Bill Wallace can do high kicks effectively in a fight, but are you training 4 hours a day to make that happen?

What you do need to do is find someone you can train with. Men, don't enlist your wives or girlfriends--find another guy to practice with. You don't need specialized training to practice these moves or concepts. Let's begin.

• Learn balance. Play basketball, take dance, or just practice standing on one foot. Set a two-by-4 on the ground and practice walking on it.

• Unless you are in training for martial arts, don't practice close-fist punching movements. Often, all you need is a heel-of-the palm strike to the nose, or a nice kick to the shins to disable an attacker.

• Learn to identify weapons. Look around your office. What weapons do you have? What can you throw, use as a club, or use as a shield?

• Consider what you carry when you travel. A laptop is far superior to a knife as a weapon. If you don't believe me, buy a rubber knife at a Halloween shop this month and buy some scrap wood pieces that are about laptop size. Practice blocking a knife blow. In slow motion, with a partner, practice a swing that will deliver the edge of the board (laptop) to the temple. Then, try this on the corner of a building or other structure you won't damage. If you are focusing your attention on this exercise, you do not need to go fast or try to "surprise" your training partner. When the time comes, your body will react reflexively and full speed will come.

• In slow motion, practice pushing your attacker's arms to one side, grabbing an ear, and sitting down while you hold onto it. Of course, in practice, you don't keep holding on to the ear. You can speed up the arm sweep as you and your training partner get better at this. Be careful of your eyes--keep your head straight up and down, not chin forward.

• Cut back on calories and needless deserts (eat fresh fruit, or skip desert entirely), so bodyfat doesn't slow your movements.

• Practice good posture. The strength increase when going from bad posture to good is immense. This means shoulders back, shoulders down, back aligned properly, belly tucked in. If you're unsure of what it good posture and can afford to see your doctor about it, see your doctor. Otherwise, get a book from the library and use that as  a guide. Most people have pathetically poor posture.

Finally, do take a martial arts class (for adults), regardless of the style. Focus on learning balance and grace. Don't assume the moves are any good. For example, the moves in Tae Kwon Do, while great for developing the athleticism that will help you, are worthless in a street fight.

2. Terrorism isn't limited to ragtag groups: protection tips

Our own government did things that build the resentment Osama Bin Laden is using as an excuse for the inexcusable Attack on America. But, attacks don't always come from outside our borders. Let's look at some examples, and then think about defense.

• Not long ago, armed IRS revenue agents took over a day care center in southern Michigan. The center allegedly owed taxes (this turned out not to be the case). These scum held the children and day care workers hostage--at gunpoint--demanding parents pay the IRS the money IRS falsely asserted the day care center owed. Parents with cell phones called the local Sheriff, who called in state troopers. As squad cars surrounded the IRS agents, SWAT teams began to arrive. The IRS folks surrendered. In court, they said they didn't know what they did was illegal, and all charges were dropped. Notice, kidnapping is illegal, unless you happen to work for the IRS.

• About 20 years ago, some IRS workers decided they could get extremely rich by seducing a rancher into hatching a tax-based con scheme. They helped him run this con, until some victims formed a group called P.I.S.T (Partners In Search of Truth). Realizing the gig was up, the IRS agents turned on their cohort and now he is serving life in prison. He can't turn his cohorts in, out of fear of what they will do to his family. Out of the $100 million stolen, Hoyt can account for only a fraction of it. To protect their ill-gotten gains, as well as their sorry carcasses, these IRS employees have enlisted the help of other IRS folks (buying some of them off and outright lying to the others). About a quarter of the defrauded investors banded together and have spent over $1 million in their own defense. Yet, though the IRS case against these folks would fall flat in a court of law, tax court allows the IRS quite the upper hand. Perjury and evidence tampering/withholding are among the things the court has documented them doing, yet they continue to get away with it. They've managed to pressure several of the victims into suicide and are working on the rest. It's a strategy similar to what rapists do to silence their victims. You can watch the MSNBC video about  this, get other information, and fill out a petition protesting this abuse, at www.mindconnection.com/hoyt

• Waco: If you don't know the story, David Koresh shot pistols with the local Sheriff at the local shooting range. The Sheriff had no problems with this guy and no reason to fear him. Then, federal troops moved in and burned Koresh and his extended family alive.

• Ruby Ridge: The FBI, apparently fearing a baby might shoot one of them from 300 yards, blew her head off while her mother held the poor little thing in her arms. Then they shot the mother. They killed a boy's dog, then shot the boy. Only one member of the family remains alive, and he has had the FBI in civil court. They are getting away with it.

This is not to say our government is bad. It really isn't. But, the agencies that comprise our government concentrate too much power in too few hands. Most of the people working for these agencies are recruited from the pool of potential employees rejected by everyone else. Yes, there are good people in the government. But, for them to go to work must feel like visiting a nuthouse each day.

How can you defend yourself? Well, that's not easy. If you do suspect a problem with a government agency, don't ignore it, because it won't go away. Treat the agency representatives with respect--give them the benefit of the doubt. If they are abusive toward you, report them to their supervisors. If it's an IRS person abusing you, report that person to the Taxpayer Advocate Office.

As hard as it might be, keep emotional arguments out of your protestations. Ask what it is these people want, and assure them you want to help make their job easier. One way to communicate this is to ask, "How can I make your job easier?"

You can state you don't agree with their point of view, and that you want to work with them to resolve the disagreement. If you get an uncooperative person, don't let that person goad you into saying something stupid. Simply state, "Well, you can probably tell I am getting upset. I need some time to cool off. Can I call you back?"

If this doesn't work, say, "We're just not communicating. I need to work with someone else. Please let me explain this to your supervisor."

If this doesn't work, hang up and then call back to the switchboard. If you were dealing with Tom Jones, you will next ask, "May I speak to the supervisor of Tom Jones, please?" Once you get the supervisor, don't focus on what a creep Tom Jones is. Simply state your problem, and say, "Well, Tom and I just aren't communicating. I want to focus on my problem, not your personnel problems. Can you help me?"

3. Featured course: Time management: How to do 72 hours of work in 8 hours

Check this out at: https://www.mindconnection.com/product/CRS-ELEVENHABITS.html

I recently presented this course at the IFMA Conference in Kansas City, and the feedback was tremendously positive.

This course shows you how to gain many extra hours in each day. Proven techniques, with real-life case histories used as examples. For less than the price of a dinner, we will show you how to be more productive. And you'll do your work with greater accuracy and less stress.

Studies indicate the average worker wastes 3 hours out of every 8 with useless activities, and that same average worker uses inefficient methods in the other 5. Some estimates hold that 5% of the workforce is twice as efficient as the average person. You can launch yourself into the upper part of that 5%, and be far above average. That means more money, more job security, and more time for what you really want to do in life. We'll show you the concepts, and we'll walk you through examples.

4. Recommended reading

You might want to bookmark our recommended reading page: https://www.mindconnection.com/booksrecommended.htm. It's pretty useful, if you're into feeding your mind. If you're not into feeding your mind, now might be a good time to start!

5. Fitness tip

If you hate the idea of pumping weights for fitness, consider yard work. Squatting to pull weeds is excellent exercise. If you don't have a yard, volunteer to serve on your city's beautification committee. By offering to keep a specified plot of land clear of weeds, you can reduce the amount of pesticides in use. In addition to lowering the cost of government, this is good for the environment. No, this won't make you look like Arnold, but it can fill in an important hole in your overall fitness program. And it adds variety.

6. Preparing for Winter

Here are some things you should do for winter, assuming you have a car and home:

• Check your car battery. If it's more than 3 years old, replace it.

• Check your tires for wear. Don't wait until you are in a ditch to realize you should have had more tread. Even if the tread is legal, it may not be enough.

• Weed your lawn and reseed as needed.

• Prune trees and shrubs.

• Clean your gutters.

• Check for termites.

• Check each closet, one at a time, for items you don't need. Give them away to Goodwill or some other charity and take the tax write-off. This will allow these organizations to aid need folks as cold weather and the holidays arrive.

• Check your hats, gloves, coats, and scarves for the need to replace. Winter clothing sales start soon.

7. Thought for the Day

 All people have needs. To improve your networking and other relationships, identify three people each week who may have a need you can meet. These can be relatives, business contacts, or the cashier where you buy groceries. Think about what this person needs. A word of gratitude? Encouragement? A nice letter? A call to ask how work is going in this time of layoffs?

As you do this, you will spread positive feelings. Since everybody knows everybody else through somebody (they say, a maximum of 6 people), the positive feelings will eventually come back to help you. Just keep in mind, this is not turning a blind eye to injustices. It's preventive medicine for future ones.

Wishing you the best,

Mark Lamendola
Mindconnection.com

Authorship

Except where noted, this e-newsletter is entirely the work of Mark Lamendola. Anything presented as fact can be independently verified. Often, sources are given; but where not given, they are readily available to anyone who makes the effort.

Mark provides information from either research or his own areas of established expertise. Sometimes, what appears to be a personal opinion is the only possibility when applying sound logic--reason it out before judging! (That said, some personal opinions do appear on occasion).

The purpose of this publication is to inform and empower its readers (and save you money!).

Personal note from Mark: I value each and every one of you, and I hope that shows in the diligent effort I put into writing this e-newsletter. Thank you for being a faithful reader.