|
In this issue:
Brainpower | Finances | Security | Health/Fitness | Factoid | Product Highlight | Thought for the Day
|
1. Brainpower tip
|
Clutter is the enemy of productivity. You can make your brain more productive
by reducing mental clutter. In the martial arts, a core concept is to clear
your mind. In today's culture (such that it is), mental clutter abounds.
Your first line of defense is to abstain from mindless texting of inane
messages (to you or from you) and steer clear of brain-deadening things like
Facebook, television, newspapers, and a few other things that you will see
as brain-deadening if you look closely.
One technique I use to keep my mind clear so that I can actually use it
is I put things on my Outlook calendar. This is the modern version of using
a Day Planner (actual trade name). Rather than use up my limited brain power
on the task of keeping a schedule mentally, I keep it on the computer.
Important: whatever calendar or scheduling tool you use, make it your only
one. That way, everything is in one place and you don't have conflicts, lost
information, coordination issues, etc. |
2. Finance tip
3. Security tip
|
The total federal debt is just over 200 trillion (200 followed by 12
zeroes) dollars. That's about $200,000 for every working American (a
dying breed). I'm going to take a wild guess here and say most
middle-class and poor Americans aren't hauling down $200,000 a year.
These numbers are our reality; the lies put out by the Federal Reserve,
its lackeys in the federal govt, and the state-run media are not
reality. It is impossible to tax our way out of this; something
spectacular and unpleasant will have to occur.
That is the nut of the problem. There is no fixing the federal govt.
It must be replaced with something functional and affordable. The demise
of the current kleptocracy is inevitable, because its effects are too
deleterious to be tolerated indefinitely.
The destruction and replacement of a corrupt, inept, and unaffordable
regime is exactly what happened to the Soviet Union, and for the same
reasons (just different numbers). And, as with them, the destruction of
this cancer is no guarantee the patient will emerge healthy.
The demise of this theft/enslavement architecture is already in
progress. While that does bring hope, it also brings risk.
How can you protect yourself as this drama unfolds?
I will answer that in a moment. First, let's look at some more
details of this theft/enslavement and how it was made possible.
We all know CONgress does not represent us. But there is an
organization that does. It's the National Taxpayers Union (they are not
about tax protesting, but instead about what the federal govt does with
the tax dollars it takes from us via all sorts of hidden taxes).
In early November, the NTU sent out a letter with such interesting
facts as:
- Earlier this year, 15 lawmakers voted to give CONgress a raise.
- Rank and file members of CONgress rake in an annual salary of
$174,000 for "working" an average of 3-day work weeks (never mind
that they are working for their corporate bosses and other criminals
who instruct them to steal from you).
- Among those Americans lucky enough to have a job, white collar
workers typically put in 70 hours or more per week and seldom get a
day off (this was not mentioned in the NTU letter; I mention it here
just to put the 3-day CONgressional theftweek in perspective).
- Some members of CONgress rake in considerably more than the
$174K/yr (ask yourself where Chuck Rangel got the millions he
invested offshore so he could commit the felony called "tax
evasion."). All of them get premium benefits, are exempted from the
16% flat income tax (absurdly known as your "Social Security
contribution"), a really super medical care plan (compare it to the
lousy plan you have), and all kinds of other "we are royalty" perks
and privileges.
- The $4,700 raise CONgress got in 2009 costs us an additional
$2.5 million every year. Like gonorrhea, it's the gift that keeps on
giving.
The NTU has many good ideas about ending this "pay the criminals
excessively" situation. Check out their ideas at
www.ntu.org.
I have no idea what exactly will bring down this criminal regime, or
when that would happen. Many experts have provided their opinions, but l
don't have the time or energy to gain a political science background so
I can properly sort that out. And doing so wouldn't make any difference
to my personal situation. So, I don't bother.
Now, back to our original question. This is what is relevant.
Some things you can do:
- Manage debt carefully. This doesn't mean forego all debt. Few
people can do that without a corresponding and dramatic drop in
standard of living. Just be sensible and allow yourself a fair
amount of cushion. For example, if you take out a loan to replace
your car don't also replace your refrigerator via a time loan and
thus have two debts to handle. Each debt adds up. Prioritize and
take them on sequentially, or at least try to stagger them out.
- Manage relationships. I'm amazed at how many men act cheap with
their wives (with time, affection, patience, and money). Wake up
call, guys. Divorce is not cheap. Friendships and working
relationships are also vary valuable, including in ways you can't
put a price on.
- Sharpen your skills. You can read, take courses, and attend
seminars. You can tackle tough projects and learn through
experience. Just don't let yourself get in the mode of not growing
your skill set.
- Learn advanced negotiation skills, even if you already think you
have them (you probably don't).
- Practice health care. While this item is culturally frowned upon
in the USA and not covered by insurance plans (there's no profit in
selling $52 of broccoli a year vs. $40,000 in medications), it may
be the single most important counter-culture thing you can do. See
www.supplecity.com for free
info on diet and exercise.
- Practice brain care. Good health care puts your brain in good
organic shape. But you also need to care for it with exercise:
learning, reading, problem-solving, new experiences. If you're not
reading at least 12 nonfiction books a year (I consider that a
"barely get by" number), your brain is starving.
- Add to this list. Think on this general topic, and come up with
three additional ideas of your own.
- Take action. Implement these ideas. Schedule things to do, and
get them done.
|
4. Health tip/Fitness tips
|
When I travel, I visit gyms in the destination locations so I can
continue my program of training. Some people go to gyms to train, others to
compete. Which choice you make will greatly determine the results you see.
By "compete," I mean the irrational behavior of using excess weight and
improper form out of some mistaken notion that it matters how much or how
little others in the gym see you lift.
The problem is primarily among guys,
though some women exhibit the behavior as well. This behavior necessarily
sacrifices intensity, meaning it about defeats your presumed purpose in
working out in the first place. Without intensity, you don't get the
adaptive response that leads to a leaner, more muscular body. You don't
need to let yourself be intimidated into making your gym visit unproductive and
dangerous. Click here to read the
rest of this
article.
|
Shortly after turning 50.
|
|
|
|
At
www.supplecity.com, you'll find plenty of informative, authoritative articles on maintaining a lean, strong physique. It has nothing to do with long workouts or impossible to maintain diets. In fact:
- The best workouts are short
and intense.
- A good diet contains far more flavors and satisfaction than the typical American diet.
|
5. Factoid
|
There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. That's especially
interesting, because since the Federal Reserve was formed, the dollar
has lost about 97 cents of its value. |
6. Product Highlight
Full Protection
Radar Detector: Save almost $90 off
retail!
Enjoy total
protection and peace of mind with
this top-end radar/laser detector.
The Cobra XRS 9970G protects against
all 15 radar bands (X, K Ka
Superwide, Ku, etc.), Laser; VG-2
Alert/Immunity, Spectre
Alert/Immunity; City/Highway; 360
degrees. Super-fast lock-on
detection, extra detection range,
and best possible advance warning to
the fastest of POP mode radar guns.
Comes with GPS Locator and Lifetime
Subscription to AURA Database;
alerts you to verified Speed and Red
Light Camera locations, dangerous
intersections, and reported Speed
Trap locations. Stay informed,
stay safe: the Cobra XRS9970G
radar/laser detector. |
Discontinued, 2014-06-07 |
|
|
7. Thought for the Day
|
When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department
usually uses water. |
Please forward this eNL to others.
Authorship
The views expressed in this e-newsletter are generally not shared by criminals, zombies, or brainwashed individuals.
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.
Wishing you the best,
Mark Lamendola
Mindconnection, LLC
Authorship
The views expressed in this e-newsletter are generally not shared by criminals, zombies, or brainwashed individuals.
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.
To subscribe, change your e-mail address, offer your own tidbit, tell
us how much you love this eNL, ask how to put us in your will <grin>, or to (gasp) unsubscribe, write to
comments @ mindconnection.com (paste that into your e-mail client, and remove
the spaces).
Let other potentialreaders know what you think of this e-zine, by rating it at the Cumuli Ezine
Finder
|
