Joy Cash's Blog

Goldman caught breaking the law again. I guess this means that the SEC will have to rewrite a few laws to appease the Squid again.

2011-04-12T09:09:00.000-04:00

Goldman caught breaking the law again. I guess this means that the SEC will have to rewrite a few laws to appease the Squid again.: "Goldman Sachs Accused by Marvell Founders of Margin Call Fraud Share this:"

Cocky Chris Matthews Slams 2012 GOP Nominees as a 'Dog Pound' and a 'Pig Pen'

2011-04-12T09:06:00.000-04:00

Cocky Chris Matthews Slams 2012 GOP Nominees as a 'Dog Pound' and a 'Pig Pen': "

A cocky Chris Matthews on Monday dismissed the possible 2012 Republican presidential nominees as a "dog pound" and a "pig pen." The Hardball host briefly mentioned candidates such as Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, but focused mostly on Donald Trump and lesser known individuals like Herman Cain.

Talking to Republican strategist John Feehery and former Hillary Clinton aide Mark Penn, Matthews mocked, "This looks more, sounds more like a dog pound than it does like a group of people running for President."

The cable anchor then ran down a list of Trump, Cain, Newt Ginrich and Michele Bachmann, asking his guests if these people could be elected President. Matthews left off Pawlenty, Romney, Mitch Daniels and other possibly strong nominees.

[See video below. MP3 audio here.]

Later, the host berated, "You've got a majority of your guys in this pig pen are unwinnable."

In a moment of introspection, Matthews wondered, "We're sitting here talking about candidates who are wasting our time. Is it my fault or yours, John Feehery?"

A transcript of the April 11 segment, which aired at 5:10pm EDT, follows:

CHRIS MATTHEWS: We're looking at the actual announced candidate in the Republican Party. You're laughing again. Buddy Roamer, former Democratic governor of, what, Mississippi, Louisiana, Herman Cain, business guy down in the-- he's the Godfather pizza guy from Atlanta. Who else? Rick Santorum. You know, you really don't have a lot of winners out there ready to sign up. The question I have, if you have a debate right now, who would show up for it? Who would actually be out there in the debate?

JOHN FEEHERY (Republican strategist): Well, I think you'd have Newt Gingrich. I think you'd have Michele Bachmann. I think you'd have- I think you'd have Mitt Romney, I think you'd have Tim Pawlenty. I think you might have Mitch Daniels. I think you might have some of these other characters. But you know what, this kind of reminds me of what happened in 1991, 1992. The Democratic primary got off to an awfully early start and some little known governor named Bill Clinton, who Mark Penn knows something about, you know, turned out to be the only guy that was worth nominating and he nominated [sic] and he won. And they nominated him and he won.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well, you know- This looks more, sounds more like a dog pound than it does like a group of people running for President.

FEEHERY: Well, we might have a governor that surprises people.

MATTHEWS: Okay. I want to try this list by both of you. I want to try this list by both of you, starting with this. Is there a good chance, a reasonable chance that Rick Santorum will be president next- in 2013?

FEEHERY: Listen, I like Rick Santorum but he's not going to be president.

MATTHEWS: Do you think there's a good chance he'll be President?

MARK PENN: No.

MATTHEWS: Is there a good chance Newt Gingrich will be President of the United States? Three marriages in?

PENN: Nope. I don't think it's about marriages.

MATTHEWS: Do you think, John- are you allowed to talk about a guy from the House, John? John, do you think he could ever be President of the United States?

FEEHERY: I like Newt. I don't think he'll be president.

MATTHEWS: Okay, let's go to Bachman, Michele Bachmann. You start this time. Will Michele Bachmann be president any time in her lifetime?

FEEHERY: No.

MATTHEWS: Okay. Michele Bachmann?

PENN: No.

MATTHEWS: Okay. Donald Trump. Will he ever be President of the United States?

FEEHERY: Nope.

MATTHEWS: Will Donald Trump ever be president of the United States?

PENN: No.

MATTHEWS: So what are we wasting our time for?

FEEHERY [Laughs]: I don't know why.

MATTHEWS: Let me give you the big ones- Buddy Roemer, Herman Cain, I mean it's quite a list of wastes of our time. We're sitting here talking about candidates who are wasting our time. Is it my fault or yours, John Feehery?

FEEHERY: There were plenty of candidates who were wasting our time last time like Dennis Kucinich. He wasn't going to be president. Ron Paul, he wasn't going to be president. You know, that's what happens sometimes. You get people who want to be president and they get media attention-

MATTHEWS: In this case- A weak argument. You've got a majority of your guys in this pig pen are unwinnable. Anyway, thanks very much, Mark Penn, and Feehery, you've got a good sense of humor. You're going to need one.

— Scott Whitlock is the senior news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.

Time Finds Robert Redford in Denial: 'I'm Not a Left-Wing Person'

2011-04-12T09:03:00.000-04:00

Time Finds Robert Redford in Denial: 'I'm Not a Left-Wing Person': "

Time's Ten Questions to Robert Redford drew some silly answers -- like Redford denying he's a lefty.

How helpful or harmful to your career has it been to be known as someone who is passionate about politics?

I am passionate. I am political about my country, about what it is, how strong it is, how strong it remains. [My last film,] Lions for Lambs, got rough treatment, and I think it was because — and I don't want to sound defensive — but I think it was misperceived. I'm not a left-wing person. I'm just a person interested in the sustainability of my country.

So the major political conflicts of our time are between the conservatives and the sustainers? Someone needs to tell Redford that when you favor massive government intervention to "save the planet" and back liberal Democrats for president, that makes you a "left-wing person." Or perhaps he can see that making films seen as left-wing propaganda efforts are box-office bombs, so he's trying to .

Redford's leftism is on display later in the same interview:

You're well known for being an environmentalist. How do you think the Obama Administration is doing on that front?

I've been doing this for almost 40 years, and it's always been tough because of the power of the energy companies. I think the Administration would like to do the right thing, but they're hampered by the extremism of certain elements within Congress.

You can see the fear at being "pigeonholed" in Redford's interview with Jamie Malanowski for Parade magazine, the Sunday newspaper supplement. They talked about his film about the people on trial for Lincoln's assassination:

Mary [Surratt] was tried before a military court. With Guantánamo and other tribunals in the news, the contemporary relevance of the story must have appealed to you.

Obviously, I could see the parallels to the present, and I knew that this could be dangerous for me, because people see me as a liberal and might pigeonhole me and the film as having some partisan point of view. But I don’t feel that the political films I’ve made have been partisan criticisms of the left or right, but criticisms of the political process itself.

I’m not inventing anything [about Mary Surratt’s trial]—I’m just putting a spotlight on it. The other factor for me, having experienced what I’ve experienced in my lifetime, is how could I not see patterns in our history? And one of the biggest patterns I’ve noticed is that whenever there’s chaos, there’s ambiguity, and where there’s ambiguity, there’s fear. And fear gets manipulated.

Robert "Don't Pigeonhole Me" Redford tilts to the left again in the Parade interview extras. How'd Bush do on the environment?

The attempts of the previous administration to do away with all the laws and regulations that were put into place over the last 30 years to protect the people of this country had a devastating effect. They attempted to cynically take out the EPA, to do away with the Bureau of Land Management, to open up everything to gas and oil exploration, which are non-renewable resources. I've been involved with the environment for years, and I always will be. People need to wake up. The climate's changing. Water doesn't reach its destination anymore. We need to realize that this planet is home to all of us. There's not a lot one person can do alone, but I will sleep better at night knowing that I did whatever I could.

Right after this tirade about Bush banning environmental agencies, Redford said there's not enough "moderation" in politics when asked about how Obama is doing:

I think he could do better if some of his advisers weren't from some of the Old School places. So I'm disappointed, but I think he's doing okay, better than anybody else would have. What worries me is that our political system is so degenerated that there's nothing but a war zone. There's no cooperation, there's no moderation, there's no compromise. There is no middle, there's just a demarcation line. Somebody just doesn't see the bigger picture, and we're going to pay.

Another leading indicator of being a left-wing person is being depressed at the Tea Party Republican influx into Washington. See Redford on the depressing current status of the political debate (as opposed to the Hope and Change Inaugural euphoria). On ABC's This Week, Christiane Amanpour asked if he had a dim view of politics:

"It's so dim it's almost black," he said with a laugh. "It's pretty grim right now. I mean I'm so depressed to think that this country, with all of its potential, could reduce itself to games being played with what feels like the dialogue is being done with Stone Age tools. I mean it's really depressing to think that instead of an exchange of ideas between two different ways of thinking, you've just got a war zone."

2010-08-18T22:16:00.003-04:00

Come celebrate at the SeaWitch with Chelsea! 20% of net proceeds donated back to the Red Dress Project. "LAST BEAUTY STANDING" Former Miss USA and Miss Universe title holders compete against one another in several nerve-wracking games in a minute's time in an attempt to win the $1 million prize for their respective charities. Chelsea competed for the Red Dress Project. The SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar, along with NHRMC's Red Dress Project Committee and Edge Entertainment is proud to host the viewing party, Monday, August 23rd. We'll have $1.50 domestic drafts and 1/2 price appetizers, and entertainment provided by DJ Lil Mike. The SeaWitch is donating 20% of the net proceeds from this event back to the Red Dress Project... so come out, meet Chelsea and see how she fared on a "Minute to Win It". We'll certainly be cheering her on!!!!

Episode airs Monday, August 23rd at 8:00 PM.

SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar

Stroke Play Golf Tournament

2010-02-17T13:02:00.002-05:00

"GOLF TO GIVE BACK"
Portion of proceeds to benefit Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry

You are cordially invited to play in our first tournament of the year.
40 Player Individual Stroke Play Competition
Wilmington Municipal Golf Course
Saturday, February 27th

ALL CASH PRIZES!

$40 Entry Fee
Includes 18 holes of golf, green fee and cart

Staggered Tee Times - 10:04 AM to 11:18 AM

Players of all skill levels are invited. FOUR Flights (based on full field) with two places paid per flight.

Prizes as follows (all flights including Championship Flight):
1ST PLACE - $50.00 CASH PRIZE
2ND PLACE - $25.00 CASH PRIZE

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SCORE!

* Individual Skins Game
Each player can participate in the skins game by contributing $5.00 before play begins. Lowest score on each hole wins a skin and a portion of the proceeds based on number of entries. No ties or carryovers.

* Putting Competition
Each player can participate in the putting competition by contributing $5.00 before play begins. Individual with the lowest number of putts at the end of the tournament wins $25.00. Ties will be split between winners.

* Greens in Regulation Competition
Each player can participate in the greens in regulation competition by contributing $5.00 before play begins. Individual with the most greens in regulation at the end of the tournament wins $25.00. Ties will be split between winners.

* Fairways in Regulation Competition
Each player can participate in the fairways in regulation competition by contributing $5.00 before play begins. Individual with the most fairways in regulation at the end of the end of the tournament wins $25.00. Ties will be split between winners.

* 50/50 Drawing
Each player can participate in the 50/50 drawing by contributing $5.00. Drawing will be held at the end of the tournament. Player with the winning ticket will win half of the proceeds.

SCORE BIG!!
ENTER ALL FIVE FOR ONLY $20.00
Click here to Register for Tournament

Register and pay online with PayPal.
Registration deadline is Monday, February 22nd.

Help Wanted -- 'Arrogant Americans' Need Not Apply

2010-02-17T13:00:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
By Joshua Rhett Miller

Looking for a job? Well, if you're an "arrogant American,' you had better search elsewhere.

An information technology staffing firm based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., posted an advertisement for a technical writer that warned that an "arrogant American" would not flourish in the position.

"Exelon is looking to provide these proposals to Chinese businesses, so someone who is respectful and understands Chinese culture is preferred. An arrogant American will not work well in this role," the listing read.

The ad, posted by Viva USA, an information technology consulting firm, has since been removed. Varuna Singh, the company's development manager, told FoxNews.com it received the language from its client, Exelon Nuclear Partners, and the wording somehow got past a "junior recruiter" who posted the advertisement on CareerBuilder.com.

"We are taking it down immediately, this was a mistake," Singh said. "This was not wordage by Viva. This was sent into us by the client, but we, as the staffing company, should have looked into it before posting."

Singh apologized for the error, citing "negligence" on the company's behalf.

Judith Rader, a spokeswoman for Exelon, said the company was looking into the matter.

"Exelon is researching the issue," Rader said in an e-mail. "We cannot verify or provide comment on this information until we learn the facts."

Diana Johnston, an attorney for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said a hiring decision based on national origin would be a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination by employers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

"You always have to look at the whole thing in context, but certainly it does violate Title VII to discriminate based on national origin," she said. "If you make a hiring decision based on national origin, including it based on somebody being American, that would be a violation."

Rose Valenta, of Chalfont, Pa., said she received the job description via e-mail from Viva on Tuesday.

"I was OK with the first paragraph, but when I got to the second, I was floored," she told FoxNews.com.

"It made me furious. People need to know about this. There's a lot of things here that need to be looked into."

Ferne Wolf, a St. Louis-based employment law attorney, said the posting "sounds like national origin discrimination" and suggested the advertisement be brought to the attention of EEOC officials.

"I think a jury could reasonably conclude that there's already a predisposition [by the firm] that Americans are arrogant," she said. "That's like saying ditzy blondes need not apply."

Wolf continued, "You'd think they would know better. Maybe they need a lawyer. There's plenty of good defense attorneys in Chicago."

Read this article and more from Fox News.

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

2010-01-18T08:37:00.001-05:00

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

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I SURVIVED 2009 CELEBRATION

2010-01-08T20:04:00.003-05:00

A community celebration of surviving one of the toughest years on record! Come join the “I Survived 2009″ PARTY!

"This is a party to celebrate making it through one of the most difficult years most of us have ever experienced. Everybody I talked to seemed to share the same sentiment…People had either been laid off, lost their homes, or were struggling to keep their businesses going. They were doing whatever they had to do to survive. We were all in this together. So, I decided we all needed to get together and have a party to celebrate the fact that we made it, and we were still standing! We can look back on 2009 and be proud of what we were able to do, and look forward to 2010 with a renewed hope, confidence and courage. This is also an opportunity for us to pay it forward. The proceeds from this party will be donated to Phoenix Employment Ministry. Phoenix seeks to empower sheltered and nearly homeless people by helping them build self confidence and hope, providing resources in a community environment, teaching job hunting skills, and helping them find and keep satisfying, long term employment. Thank you for being a part of this great event." ----- LIL MERCER

Ticket prices are $35 to include food, wine, beer, music and dancing. First 350 registrants receive a FREE “I Survived 2009″ T-shirt.

Buy your tickets online at http://www.isurvived2009guide.com. The first 350 people to register will receive a free t-shirt!

All Proceeds to benefit Phoenix Employment Ministry – www.phoenixwork.org ORGANIZERS: Kathleen Baylies – Just For Buyer’s Realty www.justforbuyersrealty.com and Lil Mercer – LPL Financial – Member FINRA/SIPC www.lpl.com/lil.mercer

QUESTIONS: Email contact@isurvived2009guide.com

For those who would want to enjoy a stay downtown after the party, The Coastline Convention Center has kindly blocked 20 rooms at the Best Western Coastline Inn at a special rate of $69/room for the attendees of the “I Survived 2009 Party”. Please call them for the details (910) 763-2800.

Sponsors: LPL Financial Just For Buyers Realty Active Entertainment Flash Promotions Front Street Brewery Carolina Craft Distributing Neonexus Web Designs Taste Graphic Design Wilmington Business Journal Middle of the Island Catering Bon Appetit Catering Angie's of Chris' Restaurant Giorgio's Catering AQ Catering and Events International Minute Press Clove Marketing

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE TODAY!
I SURVIVED 2009 Celebration

Dumbest Business Moments of the Decade #2

2009-12-18T18:30:00.006-05:00

As the first 10 years of the century draw to a close, we take a long hard look at exactly what got us into this mess.

Jan 25, 2001: The Maestro's dubious debt warning

Just days after President George W. Bush took office, Fed chief Alan Greenspan admonished budgeteers about the dangers of -- get this -- too little federal debt.

"At zero debt, the continuing unified budget surpluses currently projected imply a major accumulation of private assets by the federal government," Greenspan told the Senate Budget Committee.

As it turns out, the United States has been able to kick its nasty surplus habit, spilling at least $158 billion of red ink every year since Greenspan's testimony. Yet thanks to the financial sector debt crisis that precipitated bailouts such as TARP, the feds ended up accumulating huge amounts of private assets anyway. We've got 7.7 billion shares of Citigroup -- any takers?

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/fortune/0912/gallery.dumbest_moments_decade.fortune/2.html

10 Dumbest Business Moments of the Decade - #1

2009-12-17T00:39:00.004-05:00

As the first 10 years of the century draw to a close, we take a long hard look at exactly what got us into this mess.

Jan 10, 2000: You've got disaster!

AOL and Time Warner (Fortune's parent company) announced a $165 billion merger, promising to marry the best news and entertainment content with the distribution medium of the future, the Internet. To say it was a bad match is an exercise in understatement.

In 2002, AOL Time Warner posted the largest-ever U.S. corporate loss as it wrote off most of the value of the merger. The next year, the company bid adieu to the managers who created it and stripped AOL from the corporate letterhead.
This month, Time Warner and AOL finally parted ways, nine years later and more than $100 billion poorer. So much for the deal Ted Turner once gushed was better than sex.

By Colin Barr, senior writer
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/fortune/0912/gallery.dumbest_moments_decade.fortune/index.html

Tiger Woods, Obama On Golf Digest Cover Together

2009-12-13T02:41:00.008-05:00

Tiger Woods and President Obama share the cover of the January issue of Golf Digest with a cover story titled, "10 Tips Obama Can Take From Tiger."

Read more - http://bit.ly/7hX2eO

Philosophy of Relationships-1

2009-12-12T11:33:00.003-05:00

Red Dress Luncheon & Fashion Show

2009-12-05T20:18:00.004-05:00

The 5th Annual Red Dress Luncheon and Fashion Show is scheduled for February 5, 2010 at the Wilmington Hilton Riverside.
The guest speaker will be Rep. Becky Carney of Mecklenburg County.

Become a fan of our FaceBook Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/RED-DRESS-PROJECT/380318965334?

7 Tips to Thrive in Today’s Economy

2009-11-27T21:46:00.000-05:00

7 Tips to Thrive in Today’s Economy: "

RISMEDIA, November 27, 2009—In today’s changing economy, many entrepreneurs and real estate agents are wondering what to do. Some have gone through a cycle of shock, disappointment, fear, and now confusion. What seemed to work in yesterday’s marketplace isn’t working today. The truth is there are many opportunities in today’s market for success. The following 7 tips will put you on a path toward success in today’s economy.

Tip 1: Listen to the media with discernment

As you know, the media likes to paint a negative spin on everything to get more sales. There’s a saying, “if it bleeds, it reads.” Lately you’ve been hearing a lot of scare tactics from the media. When you’re buying into the ideas that are presented, notice how you feel. Do you feel motivated and raring to go?

You probably feel demoralized, unmotivated, and downright scared. As you feel these feelings, you are radiating energy to prospective clients that stop them from wanting to move forward. When you find yourself buying into the negative images the media portrays, remember that whatever you give out comes back to you multiplied.

Tip 2: Look at the facts

The economic forecast is actually quite different than what the media is spinning. For instance:

-interest rates are still at an all-time low

-we’ve gone through the worst of the dip

-indications are that stocks will start to rise and that there is more confidence in the economy

In other words, according to the experts, the worst part is over and people will begin to buy again.

Tip 3: Put up boundaries on negativity in your environment

You probably know what environment I’m talking about. I’m talking about being around other negative people. Many of the clients that I’m currently coaching are busy creating a positive mindset. How do they do it? They tell me, “I don’t hang out with people who are negative. I would rather stay away than hear the negative buzz.”

Tip 4: Monitor your own self talk

No one knows how to create negative chatter in your mind, more than you do. With the flip of a switch, you can turn off negative self talk and give yourself positive and encouraging self talk.

A few examples of negative self talk include:

-I don’t know if I can succeed in today’s market

-I don’t know if there’s enough business to go around

-Maybe it’s time for me to get a “real job”

After working with entrepreneurs for the past 10 years to help them double and triple their incomes, I have found an easy technique to intervene and create a positive mindset.

The next time you notice any negative self talk, just say stop. Then take a breath and put in some positive new thoughts. Here are some examples of positive thoughts:

-I have the skills and confidence to succeed in any economy

-There’s more than enough to go around

-The bottom line is – no matter what, people will always need my expert services

-I do work I love and I’m richly rewarded

These positive thoughts creates a positive, affirming mindset so that instead of asking the question, “can I do this?” you ask, “how can I do this?”

Tip 5: Find and educate your clients

Clients for almost any service are hungry for knowledge. Remember to approach any selling opportunity as an education opportunity. Even if they aren’t ready to buy at that moment, they will remember who was honest and helpful when they are. Find a way to offer a class or seminar and increase your exposure and credibility even more.

Tip 6: Be clear on what makes you unique

As you begin to market yourself to clients, be sure to present reasons to them as to why they should work with you instead of someone else. When I present this idea to my clients, they often go blank. Does this ever happen to you? With the help of a mentor or a coach, have someone help you discover your strengths.

Tip 7: Use the Law of Attraction to attract your ideal clients

The best way for your business to grow and your income to triple is to be attracting your ideal clients. Your ideal clients will be pleasurable to work with, they will appreciate your skills and service and they will refer people to you.

The Law of Attraction would say: visualize clients you want to work with, see yourself working with them now, and feel what it feels like to have an abundance of ideal clients. If it gives you joy to serve them, then radiate that joy and watch how it magnetizes those ideal clients to you. This is the difference between having work you tolerate and work that you love.

Dr. Maya Bailey, author of Law of Attraction for Real Estate Professionals, integrates 20 years of experience as a psychologist and 12 years as a business coach with her expertise in the Law of Attraction. Get Bailey’s free report, 7 Simple Strategies For More Clients in 90 Days, by visiting www.90DaystoMoreClients.com.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

Texting while driving becomes illegal on December 1st - WECT TV6 - WECT.com - Wilmington, NC news and weather -

2009-11-27T19:38:00.003-05:00

Texting while driving becomes illegal on December 1st - WECT TV6 - WECT.com - Wilmington, NC news and weather -

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Texting while driving becomes illegal on December 1st - WECT TV6 - WECT.com - Wilmington, NC news and weather -

2009-11-27T19:38:00.001-05:00

Texting while driving becomes illegal on December 1st - WECT TV6 - WECT.com - Wilmington, NC news and weather -

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Tin Cup Products unveils simple system for personalizing golf balls

2009-11-24T23:54:00.000-05:00

Tin Cup Products unveils simple system for personalizing golf balls: "FAIRFAX, Va. -- The new Tin Cup Personal Imprinting System allows the golfer to make their mark."

Kass: What Recovery

2009-11-17T22:32:00.002-05:00

Economic news grim... but the article did make me laugh... or at least smile. :)

This blog post originally appeared on RealMoney Silver on Nov. 16 at 7:56 a.m. EST.

The growing view that the economy is embarking on a self-sustaining recovery that could be similar in duration to the average expansionary cycle over the past century brings me to a new segment I like to call "Really!?! With Doug."

Of course, this is a takeoff from "Saturday Night Live's" Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers. If you are not familiar with their "SNL" schtick during their Weekend Updates, here are a few of their Really!?! segments.

Really, the economy is recovering? Really, economists?

I mean, really!?!

With globalization, wage deflation and with the prospects of tepid top-line sales growth, which corporations intend to expand their labor rolls?

So, there's going to be a meaningful return to jobs growth in 2010! Really!?!

And what happened to the previous forecasts that job creation would emerge in fourth-quarter 2009? I mean, really!

In the face of the withdrawal of government stimulus programs (2010), higher marginal taxrates (in 2011), costly health-care legislation, a low level of small business confidence, still relatively normal inventory-to-sales ratios and only a moderate improvement in demand, employers will soon to be forced to expand both hours and payrolls to meet demand? Really!?!

And, really, an economic recovery without job growth? According to the household survey, nearly 600,000 jobs were lost last month, and 15.7 million Americans are out of work. Really!?!

The credit mechanisms of the shadow-banking system and the securitization market remain adrift, and banks aren't lending. An economic recovery without credit? Really!?!

How about the state and local governments that have provided an anchor to growth in previous economic periods? Only two states have balanced budgets, and New York is letting out prisoners early to save money. Really!?!

And I imagine retail sales are going to firm up into a better-than-expected Christmas season? Really!?!

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10627106/1/kass-what-recovery.html#

How To Plough Deep While Sluggards Sleep*

2009-11-16T20:35:00.002-05:00

How To Plough Deep While Sluggards Sleep*

The Joy of Social Media

2009-11-15T19:47:00.002-05:00

The Joy of Social Media

Using Twitter lists for journalism and public relations

2009-11-09T23:36:00.001-05:00

Using Twitter lists for journalism and public relations | Article | Homepage articles

FOR SALE - 3 GREENSBORO ST WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH NC

2009-11-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

Live steps from the ocean at this stunning 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom townhome on Wrightsville Beach. The kitchen boasts stainless appliances, a window over the sink, a convenient breakfast bar, & best of all overlooks both the dining & living areas making this bright & airy beach home ideal for entertaining! The master suite has its own outside deck, a trey ceiling, & master bathroom with whirlpool tub & separate shower. Additional features of this great beach getaway include an outdoor shower, recessed lighting, crown molding, ceiling fans throughout, hardwood flooring, wet bar on the top floor, & access to the shared rooftop deck offering spectacular, panoramic 360 degree views of the island. Start your morning on the relaxing rooftop deck watching the sunrise over the ocean & wind down at the end of the day watching the sunsets over the Intracoastal Waterway. Listing agent is part owner. Special financing possible with 4% on a 5 year arm, up to 95% financing with no PMI.

http://www.buddyblake.com/idx/residential/439318/details.html

http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?T=568825

Election Day Fun

2009-11-03T12:43:00.000-05:00

Lil Mercer and I have some laughs at the polls this morning.

McLachlin's tweet from fifth tee draws ire of Tour officials

2009-10-27T21:41:00.002-04:00

To funny!
PGA.com :: PGATOUR :: Notebook: McLachlin's tweet from fifth tee draws ire of Tour officials

Living Without Limits

2009-10-09T23:18:00.002-04:00

Posted by Brian Tracy on Oct 7, 2009

The starting point of great success and achievement has always been the same. It is for you to dream big dreams. There is nothing more important, and nothing that works faster than for you to cast off your own limitations than for you to begin dreaming and fantasizing about the wonderful things that you can become, have, and do.
As a wise man once said, “You must dream big dreams, for only big dreams have the power to move the minds of men.” When you begin to dream big dreams, your levels of self-esteem and self-confidence will go up immediately. You will feel more powerful about yourself and your ability to deal with what happens to you. The reason so many people accomplish so little is because they never allow themselves to lean back and imagine the kind of life that is possible for them.
Theory of Constraints
A powerful principle that you can use to dream big dreams and live without limits is contained in what Elihu Goldratt calls the “Theory of Constraints.” This is one of the greatest breakthroughs in modern thinking. What Goldratt has found is that in every process, in accomplishing any goal, there is a bottleneck or choke cord that serves as a constraint on the process. This constraint then sets the speed at which you achieve any particular goal.
What Goldratt found is that if you concentrate all of your creative energies and attention on alleviating the constraint, you can speed up the process faster than by doing any other single thing.
Let me give you an example. Let us say that you want to double your income. What is the critical constraint or the limiting factor that holds you back? Well, you know that your income is a direct reward for the quality and quantity of the services you render to your world. Whatever field you are in, if you want to double your income, you simply have to double the quality and quantity of what you do for that income. Or you have to change activities and occupations so that what you are doing is worth twice as much. But you must always ask yourself, “What is the critical constraint that holds me back or sets the speed on how fast I double my income?”
The 80/20 Rule in Action
A friend of mine is one of the highest-paid commission professionals in the United States. One of his goals was to double his income over the next three to five years. He applied the 80/20 rule to his client base. He found that 20 percent of his clients contributed 80 percent of his profits, and that the amount of time spent on a high-profit client was pretty much the same amount of time spent on a low-profit client. In other words, he was dividing his time equally over the number of tasks that he does while only 20 percent of those items contributes 80 percent of his results.
So he drew a line on his list of clients under those who represented the top 20 percent and then called in other professionals in his industry and very carefully, politely, and strategically handed off the 80 percent of his clients that only represented 20 percent of his business. He then put together a profile of his top clients and began looking in the marketplace exclusively for the type of client who fit the profile; in other words, one who could become a major profit contributor to his organization, and whom he in turn could serve with the level of excellence that his clients were accustomed to. And instead of doubling his income in three to five years, he doubled it in the first year!
What Are Your Constraints?
So what is holding you back? Is it your level of education or skill? Is it your current occupation or job? Is it your current environment or level of health? Is it the situations that you are in today? What is setting the speed for you achieving your goal?
Remember, whatever you have learned, you can unlearn. Whatever situation you have gotten yourself into, you can probably get yourself out of. If your real goal is to dream big dreams and to live without limits, you can set this as your standard and compare everything that you do against it.
Three Keys
The three keys to living without limits have always been the same. They are clarity, competence, and concentration.
#1: Clarity
Clarity means that you are absolutely clear about who you are, what you want, and where you’re going. You write down your goals and you make plans to accomplish them. You set very careful priorities and you do something every day to move you toward your goals. And the more progress you make toward accomplishing things that are important to you, the greater self-confidence and self-belief you have, and the more convinced you become that there are no limits on what you can achieve.
# 2: Competence
Competence means that you begin to become very, very good in the key result areas of your chosen field. You apply the 80/20 rule to everything you do and you focus on becoming outstanding in the 20 percent of tasks that contribute to 80 percent of your results. You dedicate yourself to continuous learning. You never stop growing. You realize that excellence is a moving target. And you commit yourself to doing something every day that enables you to become better and better at doing the most important things in your field.
# 3: Concentration
Concentration is having the self-discipline to force yourself to concentrate single-mindedly on one thing, the most important thing, and stay with it until it’s complete.
The two key words for success have always been focus and concentration.
Focus is knowing exactly what you want to be, have, and do. Concentration is persevering, without diversion or distraction, in a straight line toward accomplishing the things that can make a real difference in your life.
When you allow yourself to begin to dream big dreams, creatively abandon the activities that are taking up too much of your time, and focus your inward energies on alleviating your main constraints, you start to feel an incredible sense of power and confidence. As you focus on doing what you love to do and becoming excellent in those few areas that can make a real difference in your life, you begin to think in terms of possibilities rather than impossibilities, and you move ever closer toward the realization of your full potential.

Words of Wisdom for Friday

2009-10-02T09:06:00.012-04:00

There comes a point in your life when you realize...
Who matters...
Who never did...
Who won't anymore... And who always will.
So, don't worry about people from your past... there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

Brutal Business Questions You Should Be Asking Yourself—But Are You?

2009-10-02T08:47:00.000-04:00

The starting point of strategic planning is for you to develop absolute clarityabout your current situation. Look at your overall business and ask, “What’s working?” and “What’s not working?” in every area.
What is your current level of sales? Break them down by product, product line, service, market, and distribution channel. What exactly are you selling, to which customers, at what prices, and with what level of profitability?
Compare your current sales with your assumptions, your expectations, and your projections. Are you on track? Compare your level of sales with last year. What are the trends? Are they up or down? Are they temporary or permanent? What do the trends suggest for the future of your business? What could you do to respond more effectively to them?
Cash Flow is Everything
Look at your cash flow and levels of profitability for each product, service, and area of activity. Are your profits going up or down? Are they on budget or going sideways? Look at the percentages. Analyze your return-on-equity, return-on-investment, and return-on-sales. Are they increasing or decreasing?
Jim Collins says, in Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap -And Others Don’t, that you must be willing to ask the “brutal questions” about your business if you are going to solve your problems and achieve your goals. If your goal is to build a great company, why isn’t your companyalready great?
Which of your products or services is selling well today? Which of your products and services are the most profitable? Which ones are doing poorly? Which ones do you lose money on?
Is your current business situation, positive or negative, in any area, temporary, or is it part of a long-term trend? How can you know for sure? How can you find out? What should you do next?
Clarity is the Key
Perhaps the most important word in strategic planning is “clarity.” You must be absolutely clear about the answers to each of these questions. Vagueness or fuzziness in any area can lead to problems, difficulties, and even disasters.
Why has your business been successful in the past? What have you done well in the past that has been responsible for your success to date? What are the most important skills and competencies that your company possesses today? What are the very best products and services that you offer right now?
Look at the people around you. Who are your most valuable people? Who is no longer as valuable as before? Who even represents a net loss or detriment to your business? Be prepared to ask and answer the brutal questions.
The Customer is the King
Who are your best customers today? What and where are your best markets? What do your customers like most about what you do for them? What do they compliment the most of what you offer or do for them? What is your number-one area of customer satisfaction?
What do your customers like least about what you do? What do they complain about most? What is it that you sell that your customers and potential customers prefer to buy somewhere else rather than from you?
Question Your Assumptions
Time management expert Alex McKenzie once wrote, “Errant assumptions lie at the root of every failure.” Everything you do in your business is based on certain assumptions. Some of those assumptions could be wrong. The answers may have changed, and what was correct in the past may not be correct today. Check every assumption and ask, “What if this assumption were not true?”
If you found that you were operating on the basis of a false assumption, what changes would you have to make, especially with regard to your key people, key customers, key products and services, and key projections?
Strategic planning requires that you begin with a realistic and honest assessment of exactly where you are and what you are today. This becomes your starting point for strategic planning and strategic thinking. It becomes the foundation upon which all future decisions are made.
Action Strategies:

What is working best in your business today? What parts of your business make you happiest?
What is not working in your business? What causes you the most aggravation and frustration?
What are your most important products and markets? What accounts for the largest portion of your revenues?
Who are your most important people? Who are the people who account for most of your results?
What are your special talents and skills? What is it you do that accounts for most of your success?
What are the major changes taking place in your market? What changes should you make to compensate for them?
What are your most treasured assumptions about your people, customers, markets, products, services, and yourself? What if one of them weren’t true? What would you do then?

http://www.briantracy.com/blog/business-success/brutal-business-questions-you-should-be-asking-yourself-but-are-you/

PINK BUILD PARTY - FUNDRAISER

2009-09-30T20:47:00.002-04:00

I hope you have seen or heard about our Women Build project… It involves an incredible, diverse group of women and some good spirited men have come together to build a Habitat home for a very deserving single mom, Cristina Huerte. So many fabulous women have embraced this project, including groups from the DA’s office, Wilma Magazine, the Cameron Art Museum, the YWCA, UNCW, CFCC, the Cape Fear Roller Girls, interior decorators, realtors, bikers, women contractors, tennis teams etc--too many to name. They have donned tool belts, swung hammers, pulled measuring tapes and “genned-up” the power tools. Now, they're hosting a Pink Build Party as a friend-raiser and fund-raiser for this terrific project and....
YOU ARE INVITED!!!

Pink Build Party
5 PM – 7 PM, Thursday, October 1, 2009
400 Block of South Front Street
(Between Church and Nun Street)

Amble through the Gov. Dudley Mansion and other gracious homes on the block owned by friends of Habitat. See the list below.

Drink wonderful wines, nibble delicious hors d’ oeuvres and mingle with Wilmington’s women leaders.

No entrance fee. Bring your check book, Build a Dream!

HOUSES ON TOUR

400 S. Front St
Gov. Dudley Mansion
Ron & Cyndi Pickett

401 South Front Street
Don & Cathy Britt

418 South Front Street
Linda & Reid Murchison

423 South Front Street
Joyce & Ron Gerbe

10 Church Street
Dave & Cathy Spetrino

Parking available at the Harrelson Center underground deck, 20 North 4th Street between Market and Princess Place with Trolley service to the Pink Build Party.

Construction Cabinet: Beth Pancoe, Carol Ivey, Livian Jones, Pam Fasse, Susan Hanna, Pat Bradford, Kathleen Baylies, Barbara Birkenheuer, Shelagh Clancy, Wilma Daniels, Dorothy DeShields, Dana Fisher, Donna Giradot, Kait Goodnight, Mary Gornto, Ginger Hobbs, Julie Hale, Estell Lee Harrelson, Linda Heath, Emily Longley, Dee McGlone-Webb, Kelly Mehrtens, Marimar McNaughton, Jessica Mills, Louise McColl, Liz Perritt, Connie Majure-Rhett, Dolores Rhodes, Renee Saffo, Lil Mercer and Kitty Yerkes.

Pink Build Party Flyer link below--forward it on and join us!

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0Aw6DXV13L4NjA0YTY5NTItY2FlYy00MzRlLWE0MTYtMWEwOWNkNTQ2OWE1&hl=en

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

2009-09-30T09:13:00.002-04:00

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

Wilmington hit the latest list of the nation’s top 50 building markets in 2008 as compiled and published by Builder, the print and online trade publication for the home building industry.

The publication has been gathering the number of building permits issued by planning departments in metropolitan statistical areas around the country for about ten years, said Denise Dersin, editor in chief of Builder.

On this year’s list Wilmington was ranked no. 50 and had 3,551 building permits for new homes, according to the publication. Wilmington was not on the publication’s 2007 list. The top market, Houston, had 42,697, the publication reported.

New York, Dallas, Atlanta and Phoenix rounded out the top five cities with the largest building markets in the country.

Regionally, Charlotte ranked no. 11 with 12,231 permits in 2008. The Raleigh/Cary market came in at no. 13 with 11,386 permits issued. Charleston, S.C. was ranked no. 35 with 4,947 permits.

Wilmington last hit the list in 2006 as no. 59 out of the top 75 areas with 6,752 permits issued. On the 2005 list, Wilmington’s number of building permits jumped to 9,381 permits and making the list at no. 49. “For everyone in the country, 2005 was the top of the market,” Dersin said. On the 2004 list, Wilmington was no. 63 out of 75 with 5,712 permits.

In Wilmington, the publication reported that the largest builder was Pyramid Homes, which closed on 113 homes in 2008, representing 3.2 percent of the market. D.R. Horton, the biggest home builder in the nation operating in 77 markets in 27 states, was the second-largest builder in Wilmington. D.R. Horton had 93 homes close, which represented 2.6 percent of the local market. The third-largest builder was Bill Clark Homes, with 84 homes and 2.4 percent of the market.

5 Reasons to Buy a Home Now - Kiplinger.com

2009-09-29T02:21:00.001-04:00

5 Reasons to Buy a Home Now - Kiplinger.com

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NC community colleges to enroll illegal immigrants - WECT TV6 - WECT.com - Wilmington, NC news and weather -

2009-09-29T02:17:00.001-04:00

NC community colleges to enroll illegal immigrants - WECT TV6 - WECT.com - Wilmington, NC news and weather -

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Secret Service Probing Obama Assassination Poll on Facebook

2009-09-29T02:05:00.000-04:00

Secret Service Probing Obama Assassination Poll on Facebook - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com

Cameo Bar and Lounge - Dancing - Lumina Station - The Cape Fear Singles (CFS) Meetup Group (Wilmington, NC) - Meetup.com

2009-09-26T20:17:00.002-04:00

Cameo Bar and Lounge - Dancing - Lumina Station - The Cape Fear Singles (CFS) Meetup Group (Wilmington, NC) - Meetup.com

This event has been offered to CFS by the DJ, Brian Medeiros, AKA DJ Jazz-B. (others will be there also)

This info came from Brian : Cameo features a luxurious bar, exquisite sofa lounge section, outdoor (bug free) covered patio with plenty of seating, and the best dance floor, sound system and light show that Wilmington has to offer! Music and dancing starts at 9PM. As a DJ, I pride myself in having the most extensive collection of music to fit even the pickiest song requests. I strive to keep a positive and fun atmosphere on the dance floor, and I am open to make tasteful announcements,and "shout-outs" as ice-breakers for this specific group of singles in Wilmington! For CFS Meetup members I would also like to offer exclusive drink discounts if you choose to meet at Cameo!

Golf: Sirak: Why the LPGA Needs A Star: Golf Digest Magazine

2009-09-26T17:42:00.001-04:00

Golf: Sirak: Why the LPGA Needs A Star: Golf Digest Magazine

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W... GOTTA LOVE IT!!

2009-09-26T11:41:00.000-04:00

You can’t legislate the poor into prosperity

2009-09-22T23:58:00.003-04:00

“You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation.. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

Facebook Now Has Over 300 Million Users

2009-09-22T01:08:00.001-04:00

Facebook Now Has Over 300 Million Users

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BUSTED: Burglar Arrested After Checking Facebook During Robbery

2009-09-20T22:55:00.001-04:00

BUSTED: Burglar Arrested After Checking Facebook During Robbery

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Wall St. vs. Sports: A Look at the Top Paychecks

2009-09-18T22:46:00.000-04:00

Banking and professional sports have a lot of things in common — both are dominated by men, highly competitive and filled with big egos. They also pay enormous amounts of money to their top people.

With that in mind, Richard X. Bove, the outspoken banking analyst at Rochdale Securities, compared the salaries of the most highly paid sports figures to bankers and other well-compensated executives in a new report titled “Financial Execs Underpaid?”

The golf star Tiger Woods leads the pack, earning $128 million last year, in front ofMerrill Lynch’s former chief executive, John A. Thain, who took home $83 million in 2007. (Mr. Bove said he used 2007 numbers for the bankers and chief executives because those figures represented their top incomes before the financial crisis.)

Next on the list is the golfer Phil Mickelson, who earned $62 million last year, and Lloyd C. Blankfein, chief executive of Goldman Sachs, who received $54 million in total compensation in 2007.

Kenneth I. Chenault, the head of American Express, and John J. Mack of Morgan Stanley each beat out the basketball player LeBron James and the boxing champ Floyd Mayweather.

Les Moonves, the chief of CBS, topped the list of chief executives outside Wall Street with $68 million in 2007.

Mr. Bove’s analysis comes as Washington lawmakers debate whether to place caps on compensation in the nation’s financial services industry. Mr. Bove points out that the government apparently believes that allocating money to the financial services sector “is not as productive for the economy as, say, being a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers or a third baseman for the New York Yankees.”

Speaking of the Yankees, both Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter made less than Mr. Blankfein, Mr. Mack, Mr. Thain and Mr. Chenault.

Mr. Bove notes that the average basketball player in the N.B.A. makes about $5 million a year while the average Goldman employee is estimated to make about $800,000 this year.

– Zachery Kouwe

Banker vs. Ballers - Dick Bove’s Analysis http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/wall-st-vs-sports-a-look-at-the-top-paychecks/

Tracking Your Taxes: Taxpayers Pay for Congressional Travel to Exotic Lands - Political News - FOXNews.com

2009-09-17T21:23:00.001-04:00

Tracking Your Taxes: Taxpayers Pay for Congressional Travel to Exotic Lands - Political News - FOXNews.com

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New Footage Purports to Show ACORN Worker Helping 'Pimp,' 'Prostitute' - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

2009-09-16T23:08:00.001-04:00

New Footage Purports to Show ACORN Worker Helping 'Pimp,' 'Prostitute' - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

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Kanye West's VMA Outburst for Beyonce

2009-09-14T01:25:00.001-04:00

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?????

Webcam Dance Failure

2009-09-09T00:08:00.001-04:00

Health Care Crisis?

2009-09-08T23:33:00.000-04:00

Health Care Crisis?: "

The big issue of the day seems to be “Obamacare.” In 1992, when they try to ram through “Hillarycare,” there was also a huge controversy. The issue died almost immediately when someone stood up and said “The emperor has no clothes. There is no “Health care crisis” that needs to be solved by stripping Americans of the right to choose their own doctors and putting one sixth of the U.S. economy under the control of the same bureaucrats who run the post office.” Yikes!

When professional politicians, people who have never worked outside of politics, power and bureaucracy in their lives, try to push through a plan like this, you can be sure of only one thing: it has nothing to do with “the people” or “health care.”

Fully 85% of Americans not only have health insurance, but they are mostly quite happy and satisfied with their quality of health care. They should be. American healthcare is the best in the world. There is no other country that has more and better doctors, and more and better treatment, for more aches, pains and diseases than the United States. People from all over the world, if they can afford it; come to America to be treated at the very best clinics in the world.

In fact, one of the biggest businesses in America is building hospitals and clinics along the Canadian border to take care of Canadians who are fleeing from their socialized, single payer, bureaucratic, bankrupt, and disastrously inefficient healthcare system. Even Canadian politicians are known to fly Canadian government airplanes down to the U.S. to get medical treatment because they have to wait in line like everyone else to get treated in Canada.

The reason that this “crisis” is being created at this time is to try to rush it through Congress before anyone reads the fine print in the bill. The fact is that this is a “power grab” and has little or nothing to do with health care and health insurance.

By the way, did you notice that they have now stopped calling it a “health care crisis” and started calling it a “health insurance crisis” and are attempting to make the insurance companies the bad guys in this equation?

The people trying to push this bill through Congress know that if they can move most Americans into a government health insurance/health care plan; they can manipulate them and get their votes year after year.

In considering every political action, you can use the Italian method of analysis: “Que bene? Que paga?” This is Italian for “Who benefits? Who pays?” This whole manufactured “crisis” has only one purpose and one purpose alone: it is to buy votes with other peoples money.

In America today, the something-for-nothing, free money, entitlement craze has swept the land like a mental/emotional epidemic. Everyone has the idea that they can get something they have not paid for, and do not deserve, at the expense of someone else. Do you notice how often they use the words “people earning under $250,000 will not pay a dime in additional taxes.”

The fact is that “Free money makes people crazy.” It makes them believe impossible things, like they can have things they haven’t paid for. The easiest and cheapest way to buy votes is to offer to give people free money. This the lowest and most corrupt behavior of politicians at all levels.

There is no health care crisis because, effective in 1986, every person needing medical care in the U.S. is automatically covered when they go to any hospital or clinic, whether they can pay for it or not. This, by the way, was passed by the Ronald Reagan administration.

The “health insurance” crisis is largely manufactured. Fully, 85% of Americans already have health insurance. Of the 47 million Americans who supposedly do not have health insurance, many of them are between jobs. 12 million of them are illegal immigrants who cannot come out of the shadows to buy health insurance, so they simply go the local hospital or clinic and get their health care for free.

30% of the uninsured are young people aged 20 to 34 who will not buy insurance at any price because it is too expensive, and because they are quite healthy. It is simply not a good investment for them.

Another 30% of the “uninsured” earn more than $50,000 per year and simply choose not to buy health insurance so that they can spend it on lifestyle. Ten to 15 million people already qualify for Medicare or other government plans but have not applied for it.

When you strip all the numbers away, you arrive at about 6-8 million people who genuinely cannot afford health insurance. These people can be easily covered with the same kind of voucher that is handed out for food. Solving this problem does not require a complete disruption of the entire American way of life and a massive government program that puts hundreds of billions, and eventually trillions of dollars into the hands of bureaucrats who we know will not spend it well.

They say that this will only cost a trillion dollars. However, in the fine print, they admit that most of the “uninsured” won’t be covered, even if a trillion dollars is spent. When Medicare was introduced in the 60’s, they predicted that it would reach a cost of 12 billion dollars by 1990. The actual cost was 120 billion dollars, an increase of 1000% over the projections. This is standard government accounting, and everybody knows it.

One final point: somehow, people have gotten the idea that buying health insurance is like gambling in Las Vegas. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. This is nonsense!

Health insurance is simply “pre-paid medical costs.” Nobody makes a profit buying health insurance. When you buy health insurance, it is based on your health history. Just as when you buy car insurance, your rates are determined by your driving history. The more than 1000 health insurance companies that compete with each other throughout the United States simply pool risks, smoothing out the costs of health care so that those insured are not hit with huge costs all at once. This pooling enables people to join with thousands or millions of others to bring the average annual costs of health care down for the individual who needs it at the moment.

Another myth: Health care is not a “right.” Nothing is a right if it has to be taken away from someone else under the threat of fine or imprisonment. Health care is not a right, just as food care and housing care and car care and everything else, are not rights either. Health care is a good, a service that must be bought and paid for by someone, somehow.

The national argument is now focusing in on a tiny group of people with “pre-existing conditions.” The power hungry politicians are attempting to upset the finest health care system in the world to protect a few people, many of whom have lied blatantly on their health insurance applications forms, from having their health insurance cancelled after they become sick. In most cases, it turns out that they had preexisting conditions and they simply lied through their teeth in order to cheat and deceive the insurance company into giving them a policy that they did not deserve and were not willing to pay for.

Even if they were completely innocent, the suggestion is that people should be able to buy health insurance after they become sick, and the insurance companies should pay for it by raising premiums on everyone else. Imagine if you could wait to buy car insurance until after you had an accident? No one would buy a policy until they crashed up their car. That is what will happen if the crazies pass a law forbidding insurance companies to insure anyone at the same price paid for by everyone.

Of course, the system is not perfect. But the free market, based on the free choices of individuals like yourself, working with the finest doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and yes, health insurance companies, is a far better solution to the phony “health insurance crisis” than putting the same kind of people who run the post office in charge of your family’s health care.

JANZEN VISITS NEXT MONTH

2009-08-28T23:35:00.003-04:00

A two-time U.S. Open champion is coming to Wilmington to help an area school raise funds.

Lee Janzen, winner of eight PGA Tour titles, will be at Cape Fear Country Club on Sept. 14 as the featured guest for the Third Annual Coastal Christian High School Golf Tournament.

Janzen will give a clinic on the driving range prior to the 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. He will be positioned on the sixth hole and hit a tee shot for each foursome that comes through.

Janzen won the 1992 U.S. Open at Baltusrol and outlasted good friend Payne Stewart to take the 1998 U.S. Open at Olympic Golf Club. He also won the Players Championship and played on two Ryder Cup team.

Individuals can participate for $150. Sponsorship packages are also available. For more information, contact Cindy Auten at wauten1@aol.com or 512-2252 or Joy Cash at jcash0111@gmail.com or 232-0111.

Visit coastalchristian.net to learn more about the school.

By Brian Mull

Brian.Mull@StarNewsOnline.com

Published: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 11:48 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 11:48 p.m.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090819/ARTICLES/908199953/1041/SPORTS08?Title=Golf-Notes-Bob-Boyd-on-outside-looking-in-again

SUE, YOU'RE SO OLD YOU MADE THE NEWS!!

2009-08-28T23:01:00.002-04:00

Social Waves

by Ashley Miller

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Ladies Networking Group, founded by Livian Jones, met at the Bridge Tender restaurant this month. This energetic group of ladies, including Julie Tames-Hale and Renee Jones, sure knows how to combine, both business and social networking. Kristie Tomey, Deb Hays and Holland Graham loved catching up with each other’s summer excursions, while squeezing in a little shop talk. The outside scenic water view was crowded with boaters and a reminder that summer time in Wilmington is still going strong, even though the start of school is just around the corner.

Happy Birthday, Susan McLeod, who celebrated her 40^th birthday among friends at Joy Cash’s home on Lee’s Cut. The party setting was festive with everyone dressed in black to mark Susan’s fourth decade birthday and the setting sun as a backdrop. Guests had fun showering Susan with 40 year old gag gifts and other girly items.

The 2010 Leadership Wilmington Class Orientation, led by Chamber President Connie Majure-Rhett, was held this week at the Wilmington Chamber of Commence. This year the chamber combined the orientation event with an alumni social, including past graduates of the year-long leadership program. My class of 2007 is always planning reunions that never happen due to busy schedules, so I was excited to see classmates and friends,Frankie Roberts and Elizabeth Humphreys. The Karl Davis Volunteerism Award, in honor of the late Karl Davis, was presented by his wife Kathleen Baylies and Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, to a past leadership class graduate who has excelled in volunteer and leadership capabilities. This year’s award recipient was Livian Jones of John S. Clark Construction, who among her accomplishments founded Furniture Finders, a non-profit that helps obtain furniture for those in need. The class of 2010 was excited to start the leadership program and work on its end of the year project, Work on Wilmington.


Shawn Hicks, Susan McLeod & Joy Cash	Jenny Creamer & Connie Majure-Rhett

Frankie Roberts & Elizabeth Humphreys	Bill Saffo, Kathleen Baylies & Livian Jones

Intracoastal Leadership Grads	Networking Group

Julie Hale and Renee Jones

Livian Jones & Holland Graham http://www.luminanews.com/article.asp?aid=4853&iid=180&sud=42

Lay 'Em Down - NEEDTOBREATHE

2009-08-27T23:35:00.001-04:00

Golf Notes: Bob Boyd on outside looking in again | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC

2009-08-20T22:15:00.001-04:00

Golf Notes: Bob Boyd on outside looking in again | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC

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Coastal Christian High School Golf Tournament Online Registration Form

2009-08-20T15:34:00.003-04:00

Coastal Christian High School Golf Tournament - Online Registration Form

Joy Cash VisualCV

2009-08-19T22:43:00.000-04:00

http://www.visualcv.com/joycash

Wilmington-area home sales rise for third month in a row | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC

2009-08-18T23:13:00.001-04:00

Wilmington-area home sales rise for third month in a row | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC

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ASHTON TOWNHOME FOR RENT OR PURCHASE

2009-08-11T12:45:00.005-04:00

I am trying to sale my home in Ashton... Will also consider long term lease or lease to purchase. My current tenant will be moving out shortly. Please let me know if you know of anyone who may be interested in either purchasing or renting. Thanks a bunch!

233 Racine Dr APT 60, Wilmington, NC 28403 - Zillow

ONE DOOR CLOSES... ANOTHER OPENS

2009-08-07T12:33:00.003-04:00

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly! The power of one sentence! God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor. God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close. Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing.

VERY GOOD READ.... BY BRIAN TRACY

2009-08-06T23:38:00.000-04:00

The Need to Lead

The greatest need we have today, in every area, is for men and women to practice the values of integrity, discipline, responsibility, courage, and long time perspective, both as individuals and in their families. These are the key qualities of leadership.

Our society needs leaders at all levels who practice the principles that lead to long term-success. Especially, we need people in positions of authority and political power to support and encourage others, whose lives and work they influence, to develop character and resist the tendency to act expediently in ways that are harmful to themselves and others.

Everyone needs to take “The Values Pledge” to live by it and then encourage others to live by it. It is only the solid bulwark of character, based on values, virtues, long-term thinking and the accurate assessment of secondary consequences that can curb and mitigate the destructive influences and behavior of the E-Factor.

Live In Truth

The philosopher Immanuel Kant postulated what he called “The Universal Maxim.” He suggested that “you should live your life as though your every act were to become universal law for all people.” I wrote earlier that the very best judge of truth for you is to ask, “Is it true for me?” If everyone was to be encouraged to live your life as though your every act were to become universal principle for all others, most government policies and programs would be abolished overnight. The fact is that, the only way that many something for nothing ideas in government and society can be put forward is with the hope that most people will not take advantage of them.

Think about it. What if everyone were to go on welfare? What if everyone were to apply for every government program that was available to them? What if everyone dedicated themselves to doing the very least amount of work that they could get away with? What if everyone began spending all their time trying to get free money from anywhere that it might be available?

Four Questions to Stay on Track

There are four questions that you can ask and answer every day to keep yourself on track in each part of your life. First, ask yourself, “What kind of a world would this be if everyone in it was just like me?”

When you ask and answer this question honestly, you will admit that if everyone in the world was just like you, this would probably not be the best of all possible worlds. Look into yourself and think about some of the things that you could change or do differently to become a better “citizen of the world.”

The second question you can ask is, “What kind of a country would America be, if everyone in it was just like me?”

This is perhaps the most important question that we can ask and answer of ourselves. If everyone in America did the same thing that you did, every single day, would America be better, happier, healthier, and a more prosperous democracy? If not, what are some of the changes that you can make in your behaviors that would make America a better place?

The third question you can ask is, “What kind of a company would my company be if everyone in it was just like me?”

If you are honest with yourself, you will see different things that you could do to become a more valuable and important contributor to your company. Perhaps you should start a little earlier, work a little harder or stay a little later. Perhaps you could volunteer for more assignments, or upgrade your knowledge and skills as they relate to your job. How could you become the very best person you could possibly become at your work?

The final question, and perhaps the more important, is, “What kind of family would my family be is everyone in it was just like me?”

If everyone in your family behaved the way you do, and treated everyone else the way you treat them, would your family be a warmer, happier, and more loving group of people? What could you do, starting today, to be a better family member?

Take the High Road

The true mark of the superior person is that he sets high standards for himself, and refuses to compromise those standards for any reason. He sees himself as a role model for others. He behaves at all times as if everyone was watching, even when no one is watching.

The truly superior person does not give into forces of expediency. He does not seek something for nothing. He refuses to take anything to which he is not entitled. He insists upon earning everything he gets. He practices the Golden Rule and treats everyone the way he would like to be treated himself. He sets high standards for himself and continually strives to meet those standards himself. If everyone in America were to take the pledge below, this would be a better country in every way.

The Values Pledge

“I hereby resolve to clarify my values and then to live by these values, to remain true to the very best I know, and to be the best person I can possibly be.

I will not compromise what I know to be right for any reason. I will live my life as though my every act was to become a universal law for everyone else. “

Action Exercise

Let us look now at the current dilemma we find ourselves in today, the problem and difficulties that the out-of-control force of the E-factor, multiplied times the desire to get something for nothing, have gotten us into, and how we can get out of them.

WATERFRONT HOME FOR SALE WITH 2 BOAT SLIPS - MUST SALE

2009-08-05T16:12:00.005-04:00

BRING ALL OFFERS. MUST SALE.

Waterfront home with 2 boat slips at Wrightsville Beach, NC located on Lee's Cut. 4 bedrooms, study/office, 3 full baths, 2 fireplaces, 2 car attached garage, 3200 sq ft. 3 decks plus covered downstairs patio. Contact jcash@ec.rr.com.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/68-Pelican-Dr-Wrightsville-Beach-NC-28480/54320034_zpid/

If You’re Happy and You Know It, Tell Your Phone - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com

2009-08-04T00:42:00.001-04:00

If You’re Happy and You Know It, Tell Your Phone - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com

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Three Characteristics of a Genius—Do you possess them? | Brian Tracy's Blog

2009-08-03T00:57:00.001-04:00

Three Characteristics of a Genius—Do you possess them? | Brian Tracy's Blog

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Welcome to the Bottom: Housing Begins Slow Rebound - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

2009-08-02T00:13:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the Bottom: Housing Begins Slow Rebound - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

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"Say it isn't so... Sue's turning the Big 4-0"

2009-08-01T12:41:00.001-04:00

Sue McLeod's Birthday Celebration

Date:	Saturday, August 15, 2009
Time:	6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:	Joy and Patty's House
Street:	68 Pelican Drive
City/Town:	Wrightsville Beach, NC
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Join us for Sue's 40th birthday celebration!!
DJ Jazz-B will be spinning tunes from the 80's, 90's and today!!
BYOB

Please RSVP to Joy, Mike or Sue:

Mike McLeod
info@planetbluefishing.com
(919) 291-9619

Sue McLeod
Susan_mcleod@yahoo.com
(919) 625-2923

Joy Cash

jcash0111@gmail.com

(910) 232-0111

FOR SALE - David Leadbetter Swing Setter

2009-07-31T12:50:00.003-04:00

FOR SALE - David Leadbetter Swing Setter

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Critics Worry Measure to Save Wild Horses Is Taxpayer Drain - Political News - FOXNews.com

2009-07-30T02:18:00.001-04:00

Critics Worry Measure to Save Wild Horses Is Taxpayer Drain - Political News - FOXNews.com

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Joy Cash - Google Profile

2009-07-30T01:27:00.002-04:00

Joy Cash Google Profile

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Home Prices Up, First in 34 Months - Case Shiller - FOXBusiness.com

2009-07-28T23:34:00.001-04:00

Home Prices Up, First in 34 Months - Case Shiller - FOXBusiness.com

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Seven Face Terrorism Charges in N.C. - washingtonpost.com

2009-07-28T01:36:00.001-04:00

Seven Face Terrorism Charges in N.C. - washingtonpost.com

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New U.S. Home Sales Rose by 11 Percent in June - Political News - FOXNews.com

2009-07-27T17:11:00.001-04:00

New U.S. Home Sales Rose by 11 Percent in June - Political News - FOXNews.com

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Golf Tournament - FEATURING LEE JANZEN TWO TIME US OPEN CHAMPION

2009-07-25T10:32:00.007-04:00

Host:	Coastal Christian High School

Date: Monday, September 14, 2009
Time: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Cape Fear Country Club
Coastal Christian High School's 3rd Annual Golf Tournament Best Ball Format Centurion Sponsor - $5,000 -Two 4-man teams -Inclusion in official tee off shot from hole #1 with Lee Janzen -Prominent sponsor position, media recognition and ad placement in event program -Private pre-event breakfast meeting with Lee Janzen (2 Players) -Autographed team photo and golf balls -Pre-event hitting demonstration / question & answer session by Lee Janzen -Group photo and play hole #5 with Lee Janzen Red Sponsor - $2,500 -One 4-man team -Secondary sponsor position, media recognition and ad placement in event program -Private pre-event breakfast meeting with Lee Janzen (1 Player) -Autographed team photo and golf balls -Pre-event hitting demonstration / question & answer session by Lee Janzen -Group photo and play hole #5 with Lee Janzen Team Sponsor - $600 -One 4-man team -Pre-event hitting demonstration / question & answer session by Lee Janzen -Group photo and play hole #5 with Lee Janzen Individual Player - $150 -Pre-event hitting demonstration / question & answer session by Lee Janzen -Group photo and play hole #5 with Lee Janzen http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/15/77/

ASHTON TOWNHOME FOR RENT OR PURCHASE

2009-07-20T21:37:00.004-04:00

ASHTON TOWNHOME FOR RENT/PURCHASE

UNFURNISHED

3 BEDROOM PLUS LOFT

2 1/2 BATHS

1ST FLOOR MASTER BEDROOM

FIRE PLACE
GARAGE

MICROWAVE
DISHWASHER
WASHER/DRYER
REFRIGERATOR

PRIVATE FENCED IN COURTYARD

1700 SQ. FT.

LOCATED OFF OF RACINE DRIVE

NEAR WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH AND WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO UNCW

YEAR LEASE REQUIRED

LEASE TO PURCHASE OPTION AVAILABLE

PETS OKAY WITH NON-REFUNDABLE PET DEPOSIT

$1,100 PER MONTH PLUS ALL UTILITIES

EMAIL: JCASH@EC.RR.COM

TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER TOURNAMENT

2009-07-15T11:42:00.001-04:00

Host:	Mortgage Banker's Association of the Lower Cape Fear

Date:	Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Time:	6:00pm - 11:00pm
Location:	Pine Valley Country Club
Street:	500 Pine Valley Drive
City/Town:	Wilmington, NC
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Phone:	9102312602
Email:	mveron@firstbancorp.com

Description

A donation of $ 50.00 will be accepted to enter*
A buffet will be available & included to participants
A cash bar will also be available
Prizes will be awarded to the top ten places.

GRAND PRIZE- 40” FLAT SCREEN LCD HDTV
SECOND PLACE- 26” FLAT SCREEN LCD HDTV
THIRD- DIGITAL CAMERA

PRIZES TO TOP TEN FINISHERS
*******There is no cash payout*******

SPACE IS LIMITED- Non- player & Guests welcome to enjoy festivities and food-$15

*This event is a fundraiser. Net proceeds will benefit either the Mortgage Bankers Political Action Committee or one of several local charities such as Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. This event is not a gambling venue and no cash prizes are awarded.

For more information contact either:
Mark Vernon: mvernon@firstbancorp.com or 910-231-2602.
J.D. Terry: J.D.Terry@wellsfargo.com or 910-431-6082

Registration forms can be faxed to Mark at 910-452-0997

2009-06-29T22:51:00.001-04:00

2009-06-29T22:49:00.000-04:00

2009-06-28T23:52:00.000-04:00