No Bailout Yet

Yesterday the House of Representatives defeated the proposed bailout plan for Wall Street. Even though both political parties are pointing fingers at each other, there weren’t enough votes on either side of the aisle.

I hope no one is fooled by this defeated bill. Members of Congress defeated this bill because this is an election year. They want to APPEAR like they are listening to us. We were lied to about the war in Iraq and Congress doesn’t wan tot make that mistake again. However, where have these politicians been all these years? And where were they when signs of a financial crisis started rearing its ugly head? None of these Democrats or Republicans was listening to us before and we are to believe they are listening to us now? They are just playing politics as usual. I hope it won’t be at our expense since we are the “main streeters” that these politicians say they want to protect.

Is our money safe and can we protect ourselves?

Jobless claims, unemployment filings, and layoffs are rising. Natural disasters in the form of hurricanes Gustav and Ike have not helped. The financial markets are in jeopardy which puts many of our businesses in jeopardy which then affects salaries and taxes. In this type of environment, how can we protect our money and ourselves?

I don’t have the answer but I’m keeping an open mind. While I don’t like the idea of taxpayer money bailing out the financial markets, I know something has to be done so our economy doesn’t grind to a complete halt. I’m encouraged by interviews I’ve seen by members of Congress who say there are other ideas being placed on the negotiation table. For better or worse, a response will soon be made to save the financial markets. I hope the pain we feel because of the solution is not so bad that it is felt by my future grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

How important is good health?

Do we really care about our health? How many of us make excuses for not exercising everyday or eating poorly? And what are the two biggest excuses - lack of time and money. But do they have to be? There may never be enough time and money. Should we be comfortable being unhealthy when we know we could do better?

Living unhealthy is about values. If you look at how you spend your time and where you are currently placing your values. This can tell you where you are committed and what priorities you have. The problem may lie in your approach and beliefs.

Instead of thinking about all the things involved in living healthy, think about the outcome. What would life look like and be like if you were healthy? Would you be more active with your family? Would you have more energy? Would you be less depressed? Would you feel better about yourself?

Many of us don’t enjoy exercising and there are many foods that are not good for us but we love to eat them anyway. However, if you wake up everyday, committed to having more energy, being less depressed, feeling good about yourself, and being more active with your family, you’ll be surprised at what you will do to achieve your goal.

Financial markets are in the crapper and the government wants to use our money to fix the problem

The news of the day is no mystery. Our financial markets are in the toilet and our Treasury Department wants to use taxpayer money to bail out failing Wall Street Companies. I don’t want the markets to crash but I also don’t think it’s fair for my money to be used to help companies that mad bad business decisions. I don’t want Congress giving Secretary Paulson a blank check without any oversight or any rules in place that protect me and my fellow taxpayers. Minimal oversight is what brought us to this place in time.

The first of three Presidential debates will take place this Friday and even though the topic is foreign policy I’m sure the bail out plan will be discussed. How we deal with our financial markets affects the world and that is part of foreign policy. We can’t live in a vacuum on this issue anymore. Neither candidate really knows the extent to the financial markets failing nor do I expect them to. However, I will be tuning in on Friday because one of them will have to deal with mess come January and I want to know how each candidate would proceed to fix this problem.

Taxpayers are being asked to bail out AIG

Insurance giant AIG is getting bailed out by the government. We the taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill because apparently, if we didn’t then the consequences would be horrific. Well, now that we the people are bailing out AIG, what’s being done to help them not get into this mess again?

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is considering creating a bail out agency. The agency would buy bad debts off of companies for a deep discount and then sell them back into the general market. My question is we have a 700+ billion dollar deficit. How are we able to bail out all these companies and how much of this are the taxpayers going to have to bear especially with layoffs and natural disasters occurring with more frequency? I’m sure in the coming days and weeks, we learn more because one thing we know for sure, more transparency is need especially if taxpayers are footing the bill.

Food allergies don’t have to keep you from enjoying a night out

Last year I finally found out why I was so tired all the time and just not feeling good. I have a wheat/gluten allergy. Of course once I found out I panicked. How was I going to survive without oatmeal or bread? My favorite breads were wheat and whole grains and the doctor was telling me that I had to give it up? I didn’t eat out a lot in the first place but once in a while I did and of course when I traveled. Gluten is in everything.

Once I stopped panicking, I went to the internet and read books and magazines. Luckily for me there was a community on the internet of people going through this and happily enjoying life. Allergicgirl.blogspot.com and glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com are two blogs I enjoy reading and referencing since they have links to other resources about having this food allergy.

Another great resource is the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). I always like to know which nonprofits support certain issues. Since I have a food allergy, this is a good organization to keep track of for information and legislation. Another organization that is an advocate for my specific food allergy is the Celiac Disease Foundation . Both of these organizations have a wealth of information about food allergies and how to live with them, including guidance on eating out. Thank goodness for the internet.

Election Day is approaching. Are you registered to vote?

If you didn’t know, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 is Election Day. On this day many Americans will exercise their right to vote; will you be among them? Our vote is our power. It’s our political currency. Voting is a way to be part of the solution instead of sitting completely on the sidelines. People that don’t vote can’t complain about what’s going on around them if they didn’t vote and take the first step in making a change.

In most states the deadline to register to vote is thirty days before an election. You can visit the web site or call you state Board of elections to find out about deadlines for registering, absentee ballots, and early voting. You can also go to DeclareYourself.com to learn about voting information in your state and to register to vote.

Social Networking sites can help you find your next clients

Social networking sites are no longer just for catching up with old classmates or communicating with friends. Now business owners and professionals can use these sites to find potential clients, venture capital or even a new boss. Here are six sites worth checking out.

Linkedin.com: This site uses contacts from your email provider to invite peers

Ryze.com: This site allows users to join groups with similar interests

Tribe.net: Local online communities connect users and help their search for services

Facebook.com: This site is popular with young professionals and is a good place to network with college alumni and find jobs

Plaxo.com: This site is good for midcareer-level professionals who can use the site to streamline contacts, news sources, and other web content

MySpace.com: This site caters to the needs of young professionals, artists and entertainers that use site to search and post classifieds and community events. You can also share photos, videos, and blogs as well.

Don’t believe the ads-High Fructose Corn Syrup is Not Good for You

Ok. Have you seen the new ads about high fructose corn syrup? Basically they say that in moderation high fructose corn syrup is ok and no more harmful than sugar. It seems that the Corn Refiners Association has started an advertising blitz to change the image of high fructose corn syrup which they believe has gotten a bad rap. According to them, high fructose corn syrup is no more fattening than sugar.

Here’s the real deal. High fructose corn syrup is used in a lot of products from beverages to bread and manufacturers like it because it’s cheaper than sugar. Telling me that this product is no more fattening than sugar does not change the fact that it is fattening and aiding in the obesity of our citizens. And it’s especially bad for diabetics or those groups extremely susceptible to becoming diabetic.

I don’t see the sugar makers trying to change their image. Our citizens are fatter than ever before and it’s because of what we eat. Food manufacturers are counting on us to continue to stay fat because it helps their bottom line. Well, I’m not interested in their bottom line so in response to their ads I think I’ll stick with water.

Is she a politician or a political distraction?

Governor Sarah Pallin of Alaska has garnered a lot of media attention since the announcement of her as Senator McCain’s running mate. But is the attention positive or negative. Is she really an asset or a distraction? I still don’t know much about this woman and the stories that are being reported about her are not very positive.

As an independent voter, I need to know about each candidate to make an informed decision. Senator Obama has been on the scene since his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and for almost two years since he started campaigning to be the next President. Senator Biden has a long history in the Congress and his record on the issues can be traced. The same can be said about Senator McCain. I don’t even know if Governor Pallin and Senator McCain are really on the same page on the issues. I feel as if the McCain campaign is trying to pull a fast one just to win the White House and we may be in for four more years of trouble on the domestic front, at least. I’m not sure America can afford that. I have no problem voting for Senator McCain if I feel he is the right man for the job but I need more information on his running mate before I can make that call. Until then, my vote is still up for grabs.

Great Ways to Market Your Business Online

The internet has changed how things are marketed. More people can be reached through the internet. Now don’t stop your direct mail and word of mouth campaigns because those are still good ways to get the word out about your business. However, the internet is a good addition to any marketing plan. Here are four simple ways to get the word out on the internet.

1. Create a simple web site. Use your web site to give pertinent information about your business. Then, place your web site url on all your marketing material and drive people to your web site.

2. Do some blogging. Write some interesting, conversational articles about your business and your industry. It will go a long way to creating buzz and creditability.

3. Try podcasting. Putting a voice to your business goes further than written material. It creates relationships without meeting face to face. It also gives you an opportunity to be creative and gain the attention of industry leaders and experts.

4. Don’t overlook YouTube. This is not the time to do a cheesy infomercial. Create an interesting how- to video and then lead them to your web site for more information.

Try one or all of these tips and see an increase of business in the coming months. If you have products or services that you believe the world should know about, don’t wait, get online and start sharing with the world.

Smoking increases heart attacks in women

Studies have shown that women get heart disease much later than men but not if they smoke. Studies are showing that women who smoke have heart attacks 12 years earlier than women who smoke while men who smoke have heart attacks only 6 years earlier than men who smoke.

Women who smoke, provided they have no other health problems, could have their first heart attack at age 66 rather at age 81; the age for women who don’t smoke. Studies have shown that estrogen may protect women from heart attacks but as they age and go through menopause, estrogen decreases leaving then at risk for heart disease; smoking increases that risk.

This is another good reason for women to stop smoking. The earlier they stop and start eating better and exercising, they may decrease their chances of heart disease dramatically.

Gustav pushes back Republican convention

The Republican National Convention kicked off this week in St. Paul, Minnesota but its first day speeches were halted due to Hurricane Gustav hitting land in our gulf states. In Louisiana the levees held but the lower ninth ward, which is still in a serious state of rebuilding, was flooded heavily.

Today, President Bush will address the convention via satellite from Washington, DC and Senator Joseph Lieberman will also address the convention. The convention is being retooled since the last nights activities were cancelled.