Archive for February, 2010
Coffee Franchise
Posted in Uncategorized with tags franchise on February 27, 2010 by normanparrish1963Why?
Because the Stars are aligning in Cleveland and the course for the Browns is full steam ahead.
Finally, since Al & Randy Lerners 1998 acquisition, there is a real focus on building a winner in Cleveland. Randy and his father Al were never real Football Men, they were bankers.
That mindset and profession, does not usually make for a winning NFL Franchise owner.
Randy Lerner is not your typical NFL owner. The deals he loves to do are not made in a back office acquiring an extra draft pick or some All-Star offensive or defensive weapon. He wouldn't even get out of bed to snatch up a steal of a deal on a top free agent.
Owner Jerry Jones, on the other hand, would probably buy the coffee and donuts, pick the guy up in his personal Limo and hand him the contracts personally.
But that is OK, because what the Lerner family has that the Jones family doesn't, is BIG MONEY and Big Banking connections.
REALIZATION #1.
With the embarrassment of this season and the potential walk out threat by fans over, the organization has realized, “hey we gave the keys to the Kingdom, to a defensive coordinator and then let him put all of his inexperienced friends in positions of influence”.
REALIZATION #2.
This is one loyal bunch of fanatics and they just might walk out of their stadium in protest. What a black eye on the NFL that would bring. We need to build a winner here.
Browns fans are one of the most loyal in all of sports, so why not support us?
This is exactly what my friend Randy is finally doing. His money and his connections are now for the first time, united in preparation and focus and they are helping to align the stars, so a winner can be brought back to Cleveland.
When I speak of an aligning of the stars, what I mean is talent BABY!
It all starts at the top and at the top you need good old fashion smarts, not a defensive coordinator and his buddies running the show.
Cleveland's Biggest Problem was the lack of leadership at the top and that was fixed by the hiring of the CZAR, Mike Holmgren.
I love that move Randy and I love every one of the CZARS moves so far.
You're Golden so far Holmgren.
Great alignment of personnel and executive Stars and a great job keeping the defensive coaching Stars in tack, as well as our Head Coach. Mangini is a very smart football man but was way over his head. Keep his focus and his job simple and he will be a good coach for the next decade.
It was also a great move keeping Rob Ryan in the trenches. I don't think Buddy Ryan ever gave his boys anything other then raw meat to eat and it shows. I love this guys intensity.
We cant blame Mr. Mangini for what he got away with. The CZAR just did the same thing. Only difference is that the CZARS friends are Stars and Mangini's were 'yes' men.
As soon as Randy shifted his mind set, look what happened.
He got the best football mind out there to come to Cleveland, and that move got other great minds to come.
Cleveland found a lock down nose guard who was riding the bench most of the season and a future All-Pro running back who had been asleep at the wheel. The Browns powerful lineman and All-Purpose back, shined in Miami and positive energy is in the air, for more Stars to come….
The Next Big Problem will be fixing the holes in the the offense and the defense while implementing a more effective strategy on offense.
This is what the wise CZAR is going to do next.
He will take real control of the offense by adding some new minds (STARS) on the coaching staff and gut the rest of the “yes' men. That offense has been stuck in idle for the last couple of years and is ready to roll in 2010 with some modification of The West Coast offense.
He will grab a veteran QB from The Seattle Seahawks for QB Derek Anderson and a pick. If he plays “Texas Holdem” and patiently waits, we might even see an even up trade. Anderson is a Former All-Pro, younger and healthier and Pete Carroll doesn't really want his beaten up warrior, he wants to help shape his own guy.
The CZAR then grabs a great deep threat receiver and an All-Star defensive weapon (A Sack Master) via trades or free agency to go along with Haden or Berry and the rest of the 2010 draft picks, will fill in nicely. This draft is filled with more depth in talent then has been seen in previous years and thanks to Mangini, we got picks.
Lastly, The CZAR will help retool Brady Quinn (The Mighty Quinn is MY NICKNAME for this kid) as a San Francisco style Joe Montana and Quinn will eventually take over the West Coast offense. You heard it here first!
Let me be the first to thank my friend, Randy Lerner, for bringing a winner back to Cleveland, by helping to Align the Stars.
2010 Statistics
Record 11-5 (I wanted to say 10 – 6, but I sense something better)
Touchdowns For Cleveland From 25 to 40 Touchdowns Against from 41 to 30
Total Yards on Offense 5500 from 4163 Total yard against Defense 4350 from 6229
Turnover ratio +5-7 from -12
Defense Points allowed from 22nd to top 12
Defense Yards allowed from 31st to top 16
Offense Points scored from 29th to top 16
Offense Yards gained from 32nd to top 15
1. St. Louis Rams—Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Suh had a spectacular Big 12 Championship and Holiday Bowl performance. In the Big 12 championship, he notched four-and-a-half sacks on Colt McCoy, who was saved by Hunter Lawrence. He also got invited to New York as a Heisman finalist and finished fourth in the voting.
In the Holiday Bowl, Arizona went nowhere and lost 33-0. Suh finished the season with 12 sacks, and he can play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme, which will benefit him in the NFL. Many draft experts have compared him to Kevin Williams.
Some fans would argue that the Rams would be making the same mistake here as they did in 2007 and 2008 with Adam Carriker and Chris Long, and they need a franchise QB. I agree with this consensus, and if it were up to me, I would draft Sam Bradford, but I can't see the Rams resisting Suh.
Other Possible Picks: Jimmy Clausen, QB; Sam Bradford, QB
2. Detroit Lions—Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Lions should take Russell Okung, but their management is incompetent and failed to take a tackle last year with the No. 20 pick.
The Lions' offensive line coach George Yarno is somehow happy with Jeff Backus' performance in 2009, and head coach Jim Schwartz believes that he should have been to the Pro Bowl despite allowing eight sacks.
QB Matt Stafford suffered injuries in his rookie year with no protection. Michael Oher would have been an excellent pick, but the Lions foolishly passed on him.
They need help on defense, too. McCoy is possibly the best DT in the draft. DT Sammie Lee Hill had a solid rookie year, and McCoy and him together would be a significant force. The Lions' linebackers performed well too. Julian Peterson and Larry Foote were both great, and DeAndre Levy showed promising talent. S Louis Delmas had an excellent rookie campaign with four interceptions and would have been a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate on a winning team.
The Lions could go either way with McCoy or Berry here. McCoy and Hill would be a powerful DT duo, and Berry and Delmas would be a powerful S duo, but maybe the Lions will wake up and smell the coffee and take a tackle. If Okung is taken, Backus could move to right tackle, and Cherilus could move to right guard.
Other Possible Picks: Eric Berry, S; Russell Okung, T
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Berry may be the most talented player in the 2010 NFL Draft. He is often compared to Ed Reed.
The Buccaneers would rather have Suh or McCoy fall to them, but there's a possibility they will both be gone. If they are, the Buccaneers have a pretty obvious pick here since Berry is too much of a value to pass on, and S Sabby Piscitelli wasn't very good and is a free agent.
Defensive end can't be ruled out though since the Buccaneers need a lot of help at defensive line.
Other Possible Picks: Russell Okung, T; Derrick Morgan, DE; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
4. Washington Redskins—Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
I have decided to mock Bradford to the Redskins over Clausen because I heard Mike Shanahan express interest in Bradford on profootballtalk.com, and Shanahan is looking to draft a QB even if Jason Campbell re-signs.
There are concerns surrounding Bradford regarding his season-ending injury in 2009 and his ability to play under center since he played out of the shotgun in Oklahoma. However, Drew Brees played in a spread offense at Purdue, and now he's the best QB in the NFL. Bradford has a great work ethic and has amazing upside that's too good to pass on.
Other Possible Picks: Russell Okung, T; Jimmy Clausen, QB
5. Kansas City Chiefs—Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State
The Chiefs may have the worst offensive line in the NFL, and Matt Cassel went through a nightmare of a 2009 season. Branden Albert would be better served with moving to left guard.
Okung was dominant at Oklahoma State, and he started all four years and was a two-time First-Team All-American. He has great leadership skills and draws comparisons to Joe Thomas.
Other Possible Picks: Anthony Davis, T; Trent Williams, T; Bruce Campbell, T
6. Seattle Seahawks—Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said that he was pleased with QB Matt Hasselbeck and RBs Justin Forsett and Julius Jones and has plans with them for his new offensive scheme, so we can pretty much rule out Seattle using a first-round pick on a quarterback or a running back.
Tackle is a huge need for the Seahawks since Walter Jones wisely retired, and Sean Locklear isn't suited to protect the blind side. Since Okung is taken, the Seahawks aren't getting the best, but there's plenty of other tackles.
Williams anchored Oklahoma's offensive line after Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson went pro and was a 2009 Third-Team All-American.
Other Possible Picks: Bruce Campbell, T; Jimmy Clausen, QB; Anthony Davis, T
7. Cleveland Browns—Joe Haden, CB, Florida
The Browns' pass defense finished 29th in the NFL, allowing 247.9 yards per game. Their cornerbacks are unreliable, and Haden is easily the best cornerback prospect. He led Florida's dominant defense, and if this scenario happens, this pick is easy.
Browns fans are fed up with Brady Quinn, but it appears as though Mike Holmgren and Eric Mangini are sticking with him and Derek Anderson for now.
Other Possible Picks: Derrick Morgan, DE; Rolando McClain, LB
8. Oakland Raiders—Bruce Campbell, T, Maryland
Al Davis loves players that run fast 40 times. He has proved that by drafting Darren McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
The Raiders have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, and Robert Gallery, who was supposed to be a Pro Bowl tackle, is a mediocre guard.
Campbell can run a 4.9, so Davis will be excited by him.
Other Possible Picks: Anthony Davis, T; Bryan Bulaga, T; Jimmy Clausen, QB; Derrick Morgan, DE; Rolando McClain, LB
9. Buffalo Bills—Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Trent Edwards had a tough year in 2009, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is nothing more than a backup. The offensive line is to blame mostly, and Edwards is a solid QB, but since Clausen falls here, there's no way the Bills pass on him.
Other Possible Picks: Derrick Morgan, DE; Anthony Davis, T; Bryan Bulaga, T; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
10. Jacksonville Jaguars—Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
The Jaguars have terrible rush defense, and Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves are both busts.
Morgan is an excellent 4-3 defensive end, and he led Georgia Tech with 12 sacks.
Tim Tebow is definitely out of the picture here since he struggled at the Senior Bowl, so the only way the Jaguars take him in the first round is if they trade down.
Other Possible Picks: Rolando McClain, LB; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE; Dez Bryant, WR
11. Denver Broncos(from Chicago)—Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Brandon Marshall has as good as waved goodbye to Denver, and assuming he leaves, the Broncos will want to replace him with a No. 1 receiver, and Bryant fits that mold.
Other Possible Picks: Rolando McClain, LB; C.J. Spiller, RB; Dan Williams, DT
12. Miami Dolphins—Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
The Dolphins have a hole at inside linebacker since Akin Ayodele isn't the answer, and McClain played in a 3-4 defense at Alabama, just like the Dolphins do.
Other Possible Picks: Dan Williams, DT; C.J. Spiller, RB
13. San Francisco 49ers—Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers
The 49ers had a terrible offensive line, and Adam Snyder allowed 9.5 sacks, and Tony Pashos had a career-ending injury. The depth is extremely thin, so Davis would be a great pick to take the pressure off of Joe Staley.
Other Possible Picks: Bryan Bulaga, T; C.J. Spiller, RB
14. Seattle Seahawks(from Denver)—Taylor Mays, S, USC
With Pete Carroll and Jeremy Bates in Seattle now, the Seahawks won't blow off this opportunity. Mays is a former Trojan, so Carroll knows what Mays is capable of, and the Seahawks need a safety badly, as evidenced by their 30th-ranked pass defense. Mays struggled in the Senior Bowl, but that won't rattle Carroll since he has a lot of upside.
Other Possible Picks: C.J. Spiller, RB; Earl Thomas, S; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
15. New York Giants—C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
The Giants need depth at running back since Ahmad Bradshaw is a free agent, and Brandon Jacobs is too fragile to handle the carries alone.
Spiller draws comparisons to Chris Johnson since he can run a 4.2 and has a similar type of explosiveness.
Other Possible Picks: Dan Williams, DT; Earl Thomas, S; Brian Price, DT; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
16. Tennessee Titans—Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The Titans have a lot of free agents at defensive end, including Kyle Vanden Bosch, who only had 3.5 sacks in a contract year.
Pierre-Paul is a dark horse who plays in a 4-3 scheme, and the Titans won't be able to resist anyone with as much upside as Pierre-Paul.
Other Possible Picks: Dan Williams, DT; Brian Price, DT; Brandon Spikes, LB; Everson Griffen, DE; Carlos Dunlap. DE
17. San Francisco 49ers(from Carolina)—Earl Thomas, S, Texas
Thomas was a big part of Texas' defense. He had eight interceptions for 149 yards, and two of them were returned for touchdowns.
The 49ers have awful pass defense, and Mark Roman was subpar at safety.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon Graham, DE/LB, Jerry Hughes, DE/LB; Kyle Wilson, CB
18. Pittsburgh Steelers—Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Williams had an excellent Senior Bowl, and he can play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. The Steelers need a NT to replace Casey Hampton.
Other Possible Picks: Bryan Bulaga, T
19. Atlanta Falcons—Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
Mike Peterson is nothing more than a veteran rental, and he will retire soon, so the Falcons will need a linebacker to replace him.
Weatherspoon had an excellent Senior Bowl, and he showed a lot of leadership and personality. A guy like him could turn around the Falcons' struggling defense.
Other Possible Picks: Donovan Warren, CB; Kyle Wilson, CB; Carlos Dunlap, DE
20. Houston Texans—Brian Price, DT, UCLA
The Texans have solid rush defense, but Mario Williams and Antonio Smith carry it with no reliable interior presence. Amobi Okoye is a bust and needs to be replaced.
Price led UCLA's defense, and he had 23.5 TFL and seven sacks. He played in a 4-3 defense like the Texans have.
Other Possible Picks: Golden Tate, WR; Toby Gerhart, RB
21. Cincinnati Bengals—Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
The Bengals need a receiver badly, and they had bad luck with Chris Henry's death. Chad Ochocinco was shut down, and Carson Palmer had nowhere else to go against the Jets.
Tate was a First-Team All-American and played in a pro-style offense at Notre Dame. According to The Sporting News , the Bengals have scouted Tate heavily and expressed interest in him.
Other Possible Picks: Jermaine Gresham, TE; Damian Williams, WR
22. New England Patriots—Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Ben Watson only had 404 receiving yards on the season and one catch for three yards in the Patriots' playoff loss to the Ravens. What better way to end a contract year?
Gresham is an injury risk, but he was the most dominant tight end in college football and has the tools to succeed in the NFL. If the Patriots can handle Tom Brady getting injured, they can handle anything.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon Graham, DE/LB; Jerry Hughes, DE/LB; Brandon Spikes, LB
23. Green Bay Packers—Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa
The offensive line struggled in the first half of the season. It improved later on, but Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are both free agents in their 30s.
Bulaga was the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and named to the First Team All-Big Ten. This pick would be a steal for the Packers since Bulaga has top-10 talent.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon Graham, DE/LB, Charles Brown, T; Jerry Hughes, DE/LB; Kyle Wilson, CB
24. Philadelphia Eagles—Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Victor Abiamiri has been struggling, and Andy Reid loves drafting O-linemen and D-linemen.
Dunlap has character issues with a DUI arrest and alleged laziness. He has a lot of upside though, which alone will put Dunlap in the first round.
Other Possible Picks: Mike Iupati, G
25. Baltimore Ravens—Damian Williams, WR, USC
The Ravens need a receiver badly since Derrick Mason will likely retire and Mark Clayton drops passes for a living. Joe Flacco struggled this year, and the receiving unit is mostly to blame.
Other Possible Picks: Kyle Wilson, CB; Brandon LaFell, WR
26. Arizona Cardinals—Brandon Graham, DE/LB, Michigan
Graham was the Senior Bowl MVP, and his draft stock has skyrocketed since. He is often compared to his Michigan predecessor LaMarr Woodley.
Bertrand Berry retired, and 34-year-old Chike Okeafor is a free agent, so the Cardinals need a rush linebacker badly.
Other Possible Picks: Jerry Hughes, DE/LB, Charles Brown, T; Tim Tebow, QB
27. Dallas Cowboys—Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
Iupati had an excellent Senior Bowl, and the Cowboys have an aging offensive line. Iupati showed that he can play both guard and tackle, and the Cowboys announced they are keeping their No. 27 pick, so this more than likely means Iupati will be a Cowboy.
Other Possible Picks: Terrence Cody, DT
28. San Diego Chargers—Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
Cody had an embarrassing Senior Bowl weigh-in at 370 pounds, and this may cause him to drop to Round 2, but the Chargers need a nose tackle to replace the aging Jamal Williams.
Other Possible Picks: Toby Gerhart, RB; Jahvid Best, RB; Brandon LaFell, WR
29. New York Jets—Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Lito Sheppard is terrible, and he constantly allows receiving yards and gets penalized for pass interference. Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon did great against him in the AFC Championship. Darrelle Revis needs someone across from him to take the pressure off him.
Wilson had a great Senior Bowl and proved to be a vocal leader and an explosive cornerback and return specialist during the season.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon LaFell, WR; Patrick Robinson, CB; Brandon Ghee, CB
30. Minnesota Vikings—Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan
Warren had a solid junior year at Michigan with four interceptions, and the Vikings need a cornerback since Cedric Griffin tore his ACL and will be out for the 2010 season.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon Ghee, CB; Tim Tebow, QB; Jared Odrick, DT
31. Indianapolis Colts—Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
Gary Brackett is a free agent, and if he is re-signed, the Colts could still use depth at linebacker.
Spikes had 283 career tackles and six career interceptions at Florida, and he was another major part of their defense. He has character concerns surrounding him because of the Georgia eye-gouging incident though.
Other Possible Picks: Lamarr Houston, DT; Navorro Bowman, LB; Charles Brown, T
32. New Orleans Saints—Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State
The Saints are the Super Bowl champions, but they still need to focus on this offseason if they wish to repeat. They need an outside linebacker.
Bowman is a strong linebacker who has the skills to succeed in the NFL, but maybe not the character since he was busted for disorderly conduct and smoking marijuana. These concerns may drop him to Round 3. Sean Payton shouldn't be afraid though since he is a great disciplinarian and a hard coach. Bowman has a lot of upside, so don't be surprised if the Saints draft Bowman.
If you take a close look around your community, you'll find an assortment of different businesses: banks, cleaners, delicatessens, discount dens, grocery outlets, hardware stores, etc. It takes a combination of all these different businesses to feed the many demands of a healthy and smooth running community. Now take another look around your community. This time, keep an eye out for coffee shops such as Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts. How many do you see?
Either your city has too many coffee shops, or it has too few. More often than not, towns across the States are suffering from a shortage of coffee shops. Just imagine how many throngs of coffee lovers your city potentially harbors. And consider just how much coffee the typical coffee connoisseur drinks. Coffee lovers are known to gulp cup after cup of coffee in just one day. Earning a coffee lover's loyalty is priceless. Coffee lovers typically bounce from shop to shop, similar to bar hoppers. Those shops that they like, they will tend to visit on a regular basis.
Starting your own franchised coffee shop does require a large sum of upfront cash. Powerbrokers like Dunkin Doughnuts may require you have tens of thousands of dollars before they will even consider your application for a franchise. The bottom line is that when applying for a franchise, do not be surprised if you are asked what your net worth in savings is. This isn't one of those times to be secretive about your wealth or lack thereof. Once you do get your own franchise, it will take time before you start baking a profit. In the meantime, you will need either a large savings or a steady income to keep living.
The beauty of the coffee business is the numerous options available. You can choose to just have a small stand with two or three types of coffees out on the streets. Or, if you wish, you can occupy a huge building and offer a variety of fresh, brewed coffee. Obviously, a store requires more money and commitment. You will want to offer various coffee brands, plus tasty snacks that compliment the coffee well. And you will need comfortable tables, couches, and might even want to consider offering free Internet access.
Most people choose to enter the coffee franchise industry to become financially secure and prosperous. Add a love for coffee to that mixture and you are set. All you need is the money. It could potentially take 20 or so years to raise up the funds necessary to secure a coffee shop franchise. My question to you… is it worth it?
Why?
Because the Stars are aligning in Cleveland and the course for the Browns is full steam ahead.
Finally, since Al & Randy Lerners 1998 acquisition, there is a real focus on building a winner in Cleveland. Randy and his father Al were never real Football Men, they were bankers.
That mindset and profession, does not usually make for a winning NFL Franchise owner.
Randy Lerner is not your typical NFL owner. The deals he loves to do are not made in a back office acquiring an extra draft pick or some All-Star offensive or defensive weapon. He wouldn't even get out of bed to snatch up a steal of a deal on a top free agent.
Owner Jerry Jones, on the other hand, would probably buy the coffee and donuts, pick the guy up in his personal Limo and hand him the contracts personally.
But that is OK, because what the Lerner family has that the Jones family doesn't, is BIG MONEY and Big Banking connections.
REALIZATION #1.
With the embarrassment of this season and the potential walk out threat by fans over, the organization has realized, “hey we gave the keys to the Kingdom, to a defensive coordinator and then let him put all of his inexperienced friends in positions of influence”.
REALIZATION #2.
This is one loyal bunch of fanatics and they just might walk out of their stadium in protest. What a black eye on the NFL that would bring. We need to build a winner here.
Browns fans are one of the most loyal in all of sports, so why not support us?
This is exactly what my friend Randy is finally doing. His money and his connections are now for the first time, united in preparation and focus and they are helping to align the stars, so a winner can be brought back to Cleveland.
When I speak of an aligning of the stars, what I mean is talent BABY!
It all starts at the top and at the top you need good old fashion smarts, not a defensive coordinator and his buddies running the show.
Cleveland's Biggest Problem was the lack of leadership at the top and that was fixed by the hiring of the CZAR, Mike Holmgren.
I love that move Randy and I love every one of the CZARS moves so far.
You're Golden so far Holmgren.
Great alignment of personnel and executive Stars and a great job keeping the defensive coaching Stars in tack, as well as our Head Coach. Mangini is a very smart football man but was way over his head. Keep his focus and his job simple and he will be a good coach for the next decade.
It was also a great move keeping Rob Ryan in the trenches. I don't think Buddy Ryan ever gave his boys anything other then raw meat to eat and it shows. I love this guys intensity.
We cant blame Mr. Mangini for what he got away with. The CZAR just did the same thing. Only difference is that the CZARS friends are Stars and Mangini's were 'yes' men.
As soon as Randy shifted his mind set, look what happened.
He got the best football mind out there to come to Cleveland, and that move got other great minds to come.
Cleveland found a lock down nose guard who was riding the bench most of the season and a future All-Pro running back who had been asleep at the wheel. The Browns powerful lineman and All-Purpose back, shined in Miami and positive energy is in the air, for more Stars to come….
The Next Big Problem will be fixing the holes in the the offense and the defense while implementing a more effective strategy on offense.
This is what the wise CZAR is going to do next.
He will take real control of the offense by adding some new minds (STARS) on the coaching staff and gut the rest of the “yes' men. That offense has been stuck in idle for the last couple of years and is ready to roll in 2010 with some modification of The West Coast offense.
He will grab a veteran QB from The Seattle Seahawks for QB Derek Anderson and a pick. If he plays “Texas Holdem” and patiently waits, we might even see an even up trade. Anderson is a Former All-Pro, younger and healthier and Pete Carroll doesn't really want his beaten up warrior, he wants to help shape his own guy.
The CZAR then grabs a great deep threat receiver and an All-Star defensive weapon (A Sack Master) via trades or free agency to go along with Haden or Berry and the rest of the 2010 draft picks, will fill in nicely. This draft is filled with more depth in talent then has been seen in previous years and thanks to Mangini, we got picks.
Lastly, The CZAR will help retool Brady Quinn (The Mighty Quinn is MY NICKNAME for this kid) as a San Francisco style Joe Montana and Quinn will eventually take over the West Coast offense. You heard it here first!
Let me be the first to thank my friend, Randy Lerner, for bringing a winner back to Cleveland, by helping to Align the Stars.
2010 Statistics
Record 11-5 (I wanted to say 10 – 6, but I sense something better)
Touchdowns For Cleveland From 25 to 40 Touchdowns Against from 41 to 30
Total Yards on Offense 5500 from 4163 Total yard against Defense 4350 from 6229
Turnover ratio +5-7 from -12
Defense Points allowed from 22nd to top 12
Defense Yards allowed from 31st to top 16
Offense Points scored from 29th to top 16
Offense Yards gained from 32nd to top 15
1. St. Louis Rams—Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Suh had a spectacular Big 12 Championship and Holiday Bowl performance. In the Big 12 championship, he notched four-and-a-half sacks on Colt McCoy, who was saved by Hunter Lawrence. He also got invited to New York as a Heisman finalist and finished fourth in the voting.
In the Holiday Bowl, Arizona went nowhere and lost 33-0. Suh finished the season with 12 sacks, and he can play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme, which will benefit him in the NFL. Many draft experts have compared him to Kevin Williams.
Some fans would argue that the Rams would be making the same mistake here as they did in 2007 and 2008 with Adam Carriker and Chris Long, and they need a franchise QB. I agree with this consensus, and if it were up to me, I would draft Sam Bradford, but I can't see the Rams resisting Suh.
Other Possible Picks: Jimmy Clausen, QB; Sam Bradford, QB
2. Detroit Lions—Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Lions should take Russell Okung, but their management is incompetent and failed to take a tackle last year with the No. 20 pick.
The Lions' offensive line coach George Yarno is somehow happy with Jeff Backus' performance in 2009, and head coach Jim Schwartz believes that he should have been to the Pro Bowl despite allowing eight sacks.
QB Matt Stafford suffered injuries in his rookie year with no protection. Michael Oher would have been an excellent pick, but the Lions foolishly passed on him.
They need help on defense, too. McCoy is possibly the best DT in the draft. DT Sammie Lee Hill had a solid rookie year, and McCoy and him together would be a significant force. The Lions' linebackers performed well too. Julian Peterson and Larry Foote were both great, and DeAndre Levy showed promising talent. S Louis Delmas had an excellent rookie campaign with four interceptions and would have been a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate on a winning team.
The Lions could go either way with McCoy or Berry here. McCoy and Hill would be a powerful DT duo, and Berry and Delmas would be a powerful S duo, but maybe the Lions will wake up and smell the coffee and take a tackle. If Okung is taken, Backus could move to right tackle, and Cherilus could move to right guard.
Other Possible Picks: Eric Berry, S; Russell Okung, T
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Berry may be the most talented player in the 2010 NFL Draft. He is often compared to Ed Reed.
The Buccaneers would rather have Suh or McCoy fall to them, but there's a possibility they will both be gone. If they are, the Buccaneers have a pretty obvious pick here since Berry is too much of a value to pass on, and S Sabby Piscitelli wasn't very good and is a free agent.
Defensive end can't be ruled out though since the Buccaneers need a lot of help at defensive line.
Other Possible Picks: Russell Okung, T; Derrick Morgan, DE; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
4. Washington Redskins—Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
I have decided to mock Bradford to the Redskins over Clausen because I heard Mike Shanahan express interest in Bradford on profootballtalk.com, and Shanahan is looking to draft a QB even if Jason Campbell re-signs.
There are concerns surrounding Bradford regarding his season-ending injury in 2009 and his ability to play under center since he played out of the shotgun in Oklahoma. However, Drew Brees played in a spread offense at Purdue, and now he's the best QB in the NFL. Bradford has a great work ethic and has amazing upside that's too good to pass on.
Other Possible Picks: Russell Okung, T; Jimmy Clausen, QB
5. Kansas City Chiefs—Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State
The Chiefs may have the worst offensive line in the NFL, and Matt Cassel went through a nightmare of a 2009 season. Branden Albert would be better served with moving to left guard.
Okung was dominant at Oklahoma State, and he started all four years and was a two-time First-Team All-American. He has great leadership skills and draws comparisons to Joe Thomas.
Other Possible Picks: Anthony Davis, T; Trent Williams, T; Bruce Campbell, T
6. Seattle Seahawks—Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said that he was pleased with QB Matt Hasselbeck and RBs Justin Forsett and Julius Jones and has plans with them for his new offensive scheme, so we can pretty much rule out Seattle using a first-round pick on a quarterback or a running back.
Tackle is a huge need for the Seahawks since Walter Jones wisely retired, and Sean Locklear isn't suited to protect the blind side. Since Okung is taken, the Seahawks aren't getting the best, but there's plenty of other tackles.
Williams anchored Oklahoma's offensive line after Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson went pro and was a 2009 Third-Team All-American.
Other Possible Picks: Bruce Campbell, T; Jimmy Clausen, QB; Anthony Davis, T
7. Cleveland Browns—Joe Haden, CB, Florida
The Browns' pass defense finished 29th in the NFL, allowing 247.9 yards per game. Their cornerbacks are unreliable, and Haden is easily the best cornerback prospect. He led Florida's dominant defense, and if this scenario happens, this pick is easy.
Browns fans are fed up with Brady Quinn, but it appears as though Mike Holmgren and Eric Mangini are sticking with him and Derek Anderson for now.
Other Possible Picks: Derrick Morgan, DE; Rolando McClain, LB
8. Oakland Raiders—Bruce Campbell, T, Maryland
Al Davis loves players that run fast 40 times. He has proved that by drafting Darren McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
The Raiders have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, and Robert Gallery, who was supposed to be a Pro Bowl tackle, is a mediocre guard.
Campbell can run a 4.9, so Davis will be excited by him.
Other Possible Picks: Anthony Davis, T; Bryan Bulaga, T; Jimmy Clausen, QB; Derrick Morgan, DE; Rolando McClain, LB
9. Buffalo Bills—Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Trent Edwards had a tough year in 2009, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is nothing more than a backup. The offensive line is to blame mostly, and Edwards is a solid QB, but since Clausen falls here, there's no way the Bills pass on him.
Other Possible Picks: Derrick Morgan, DE; Anthony Davis, T; Bryan Bulaga, T; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
10. Jacksonville Jaguars—Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
The Jaguars have terrible rush defense, and Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves are both busts.
Morgan is an excellent 4-3 defensive end, and he led Georgia Tech with 12 sacks.
Tim Tebow is definitely out of the picture here since he struggled at the Senior Bowl, so the only way the Jaguars take him in the first round is if they trade down.
Other Possible Picks: Rolando McClain, LB; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE; Dez Bryant, WR
11. Denver Broncos(from Chicago)—Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Brandon Marshall has as good as waved goodbye to Denver, and assuming he leaves, the Broncos will want to replace him with a No. 1 receiver, and Bryant fits that mold.
Other Possible Picks: Rolando McClain, LB; C.J. Spiller, RB; Dan Williams, DT
12. Miami Dolphins—Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
The Dolphins have a hole at inside linebacker since Akin Ayodele isn't the answer, and McClain played in a 3-4 defense at Alabama, just like the Dolphins do.
Other Possible Picks: Dan Williams, DT; C.J. Spiller, RB
13. San Francisco 49ers—Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers
The 49ers had a terrible offensive line, and Adam Snyder allowed 9.5 sacks, and Tony Pashos had a career-ending injury. The depth is extremely thin, so Davis would be a great pick to take the pressure off of Joe Staley.
Other Possible Picks: Bryan Bulaga, T; C.J. Spiller, RB
14. Seattle Seahawks(from Denver)—Taylor Mays, S, USC
With Pete Carroll and Jeremy Bates in Seattle now, the Seahawks won't blow off this opportunity. Mays is a former Trojan, so Carroll knows what Mays is capable of, and the Seahawks need a safety badly, as evidenced by their 30th-ranked pass defense. Mays struggled in the Senior Bowl, but that won't rattle Carroll since he has a lot of upside.
Other Possible Picks: C.J. Spiller, RB; Earl Thomas, S; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
15. New York Giants—C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
The Giants need depth at running back since Ahmad Bradshaw is a free agent, and Brandon Jacobs is too fragile to handle the carries alone.
Spiller draws comparisons to Chris Johnson since he can run a 4.2 and has a similar type of explosiveness.
Other Possible Picks: Dan Williams, DT; Earl Thomas, S; Brian Price, DT; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
16. Tennessee Titans—Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The Titans have a lot of free agents at defensive end, including Kyle Vanden Bosch, who only had 3.5 sacks in a contract year.
Pierre-Paul is a dark horse who plays in a 4-3 scheme, and the Titans won't be able to resist anyone with as much upside as Pierre-Paul.
Other Possible Picks: Dan Williams, DT; Brian Price, DT; Brandon Spikes, LB; Everson Griffen, DE; Carlos Dunlap. DE
17. San Francisco 49ers(from Carolina)—Earl Thomas, S, Texas
Thomas was a big part of Texas' defense. He had eight interceptions for 149 yards, and two of them were returned for touchdowns.
The 49ers have awful pass defense, and Mark Roman was subpar at safety.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon Graham, DE/LB, Jerry Hughes, DE/LB; Kyle Wilson, CB
18. Pittsburgh Steelers—Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Williams had an excellent Senior Bowl, and he can play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. The Steelers need a NT to replace Casey Hampton.
Other Possible Picks: Bryan Bulaga, T
19. Atlanta Falcons—Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
Mike Peterson is nothing more than a veteran rental, and he will retire soon, so the Falcons will need a linebacker to replace him.
Weatherspoon had an excellent Senior Bowl, and he showed a lot of leadership and personality. A guy like him could turn around the Falcons' struggling defense.
Other Possible Picks: Donovan Warren, CB; Kyle Wilson, CB; Carlos Dunlap, DE
20. Houston Texans—Brian Price, DT, UCLA
The Texans have solid rush defense, but Mario Williams and Antonio Smith carry it with no reliable interior presence. Amobi Okoye is a bust and needs to be replaced.
Price led UCLA's defense, and he had 23.5 TFL and seven sacks. He played in a 4-3 defense like the Texans have.
Other Possible Picks: Golden Tate, WR; Toby Gerhart, RB
21. Cincinnati Bengals—Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
The Bengals need a receiver badly, and they had bad luck with Chris Henry's death. Chad Ochocinco was shut down, and Carson Palmer had nowhere else to go against the Jets.
Tate was a First-Team All-American and played in a pro-style offense at Notre Dame. According to The Sporting News , the Bengals have scouted Tate heavily and expressed interest in him.
Other Possible Picks: Jermaine Gresham, TE; Damian Williams, WR
22. New England Patriots—Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Ben Watson only had 404 receiving yards on the season and one catch for three yards in the Patriots' playoff loss to the Ravens. What better way to end a contract year?
Gresham is an injury risk, but he was the most dominant tight end in college football and has the tools to succeed in the NFL. If the Patriots can handle Tom Brady getting injured, they can handle anything.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon Graham, DE/LB; Jerry Hughes, DE/LB; Brandon Spikes, LB
23. Green Bay Packers—Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa
The offensive line struggled in the first half of the season. It improved later on, but Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are both free agents in their 30s.
Bulaga was the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and named to the First Team All-Big Ten. This pick would be a steal for the Packers since Bulaga has top-10 talent.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon Graham, DE/LB, Charles Brown, T; Jerry Hughes, DE/LB; Kyle Wilson, CB
24. Philadelphia Eagles—Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Victor Abiamiri has been struggling, and Andy Reid loves drafting O-linemen and D-linemen.
Dunlap has character issues with a DUI arrest and alleged laziness. He has a lot of upside though, which alone will put Dunlap in the first round.
Other Possible Picks: Mike Iupati, G
25. Baltimore Ravens—Damian Williams, WR, USC
The Ravens need a receiver badly since Derrick Mason will likely retire and Mark Clayton drops passes for a living. Joe Flacco struggled this year, and the receiving unit is mostly to blame.
Other Possible Picks: Kyle Wilson, CB; Brandon LaFell, WR
26. Arizona Cardinals—Brandon Graham, DE/LB, Michigan
Graham was the Senior Bowl MVP, and his draft stock has skyrocketed since. He is often compared to his Michigan predecessor LaMarr Woodley.
Bertrand Berry retired, and 34-year-old Chike Okeafor is a free agent, so the Cardinals need a rush linebacker badly.
Other Possible Picks: Jerry Hughes, DE/LB, Charles Brown, T; Tim Tebow, QB
27. Dallas Cowboys—Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
Iupati had an excellent Senior Bowl, and the Cowboys have an aging offensive line. Iupati showed that he can play both guard and tackle, and the Cowboys announced they are keeping their No. 27 pick, so this more than likely means Iupati will be a Cowboy.
Other Possible Picks: Terrence Cody, DT
28. San Diego Chargers—Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
Cody had an embarrassing Senior Bowl weigh-in at 370 pounds, and this may cause him to drop to Round 2, but the Chargers need a nose tackle to replace the aging Jamal Williams.
Other Possible Picks: Toby Gerhart, RB; Jahvid Best, RB; Brandon LaFell, WR
29. New York Jets—Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Lito Sheppard is terrible, and he constantly allows receiving yards and gets penalized for pass interference. Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon did great against him in the AFC Championship. Darrelle Revis needs someone across from him to take the pressure off him.
Wilson had a great Senior Bowl and proved to be a vocal leader and an explosive cornerback and return specialist during the season.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon LaFell, WR; Patrick Robinson, CB; Brandon Ghee, CB
30. Minnesota Vikings—Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan
Warren had a solid junior year at Michigan with four interceptions, and the Vikings need a cornerback since Cedric Griffin tore his ACL and will be out for the 2010 season.
Other Possible Picks: Brandon Ghee, CB; Tim Tebow, QB; Jared Odrick, DT
31. Indianapolis Colts—Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
Gary Brackett is a free agent, and if he is re-signed, the Colts could still use depth at linebacker.
Spikes had 283 career tackles and six career interceptions at Florida, and he was another major part of their defense. He has character concerns surrounding him because of the Georgia eye-gouging incident though.
Other Possible Picks: Lamarr Houston, DT; Navorro Bowman, LB; Charles Brown, T
32. New Orleans Saints—Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State
The Saints are the Super Bowl champions, but they still need to focus on this offseason if they wish to repeat. They need an outside linebacker.
Bowman is a strong linebacker who has the skills to succeed in the NFL, but maybe not the character since he was busted for disorderly conduct and smoking marijuana. These concerns may drop him to Round 3. Sean Payton shouldn't be afraid though since he is a great disciplinarian and a hard coach. Bowman has a lot of upside, so don't be surprised if the Saints draft Bowman.
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Making Money Job
Posted in Uncategorized with tags making money on February 16, 2010 by normanparrish1963« Previous |
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Exclusive: Geithner Says Brown Wrong About Stimulus
February 07, 2010 9:00 AM
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner challenged newly elected Senator Scott Brown’s claim that the last stimulus bill “didn’t create one new job.” Brown made the remark during his first press conference after being sworn in Thursday, but in my “This Week” interview, Geithner said he doesn’t “think there’s any basis for that judgment.”
The administration has faced some criticism for using the phrase “jobs saved or created” in describing the impact of the stimulus package.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Friday, said the stimulus package created more than 7,000 jobs in that state.
Watch Video HERE:
Read the Full exchange HERE:
TAPPER: The new senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, one of the first things he said after being sworn in was that the stimulus package has not created one job.
BROWN:“The last stimulus bill didn't create one new job. And in some states, the money that was actually released hasn't even been used yet.”
GEITHNER: Oh, I don't think there’s any basis for that judgment. I mean, again, just think where we were. January of 2009, three-quarters of a million Americans losing their jobs. We have an economy now that's growing again. With growth you're going to see jobs created.
Again, we already saw some job — a month where we had positive job growth. But, you know, it's going to take a while. It took a long time for these problems to develop. They're going to take some time to heal. But we're in a much stronger position today.
But our priority has to be, and I think you see broad recognition of this now, is to make sure we're working very hard to make sure that we're seeing this growth translate into more jobs to reach more Americans.
- jpt
February 7, 2010
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The famously private investor David Gelbaum, founder of The Quercus Trust, and who by his own estimates has between 40 and 50 cleantech investments, as a rule hasn’t done interviews for years. According to the last comprehensive story on him, published in the LA Times in 2004, the former math whiz, hedge fund manager and philanthropist, is so anonymous he’s sometimes mistaken for his gardener. But this afternoon, on the heels of Gelbaum accepting the role of CEO of one of his portfolio companies Entech Solar (the first time he’s taken over as CEO), Gelbaum got on the phone with us to chat about the potential of solar, how he’s lost money in greentech so far, and his focus on making some returns.
1). Why did you take the job as CEO of Entech Solar?
David Gelbaum: I have always been active with our portfolio companies, but this is the first time I’ve been CEO. But I’m passionate about the company, I’ve got an understanding of it and it turned out the board agreed with me. This is a company which I’ve been the most closely involved with — I’ve been working with the team and I know a lot of the people and I’ve been functioning basically as an executive already.
2). Can you tell me a bit more about the process of starting the Quercus Trust? What inspired you?
DG: The Quercus Trust is just an estate planning fund, and I picked the name Quercus Trust because I like oak trees (quercus stands for oak). In 2006 I decided to get into cleanech investing. I was looking around to start making some money and I had some understanding of solar, so I looked at that. It looked really promising, particularly when I realized we were close to solar being at economic parity with fossils.
3). So your cleantech investing through Quercus Trust is meant to make money, in contrast the your philanthropy work?
DG: Yes, I don’t need to make money on this in order to live, but yes, the goal is to make money off the investments.
4). Have the returns in greentech been what you expected — do you have exits yet and if so what?
DG: I havent had any exits and I’ve lost money in this business. It’s just part of the general shortage of credit.
5). Kleiner Perkins’ John Doerr said a couple months ago that if he’d foreseen the credit crunch and the recession, he’s not sure if his firm would have gotten into cleantech back when it did. Have you had similar thoughts?
DG: No, I’m glad I’m in this. I’m very optimistic.
6). What are the sectors you’re most bullish on?
DG: I think most of my investments have huge promise, and many of them are intertwined. Solar can’t go forward without the smart grid, because of the intermittency measures of solar. They all have huge upsides.
7). Are there any areas that you’ll be making more investments in going forward in 2010?
DG: Mainly follow-on investments and focus on getting the current ones to make money.
8). How many cleantech investments have you made to date?
DG: Somewhere between 40 to 50.
9). How have the stimulus funds affected the industry and your investments?
DG: Well, for the companies that got government funding, it’s been good. But for the ones that haven’t it’s been negative. I’m glad that they’ve continued to extend the tax credits for years.
10). You’re just starting to open up and do interviews now that you’ve take on the CEO role. What was the reason for being so quiet and do you expect you’ll be talking to the media more going forward?
DG: It’s just been about being a private person. I expect I’ll be doing more interviews — I’ve done more interviews today than I have done over the past five years.
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personal finance books
Posted in Uncategorized with tags online stock trading and investments on February 10, 2010 by normanparrish1963To understand you own personal finances an income statement and a balance sheet can be helpful. The income statement (shown below in simple English) can help you accomplish Step 1 (evaluating your personal finances) written about in my previous article on this topic. We will get to the balance sheet in the next article.
Personal Finance Income Statement: Part I
On a plain piece of notebook paper list the following items under “Take-Home Pay”:
1) Total income (that would be your gross wages on your pay stub).
2) Total income taxes (for right now just lump everything deducted from your check here, including insurance deductibles).
3) Now subtract the total income taxes from the gross wages and we have your net income (what is known as 'take home pay', as I'm sure you already knew).
I apologize in advance to anyone already familiar with this step in the process, but there will be some individuals who aren't, so this is for them.
Personal Finance Income Statement: Part II
This is where the personal finance evaluating gets a little more in-depth; but not too bad. List your living expenses beneath the data you just wrote down about your income. I know, I know, you probably think you have a handle on that without doing this step, but you may come away surprised that you actually have more expenses than you thought.
Here are some personal finance income statement category suggestions for analyzing your expenses and breaking them apart:
Housing expenses (include them all, from rent or mortgage to trash bags, but don't include insurance here); next is food expenditures (groceries and eating out, and that birthday cake for your daughter); clothing and personal items you buy (that includes makeup and toothpaste); transportation costs (auto, repairs, gas, oil, taxis, but not auto insurance).
And then calculate your total recreational expenses (movies, books, magazines, concerts), medical expenses (but not insurance costs), and then all your insurance expenses (home, auto, health). If you have any other expenses that you are aware of (child support), put them under the “other expenses” category. Now total them all up.
If your expenses outweigh your income don't get discouraged. A little work is in order, sure, but it is not a mountain you can't climb.
Personal Finance Income Statement: Part III
Some of you may not have anything to put down in this last category (especially if you are living from hand-to-mouth–or worse), because it deals with money you have available for savings and investments. So don't feel bad! It will eventually come—just learn the steps to get there.
But for those who do have even a small amount left over after they subtract their total expenses from their total income, this is one asset that you have that we are going to use to improve your personal finances. So list your total income from net pay on one line in this section of your paper, then list your total expenses on the next line and subtract. This is the amount we now have to work with to improve your personal finances.
And if you haven't heard about the magic of the time value of money, just sit tight. It is a comin'. But let's look at the balance sheet first.
Resources
Personal Finance: Turning Money into Wealth by Arthur J. Keown (5th edition)
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personal finance planning
Posted in Uncategorized with tags online stock trading and investments on February 9, 2010 by normanparrish1963
Ken and Daria Dolan, America's first family of personal finance, answer your questions every Friday.
Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.
Seventy-eight million American workers are not offered a retirement plan — such as a 401(k) or pension plan — at work. While having an employer sponsored plan is certainly a nice benefit, you have plenty of other options for saving for retirement. Today Ken and Daria walk you through your retirement plan options.
Dear Ken and Daria,
I have no retirement plan right now. The company I work for doesn't offer any kind of 401(k) or retirement plan. What are my options for a retirement plan and how do I get started? Thank you for your help!
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For more retirement planning help, including how much you really need to save and retirement mistakes to avoid, visit Dolans.com.
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You should also check out http://www.FiLife.com. FiLife is a personal finance question and answer platform that is now the #4 personal finance site on the web according to Comscore (December 2009). Users can come to the site and ask questions and get expert answers in a few hours.
Posted by: EK |
January 14, 2010 5:45 AM -
I second that FiLife nomination. I've asked several questions there on a variety of topics and my questions usually get answered by somebody right away. Plus, tax season is coming up, and it's going to be good to have a place to ask those pesky tax questions!
Posted by: Barclay |
January 14, 2010 7:26 AM -
Its still early days for these services yet, and whilst options like Xero might be good for professional type businesses, for anyone who carries / needs to account for stock they are not yet suitable. But as they build an eco-system of integrations around them then will become suitable for a wider range of businesses.
Core accounting doesn't really change, (tax rates etc change but the basics stay the same), so we've been able to use the same desktop accounting software, bought for around £300, for the past 5 years. Which make the SAAS providers very expensive by comparison. As they build more features and more data integrations then that cost may become justified.
Posted by: Robert |
January 14, 2010 9:24 AM -
Small business accounting doesn't have to be complex…or scary. And that's what the web (internet DNA) can bring to small businesses…'De-scarey' accounting into simple, easy to understand workflows.
Surprised that with all the mentioned of Intuit, there isn't one of QuickBooks Online? For small businesses who want that anywhere/anytime access (and majority will in a short time!) QuickBooks Online is a big player.
We're bringing that Internet DNA (and the decades of trusted accounting knowledge) to how small businesses think about and run their books. Pretty exciting stuff there.
Kristen
QuickBooks Online Product ManagerPosted by: Kristen Berman |
January 14, 2010 9:45 AM -
Doesn't First Round Capital have an interesting portfolio company that competes directly with Xero? Might be worth a mention… I forget the name.
Posted by: Andrew Parker |
January 14, 2010 9:59 AM -
For personal finances, I use Mint.com – very useful feedback via emails in terms of where my money is going, and where I stand at the end of every month.
Posted by: Ceyda |
January 14, 2010 12:23 PM -
I would love to try Mint but they weren't operating in the UK the last time I checked.
I've used Wesabe for a while, but the whole download/upload approach was too much for my low frustration tolerance. I blame being spoilt by API's for this
Posted by: Ray Scott |
January 14, 2010 12:25 PM -
I use Quickbooks (for Windows) for business. While a solution like Xero would be an ideal, most SMB focused Accounting firms still recommend and rely on Quickbooks. I think I will be introducing my accountant to Xero.
On the personal side, Mint is great, but lacks certain features that are necessary for some people. I use Quicken (for Windows) in order to track checks and attach images. Once Mint/QOE introduces a feature set similar to the desktop version, the switch will be a no-brainer.
Posted by: Bryan Radtke |
January 14, 2010 12:36 PM -
I use FreeAgent (http://www.freeagentcentral.com) for my small business. For UK based companies it's particularly fantastic as it “knows” about UK tax and VAT rules but for pretty much anyone it is beautifully designed and works a treat. First thing I signed up for when starting the business, don't regret it for a second.
Posted by: Ed Moore |
January 14, 2010 12:38 PM -
Xero is missing Payroll functionality for the UK, although integration is available with two external providers at additional cost.
FreeAgent Central has it's own payroll functionality included within the Limited Company service plan (£25 per month plus VAT).
Neither FreeAgent or Xero can manage stock which is a major limitation currently.
Posted by: James |
January 14, 2010 6:19 PM -
I'm not clear about why nobody's created a 3rd party service that can actually perform transactions. Mint.com, etc. make it easy to watch what's happening with your money and set budget goals, etc. but don't actually help you allocate your money. I've long wanted an online method to automatically manage balances across multiple accounts (e.g. different accounts intended for different spending categories, or just automating savings better). Banks have their own tools for doing recurring transactions but as far as I've seen they are all limited to a fixed-amount transaction and are restricted to single-future-date or fixed-interval-recurring scheduling. Why not allow a percentage of each paycheck to be transferred to savings whenever it clears? Or set up rules like pay down credit card balances before transferring to savings.
Is there some technical (doubtful) or legal reason why this type of account management isn't available?
Posted by: Brandon |
January 17, 2010 9:15 PM -
Saasu.com is interesting too, it is richer than xero (e.g salary processing, inventory) so a hybrid online ERP and accounting.
Blippy.com is new and also unusual, used for sharing credit card transactions on twitter, only a matter of time before some accounting software integrates that feed from all employees with hash tags for expense categories
Cheers, Pete.
Posted by: Peter J Cooper |
January 18, 2010 2:44 PM -
For SME accounting, there is also an interesting development for taking book-keeping and making the numbers useful through benchmarking. By capturing the data within book-keeping, animalizing it, analyzing and producing reports – benchmarking allows SMEs to see how their business ticks and how competitive they are in their market sector.
FreshBooks is offering it, and there are specialists such as MyCake.org which is a front end API linked to online software such as KashFlow.
Hannah
MyCake.orgPosted by: Hannah Knowles |
January 29, 2010 2:31 AM -
Quickbooks is what I use but have been following Mint and realized that a lot of persons how it in high esteem.
Posted by: FinanciallySmart |
January 30, 2010 8:43 AM -
One thing that's worth considering is that remote desktop and remote application technology is bringing traditional desktop applications to the web. This means that Sage and Quickbooks, the market leaders here in the UK can be accessed anywhere with the speed and familiarity of desktop software.
The costs are higher but the benefits are significant and it can be a difficult and often unsuccessful process moving from sage to a web based system, data migration, user training etc. In my experience a remote desktop solution is often the best route for an extablished business.
Having said this if I were starting a business up I'd certainly use a web-based app, QuickBooks online if or when it's available in the UK.Posted by: Dan Hancock |
January 31, 2010 1:09 AM
buy mutual funds, buy mutual funds, buy mutual funds, buy mutual funds, internet marketing, yahoo, google, Online advertising, http://www.prlog.org/10512637-franchisesforsalecom-launch-heralds-the-next-wave-in-franchisee-lead-generation.html, http://www.prlog.org/10512639-restaurant-franchise-opportunities-providing-new-job-opportunities.html, http://www.emailwire.com/release/30658-New-Lead-Site-FranchisesforsaleCom-Goes-Live.html, http://www.emailwire.com/release/31568-New-Franchise-Opportunities-for-2010-Online-Tools-and-Resources-for-Buying-a-Franchise.html, http://www.ideamarketers.com/?New_Franchise_Opportunities_for_2010_%E2%80%93_Online_Tools_and_Resources_for_Buying_a_&articleid=883071, http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/new-franchise-opportunities-for-2010,1100822.shtml, http://www.newsalbum.com/Read/473435-New-Franchise-Opportunities-with-Successful-Franchise-Companies-Putting-People-Back-to-Work/, http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=164465&cat=9, http://www.zimbio.com/Housing+Bubble+News/articles/7/Dr+Robert+S+Shumake, http://mortgagefraudreportmichigan.blogspot.com/2009/12/robert-shumake-fraud-report-tax.html, http://personals.szczecin.pl/index.php?topic=2.0, http://tweetmeme.com/story/339636355/surface-encounters-in-wixom-going-green-with-marble-granite-countertop-production, http://finance.bnet.com/bnet/?GUID=11076222&Page=MediaViewer&ChannelID=6526, http://www.ideamarketers.com/?Surface_Encounters_Ohio,_LLC_Celebrates_100_Years_of_Experience_with_Columbus_S&articleid=880865, http://viralvideochart.unrulymedia.com/youtube/surface_encounters_macomb_mi__counter_tops?id=VGJx3FcNE50, http://www.veoh.com/browse/morelike/v19614992esMzfMCZ#, http://deals.yahoo.com/local-store-coupons/mer-surface-encounters–dept-home-garden, http://www.bignews.biz/?id=835928&keys=Shopping-counter-surface-Granite, http://www.businessweek.com/bios/Bill_Bartmann.htm, http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1998/b3603113.arc.htm, http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/apr2009/sb20090421_494148.htm?chan=smallbiz_smallbiz%20index%20page_top%20small%20business%20stories sell my home fast
MetsBlog.com – <b>News</b>: Mookie and Melvin join Mets
<b>News</b>: Mookie and Melvin join Mets. February 8, 2010 at 15:40 pm · 24 comments. by Matthew Cerrone. The Mets have named Mookie Wilson as the team's minor league outfield and base running coordinator. Wilson had been the team's first base …
MetsBlog.com – <b>News</b>: Fernando Martinez MVP of Carribbean Series
Yes very happy for F Mart and its good to see positive <b>news</b> about something having to do with the Mets, these days as we know its been far and few between. However I too think he still needs more time in the minors, just because he did …
AMERICAblog <b>News</b>: GOP demands Obama kill House and Senate bills <b>…</b>
<b>News</b> and opinion about US politics from a liberal perspective.
Being Right or Making Money
Posted in Uncategorized with tags making money on February 6, 2010 by normanparrish1963Ways of Making Money
Posted in Uncategorized with tags making money on February 5, 2010 by normanparrish1963Crist making it … too easy
posted at 3:10 pm on January 26, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
One might think that the new polls showing Marco Rubio closing the gap on Charlie Crist might have the Governor looking for ways to negate the notion that he’s an ally of Barack Obama and big-government spending. Obama himself is now under water in Florida, according to the latest Quinnipiac polling, so linking himself to Obama would seem like playing into Rubio’s hands. And yet, tying himself to Obama is apparently exactly what Crist wants to do:
Gov. Charlie Crist, who has been taking a steady pounding for his “man hug” with President Obama in Fort Myers last February, says he may be with the president again at the University of Tampa Thursday when the president may announce a major award of high-speed rail money for Florida — money that state officials say will create thousands of new jobs. …
“Currently, I have plans to be in Tampa on Thursday for the Board of Governors (meeting). We’re going to announce the new membership. If we can work it out logistically, I will be with him,” Crist said.
When reporter Steve Thomas pointed out to Crist that the “man hug” problem still hangs over his campaign, Crist insisted that he didn’t care — and that his concern was “fighting for jobs” in Florida. Of course, that was the same excuse Crist used when campaigning for Porkulus last Feburary. He tried to cast people opposed to the useless $787 billion massive pork expenditure as needlessly partisan and himself as a voice of pragmatic reason. Those opponents look a lot more pragmatic now than Crist does, and Crist looks a lot more opportunistic than principled.
Now we have Obama bringing pork to Florida again, only with his own approval numbers sinking. The high-speed rail jobs may or may not materialize, depending on whether Florida sinks billions of its own money into matching funds normally required for such projects. Floridians may prefer to spend their money on other types of transportation projects, or not spend the money at all, rather than build more subsidy-floated public transportation. In either case, Crist is going to make it all the more difficult to separate himself from Obama — and that’s exactly what Rubio wants.
Guest Post by My Friend Kelly
January is over and the Eating From the Pantry Challenge has come to a close. While you may be ready to dive back into grocery shopping, couponing, and restocking, don’t let the momentum end here. The principles behind this challenge can be applied to a variety of other projects which can help cut costs, de-clutter your home, and streamline daily life. Sometimes this means using up excess stock and other times the focus is getting more regular use out of non-expendable items.
Here’s a few ways to do that:
Personal Hygiene Products
Whether or not you can find coupons and deals on the food your family eats, most everyone will be able to find a rebate or rewards deal on hygiene products at one of the drug stores or national chains around the country. Using what you learned during Eating from the Pantry Month, give yourself 30 days before buying any new personal hygiene products. In the meantime, clear out your bathroom cabinets and see what you still need and what you don’t.
Finish up half-used bottles of shampoo and conditioner and use the last bits of lotion from gift sets. Replace the razors with dull blades or broken handles and if you have liquid soap, refill pump bottles. Toss broken combs or hair accessories and use up the last inch of mousse or gel before starting a new bottle. If someone in your family opposes a particular brand and you have unopened items consider putting together a care package. Check out this post for ideas on what to send and who to send it to.
Pull out fresh floss and mouthwash to improve your oral hygiene and health. If you haven’t swapped out your toothbrush in the past three months or have recently gotten over an illness open up a new one but don’t throw out the old just yet–a toothbrush can clean more than your molars!
Household Cleaners
Maintaining a clean house doesn’t have to take hours and hundreds of dollars in premium cleaning products. Use similar tactics to inventory what you have, see what you need, stretch what you use and find substitutes. While you’re digging under the sinks use up the last little bit of general cleaner and wipe down the shelves. Try to identify what you use each product to clean and how often you use up a bottle.
Don’t just think about products but other supplies as well. Re-purpose old towels from the kitchen or bath as cleaning rags, use old worn out toothbrushes to scrub small crevices, find an old pillowcase to clean ceiling fan blades, or lone socks to dust. If you find you have a pile of dusting rags you can reduce the amount of paper towels you buy.
Office supplies
How many different places in your house do you have a stash of pens? Notepads? Tape? Round everything up and sort it out (old shoe boxes come in handy here) and toss or donate what you don’t use. Find out what you’ll need for everyday use and what school-aged children can take to class. Just like the pantry challenge, make do with what you have–blue pens can work just as well as black ones–and substitute where you can. Whether you write grocery lists on the back of a used envelope or reuse file folders these tactics can keep money in your pocket and clutter out of your home.
Centralize one place for commonly misplaced items like tape, scissors, and sharpies. Or is that just my house?
Crafts & Decorations
If you can be described as crafty, then you’re probably well aware of the dangers that entrap quilters, scrapbookers, knitters and painters alike. It’s easy to hoard supplies and fill drawers, bins and yes, even rooms with projects that we have no hope of finishing in ten lifetimes. Make the commitment to stop buying new supplies for one month and go “shopping” at home. Dig through your stock and try to remember what project you had in mind when you brought home these items.
Finish an old project or start a new one, substitute one component instead of buying new, and give away things you won’t use to someone who will. Consider a swap amongst friends or just a potluck night in when everyone can bring a dish and a project and work together.
As Spring rolls around it can be easy to get tired of our surroundings and want something new and fresh. Check your attics, basements, and closets for decorative items that were put away or forgotten. Re-hang a picture or touch up the paint on a table. Move around some furniture, pull out the throw blankets, fill glass vases and use the good china. Put a new picture in an old frame or clear everything off a wall and paint it fresh. Look for things you already have that can be used in new and interesting ways.
There are also some things we can be getting more use out of, things that are not necessarily used up.
Entertainment
Do you have family games gathering dust? Puzzles, video games, books or movies that go unused? The same principles apply even if using an entertainment item will not expend it for future use. Pull out all your puzzles and look them over together. Maybe some are missing too many pieces, another too advanced for younger children, some too juvenile for older children. Keep what you’ll use, recycle what you won’t. Donate unused items to your school or church, ask friends if their children would enjoy something new.
Do your kids have piles of half used or broken crayons? Turn them into a craft project. Go through your books and weed out volumes you no long read, reference or enjoy. Do the same for family pictures by tossing prints that are fuzzy or faded, or pictures that have no personal meaning or value. Be careful about tossing older photos that may have some value to another family member. Check out this post for tips on preserving family memories.
Clothes
If you find yourself wearing the same outfits over and over again try the Empty Closet Challenge. Pull everything out and box up things that don’t fit or flatter your figure. Work with what you have and fill in pieces that will create attractive looks that fit your lifestyle. At the end of the month pull out the boxes of discarded clothes and sell them by consignment or eBay, return new items to the store, donate to a charity or give to a friend. Don’t forget to look over belts, scarves, jackets, shoes, and jewelry too. Rethinking a wardrobe can be challenge–check out this site for ideas on using thrift store finds to create stunning new looks for under $20!
I know it seems overwhelming when you think of all the places to apply the principles you learned during Eating from the Pantry Month. But just like January, take one thing at a time, make adjustments as you go, and share what you’ve learned. By 2011, you might just have a cleaner, uncluttered home, more money in the bank and new routines. Then your only challenge will be finding a New Year’s Resolution you haven’t already accomplished!
Kelly is a 25 year old single homeowner living in Northern California. Despite a high cost of living and tough job market, Kelly has created a cozy home without acquiring debt. Now just $3,000 away from eliminating student loans (the last of consumer debt), Kelly looks forward her first trip abroad, thrift store decorating, and teaching financial awareness. Kelly blogs at My Friend Kelly.
Photo credit: Fauxto_credit; Kevin McShane; Patrick Q
http://www.webjam.com/gabrielle71 http://www.prlog.org/10248797-reitbuyercom-offers-opportunity-to-onlinereal-estate-stock-traders-in-albuquerque-new-mexico.html http://www.prlog.org/tag/online-stock-trading/ http://www.prlog.org/10219817-online-traders-discover-reits-and-real-estate-mutual-funds-to-be-good-investment.html http://www.prlog.org/10248797-reitbuyercom-offers-opportunity-to-onlinereal-estate-stock-traders-in-albuquerque-new-mexico.html http://www.webjam.com/gabrielle71
Crist making it … too easy
posted at 3:10 pm on January 26, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
One might think that the new polls showing Marco Rubio closing the gap on Charlie Crist might have the Governor looking for ways to negate the notion that he’s an ally of Barack Obama and big-government spending. Obama himself is now under water in Florida, according to the latest Quinnipiac polling, so linking himself to Obama would seem like playing into Rubio’s hands. And yet, tying himself to Obama is apparently exactly what Crist wants to do:
Gov. Charlie Crist, who has been taking a steady pounding for his “man hug” with President Obama in Fort Myers last February, says he may be with the president again at the University of Tampa Thursday when the president may announce a major award of high-speed rail money for Florida — money that state officials say will create thousands of new jobs. …
“Currently, I have plans to be in Tampa on Thursday for the Board of Governors (meeting). We’re going to announce the new membership. If we can work it out logistically, I will be with him,” Crist said.
When reporter Steve Thomas pointed out to Crist that the “man hug” problem still hangs over his campaign, Crist insisted that he didn’t care — and that his concern was “fighting for jobs” in Florida. Of course, that was the same excuse Crist used when campaigning for Porkulus last Feburary. He tried to cast people opposed to the useless $787 billion massive pork expenditure as needlessly partisan and himself as a voice of pragmatic reason. Those opponents look a lot more pragmatic now than Crist does, and Crist looks a lot more opportunistic than principled.
Now we have Obama bringing pork to Florida again, only with his own approval numbers sinking. The high-speed rail jobs may or may not materialize, depending on whether Florida sinks billions of its own money into matching funds normally required for such projects. Floridians may prefer to spend their money on other types of transportation projects, or not spend the money at all, rather than build more subsidy-floated public transportation. In either case, Crist is going to make it all the more difficult to separate himself from Obama — and that’s exactly what Rubio wants.
Guest Post by My Friend Kelly
January is over and the Eating From the Pantry Challenge has come to a close. While you may be ready to dive back into grocery shopping, couponing, and restocking, don’t let the momentum end here. The principles behind this challenge can be applied to a variety of other projects which can help cut costs, de-clutter your home, and streamline daily life. Sometimes this means using up excess stock and other times the focus is getting more regular use out of non-expendable items.
Here’s a few ways to do that:
Personal Hygiene Products
Whether or not you can find coupons and deals on the food your family eats, most everyone will be able to find a rebate or rewards deal on hygiene products at one of the drug stores or national chains around the country. Using what you learned during Eating from the Pantry Month, give yourself 30 days before buying any new personal hygiene products. In the meantime, clear out your bathroom cabinets and see what you still need and what you don’t.
Finish up half-used bottles of shampoo and conditioner and use the last bits of lotion from gift sets. Replace the razors with dull blades or broken handles and if you have liquid soap, refill pump bottles. Toss broken combs or hair accessories and use up the last inch of mousse or gel before starting a new bottle. If someone in your family opposes a particular brand and you have unopened items consider putting together a care package. Check out this post for ideas on what to send and who to send it to.
Pull out fresh floss and mouthwash to improve your oral hygiene and health. If you haven’t swapped out your toothbrush in the past three months or have recently gotten over an illness open up a new one but don’t throw out the old just yet–a toothbrush can clean more than your molars!
Household Cleaners
Maintaining a clean house doesn’t have to take hours and hundreds of dollars in premium cleaning products. Use similar tactics to inventory what you have, see what you need, stretch what you use and find substitutes. While you’re digging under the sinks use up the last little bit of general cleaner and wipe down the shelves. Try to identify what you use each product to clean and how often you use up a bottle.
Don’t just think about products but other supplies as well. Re-purpose old towels from the kitchen or bath as cleaning rags, use old worn out toothbrushes to scrub small crevices, find an old pillowcase to clean ceiling fan blades, or lone socks to dust. If you find you have a pile of dusting rags you can reduce the amount of paper towels you buy.
Office supplies
How many different places in your house do you have a stash of pens? Notepads? Tape? Round everything up and sort it out (old shoe boxes come in handy here) and toss or donate what you don’t use. Find out what you’ll need for everyday use and what school-aged children can take to class. Just like the pantry challenge, make do with what you have–blue pens can work just as well as black ones–and substitute where you can. Whether you write grocery lists on the back of a used envelope or reuse file folders these tactics can keep money in your pocket and clutter out of your home.
Centralize one place for commonly misplaced items like tape, scissors, and sharpies. Or is that just my house?
Crafts & Decorations
If you can be described as crafty, then you’re probably well aware of the dangers that entrap quilters, scrapbookers, knitters and painters alike. It’s easy to hoard supplies and fill drawers, bins and yes, even rooms with projects that we have no hope of finishing in ten lifetimes. Make the commitment to stop buying new supplies for one month and go “shopping” at home. Dig through your stock and try to remember what project you had in mind when you brought home these items.
Finish an old project or start a new one, substitute one component instead of buying new, and give away things you won’t use to someone who will. Consider a swap amongst friends or just a potluck night in when everyone can bring a dish and a project and work together.
As Spring rolls around it can be easy to get tired of our surroundings and want something new and fresh. Check your attics, basements, and closets for decorative items that were put away or forgotten. Re-hang a picture or touch up the paint on a table. Move around some furniture, pull out the throw blankets, fill glass vases and use the good china. Put a new picture in an old frame or clear everything off a wall and paint it fresh. Look for things you already have that can be used in new and interesting ways.
There are also some things we can be getting more use out of, things that are not necessarily used up.
Entertainment
Do you have family games gathering dust? Puzzles, video games, books or movies that go unused? The same principles apply even if using an entertainment item will not expend it for future use. Pull out all your puzzles and look them over together. Maybe some are missing too many pieces, another too advanced for younger children, some too juvenile for older children. Keep what you’ll use, recycle what you won’t. Donate unused items to your school or church, ask friends if their children would enjoy something new.
Do your kids have piles of half used or broken crayons? Turn them into a craft project. Go through your books and weed out volumes you no long read, reference or enjoy. Do the same for family pictures by tossing prints that are fuzzy or faded, or pictures that have no personal meaning or value. Be careful about tossing older photos that may have some value to another family member. Check out this post for tips on preserving family memories.
Clothes
If you find yourself wearing the same outfits over and over again try the Empty Closet Challenge. Pull everything out and box up things that don’t fit or flatter your figure. Work with what you have and fill in pieces that will create attractive looks that fit your lifestyle. At the end of the month pull out the boxes of discarded clothes and sell them by consignment or eBay, return new items to the store, donate to a charity or give to a friend. Don’t forget to look over belts, scarves, jackets, shoes, and jewelry too. Rethinking a wardrobe can be challenge–check out this site for ideas on using thrift store finds to create stunning new looks for under $20!
I know it seems overwhelming when you think of all the places to apply the principles you learned during Eating from the Pantry Month. But just like January, take one thing at a time, make adjustments as you go, and share what you’ve learned. By 2011, you might just have a cleaner, uncluttered home, more money in the bank and new routines. Then your only challenge will be finding a New Year’s Resolution you haven’t already accomplished!
Kelly is a 25 year old single homeowner living in Northern California. Despite a high cost of living and tough job market, Kelly has created a cozy home without acquiring debt. Now just $3,000 away from eliminating student loans (the last of consumer debt), Kelly looks forward her first trip abroad, thrift store decorating, and teaching financial awareness. Kelly blogs at My Friend Kelly.
Photo credit: Fauxto_credit; Kevin McShane; Patrick Q
CBS, <b>News</b> Corp. Grab For Station Retransmission Dollars Could Get <b>…</b>
Improved earnings at broadcast network media owners such as <b>News</b> Corp. and CBS cannot be sustained without seizing a larger chunk of the retransmissio.
Hot Air » Blog Archive » Great <b>news</b>: Fiorina's campaign promising <b>…</b>
Great <b>news</b>: Fiorina's campaign promising ads even freaky deakier than “demon sheep”
Original Xbox Live to close in April | <b>News</b>
Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue Xbox Live for the original Xbox on April 15. The move will end online p…
Making Money Through
Posted in Uncategorized with tags making money on February 5, 2010 by normanparrish1963This week, the 40th World Economic Forum in Davos began its lofty and high-minded sessions. Their slogan – which sounds very much like a McKinsey PowerPoint – is the predictably illiterative “Rethink, Redesign Rebuild.”
But here is one obvious and unacknowledged target for those triple Rs, and that's the WEF itself – and its dismal record of failure.
Consider that there are 227 different programs at Davos, befitting an organization with the lofty goal” of “Improving the state of the world” and to “…engage leaders from all walks of life to shape the global agenda.”
There are sessions that cover a dazzling gamut, everything from climate change to re-defining market capitalism to population growth to the economics of happiness.
But how about the simple challenge of “Where Did Davos Go Wrong”? Where's an introspective look at the WEF's performance during the decade-long run-up to the global crisis?
After all, year after year, the movers and the shakers showed up, full of gassy opinions and geysers of pontification. How is it possible that the World Economic Forum was unable to anticipate the global financial meltdown, and to use its considerable power and influence to warn the world? At the very least, why didn't they save Iceland?
There should be no goal more important for the World Economic Forum than to protect the world's economy. Yet when you spend time reading their propaganda, studying their calendar, and watching their videos, the silence about their own culpability reflects an unseemly arrogance and elitist lack of responsibility. Aren't they even the least bit curious to understand why they didn't ring the buzzer?
If I was scheduling Davos, I'd lead off the event with a must-attend forum, characterized by brutal and lacerating self-examination, having a mission of determining how and why the WEF and its posse of panjandrums was so blind-sided by the global financial crisis.
Specific themes would include:
• Is the WEF so much a creature of the banking power structure that it lacked the independence required to challenge the dangerous practices that had become a way of life?
Are its participants – who Bono called “Fat cats in the snow” – captives of the global power structure?
• Is the WEF simply a self-congratulatory body that strokes the egos of those invited, and creates a “forum” for deal-making, but doesn't want anything to threaten their profit path? Were the participants at Davos over the last ten years making too much money on leverage to crusade against it? Were they too cozy with both the capital side and the regulatory side to be their conscience?
All the suspicious beneficiaries of the bail-outs – Jamie Dimon, Lloyd Blankfein – have been to Davos at one time or another.
• Is the WEF more interested in trying to become cool – with Twitter updates, Facebook groups and touchy-feely subjects like “Enrichment Through Music” – than it is in speaking truth?
A “think tank” like the WEF is supposed to bring the world's most influential leaders and the world's best minds together to solve the world's biggest problems. But it sure doesn't give us much confidence when they missed the greatest financial crisis in 50 years – and then act like they had no obligation to use their powerful megaphone to sound the alarm.
Since March 2009, I have been executing a business but the cash was not forth coming. Main while, I have already collected some money from two of my friends on the ground that i will pay back soon. I collected $20,000usd from one and the other $140,000usd. It got to a point that money became a problem and I was short of cash. My cousin told me about one lender called Mr. Anuge Martins . I contacted him and told him the problems I was facing and ask for a loan of $350,000usd. He called me and said that i should pray against the spirit of lost that he will also pray for God's favours for me before sending the $350,000usd to me but that I will have to agree to his terms and conditions. I committed the matter to God hands and decreed an end to every lost of business. A week later my loan of $350,000usd was doposited to my account by Mr. Anuge Martins Loan Firm, he sent me an email that favour will come my way, I went to return the 20,000usd I collected from my friend, he returned $5,000usd to me as a gift but I refuse it on the ground that I have delayed his money. I then remember that I miss it all because Mr. Anuge Martins said that he has prayed for God's favour for me. I went to return the $140,000usd given to me by my other friend he collected $100,000usd and gave me $40,000usd and said that I should use it to boost my business. I have not recovered from the shock when an elderly friend called me and told he wanted to sell some materials off. But since I needed them for my business, he said I should go get a van to carry them free of charge. Mr. Anuge Martins is not only a loan lender but a man of God. You can contact him via. anugemartins@gmail.com, tell him Richard from Indianapolis USA
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
http://www.webjam.com/gabrielle71 http://www.prlog.org/10248797-reitbuyercom-offers-opportunity-to-onlinereal-estate-stock-traders-in-albuquerque-new-mexico.html http://www.prlog.org/tag/online-stock-trading/ http://www.prlog.org/10219817-online-traders-discover-reits-and-real-estate-mutual-funds-to-be-good-investment.html http://www.prlog.org/10248797-reitbuyercom-offers-opportunity-to-onlinereal-estate-stock-traders-in-albuquerque-new-mexico.html http://www.webjam.com/gabrielle71
This week, the 40th World Economic Forum in Davos began its lofty and high-minded sessions. Their slogan – which sounds very much like a McKinsey PowerPoint – is the predictably illiterative “Rethink, Redesign Rebuild.”
But here is one obvious and unacknowledged target for those triple Rs, and that's the WEF itself – and its dismal record of failure.
Consider that there are 227 different programs at Davos, befitting an organization with the lofty goal” of “Improving the state of the world” and to “…engage leaders from all walks of life to shape the global agenda.”
There are sessions that cover a dazzling gamut, everything from climate change to re-defining market capitalism to population growth to the economics of happiness.
But how about the simple challenge of “Where Did Davos Go Wrong”? Where's an introspective look at the WEF's performance during the decade-long run-up to the global crisis?
After all, year after year, the movers and the shakers showed up, full of gassy opinions and geysers of pontification. How is it possible that the World Economic Forum was unable to anticipate the global financial meltdown, and to use its considerable power and influence to warn the world? At the very least, why didn't they save Iceland?
There should be no goal more important for the World Economic Forum than to protect the world's economy. Yet when you spend time reading their propaganda, studying their calendar, and watching their videos, the silence about their own culpability reflects an unseemly arrogance and elitist lack of responsibility. Aren't they even the least bit curious to understand why they didn't ring the buzzer?
If I was scheduling Davos, I'd lead off the event with a must-attend forum, characterized by brutal and lacerating self-examination, having a mission of determining how and why the WEF and its posse of panjandrums was so blind-sided by the global financial crisis.
Specific themes would include:
• Is the WEF so much a creature of the banking power structure that it lacked the independence required to challenge the dangerous practices that had become a way of life?
Are its participants – who Bono called “Fat cats in the snow” – captives of the global power structure?
• Is the WEF simply a self-congratulatory body that strokes the egos of those invited, and creates a “forum” for deal-making, but doesn't want anything to threaten their profit path? Were the participants at Davos over the last ten years making too much money on leverage to crusade against it? Were they too cozy with both the capital side and the regulatory side to be their conscience?
All the suspicious beneficiaries of the bail-outs – Jamie Dimon, Lloyd Blankfein – have been to Davos at one time or another.
• Is the WEF more interested in trying to become cool – with Twitter updates, Facebook groups and touchy-feely subjects like “Enrichment Through Music” – than it is in speaking truth?
A “think tank” like the WEF is supposed to bring the world's most influential leaders and the world's best minds together to solve the world's biggest problems. But it sure doesn't give us much confidence when they missed the greatest financial crisis in 50 years – and then act like they had no obligation to use their powerful megaphone to sound the alarm.
Since March 2009, I have been executing a business but the cash was not forth coming. Main while, I have already collected some money from two of my friends on the ground that i will pay back soon. I collected $20,000usd from one and the other $140,000usd. It got to a point that money became a problem and I was short of cash. My cousin told me about one lender called Mr. Anuge Martins . I contacted him and told him the problems I was facing and ask for a loan of $350,000usd. He called me and said that i should pray against the spirit of lost that he will also pray for God's favours for me before sending the $350,000usd to me but that I will have to agree to his terms and conditions. I committed the matter to God hands and decreed an end to every lost of business. A week later my loan of $350,000usd was doposited to my account by Mr. Anuge Martins Loan Firm, he sent me an email that favour will come my way, I went to return the 20,000usd I collected from my friend, he returned $5,000usd to me as a gift but I refuse it on the ground that I have delayed his money. I then remember that I miss it all because Mr. Anuge Martins said that he has prayed for God's favour for me. I went to return the $140,000usd given to me by my other friend he collected $100,000usd and gave me $40,000usd and said that I should use it to boost my business. I have not recovered from the shock when an elderly friend called me and told he wanted to sell some materials off. But since I needed them for my business, he said I should go get a van to carry them free of charge. Mr. Anuge Martins is not only a loan lender but a man of God. You can contact him via. anugemartins@gmail.com, tell him Richard from Indianapolis USA
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