Subject: Benjamin Franklin’s Forgotten Wealth Secrets

Posted on May 21, 2012 by savi0043

Subject: Benjamin Franklin’s Forgotten Wealth Secrets

Benjamin Franklin was America’s first millionaire, a world-class entrepreneur, and he also left us a great deal of personal wisdom and advice in his many writings.

Some of his best advice is financial.

Now, you may have heard this one before: “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

What you may not know is Franklin’s most famous personal finance quote isn’t actually quite accurate.

See, when you consider most people figure their earnings prior to taxes, a penny saved is actually worth MORE than a penny earned.

Why?

Because taxes reduce your actual take home pay. If you earn $50 an hour, you will likely only see around $37.50 after taxes.

So, if you can cut your expenses by $50, it actually results in saving more than 1 hour’s worth of your take home wage.

What’s the lesson here?

Saving money is the number one key to building wealth and becoming financially successful.

Speaking of saving money, our friends at The Ultimate Game of Life have put together a cheat sheet called “100 Ways to Save $1,000 – $2,500 a Month”.

It’s a great resource, I highly recommend you go grab your copy, and check out their upcoming 24 Hour Wealth Challenge:
https://ultimategame.infusionsoft.com/go/24hour/myparty/

For the last 10 years, they’ve coached over 10,000 clients and tracked their long term performance… peering into their lives and looking at their finances.

Their research reveals something interesting…

Most people mistakenly think the best way to create wealth, is to earn more cash.

Hmm… What do you think good ‘ole Benjamin would say?

Well, here’s a few more of Franklin’s forgotten wealth secrets to drive the point home:
Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship
Think of saving as well as of getting: the Indies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes
Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever while you live, expense is constant and certain
When you run into debt; you give to another power over your liberty
Rather go to bed without dinner than to rise in debt.

Franklin understood the insidious nature of debt, and firmly believed it’s better to slash expenses to an extreme level rather than to incur debt in order to afford a lifestyle well beyond our means.

The lesson: Don’t live beyond your means, and get out of debt as quickly as possible.

Join me for this upcoming 24 Hour Wealth Challenge where you’ll get to participate in a FUN, interactive environment with other players to see how much we can cut our expenses in just 24 hours.

You know? The last time they ran this game, a handful of players collectively cut $110,071.31 from their expenses…

How much will YOU save in 1 day?
https://ultimategame.infusionsoft.com/go/24hour/myparty/

Susan Nelson

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Solar Eclipse 7-09

Posted on May 21, 2012 by savi0043

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Venus-Uranus Aspects – Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Posted on May 20, 2012 by savi0043

For lovers and friends, we tend to be drawn to those whose Venus aspects are like our own. They share a style of relating, similar ways of expressing affection or esteem, a sense of taste, and a consensus about what is socially acceptable and what isn’t. Observing people and their relationships through astrology, then, we confirm the old saying that birds of a feather flock together. In the case of Venus-Uranus aspects, it’s not just a feather but an entire feather boa. And it’s not just a flock of any old bird, but of peacocks or brightly colored parrots…

Venus-Uranus Aspects – Birds of a Feather Flock Together
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Donna_Cunningham]Donna Cunningham

For lovers and friends, we tend to be drawn to those whose Venus aspects are like our own. They share a style of relating, similar ways of expressing affection or esteem, a sense of taste, and a consensus about what is socially acceptable and what isn’t. Observing people and their relationships through astrology, then, we confirm the old saying that birds of a feather flock together.

In the case of Venus-Uranus aspects, it’s not just a feather but an entire feather boa. And it’s not just a flock of any old bird, but of peacocks or brightly colored parrots. These aspects also run in families, so among the Venus-Uranus notables we will find Julio AND Enrique Iglesias, Princess Diana and Prince William, and Michael Jackson and his son Prince Michael Jackson. Michael’s longtime friend, Liz Taylor also has the conjunction.

Uranus is the planet of friendship, while Venus is about love, and Venus-Uranus types are capable of intense but platonic relationships with all the qualities of love affairs but without overt sexual involvement. For instance, women with this aspect may have close and loving connections with gay men. An unforgettable pair of friends with Venus-Uranus aspects was Princess Diana and rock legend Elton John. They had an on-again-off-again friendship, a pattern not unheard-of with Venus-Uranus aspects, in that they were sometimes the best of friends, sometimes feuding.

In the end, Elton wrote a moving and unforgettable song to perform at Diana’s funeral. It said, in part, “Your candle burned out long before your legend ever will.” Elton has Venus in Aquarius trining Uranus in Gemini, with Uranus disposing of Venus. Diana’s Venus in Taurus was part of a t-square with Uranus in Leo opposite her Aquarian Moon. Her Venus and his Moon were closely conjunct. Diana’s older son, Prince William, is already idolized by the public in much the same way his mother was and also has a Venus-Uranus aspect. His Venus is at 25° Taurus, just a degree from Diana’s own Venus, in an out-of-sign opposition to Uranus in Sagittarius. Dodie al Fayed, Diana’s romantic interest who also died in the crash, had Venus trine Uranus.

What about ordinary folks with Venus-Uranus aspects? I admit I have the conjunction. It’s in the 11th, so I’m not especially weird, you understand, but more than a few of my friends are. We may never have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but we’re a Presence in our own circles, notorious or merely tolerated for shock value. People watch to see what we’re going to do next, decry our behavior, then wait until the heat is off and copy us. When we get older, people tend to view our eccentricities with fondness than rather than disapproval, since we’re now seen as harmless.

“THEY NEVER KNEW A STRANGER:” One effect of this planetary combination is the capacity for instant kinship with people of backgrounds different than their own. Typically, their friendships include a fascinating mélange of races, cultures, interests, and sexual persuasions. They collect bright, sophisticated, exotic, even quirky folks who are on the leading edge of things but too busy to get together often. Such friends bring excitement and sudden leaps in consciousness by exposing the native to avant-garde ideas. (One startling finding from the database was that there were 14 instances of UFO sightings among the conjunctions-taking cross-cultural contact to the max!)

Venus-Uranus is a Universal Brotherhood aspect, for in establishing loving ties with people of a variety of backgrounds, we learn that we humans are the same in vital respects. However, scattered among the examples in AstroDataBank were individuals who can only be described as hate mongers. Anti-feminist shock jock, Rush Limbaugh has a close quincunx; Howard Stern has the opposition, Nazi leader, Adolph Eichmann had a square; and singer Anita Bryant, who waged a heated anti-gay campaign, has the conjunction exact to the minute. It seems to be one extreme or the other with these folks, but they’re never conventional or politically correct!

RUNAWAY BRIDES AND OTHER DISTANCERS: Many Venus-Uranus folks have a seemingly never-ending series of short-lived but exciting partnerships. In the introduction to this section of the book, we looked at the chart of Julia Roberts, who had the title role in the movie, Runaway Bride, and who has Venus conjunct Uranus and Pluto. The movie could have been written about her!

Many with Uranus in aspect to Venus have difficulty committing and so spend years chasing the fireworks of early courtship, leaving or otherwise creating breakups when relating to someone becomes more routine. The pattern of broken relationships can continue until they take responsibility for generating their own excitement-or meet a partner so Uranian that the fascination never stops! Many with this aspect fool themselves that they’re yearning for commitment, yet repeatedly fall in love with unavailable people. This behavior is “crazy like a fox,” since involvement with distancers lets them retain their independence and continue to pursue their own development.

“UNCONVENTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:” One typical interpretation that astrologers give of people with Venus-Uranus contacts is that they’re inclined to “unconventional relationships.” Readers with this aspect, most likely what the astrologer is delicately trying to ask is whether you are gay. The androgynous beauty (musicians Michael Jackson and Prince) that can accompany this aspect fuels speculation. Ellen Degeneres, who has the aspect, lost her highly successful show years back after deciding that she could no longer hide her true self from world. After several years of career limbo-and a greater degree of public acceptance that her own actions played no small part in creating-she once again has a successful show and is beloved by her audience.

Venus-Uranus natives are a fascinating bunch. To dissect the aspect in greater depth and to give these unique and fascinating folks a deeper look would take a book in itself-but it would be far from a boring one! If you have the aspect and the picture doesn’t fit you, don’t take it to heart. You may not fit it all, but it’s likely that more than a few of your lovers do. For more insight, ask a professional astrologer for an in-depth interpretation of your own Venus and what it says about your relationships.

Donna Cunningham, MSW, is internationally-respected for her many books, articles, and columns on astrology, flower essences, and other metaphysical topics. She now teaches writing by teleseminar and correspondence course, as well as teleseminars and a correspondence course on astrology. Order her books at http://www.moonmavenpublications.com/astrologybooks.html and visit her award-winning blog at http://skywriter.wordpress.com Note: This is an excerpt from Donna Cunningham’s ebook, Outer Planet Aspects to Venus and Mars: The Outer Planets and Inner Life, Volume 2.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Venus-Uranus-Aspects—Birds-of-a-Feather-Flock-Together&id=3043313] Venus-Uranus Aspects – Birds of a Feather Flock Together

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Oil Painting: Taking The Mystery Out of Mahl Sticks

Posted on May 20, 2012 by savi0043

What is a mahlstick and when was the last time you used one, if ever? A mahl stick can be an artist’s best friend when painting in tight detailed areas of a painting. This article will help you to know what one is and how to use it to create your next masterpiece.

Oil Painting: Taking The Mystery Out of Mahl Sticks
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Teresa_Bernard]Teresa Bernard

The word “mahl stick” comes to us from the Dutch maalstok which means “painter’s stick”. It’s a handy little tool that has been around for centuries used by artists. Many of the Old Masters regularly used them as they were putting paint to canvas on many of their masterpieces. We often see paintings from the 16th- through 19th-centuries depicting artists in their studios, at their easels, etc and the mahl stick is often there, included as part of the painter’s equipment.

Artists use the painter’s stick to steady their hand when attempting to paint minute details on their canvas art. Most oil painting artists paint with their canvases resting upright on an easel and sometimes its hard to get your hand into just the right position without resting it on your canvas. This is a problem if the surface is delicate or the pain is wet. You can’t just plop your hand in the middle of your work. To do so, would mean smudging or smearing your artwork. That’s when a mahl stick comes in handy.

A mahl stick is simply a long round stick that is approximately three feet in length with a ball or knob on one end. Usually the knob end has a ball or wad of cotton on it that is surrounded by soft leather or chamois. The chamois will keep it from slipping on the surface and can easily be removed for cleaning or replaced when it gets soiled. You use the painter’s stick by resting the ball-end on the edge of the canvas, easel or dry spot of the painting. Then hold the other end up with your non-painting hand and steady your hand holding the brush on the stick while you paint. If you’re right handed, you would hold the mahl stick with your left hand and if you are left handed, you’d hold it with your right. It should be light enough so your hand that holds the stick will not get tired.

A mahl stick is something you can purchase online or from a local art supply store, or you can simply make one yourself. They can be made from any round piece of wood that you on hand such as an old broom handle, half inch dowel or piece of bamboo. Whatever it is, it should be lightweight yet strong enough to resist bending under the weight of your hand. One end should be easy to grip. This can be achieved by wrapping it with some sports tape like the handle of a hockey stick or tennis racket. The other end of the painter’s stick needs to be bulky by adding a ball-shaped piece of wood or a rubber tip like what is used on the end of walking canes. You would then wrap it with a bit of cloth to prevent it from slipping or scratching the canvas. It can tied on by using a piece of string.

I hope this article takes a little bit of the mystery out of mahl sticks and also provided a useful painting tip.

The author is an oil painter who enjoys painting a variety of subject matter, such as flower art. Her work can viewed at: rel=nofollow [http://www.bluemoonwebdesign.com/floral-painting.asp]http://www.bluemoonwebdesign.com/floral-painting.asp.

Teresa Bernard has been a fine art artist of original oil paintings since her preteen years. Since then she has gone on to create a name for herself as an accomplished artist and has sold her paintings across the US and world wide. Her paintings can be viewed online at [http://www.bluemoonwebdesign.com]http://www.bluemoonwebdesign.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Oil-Painting:-Taking-The-Mystery-Out-of-Mahl-Sticks&id=7072301] Oil Painting: Taking The Mystery Out of Mahl Sticks

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How To Have Your Best Calesthenic Workout Ever: Imagine You’re ‘Strong As An Oak’

Posted on May 17, 2012 by savi0043

How can you have your best calisthenic workout ever? Imagine you’re strong as a tree of oak. View yourself as bright and beautiful as the sun. Or think of yourself as permanent as a pillar of stone. Yes, believe me, when you’re getting tired during a workout, just VISUALIZING YOURSELF AS SOMETHING THAT IS STRONG, SOLID, and SUPER-POWERFUL, may be the ONE ‘MIND TRICK,’ that allows you to push yourself to your best workout ever! Here’s how to do it.

How To Have Your Best Calisthenic Workout Ever: Imagine You’re ‘Strong As An Oak’
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Sekerak]Jeff Sekerak

Yes, calisthenic workouts burn body-fat, build muscle, and develop great mental toughness; all in a single session. They draw deeply from your reserves, the longer you do them. They build speed and ‘explosiveness’ on the athletic field. They release natural opiates from the brain, and human growth hormone from the pituitary gland. They even cause you to sleep well; and wake up invigorated. The rewards are many.

How can you have your best calisthenic workout ever?

Imagine you’re a force more powerful than yourself. Here’s how:

First, heed the words of William James (1842-1910): ‘There is a law in psychology that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you keep and hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking.’

Then, take action.

For example: I did a calisthenic workout this morning of 600 squats, push-ups, and crunches; all done in about 35 minutes. Toward the end of the routine, as I pushed myself to muscular and cardiovascular ‘failure,’ I imagined this: My physical self, as strong and permanent as the concrete floor on which I exercised.

As I did my final set of push-ups, I literally pictured my arms, legs, and core, as being made of solid, permanent, immovable stone. I imagined the material coming up through the floor, through my hands and feet, and becoming one with my flesh. I thought of this happening, not in a negative way, but in one that seemed to transfer the permanence and strength of that solid floor, into my body.

And as I held that picture in my mind; I was able to push myself with such force, belief, and internal power, during my last few repetitions, that I may have completed one of my best workouts, ever.

Try this:

Look around yourself, before beginning your next exercise session. Pick out an object that represents, in your mind, something more radiant, powerful, or permanent than yourself. It could be a tree, a stone, even the sun; anything that, just by looking at it, inspires a deep feeling of ‘awe,’ in you.

Now, as you’re doing sets of squats, push-ups, pull-ups, crunches and the like, imagine your body is made of the same ‘stuff’ that makes up the object you’ve chosen. During squats, imagine your legs immovable as a tree of oak. During push-ups, imagine your arms as strong as cables of steel. During crunches, imagine your core as solid as a pillar of concrete.

I believe there is a deep truth in using this technique; a truth that’s not visible to the ‘naked eye.’ In fact, we now know that there is very little that separates us from all we see around us. The only reason a rock feels more solid than my body is that the atoms from which it is made are vibrating at a different speed than my own.

So is it unfathomable for me to imagine I’m made of, as great author W. Wattles (The Science of Getting Rich) once said, the same ‘thinking stuff’ that makes up the rest of the universe? Is it inconceivable for me to view myself as powerful as that upon which I focus my attention? Even something as solid as a tree or a pillar of stone?

I think not!

Imagine yourself as that which is solid, permanent, and unbreakable. Picture yourself as bright and beautiful as the sun! View your body as made of concrete and steel. Imagine yourself as long-lasting and strong as the oak. Do this during your workout. Push yourself to the limits of your physical ability.

And your vision may become physical truth.

Jeff Sekerak

Jeff Sekerak is a former Alaskan Commercial Fisherman, and fast-food addict, turned ‘Super-Fit Vegan.’ He is the author of the book/DVD, The Super-Fit Vegan: Raw Plant Foods and Body-Weight Exercise for Natural Beauty, a Lean Athletic Body, and Life-Long health, From the Inside Out. Sign up for great, informative, useful blog updates on the ‘super-fit vegan’ lifestyle, at http://thesuperfitvegan.com Plus, read Jeff’s current blog posts at http://thesuperfitvegan.com/blog (he’s got a TON of great, free info there right now!)

*Copyright 2012, Jeff Sekerak, all rights reserved. Consult your doctor before engaging in any diet or exercise program.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Have-Your-Best-Calisthenic-Workout-Ever:-Imagine-Youre-Strong-As-An-Oak&id=7066915] How To Have Your Best Calisthenic Workout Ever: Imagine You’re ‘Strong As An Oak’

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