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Patricia A. Rudder Your Estate Planning Rights | Attorney Patricia A. Rudder

January 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Your Estate Planning Rights | Use or Lose Them | Attorney Patricia A. Rudder

“I know my rights!” Patricia A. Rudder has heard this modern mantra for years. It is a phrase we all like to be able to use if a struggle ensues with a legal or financial institution. Knowing your rights is great, agrees Patricia A. Rudder, but there is something just as important that is often over looked. Patricia A. Rudder reminds us that if you don’t use your rights, you may lose your rights.

Lawyers and governments get a bad rap, opines Patricia A. Rudder. But she goes on to remind us that many laws were written and passed to protect ordinary citizens like ourselves. It is as much of a crime when we do not make ourselves aware of the rights these laws give us. By not taking advantage of our rights, continues Patricia A. Rudder, we are essentially giving them up. A legal field where this problem of neglected rights is prevalent is in the arena of estate planning, trusts, wills, and various forms of inheritance.

Any lawyer with estate planning experience, like Patricia A. Rudder, can help set up a network of legal documents to secure wealth and make sure it passes on to the people you want to receive it. Patricia A. Rudder finds it surprising how few people take advantage of this brilliant legal strategy during their lifetime, leaving their heirs to try and guess the wishes of their dearly departed.

Patricia A. Rudder thinks that it would help to dispense some information about probate law. Probate, explains Patricia A. Rudder, is the way the government distributes the property of the deceased according to its own rules. Probate makes no considerations for the wishes of the deceased. Probate, informs Patricia A. Rudder, divides up your property when you die, however the official sees fit, and government takes a heavy tax from your estate for doing the favor of meddling in your affairs. Patricia A. Rudder asserts that if more people knew that the state takes as much as ten percent of your assets during probate, droves of people would hurry to an estate-planning lawyer for the proper documents to prevent that happening to their heirs.

Patricia A Rudder has learned that many people procrastinate when it comes to estate planning. They say they will deal with it when they are older. They do not want to think about death, so they do not take the time to secure assets they’ve worked so hard for in life. When people put off estate planning until they get older, says Patricia A. Rudder, they are ignoring the uncertainty inherent in life. This leaves the door wide open for probate.

No one would own a car without insurance, says Patricia A. Rudder. Consumers buy all kinds of insurance to protect health, home, and business. Patricia A. Rudder urges her clients to think of their will in the same light.  Thinking of estate planning as a form of insurance, says Patricia A. Rudder. This will hopefully give you a perspective on just how important it is to make sure property is distributed according to your wishes after you are gone.

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Advice from Konrad Kafarski | Keeping a Business Name Yours – Konrad Kafarski

January 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Advice from Konrad Kafarski | Keeping a Business Name Yours

Konrad Kafarski knows that starting a new business can be a terrifying adventure for even the most experienced business person. There are so many details and risks to account for, notes Konrad Kafarski, and yet he affirms that the entrepreneurial spirit prevails. If you have an entrepreneurial bent towards starting a business, you have much to consider, says Konrad Kafarski. Elements like the right product, enough financing, accounting, and legal representation are all critical components of getting a business going. Long before you need inventory, says Konrad Kafarski, you will need an experienced lawyer.

You’ll need an attorney, continues Konrad Kafarski, because the legal side of starting a business often has the most obscure and intimidating angles. Customers never see the legal end of your operations, says Konrad Kafarski, but your company could not exist without it. Before a business plan gets too far along, recruit the help you’ll need.

Konrad Kafarski notes that what often serves to snag a budding business proposition is the seemingly simple need to choose a business name. A name is not something to be taken lightly, adds Konrad Kafarski. Your business name will be at the core of your recognizability to customers. Konrad Kafarski knows it can be a challenge to choose a name that is short and recognizable, while still conveying the mission of your enterprise. Often entrepreneurs use the names of loved ones when naming their businesses. There are many options, agrees Konrad Kafarski.

Konrad Kafarski urges entrepreneurs not to overlook the legal issues that come with choosing a name for your business. The name you choose will be how you identify your company to the world. It will be emblazoned on all of your literature. Choose a name to be proud of, and choose one that will have longevity. Most importantly, says Konrad Kafarski, choose a name that you are sure you own.

The legal business of sorting out company names is under the umbrella of trademark law, explains Konrad Kafarski. Lawyers help business owners make sure that their name is unique and safe, so that no other entity will come along and lay claim to the name you have chosen. You may have heard horror stories about a large corporation squeezing out a small operation because that small business had the same or even a similar name as the corporation. By consulting with an experienced attorney during your naming process, Konrad Kafarski says that you can ensure that this fate does not befall your new business.

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Chef Ben Vaughn Presents a Brief History of Risotto – Chef Ben Vaughn

January 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Chef Ben Vaughn Presents a Brief History of Risotto

No one is really sure how rice arrived in Italy. Chef Ben Vaughn has done some research and says that rice was likely introduced to the Italian nation in the 14th century, probably from Spain. There are of course other theories, notes Chef Ben Vaughn, including China’s Silk Road trade. One thing that most everyone can agree on, Chef Ben Vaughn adds, is that shortly after rice made it to Italy it became a popular staple of Italian food.

Agriculturally, reports Chef Ben Vaughn, Italy has excellent land for cultivating rice. The lay of the land, the availability of water, and the Mediterranean humidity make rice grow very well there. Chef Ben Vaughn says that the most prevalent example of rice in Italian food is risotto. Chef Ben Vaughn identifies 4 major components to authentic risotto.

The first is soffritto.  Soffritto, explains Chef Ben Vaughn, is the flavor base of risotto. Soffritto varies by region and cook, but is usually a mix of vegetables, onion, oil, and butter. Chef Ben Vaughn says the soffritto must be sautéed in the same skillet that the rice will later be cooked.

Chef Ben Vaughn instructs that after soffritto comes the broth.  There are many broth options, says Chef Ben Vaughn, including meat broth, vegetable broth and fish broth.  Each broth adds its own unique character to the dish.  Some people use canned broth to save time, but Chef Ben Vaughn always prefers to make his own broth.

Component three of risotto is the choice of flavoring ingredient. This is Chef Ben Vaughn’s favorite part of making risotto. There is a lot of freedom here, but Chef Ben Vaughn prefers sticking to tradition. He says to choose vegetables, meat, or truffles to give your risotto a rich, hearty flavor. And if you can, says Chef Ben Vaughn, use saffron. Saffron is a very unique and traditional flavoring for risotto.

The last and most famous component, continues Chef Ben Vaughn, is the Italian rice. Italian rice, says Chef Ben Vaughn, is unique from other kinds of rice in that it is made up of large grains that contain a lot of starch. Chef Ben Vaughn further explains that Italian rice is ideal for risotto because it can absorb lots of flavorful liquid while cooking but still stay firm.

Now that you’ve had a risotto lesson, Chef Ben Vaughn encourages you to go out there and experiment with your own risotto recipes. You are sure to be delighted by the results. And if success doesn’t come on the first try, you’ve got another excuse to practice in the kitchen. Happy cooking!

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Paul Bleiweis | Healing Our Environment and Our Economy by Paul Bleiweis

January 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Healing Our Environment and Our Economy

Some Suggestions from Paul Bleiweis, President of Energy Automation Systems

Paul Bleiweis, President of Energy Automation Systems (EASI) has been involved in energy conservation and industrial efficiency for thirty years. Paul Bleiweis has been providing industrialists with technologies that conserve and reuse energy that is traditionally written off as a cost of doing business. Expert engineer and energy conservationist Paul Bleiweis says there are many ways to save power and protect the environment. Here, he provides a few.

Paul Bleiweis suggests removing incandescent bulbs and using compact fluorescent light bulbs instead.

In the kitchen, use a rack and air-dry your dishes, says Paul Bleiweis. The dishwasher dry cycle is an energy intensive operation that can be easily skipped. A microwave oven uses less energy, for the results it provides, than either an electric or gas range oven. Try using your microwave more, says Paul Bleiweis.

When you are not using your computer, says Paul Bleiweis, turn it off. Turn off the monitor, too. Get out of the habit, says Paul Bleiweis, of leaving your computer on all night, just running a screen saver.

Most home electronics–anything plugged in–bleed a little energy from the socket, even when they are turned off. Paul Bleiweis prevents this energy bleed by plugging home electronics into power strips. For example, says Paul Bleiweis, if a TV, DVD player, cable tuner, and stereo receiver are plugged into a power strip, you can turn off the power strip at night and stop the energy bleed on all of those appliances.

Paul Bleiweis suggests setting the water heater thermostat at 115 degrees. That is an effective, energy efficient temperature for most uses. Don’t run the washing machine or dishwasher until there is a full load. Take showers, not baths, recommends Paul Bleiweis. Showers use much less hot water than baths.

To conserve energy outside of your home, drive sensibly. Paul Bleiweis calculates that aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as one-third. That means, Paul Bleiweis continues, that if you drive aggressively, a 21 MPG car is only getting 14 MPG. Don’t store heavy things in your car if you are not using them, suggests Paul Bleiweis. You lose about 2 percent of your MPG for every extra hundred pounds in your trunk. Don’t idle your engine for long periods of time, and turn the ignition off if you’re going to be parked or sitting still for a long time.

Paul Bleiweis knows that it only takes time and imagination to think of your own creative ways to conserve energy, save money, and preserve the environment. With that, Paul Bleiweis asks, what can you do to make a difference?

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Joseph Merlo on the Three R’s: Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse – Joseph Merlo

January 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Joseph Merlo on the Three R’s: Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse

As the founder and CEO of Energy Automation Systems (EASI), Joseph Merlo‘s research has demonstrated that Americans throw out over 700 billion pounds of recyclable trash every year. This wasted material includes paper, wood, food, plastic, metal, clothes, and electronics. Joseph Merlo says that nearly all of these materials could be recycled and returned into our society’s culture of use. Dealing with these mountains of trash may seem overwhelming, but Joseph Merlo wants America to know that there are easy ways for people to make a difference. Here are some ideas that Joseph Merlo, CEO of Energy Automation Systems, has gathered.

Break old habits. Joseph Merlo says that instead of buying beverages in cans that you might not recycle, buy items in bulk. From beverages to household cleaning items, buying in bulk reduces the amount of packaging that must be disposed of later.

Joseph Merlo says that most of the work of conservation is in learning to think differently about every day tasks. A little imagination can go a long way, notes Joseph Merlo. For example, rather than grabbing a morning newspaper every day, try reading the online version of your daily paper rather than the print version.

Keep things loose, suggests Joseph Merlo. Buy small hardware, like screws and nails, from bulk bins rather than individually packaged half dozens. Joseph Merlo asserts that this is a great way to cut down on packaging waste. Same goes for the grocery store. Buy foods in bulk to reduce packaging waste.

Bring your own bags to the stores and reuse them as often as possible. Joseph Merlo suggests keeping a cache of old bags, either canvas or just some plastic bags you’ve salvaged, in the trunk of your car. This way, says Joseph Merlo, you’re never caught without bags when you go shopping.

Buy detergents and other household cleaning supplies in concentrated or bulk form. Joseph Merlo, CEO of Energy Automation Systems, points out that concentrated cleaning products use much less packaging material. Concentrated detergents, adds Joseph Merlo, contain less water, use less plastic, and use less energy to transport to the store. These days a 32-ounce bottle of concentrated detergent can clean as much as a 100-ounce bottle of non-concentrated detergent.

Teach yourself new habits, encourages Joseph Merlo. Make the decision to choose reusable products as often as possible. Try cloth napkins during meals instead of paper napkins. Use sponges and washcloths rather than paper towels. When you go into your favorite cafe in the morning for your caffeine fix, says Joseph Merlo, bring your own mug.

Get smart about the energy you use. Joseph Merlo suggests switching to rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries make less garbage and keep poisonous metals out of the environment. Buy Energy Star rated appliances and equipment with warranty coverage.

These simple tips and hints from Joseph Merlo are meant as a springboard for your own conservation efforts. Remember, working together, one day at a time, we can save the environment.

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

E-Stealth – 5 Tools to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft | by E-Stealth

January 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

5 Tools to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft | by E-Stealth

The team at E-stealth asks, have you ever been a victim of identity theft? Do you know how it happened? E-stealth checked in with the FTC. The Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft program has reported some surprising numbers. E-stealth found, according to FTC research, that 80% of identity theft victims do not even know how it happened. That’s right. That means your identity information could be in someone else’s possession right now, says E-stealth, and you wouldn’t even know it until the damage was done.

E-stealth staff cites another FTC survey that showed 5% of people polled had been victims of identity theft over the past year. A report from the General Accounting Office, not a survey, estimated that 750,000 people have their identities stolen every year. E-stealth is committed to helping stop this invisible enemy. E-stealth asserts that the average American can do something to protect themselves from identity thieves. Here, to get you started, are five suggestions from e-stealth.

ONE: Make a habit to shred all private financial statements. E-stealth suggests destroying bank statements, tax documents, pre-approved credit card offers, and any other documents that contain private fiscal information. These, reports E-stealth, are some of the first places identity thieves look for your information.

Pre-approved credit card offers are the perfect bait for identity thieves, says E-stealth.  The fewer you receive, the better. If you get lots of credit card offers, call the opt-out line at 1-888-567-8688 to remove your name from their junk mail lists. As long as you’re at it, suggests E-stealth, call the national Do Not Call registry at 1-888-382-1222. Calling this number will stop unsolicited telemarketing calls in which you might divulge personal information.

E-stealth emphasizes the importance of reviewing your credit report once a year. You can get a free credit report by calling 1-877-322-8228. While monitoring your credit report, says E-stealth, look for suspicious activity. You also have the option of subscribing to a credit protection service to receive notices of any suspicious credit changes.

Do not leave mail sitting around in your mailbox. The team at E-stealth knows this sounds simple, but thieves find it just as easy to go through your mailbox as you do. Mail theft is a sure way for an identity thief to get your personal information. E-stealth suggests sending outgoing checks and bills from a secure location, a USPS drop box or a post office. If you think you’ve been a victim of mail theft, E-stealth recommends that you call 1-800-ASK-USPS and report it to your local postal inspector.

Be defensive about your personal information, says E-stealth. Guard your personal information. Do not give it out freely. Some companies will try to trick you, sending an email requesting “validation” of your personal financial information. E-stealth warns you not to reply to these inquiries, even if they are from a company you do business with. It is a common form of scam, says E-stealth.

E-stealth hopes you use these simple protective steps as a starting point to greater personal security, and a greater awareness of the techniques that identity thieves use to attack your credit. In these ways you can learn to protect yourself.

For more information about the products and services offered by E-stealth, contact the company at:

950 Herrington Rd.

Suite C-179

Lawrenceville, GA 30044

800-865-2381

Filed Under: Self Improvement Tagged With: , , , , ,

BikesDirect | The Case for Physical Fitness – BikesDirect

January 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Case for Physical Fitness – BikesDirect

Any staffer at BikesDirect can tell you that exercise and diet are the most surefire ways to maintain your physical fitness. Physical fitness is the most effective way to cut the risk of heart disease, bring down blood sugar levels, lose weight, and improve all around health. But the people at BikesDirect continue to observe our modern world hurrying to a standstill. Our society is increasingly sedentary. Most essential tasks can be performed without leaving a chair. Even at BikesDirect it is a challenge to impress upon people the importance of physical fitness.

One of the credos at BikesDirect is that every human ought to exercise. The current recommendation at BikesDirect is half an hour a day of exercise. BikesDirect reveals that only one-third of the adult population of the USA gets enough exercise. In fact one quarter of those surveyed are not at all physically active.

Physical inactivity is considered a key reason for the rise in America of type-2 diabetes. The team at BikesDirect wants you to know that sedentary lifestyles and obesity increase insulin resistance. These factors lead not only to diabetes, but other health problems. According to BikesDirect, there is more information about this rising health issue in a 2003 study published by The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. This study found that a lack of exercise and a general neglect of physical fitness are major factors that lead to serious diseases such as diabetes. BikesDirect cites these facts when telling customers about the importance of staying healthy and maintaining physical fitness.

The folks at BikesDirect say that there is good news! It is never too late to start exercising. Physical fitness is the easiest way to maintain health and prevent the onset of many diseases. BikesDirect reports that people who exercise regularly improve the overall condition of their body. Exercise helps fine-tune insulin sensitivity, helps with weight loss, and lowers the risk of heart disease. Besides avoiding illness, exercise releases endorphins and other beneficial bodily chemicals that have been proven to improve happiness. Happier and healthier – all this from a daily bike ride brought to you by Bikes Direct!

How To Get Started

To begin, BikesDirect suggests you always consult with your health care provider. Find out if you have any health factors that can guide you in setting up a safe and effective level of exercise. Doctors often perform stress tests to determine what kind of exercise is safest and most effective for each particular body. If you have certain health conditions, a doctor or a kinesiologist can design an exercise program for your particular situation. Then stop by the BikesDirect website.

Even if you already exercise regularly, a visit to BikesDirect can be a helpful way to update your exercise routine. BikesDirect reminds you to scale your exercise routine into something that will not overwhelm you. Exercise works best if you do it daily over the long term. Do not create a program that is too difficult or discouraging. Remember to keep moving! – BikesDirect

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Cordia Harrington | Improving Your Communication Style – Cordia Harrington

January 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Today’s Guest Contributor is Cordia Harrington, CEO of The Bun Company, a conglomerate supplying buns and English muffins globally to McDonald’s and other national food distributors. In corporate circles Cordia Harrington is affectionately known as The Bun Lady. She is a featured motivational speaker with the nationally recognized Premier Speakers Bureau.

In the following article, Cordia Harrington shares some tips for improving your communication style.

Cordia Harrington’s Tip #1: Awareness of Self
The first step in improving communication skills is awareness. Take a few minutes to assess the particular dynamics of your personal communication style. All individuals have a unique way of communicating. Listen to your own speech. What sorts of words do you use? Which kind of body language and what tone of voice do you most commonly use? It may be very helpful to record ten minutes of conversation between you and a friend, and then listen for the nuances in your voice.

You may have a friend or acquaintance that, in your opinion, is an excellent communicator. How does your style of speaking compare to theirs? Do you see similarities? Be honest with yourself and don’t be afraid to write down several areas in which you can improve.

Cordia Harrington’s Tip #2: Pay Attention to Others
Once you are tuned into your own style of speaking, Cordia Harrington suggests that it’s time to pay more attention to the styles of those around you. Look at your immediate circle of acquaintances. What stands out in your mind as you listen to their conversations? How do they say things? Be on the lookout for specific approaches that you want to emulate, and begin making them your own.

Cordia Harrington’s Tip #3: Flexibility
Work on being more flexible as a communicator. It’s never too late to change your way of communicating. Learn to adjust to different styles of communication. The saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is not always true. You had to learn to speak when you were a young child, and while those habits have been ingrained for many years, it is still possible to unlearn certain behaviors.

It’s possible to get stuck in a communication rut without realizing it, as in the story about a father who was having a difficult time communicating with his 15-year-old daughter. He watched her growing up and pulling away from him. One day, they were in a heated discussion about why she had stopped telling him about what was going on in her life. The father demanded to know why she hadn’t told him that she was struggling in school.

The girl replied that she had, but he was too busy giving her a lecture to hear her heart. Fortunately, that was a wakeup call for the father, and he soon learned that adapting his communication style to his daughter would involve listening first instead of trying to “fix” the problem.

Cordia Harrington’s Tip #4: Build Rapport
Cordia Harrington believes that a key component of great communication is building rapport with the other person. As you engage them in conversation, pay attention to their movements, posture and verbal style. Don’t copy everything they do, but work on mirroring one or two important things. For example, if the person tends to give short answers to questions, then you do likewise.

Perhaps you are in a conversation with an individual who speaks at a slower pace than you usually do. Make a conscious effort to slow your speaking speed to match theirs. This may seem overly simplistic, but it is a very potent way to move the other person to a place where they feel relaxed and comfortable in your presence.

Cordia Harrington’s Tip #5: Appropriate Transparency
Be open to changing your style of communication to complement a different setting. The way you communicate at home will likely be different than a conversation during a business meeting. Being transparent with a best friend is appropriate; the same level of disclosure with an acquaintance is not. Be cautious about how much information you share in a group setting. Many of us have been in a situation where “too much information” makes for an awkward moment.

Cordia Harrington’s Tip #6: Accept Different Styles
Finally Cordia Harrington encourages you to refrain from being critical of other individuals when they practice communication styles that are different from what you may be accustomed to hearing. Everyone is unique in size, shape and speaking style. If we all communicated in the same way, the world would become a boring place!

We would like to thank Cordia Harrington for her contribution to this blog.

Filed Under: Business, Public Speaking, Self Improvement Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

JFK’s Legacy of Equal Opportunity Legislation

January 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

On an historic day in June 1963, President John F. Kennedy laid the groundwork for the future passage of legislation that would make meaningful changes for civil rights. President Kennedy gave a speech and noted that he was seeking “the kind of equality of treatment which we would want for ourselves.” Despite his tragic assassination later that year in Dallas, Texas, his leadership set the wheels in motion for literally one of the most important pieces of legislation that the United States Congress has ever passed. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 put into place key laws that would protect the civil rights of African Americans as never before.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 represented the culmination of many decades of struggle to achieve authentic civil rights for African Americans in the United States. John F. Kennedy had a vision for putting real teeth into the law, giving it the power to truly change the way U.S. citizens worked, played and lived together.  This legislation was a continuation of the work initiated with The Civil Rights Act of 1875 but the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was much more enforceable. The legislation also used language that made it contemporary in an era of the expanding civil rights movement.

The bill was broad and covered many areas of civil life in the United States. It offered a wide range of restrictions against discrimination.  The five “titles” of the bill included many long needed social changes.

Title I — Banned discriminatory voter registration practices that had been used to deny black citizens the right to vote.

Title II – Made it illegal to discriminate in public venues such as restaurants, theaters or hotels based on race.

Title III — Banned discrimination from public facilities such as government services or schools.

Title IV – Insured the enforcement of desegregation in the public school system.

Title V — Made it illegal to discriminate in the workplace, including race-based hiring practices.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 impacted virtually every aspect of public life in America –– from education to the work place, reaching even to public gatherings like entertainment and restaurants. Covering nearly every way that American citizens gathered together as a people, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 sought to ban discrimination against African Americans.

Several other important aspects promoting civil rights were also an important part of the bill. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not address civil rights only for African Americans. In fact, it does not address that population specifically at all.  Instead, this legislation protected the civil rights of all minority groups in America. In doing so, Congress forged powerful allies for the African American cause from outside that community, and put legislation in place that would impact the emerging movement for the equal rights of women.  Doing so, the House and Senate built a strong alliance between these movements which served to add clout not only to the bill’s passage through Congress but also to those who were charged with enforcement of this important legislation.

Today, we admire the courage of the leadership of this country for taking a stand on behalf of equal rights.  Following the vision of President Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson did not let the Kennedy assassination thwart the passage of this bill becoming law. President Johnson put the muscle of the Oval Office behind the bill and gave it the power to push past objections and become the law of the land.

Some historians have suggested that his strong political stand created such animosity in the South that it directly impacted President Johnson’s re-election. But President Johnson believed that passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was necessary for the good of the country and for society. He believed that equal rights for African Americans and all Americans was more important than his own political ambitions, and he defied the danger to his political career make sure became the law.

As we step forward into a new decade, it’s important to remember the legacy of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Baines Johnson. The United States of America needs that kind of leadership today and in every generation to come in this great country and throughout the entire world.

Filed Under: History, Politics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,