Any Ape

While Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett is busy buying out companies and selling insurance to hurricane victims, Berkshire Hathaway has been sliding down in the stocks by almost 20% since December. Declines in three of the company’s equity holdings, Fargo Wells, US Bancorp, and American Express, have contributed much to Berkshire Hathaway’s skid.

Another major contributor to the company’s dwindling stock value is the housing slump widely experienced in the United States; the company’s construction-related ventures Acme Brick, Johns Manville, and Shaw Industries have suffered heavy losses.

But will this kind of fiasco faze a man like Warren Buffett? The answer is no. Buffett has recreated Berkshire Hathaway from an ailing company that used to make linings for men’s suits four years ago. He has the management skills needed for a turnaround and this skid may have provided Buffett the opportunity to prove himself once again.

All Buffett has to do is make fairly priced deals with other beat-down companies and acquire other securities. That will be easy, considering he already has $35 billion in cash.

Buffett is likely not expecting to see dramatic and positive results yet though; economic recovery is not an overnight thing and takes time.

Check out the Forbes profile on Courtney Ross.

Courtney Ross is the founder of the Ross School.

Learn more about Courtney Ross on the History of Corporate site.

Why shop online in the first place?

When you decide to go online for shopping there is a reason for that. Of course there is reason you think. But really; why not just go down town and buy the product you need? It’s probably only a street or block away.

Because you like to do some fast research on the net to compare prices maybe or to simply check your options out there in the product jungle. By a click on the mouse your product is on its way to your home. It’s amazing how easy it is now a days. Only a few years back in time you went to the mall to get all your shopping done in one place.

But now, you got the internet, which is one giant world wide mall. You can buy all kinds of stuff and products online: luxury, furniture’s, motorcycles, cars, wigs, diamond rings, shoes, golf equipment, jewellery, grocery, saltwater fish and a much more. I don’t think there is anything that the internet does not offer in some way.

But how safe are you really?

One thing that is important when you shop in online stores is, look for the https in the URL in your browser before typing anything private in the stores checkout page. The s that is put in front of the http indicates that the transmission is secure and encrypted. That is preventing hackers to listen in on your shopping to steal your private data. The last thing you want is for some hacker to empty your bank account either directly or via shopping in your name so to speak. So, look for the https.

Can I trust the online stores?

How sure can you be that the store actually intends to send you any of the goods you order? Maybe they simply keep your money and that is all you ever going to see from them. Again, look for signs that this online store is serious. Look for customer service; there should be a direct phone number to the store, if you have any questions you need to be answered before or after your purchase. How do they ship items, and how about if you want to return the item? It should also be possible to pay via international credit cards like Visa or similar cards. I think it is too risky to transfer money directly into a bank account, unless you know the store well.

Final word about online stores.

I enjoy shopping online. I purchase books, both e-books and regular books, clothes, vitamins, access to information and much more. The net is a wonderful media when searching for information and services. Just look for the secure signs, and enjoy your shopping in online stores.

Huge amount of quality online stores information on this site - Go there! http://www.onlinestores.infostairs.com/

Mobile broadband is the new technology in the internet world which is the secret to the development of fast speed connection. So far, high speed internet has been delivered through a normal phone line, fast internet connection, which links to a terminal via a modem. Wi-Fi broad-band is going to be increasingly spread, whereby the high speed modem is attached to the terminal through a wireless network, and people are getting rid of ADSL cables. However mobile broadband is taking internet connections one step further and offering another big step in the technology of broadband; a broadband connection almost in any room without using a traditional phone line cable.

The concept of going online with a fast broad band line in all the house is surely an obviously attractive one to potential users, especially those people who generally connect to internet with their laptops not from home. Business people who travel a lot for work are the main obvious target for mobile high speed internet who will surely enjoy the option of not having to search at all for a WiFi hotspot for a very fast internet connection. Mobile high speed internet reaches much further than that, and as soon as costs start to decrease and internet connection lines is faster soon we will witness the high speed internet potential users applying for mobile internet.

Mobile high speed internet works by linking a small portable modem to any modern pc, which is called a ‘dongle’, from which a computer can go online using whichever mobile ADSL internet package you have subscribed for. Most companies are supplying mobile broad band lines and coverage of the networks, also called third generation networks, which covers as much as 90% of the UK.

Internet speed is a key issue for any internet line and mobile broad band providers at the beginning had problems to convince potential mobile users that any mobile broad band could be as good as traditional, landline high speed internet. High speed connections are improving, since Vodafone has reported mobile broad-band lines as fast as nearly 8 mb, similar to some of the fastest landline internet connections. Some countries, including the United Kingdom, are laying plans to sponsor with capitals in fibre optic cable networks, because they want to speed up broad band speeds to up to 100mb.

In New Zealand a famous telecom company has said that mobile broad band networks are going to develop fast over the coming years and they have forecasted that mobile high speed connection could push connections of up to 100mb by end of 2011, which coincides with the year the GB’s fibre optic network is due to be finished. This could create an important change in industry thinking, with the creation of a super fast mobile broad-band network with serious advantages over the laying of thousands of Kms of fibre optic cables, without mentioning the practical point of view. Compare mobile broadband deals and save money with Compare Broadband UK.

Most companies provide dental insurance coverage to their employees. Group dental insurance can prove to be an advantage in the sense that since a large number of employees are involved, greater benefits can be provided at lower costs.

But what happens to people who are self-employed or to those whose companies are small and don’t provide dental coverage? The answer to this lies in purchasing individual dental plans and this is where the dental insurance companies come into the picture. Realizing profitable business opportunities in this business scenario, there are many companies who are now providing affordable individual dental plans. The working arrangement is simple, these dental insurance companies tie up with dental service providers who then provide patients treatment at reduced rates if they buy their dental plan from them.

These days, there are many companies offering dental insurance plans. Before buying a package, it is absolutely essential to do some homework. People have to start somewhere and so the best thing to do is run an online search and narrow down on a few companies and do a comparative study of the plans they offer. People must note down points such as what is actually covered by the plans, additional benefits, deductibles, and monthly premiums.

Another item of importance is what the plans offer in terms of preventive treatment and of course also emergency treatment. The cost should be another major factor, for it will include your monthly or annual fee as also the co-pays for which the patient will be responsible for all visits. People need to focus on the costs associated with major dental care issues like root canal treatment or orthodontics or crowns fittings. Another factor that should call for attention is whether the patient would prefer treatment from their own dentist only or choosing a dentist from those listed in the network plan is not an issue.

Dental Insurance provides detailed information about dental insurance, dental insurance companies, and more. Dental Insurance is affiliated with Texas Health Insurance Companies.

The last time I fought depression it lasted for over three years. I had lost my ability to respond to anything good, in fact good things just hurt me more because they reminded me of what I once was able to enjoy. I had no incentive to even get out of a chair on my free time, and work was an excruciating ordeal I had to go through every day in order to earn the privilege of going back to sleep. Everything irritated me. None of the accomplishments of mankind seemed to impress me or feed me. I couldn’t even tolerate the banality of a magazine or any reading material because it seemed to trigger a painful exasperation. All I could think about was the person I used to be.

I knew that I was capable of being vitally interested in things, I had often connected with the rapt intimacy of a Muse, I had thrilled to every little detail going on around me, I had been able to buoy myself up when I experienced something ugly or discouraging. I had resilience. I trusted things, including my own judgement. I laughed a lot. I delighted in playing with words in my head, looked forward to each coming day, and most important, I felt cozy inside of myself.

When we are cozy inside of ourselves it is like we have come home. Everything fits. If there is no one else around at the time it doesn’t matter because we are so enthralled with the company of our own person. Nothing pinches us emotionally and nothing haunts us. We are completely satisfied with who we perceive ourselves to be. We feel creative and inspired, and no one can take that cozy feeling away from us. Every one of you reading this article must have felt that way at least at one point in your life.

Grab the memory and all the sensations of that time. Relive it in your mind, no matter how much it hurts that you cannot seem to recover that mental state. It will then become reinforced and will energize the parts of you which are ailing. You are reassured that yes, this condition is possible for you, so there is no reason why you could not find it again.

How do you find it again? For me, prozac was and is quite helpful. It balances your chemistry and so gives you a buffer between yourself and the raw hurts of this world. Secondly, I took a new plan of action even though I doubted my decision every step of the way. I needed to alter the physical surroundingsof my environment. Yes, those two treatments worked. But I discovered something really valuable along the way.

Many of the sensory impressions I had reacted to as being pathetic and hopeless turned out to be the the same ones that I was experiencing right now. This time, however, I delighted in them. I still am amazed when I see or hear something that would have disgusted me back in those days and I notice that this time it is acceptable and even enchanting at times. So don’t believe those hurtful impressions. I was shown that the way we perceive things is totally subjective, depending on where our own body chemistry and outlook are at the time.

Don’t let go of your model. Conjure it up every chance you get because that is the light which will guide you out of your hole. Remember that what seems unbearably negative could be tweaked into something nice if you just access the state that makes the change possible. Cheer yourself with the promise that unless you are brain damaged, you really will come back and you will feel wonderful once again. If you felt it before, then it is within your composition to feel it again.

Olga Moe, age 59, lives on an island in the Puget Sound. She is recognized primarily for her contributions to literary e-zines but has recently begun writing articles as well. http://zelda2530.tripod.com

Believe it or not, when it comes to shopping for auto insurance, the premium amount isn’t the only thing that should shape your purchasing decision. Unfortunately, many consumers aren’t aware that there are other factors to consider when buying car insurance–and end up regretting their decision.

So before you sign on the dotted line, consider the following factors and make a smarter decision about your car insurance purchase!

Proper Licensure

Unfortunately for consumers, there are dishonest agents and insurers in the marketplace that aren’t licensed to sell insurance. As you compare policies and insurance companies, remember to verify whether your agent and the company he or she represents are licensed to sell insurance in your state.

Go beyond verbally asking your prospective agent and check your insurer’s credentials through the Department of Insurance (DOI) in your state. In addition to information about insurance, the DOI also keeps track of insurers licensed to sell insurance in your state.

If the DOI doesn’t have record that your prospective agent is licensed to sell insurance, don’t buy a policy from that company or agent–doing so will only open yourself (and your wallet) up to becoming a victim of insurance fraud.

Financial Strength

If you’ve never thought about checking the financial solidity of your prospective insurers, you’re not alone. It is one of the single most overlooked factors by consumers shopping for car insurance.

The reality is that the cheapest car insurance in the world won’t do you any good if the insurer goes bankrupt or doesn’t have enough money to pay out your claim. Save yourself the heartache of doing business with a financially unstable insurer and check the financial standings of every insurer you’re thinking about buying a policy from.

Independent rating agencies like AM Best are great resources for investigating would-be insurers–and can usually be accessed for free.

Customer Service

Your insurance company, its agents, claims adjusters and all other representatives should answer your questions and file claims in a friendly and efficient manner. You can avoid the frustration of doing business with an insurance lacking in customer service by doing a little research before signing a policy with them.

You can usually get a good idea of the insurer’s customer service skills through casual interaction with them. You can also ask your prospective agent if there’s a customer service department or claims representative, which will typically make it easier for you to contact someone if you need to file a claim. Some consumers even call the insurance agency to see how long they’re put on hold before being connected with someone who can help them. And, of course rating agencies like AM Best typically disclose customer service ratings for inquiring consumers.

Your Gut

During the auto insurance shopping process, pay attention to gut feelings and reactions. If you see a red flag during your interaction with potential insurers, don’t ignore it. You’re better off taking your business to an agency and agent that you feel comfortable with.

Applying Lessons Learned

While nobody likes to spend a lot of money on auto insurance, you can make the most of your premium dollars by taking the abovementioned factors into account. So, while you’re on your quest for cheap car insurance, remember these tips to make sound purchasing decision!

About InsureMe

InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing health, home, life, long-term care and auto insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com.

If you’ve spent any time with consultants from large firms
(especially in the ’90’s), then you heard some of the buzz
words and phrases heard in offices across the U.S.; phrases
such as get our arms around this, paradigm shift,
reinvent the wheel, and any verbing of a noun (such as “incent“) was typically heard in many conference rooms.

Many of these phrases were not meaningful to those who heard
them. Employees need to understand the phrases of management
before they believe it. And they need to believe it before
they will do something about it.

In coaching, a basic question is, “What’s important?”
Employees who don’t hear or understand what is really
important will decide for themselves what’s important
and will act and work accordingly.

The management of a large department store thought they
communicated to their employees that the most important
part of their job was customer service. However, upon
surveying the salespeople, they found that a majority of the employees
believed their most important task was protecting the
inventory. Why did they think so? Because they received
many memos from management regarding loss of inventory
and security. Communications about customer service were
not nearly as numerous.

Is there a system in place at your business (for the
company or the department) in which employees are
informed about the goals of the business and how their
job helps the company reach those goals? Do they know
how they will be rewarded for their contribution?
Do they understand it?
Do they believe it?
Will they take action?

Clear communication is a must and a key to that action.
It involves knowing your audience, having a strategy,
clarifying steps, and measuring the results.

Know your Audience

Who are your people? What will they respond to positively?
Find out what they consider to be relevant. If it doesn’t
match what you consider to be relevant, then take time to
re-shape relevancy and the company. Whom do they believe
is credible when that person communicates? How do they
respond to various types of communication?

Have a Strategy

Strategize a communications plan to emphasize
“what’s important”. Rather than simply send out memos,
brochures, and fliers to tell people stuff, plan your
strategy first. Does it make sense? Does it clearly
emphasize what you’re wanting to communicate?

Clarify the Steps

Is there some action that you want employees to take?
Make certain that within your strategy there are places
where action steps are clearly defined. Keep the level
of English at a grade level that makes sense for the
audience. For example, for a general audience that has
a wide-range, a 7th grade to 8th grade level is good.
(Most newspapers are written at this level. Microsoft
Word will tell you the grade level of your writing in
“Readability Statistics” at the end of the spell check
routine as “Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level”, if you turn on
“readability statistics”.)

Communicate the benefits of the actions you want the
employees to take. This includes both the benefits to
the company or department and the benefits to the
individual employee.

Measure the Results

How did you do in your communications effort? Have someone
create a survey that draws out the results (the raw truth).
Did employees understand it?
Did they believe it?
Do they still believe it?
Did they take action?
Was it appropriate action?

The responses will measure how your communications helped
to change behavior and, in some circumstances, if
performance improved (if that was a goal).

In conclusion, following this outline of knowing your audience, having
a communication strategy, clarifying the steps with your
audience, and measuring the results, will ensure that
your communications plan gives you the results you
want.

© 2005 Borgeson Consulting, Inc.

Glory Borgeson is a business coach and consultant, and the president of
Borgeson Consulting, Inc. She specializes in helping small business owners
(of 500 employees or less) to increase their Entrepreneurial IQ, which
leads to increased profit and decreased stress. Whether an entrepreneur is at the top
of his game like any top athletes you can think of today, or a rookie just
starting his business, Glory works with the entire spectrum of entrepreneur.
Top athletes have a coach; why not you?

Click here for Borgeson Consulting, Inc.

This article was originally published in The Business Express, Borgeson’s
free monthly ezine. You may subscribe by clicking here:

Ezine

FIVE DON’T DO’S

How to Avoid the Wrath of the Narcissist

• Never disagree with the narcissist or contradict him

• Never offer him any intimacy

• Look awed by whatever attribute matters to him (for instance: by his professional achievements or by his good looks, or by his success with women and so on)

• Never remind him of life out there and if you do, connect it somehow to his sense of grandiosity

• Do not make any comment, which might directly or indirectly impinge on his self-image, omnipotence, judgment, omniscience, skills, capabilities, professional record, or even omnipresence. Bad sentences start with: “I think you overlooked … made a mistake here … you don’t know … do you know … you were not here yesterday so … you cannot … you should … (perceived as rude imposition, narcissists react very badly to restrictions placed on their freedom) … I (never mention the fact that you are a separate, independent entity, narcissists regard others as extensions of their selves, their internalization processes were screwed up and they did not differentiate properly) …” You get the gist of it.

The TEN DO’S

How to Make your Narcissist Dependent on You

If you INSIST on Staying with Him

• Listen attentively to everything the narcissist says and agree with it all. Don’t believe a word of it but let it slide as if everything is just fine, business as usual.

• Personally offer something absolutely unique to the narcissist which they cannot obtain anywhere else. Also be prepared to line up future sources of primary NS for your narcissist because you will not be IT for very long, if at all. If you take over the procuring function for the narcissist, they become that much more dependent on you which makes it a bit tougher for them to pull their haughty stuff - an inevitability, in any case.

• Be endlessly patient and go way out of your way to be accommodating, thus keeping the narcissistic supply flowing liberally, and keeping the peace (relatively speaking).

• Be endlessly giving. This one may not be attractive to you, but it is a take it or leave it proposition.

• Be absolutely emotionally and financially independent of the narcissist. Take what you need: the excitement and engulfment and refuse to get upset or hurt when the narcissist does or says something dumb, rude, or insensitive. Yelling back works really well but should be reserved for special occasions when you fear your narcissist may be on the verge of leaving you; the silent treatment is better as an ordinary response, but it must be carried out without any emotional content, more with the air of boredom and “I’ll talk to you later, when I am good and ready, and when you are behaving in a more reasonable fashion”.

• If your narcissist is cerebral and NOT interested in having much sex - then give yourself ample permission to have “hidden” sex with other people. Your cerebral narcissist will not be indifferent to infidelity so discretion and secrecy is of paramount importance.

• If your narcissist is somatic and you don’t mind, join in on endlessly interesting group sex encounters but make sure that you choose properly for your narcissist. They are heedless and very undiscriminating in respect of sexual partners and that can get very problematic (STDs and blackmail come to mind).

• If you are a “fixer”, then focus on fixing situations, preferably before they become “situations”. Don’t for one moment delude yourself that you can FIX the narcissist - it simply will not happen. Not because they are being stubborn - they just simply can’t be fixed.

• If there is any fixing that can be done, it is to help your narcissist become aware of their condition, and this is VERY IMPORTANT, with no negative implications or accusations in the process at all. It is like living with a physically handicapped person and being able to discuss, calmly, unemotionally, what the limitations and benefits of the handicap are and how the two of you can work with these factors, rather than trying to change them.

• FINALLY, and most important of all: KNOW YOURSELF.

What are you getting from the relationship? Are you actually a masochist? A codependent perhaps? Why is this relationship attractive and interesting?

Define for yourself what good and beneficial things you believe you are receiving in this relationship.

Define the things that you find harmful TO YOU. Develop strategies to minimize the harm to yourself. Don’t expect that you will cognitively be able to reason with the narcissist to change who they are. You may have some limited success in getting your narcissist to tone down on the really harmful behaviours THAT AFFECT YOU which emanate from the unchangeable WHAT the narcissist is. This can only be accomplished in a very trusting, frank and open relationship.

(Co-authored with Alice Ratzlaff)

About The Author

Sam Vaknin is the author of “Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited” and the editor of mental health categories in The Open Directory, Suite101, and searcheurope.com.

His web site: http://samvak.tripod.com

Frequently asked questions regarding narcissism: http://samvak.tripod.com/faq1.html

Narcissistic Personality Disorder on Suite101: http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/npd

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a legally binding Convention banning the application of organotin anti-fouling paints on ships’ hulls by 2003 and its presence by 2008. This requires not less than 25 States, the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 25% of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant shipping, it’s not likely that the Convention will enter into force by 2002. So WWF is seeking commitments from industry and government to show active support for the IMO Convention. This will be achieved through eliminating the use of organotin paints, with action taken to bring about such elimination of the use organotins before 2003, the date proposed by the IMO.

The main qualification for membership in the 2003 Group (organotin-free group) will be that the industry player concerned is fully organotin-free by January 1st 2003. Membership will not be granted to the shipping companies unless their entire fleet is organotin free by 2003.

Organotin compounds, such as TBT, are considered to be amongst the most toxic chemicals ever released into the marine environment. Even at very low concentrations, they have been shown to produce serious negative impacts upon marine life. These cause the disruption of the hormone systems in marine invertebrates, such as dogwhelks, causing fremales to acquire the sexual characteristics of males. Studies show that organotins are present in marine species at all levels of the ecosystem: fish, birds and mammals. Possible human endocrine disrupting properties of organotins have been seen.

Anti-fouling paints on ships’ hulls is a major source of organotins. Organotin paint has been partially banned for use on smaller vessels. This has been shown to reduce levels of organotin, but their continued use on larger ships, and the fact that the compounds can persist in sediments for a lengthy time period, means that the marine environment is still saturated with these chemicals at unacceptably high levels.

To support conservation of marine biodiversity and reduce destructive human impacts it is imperative that the use of these organotin compounds be phased out. This chemical is considered to be the most toxic chemical ever deliberately released into the marine environment.

Contacts:

Patricia Cameron
Pollution Prevention Officer
WWF Germany - Marine and Coastal Division
Am Gthpol 11
D - 28757 Bremen
Germany
Tel. +49 421 65846 16
Fax +49 421 65846 26
email: _ HYPERLINK mailto:Cameron@wwf.de __Cameron@wwf.de_mailto:svowles@wwf.org.uk __svowles@wwf.org.uk_

Dr Simon Vowles
Marine Policy Officer [Pollution]
WWF
Panda House
Weyside Park
Godalming GU7 1XR
UK
Tel ++44 1483 426 444

About the Author

Margot B, Writer & Web Developer
http://www.writers.Org-HQ.com
mailto:margotb@wonderport.com

More families than ever before are going through a long-term care situation (NOW) and many more eventually will go through this with their parents, relatives, and spouses. When you live a long life, it is inevitable that you will need some type of long-term care. Today, long-term care is the greatest uninsured risk Americans face.

With this wonderful opportunity of living a longer life come two major concerns: not outliving our money and needing long-term care. Depending on your age, what is the greatest risk you face in 10 years… 20 years… 30 years… not dying.

Living.

When you live, you get old

When you get old, you get sick

When you get sick, you need care

Some experts claim that long-term care is a woman’s issue and there is some truth to this. That’s because women generally live longer than men live and face more risk of needing long-term care services themselves. The fact is women are the primary caregivers-for spouses and parents, sometimes both at the same time. This can be an emotionally and physically demanding dilemma, sometimes causing their own health to deteriorate.

Go ahead and ask any man. Most will tell you the one thing he knows for certain is he’s never going to need this long-term care “stuff”. Unfortunately, the facts show otherwise. And when a man needs long-term care, it affects his spouse and his family-their lifestyle and financial future. It changes his life and everyone’s life around him, too. 70% of all married couples can expect one partner to need long-term care.

Mention long-term care to someone in their forties or fifties and they are likely to say, “I don’t need it today,” or “I’ll think about it when I’m retired…or when I’m older”. If you are between ages 40-60 your lives are different from your parents and your grandparents. Long-term care is a modern day real risk!

Finding out your options NOW is vital to maintaining your financial independence, your retirement assets, and your future choices. A change in your health-your next visit to the doctor, or an accident can make it impossible to have the protection you need-no matter how much you are willing to pay.

Remember there is good news and there is bad news:

The Good News: You get to live a long life.

The Bad News: You get to live a long life.

Doug Worman has been a Long-Term Care Insurance Specialist since 1976. He represents all the insurers of long-term care. He offers a FREE PROGRAM to clubs and organizations, “The Problems and Concerns of Needing Long Term Care”. One organization after hearing the program wrote, “It was the most informative and entertaining program concerning long-term care we have ever heard”. Additional references are available.Call 800-929-2602 or email namrow@comcast.net for more information.