Frequent writer moves down road

Dear Editor,

My first real foray into writing and speaking for public consumption was in 1999 when a couple of Milpitas politicians, in cooperation with the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, arranged for the flag of the People?s Republic of China to be raised next to the flag of the United States of America first in front of the Santa Clara County Government Center and then in front of Milpitas City Hall. The occasion for the flag raising was to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of their communist government and I (and many, many others) felt that the enslavement of a billion people was nothing to celebrate. A political battle ensued that resulted in, among other things, the flag poles on the new city hall being built in a manner that insured the flag of the United States of America would always fly above other flags.

During that period of time, many people who had escaped the communists contacted me and encouraged me to be a voice for them. In the ensuing years, more often than not, the people who seek me out to encourage me to keep writing have described themselves as having escaped from everything from the harsh tyranny of the Islamic government of Iran to the soft tyranny of socialist Holland. I feel complimented when people who have come to this country for freedom appreciate what I write.

What originally attracted my wife and I to Milpitas was the incredibly cosmopolitan population and the fact that they seemed to all get along so well ?

and that was before the large influx of immigrants from all over the Pacific Rim and the Indian subcontinent. We wanted our children to be raised in an atmosphere where they were exposed to many different cultures and we were not disappointed.

Now, with our family raised and visits to our grandchildren requiring significant travel, we have decided to make a lifestyle change that will have us move a few miles down the road to Sunnyvale. While my office will remain in Milpitas and we will be no strangers to St. Elizabeth Church and our favorite restaurants in town, our heads will be hitting the pillow elsewhere.

Over the years, I have tried to rein in the politicians? natural proclivity for screwing things up and believed that I have had some impact in that regard. To my delight, in recent years a number of

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Mad Men Map Shows You Where Don Drank and Dined [Google Maps]

WNYC has put together this handy guide to the NYC hotspots frequented by characters in AMC's Mad Men. More »

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The most powerful personal finance tool available

By Matt Bell

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. ? Proverbs 21:5

If you had access to a tool that would give you a strong sense of control over your finances and help keep your financial stress low, wouldn?t you use it?

If you had access to a tool that would serve as a financial roadmap, showing you clearly how to live within your means, be generous, and save or invest for future goals, wouldn?t you use it?

And if you had access to a tool that would help create a sense of financial teamwork and trust in your marriage, wouldn?t you use it?

What is this magical tool?

Why, of course, it?s the lowly, much maligned, much misunderstood budget ? or, as I prefer, Cash Flow Plan.

What wealthy people know

When some people think of a budget, they think only certain types need one. People with lots of debt. People with a low income. The wealthy? No way, or so they think.

In fact, one of the most interesting findings from the classic book, ?The Millionaire Next Door,? is that over half of all millionaire households use a budget to guide their finances.

As authors Thomas Stanley and Wiliam Danko explain, ?Planning and controlling consumption are key factors underlying wealth accumulation?Operating a household without a budget is akin to operating a business without a plan, without goals, and without direction.?

Succeeding to plan is planning to succeed

Haven?t ever used a Cash Flow Plan? You could start today.

I walk through the four steps to setting up and using a Cash Flow Plan in the Budget Quick Start Guide that?s available for free on the Resources tab, so I?m not going to repeat them here. You?ll find our Recommended Spending Guidelines there as well, which will help you develop your plan.

The Guidelines cover four different size households (1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-person households) and nine different incomes, ranging from $30,000 to $150,000. Just find the one that most closely resembles your circumstances.

You?ll see that these are ideal plans, meaning they assume no debt other than a reasonable mortgage (we recommend devoting no more than 25 percent of your household?s monthly gross income to the combination of your mortgage, property taxes, and homeowner?s insurance).

If you have other debts, you?ll have to adjust your spending in other categories to allow for the debt payments.

But, but, but?

Whenever someone comes to me with a financial dilemma ? they?re deep in debt, can?t find any money to save, can?t stop fighting about money with their spouse ? I always ask whether they?re using a Cash Flow Plan to guide their household?s finances. The vast majority of the time, the answer is no.

And the ?no? is often accompanied by a quizzical look as if I didn?t understand the question. ?But what I was really asking??

I did understand. It?s just that I need more information. Objective, factual information.

To be sure, there?s a ton of emotional stuff involved in managing money ? temperaments, moods, stressful circumstances, the emotional imagery used in advertising. We often get in trouble with money when emotion overrides logic.

A well-designed Cash Flow Plan gives us the logical, factual information we need to live within our means, be generous, save and invest, avoid debt, and spend smart. Assuming there?s enough income to meet basic needs, that?s true for every income level and household size.

And, while I don?t like to whack people over the head with the Bible or guilt them into action, as stewards of God?s resources, shouldn?t we be proactively, knowledgably managing His resources? A Cash Flow Plan is the essential tool for doing that.

Are you the budget type?

I firmly believe everyone would benefit from the use of a Cash Flow Plan. Rich or poor, young or old, single or married. Everyone.

It isn?t drudgery, and it isn?t something you go on like a diet. It?s simply the single most powerful tool available for successful money management. Why not start putting this tool to work in your life today?

What questions do you have about using a Cash Flow Plan? If you don?t use one, what?s holding you back? If you do, what other benefits have you experienced?

Who else would benefit from this post? Why not forward a link? And if you haven?t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog. You?ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

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Casey Anthony to Leave U.S. For Costa Rica?

Casey Anthony wants to leave Florida as soon as legally possible and is eyeing a move to the central American paradise of Costa Rica, according to reports.

Anthony has been in hiding since she was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, but has recently been making forays back into the public.

Virtually unrecognizable due to the amount of weight she has gained sitting around doing nothing, she is soon planning on leaving the U.S., and for good.

She would have fled already, but Anthony is on probation for one year after pleading guilty to check fraud and is required to live in Florida during that time.

Once Casey's probation ends later this summer, she plans on ditching the sunshine state for Costa Rica. She is "counting the days," according to sources.

"She has been researching countries that she could move to and Costa Rica is at the top of the list," a source close to the situation tells Radar Online.

"Casey wants to live in a tropical setting and the cost of living is extremely low in Costa Rica. She wants to put as much distance as possible from Florida."

"She feels this is the best possibly place to start a new life. Costa Rica also appeals to her because Americans are warmly embraced by the locals."

Not sure that applies to accused child-murderers, but whatever.

There's one additional holdup, of course. She is still being sued by Zanaida Gonzalez for defamation after Casey said a woman with that name kidnapped Caylee.

According to reports, Casey Anthony is “annoyed” and dreading that she has to testify at the upcoming trial, even if she can blame only herself.

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Video: Big Government Tax Grab!

Minnesota and Oregon are testing new programs to tax motorists for how many miles they travel, rather than how much gasoline they buy. Robert Atkinson, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation founder & president and Dan Mitchell, Cato Institut...

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INDOOR FOOTBALL: Parsons tasked with getting offense on track

Matt Parsons was brought in to provide healthy competition at the quarterback position and to serve as a competent replacement in the off chance that West Texas Roughnecks starter Micah Brown suffered an injury.

Little did Parsons know, he would be tabbed as the starter at the midway point of the season.

Brown was released and Devin Dominguez, a former Alabama State University quarterback, was signed as Parsons? backup last week, according to Roughneck head coach Brian Brents.

?We thought we needed a change,? Brents said. ?I definitely like the two guys we?ve got right now in Parsons and Devin Dominguez.?

The Roughnecks (2-6) have struggled to score on the offensive side of the ball, averaging 31 points per game. Brents said the number seems like a good amount until you compare it to the Lone Star Football League?s first-place team: The Houston Stallions (7-0) are averaging 56.9 points per game.

?We?re expected to score every possession and we haven?t done that,? Parsons said.

Brents said his offenses? inability to score can be attributed to multiple factors, such as fumbled center-to-quarterback exchanges and underthrown balls.

?We?re just trying to plug up each hole on the boat right now,? Brents said. ?Hopefully we?ll be able to fill all of those holes up and make sure we don?t have any other leaks before our next game.?

West Texas? next scheduled game is against the Rio Grande Valley Magic at 7:05 tonight at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo. The Magic (5-2) are the second-place team in the LSFL standings and defeated the Roughnecks 53-29 in the team?s first meeting on April 21 at Ector County Coliseum.

Parsons said he understands that he is expected to lead a team that is hoping to qualify for the last spot in the LSFL playoffs. To position the last-place Roughnecks for that opportunity, Parsons would have to guide the squad to victories in its final four games. Even if the Roughnecks finish at 6-6, they won?t make the playoffs without some help from the teams above them in the standings.

?That?s the only thing on our mind,? Parsons said of a playoff run. ?The whole team wants to make the playoffs but in order to do that you have to win games. We haven?t been doing that lately. I feel like it has to start with me for a win.?

The 6-foot-6 signal caller started the last two games and came on in relief after Brown struggled in the first half of games earlier this season.

Roughnecks quarterbacks coach Tate Smith said he hopes Parsons? previous experience with Brents? offensive system ? Brents coached Parsons on the El Paso Generals in 2010 ? allows him to be successful down the stretch.

?When you?ve played in a system and come back to it, it?s always easy to pick up,? Smith said. ?It?s like riding a bike. You remember how to do it.?

Parsons said he has struggled to re-acclimate himself with the offense because he is familiarizing himself with a wide receiver corps that he has not played with.

?I still feel like I need more reps to solidify my decisions,? Parsons said. ?I feel I?ve been thinking too much and not trusting my reads and my receivers. That?s something that will come with reps and time.?

Brents said Parsons may not have much time to refine his craft with four games left in the season.

?We need this win,? Brents said. ?Our backs are against the wall and we?re fighting to get into the playoffs.?

>> Follow Carlos Silva Jr. on Twitter at @OASilvaJr

THE BASICS

>> Who: West Texas Roughnecks (2-6) at Rio Grande Valley Magic (5-2).

>> When: 7:05 tonight.

>> Where: State Farm Arena, Hidalgo.

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Venus Retrograde, The Transit & Relationships ? Love Dove Tarot

Venus

If you have been reading the Astrology forecasts for the Venus transit, you may be feeling a bit confused right now. There is talk of emerging divine feminine energy balancing the male energy which was purified during the latest eclipse of the sun.

There are whispers and rumours about preparing for Ascension in December? all very mystical and difficult to translate to practical day-to-day living for most of us (yes, that includes me!).

On a practical and scientific level it means that Venus (from earth?s perspective) will be crossing the surface of the sun between the 5-6 of June. This only happens every 100-120 years when we get two transits together, 8 years apart.

But the science and the mysticism of it all is probably not why you?re here. You want to know what this transit is going to mean to your relationship and how you can best harness the energy and magick of it all, right?

This Venus transit is retrograde in the sign of versatile, playful, witty and flitty Gemini. The energy is not to be grasped or clung to. Allow it to seep in through your skin next time you spend some time in the Sun and know that there is very little you have to do. Illumination of your mind and heart will happen whatever you do.

No, you don?t need to spend hours chanting, calling on Dolphin Masters or meditating on the 17 higher chakras. No matter what you do, you will experience an injection of higher consciousness and this will lead to changes in your relating.

Now for the juicy part. The Tarot can help you see what those changes are likely to be.

Shuffle your deck and go through the cards until you get to the Death card ? a symbol for change and transformation. The card on the left of the Death card is something you will be leaving behind and the card on the right is what is being birthed into your consciousness in terms of relating.

Click HERE to view a SAMPLE READING.

You can do this together with your partner, either taking turns using the same deck, or doing it simultaneously using two separate decks. Remember to be supportive and to not blame your beloved. Do not drag up the past but make this a celebration in honour of the birth of a more loving way of relating. Focus on the fun and the forward movement!

You don?t have to do anything with this information. Unless you want to? Keep playing with the cards, have a snog or go out for a drink. It?s all sacred if it?s done with love!

Order a Tarot reading via Email with Lisa today ~
Get help with Cord Cutting! ~
Read my online journal over at Seer Pathways ~
Join the Goddess Circle Online ~

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