Messi, Suarez and Neymar Grab The Headlines But Balance Has Been The Key For Barcelona

If the darkest hour does come just before the dawn then January 4 of this year probably marked that point for Barcelona. A 1-0 loss to a less than impressive Real Sociedad could have easily been the nail in Luis Enrique’s coffin. As it was Real Madrid lost to Valencia the same day and from that point on the Barcelona juggernaut gained momentum with almost each passing week.

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Dating App, Coffee Meets Bagel Launches in Sydney

Sydney singles now have a new mobile dating app to flirt with. Coffee Meets Bagel officially launched at the swanky underground bar, Palmer & Co, on May 27th.  Some of the lucky crowd who attended the sold out event even set up dates for the next day.

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How Much Could Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah Earn In Stud Fees?

American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown, breaking a 37 year drought. But now, the real money can be made. How much are stud fees for a Thoroughbred that has pulled off history for the first time since 1978?

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American Pharoah Makes Racing History, Becoming The 12th Triple Crown Winner

American Pharoah becomes U.S. racing's 12th Triple Crown winner, ending a 37-year drought.

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American Pharoah's Place In Triple Crown History

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American Pharoah Becomes The First Horse To Win The Triple Crown In 37 Years

The drought has been broken. We have a Triple Crown winner. And while he just won $800,000 in Belmont prize money, his true value is much higher.

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What A Stud (Fee): American Pharoah Wins Triple Crown, Could Be Worth $100 Million

After American Pharoah's wire-to-wire victory at the Belmont Stakes snapped a 37-year Triple Crown drought, this elegantly amazing horse could be worth as much as $100 million going forward.

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British savers £3,000 worse off since 2010

Laura Whitcombe

savingsjar.jpg

British households have seen their cash savings plummet by £3,000 over the past five years thanks to inflation.

British households have seen their cash savings plummet by £3,000 over the past five years thanks to inflation.

Henderson Global Investors, which did the number crunching, found that since 2010 money languishing in cash accounts fell by a collective £80 billion - or £3,000 per household, due to the rise sin the cost of living.

British savers £3,000 worse off since 2010

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British households have seen their cash savings plummet by £3,000 over the past five years thanks to inflation. Henderson Global Investors, which did the number crunching, found that since 2010 money languishing in cash accounts fell by a collective £80 billion – or £3,000 per household, due to the rise sin the cost of living. In the four-year period between 2010 and 2014 alone, inflation (as measured by the retail prices index) was 19.8%. This means the £36 billion earnt in interest by cash savers during that time was easily dwarfed by the £116 billion eaten away by inflation. Henderson added that there were wide variations in the amount of money people who have saved have put away and some savers have experienced "very severe" losses. Cost of living doubled Since 1990, the cost of living has more than doubled in the UK (122%), while deposits in instant-access accounts have earned only 69% in compound interest. Henderson explained that this is a loss of £240 in real terms on £1,000 invested in 1990. It added that in only five of the last 25 years have instant-access account interest rates exceeded inflation, meaning savers had an 80% chance of seeing their cash fall in value in any one year in real terms. Over the same 25-year period, the investment manager said the total return on UK equities was 700% and on global equities it was 470%. Meanwhile, house price grew by 289% and wages by 163%, according to official stats. Moreover, the group found that a third of people have no savings at all. James de Sausmarez, head of investment trusts at Henderson, said: "Human beings are hard-wired to avoid loss. It's a cognitive bias that is hard to overcome when we consider our savings. This flaw in our thinking compels us to cling to the nominal cash value of our savings, so in recoiling from taking investment risks, we unwittingly suffer the corrosive effect of inflation. "Our research shows you can be near certain you will lose money over the longer term by putting your savings in cash accounts, as the cost of living, and expectations for living standards will quickly climb out of reach of the paltry returns on cash deposits. It's costing us billions of pounds every year."

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Pocono Raceway extends partnership with Lehigh Valley Health NetworkPocono Raceway agreed to a multi-year extension of its partnership with Lehigh Valley Health Network as the “Official Health Care Provider of Pocono Raceway.”Additionally, the 50/50 raffle being hosted at the Raceway during the upcoming Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 race weekend will benefit the Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital.Pocono Raceway will continue [...]

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Cramer's key to 100-year business: Change with the times

Ken Cramer began helping at the family business when he was 10 years old. That means he has been around Cramer’s Home Building Centers for 50 of the last 100 years. It's celebrating its centennial in September.“It seemed to change from decade to decade,” said Cramer, the company’s president and grandson of its founder. “From consumer to more pro oriented and then back. It’s like a big pendulum. It’s constantly changing. [...]

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Deeds, Sunday, June 7, 2015

Chestnuthill TownshipCataldo and Joanne Cocuzza to Steve J. and Joann Stratakos, Property Easton and Wilkes-Barre Turnpike, Tax Map 02/14/1/6, $315,000Coolbaugh TownshipDE&S Properties Inc. (T/A), Classic Quality Homes, Ange Delphine Loudjenam Ta, Lot 4206, Section 8, Pocono Farms East, $229,000Middle Smithfield TownshipWells Fargo Bank NA to Thomas J. Large, Lot 29, The Estates at Great Bear, $374, [...]

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5 Reasons American Pharaoh Has Long Odds To Win Triple Crown

American Pharaoh has been given great odds of winning today's Belmont Stakes, and with it, join horse racing legends. But, here's five reasons why it's very tough for him to do.

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Why Doctors Are Quitting -- And Why It's Not Obama's Fault

A Washington Post columnist argues that the Obama administration has "demoralized doctors and degraded care" by pushing providers to use electronic health records. Here's what he didn't say.

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A Man of Passion, Fawaz Gruosi Inspires with his Famed de GRISOGONO Jeweled Creations

For the 13th consecutive year in the South of France, Fawaz Gruosi, the Geneva-based jeweler-watchmaker and head of de GRISOGONO, has been highlighting women’s natural beauty with outstanding and spectacular over the top jewelry creations for movie stars and billionaires alike at his annual “Divine in Cannes” event during the iconic Film Festival.

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What's A Pain Letter - And Can It Get Me A Job?

Isabel is curious about Pain Letters, and Liz Ryan steps her through the process of writing one

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For American Pharoah It's Wheels Up To The Finish Line

New membership-based private aviation company Wheels Up is sponsoring American Pharoah, which is attempting to win the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes.

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Put A Human Voice In Your LinkedIn Summary

You can sound human in your LinkedIn Summary, and it will be a very good thing for you if you do! Get rid of the zombie corporatespeak language and tell your human story in your LinkedIn Summary. Here are three examples!

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"Uptown Funk" Is On Track To Take The Record For Longest Running Top Ten Hit On The Billboard 100

The song “Uptown Funk” recently celebrated a record, tying with The Black Eyed Peas and Mariah Carey for the longest consecutive reign atop the Billboard Hot 100. Whatever your opinion on this song (and here’s mine, for the record) the track is well within its way to another record—perhaps not only to tying this record, but to beating it outright: In a few weeks time, “Uptown Funk” might claim the title of longest running top ten hit atop the Billboard 100.

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China's Billionaire Actress Zhao Wei (??)

The world’s wealthiest working actress is a former kindergarten teacher with such keen investing acumen that she’s been nicknamed "China's show-business Buffett" by her country’s media.

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Does Appeal Or Corporate Bias Explain Endorsement Gap Between Serena Williams And Maria Sharapova?

I don't really have an answer for the question posed in this title, but after researching some financial facts about player endorsements after Serena Williams won her 20th career singles Grand Slam in Paris on Saturday - defeating Lucie Safarova in 3-sets at the 2015 French Open - it made me think about the role which likability, beauty, corporate bias, and customer discrimination can potentially play in determining an athlete's value away from the sporting arena.

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Does The French Open Make Serena Williams The Greatest Tennis Player Of All Time, Male or Female?

It wasn't quite as easy as it seemed like it would be, but Serena Williams defeated Lucy Safarova in three sets to win her 20th major championship. And maybe, secure  GOAT status, as the game's Greatest of All Time.

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3 Reasons Working Weekends May Be Good for You... And How To Do It Successfully

Author Laura Vanderkam once wrote that "work isn't separate from life. It's part of life, and weekends are part of life too." I couldn't agree more with this statement - having tag-lined my own small business, Retail Minded, as a "retail lifestyle publication" some seven years ago.

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China's Billionaire Actress Zhao Wei (赵薇)

The world’s wealthiest working actress is a former kindergarten teacher with such keen investing acumen that she’s been nicknamed "China's show-business Buffett" by her country’s media.

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Death of Houston's Tal's Hill Continues Demise Of Baseball's On-Field Oddities

When it comes to creativity versus revenue, the latter will win every time.

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Presidential Race: Sen. Graham Appealing To Climate-Conscious Republicans And Pro-Nuclear Democrats

It’s still early, but Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina could catch fire among climate-conscious Republicans. The now-presidential hopeful is part of a conservative groundswell to get the party rethink its environmental positions. Just how any eco-evolution would occur is unclear. But Senator Graham’s introspection is mostly pragmatic -- that he

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How Image Tagging Can Help Your Brand's Social Media Marketing

Visual marketing is an integral part of reaching customers today. For brands concerned with SEO, however, it brings a wide variety of challenges. Search engine algorithms look for specific words, which makes it difficult to challenge competitors by coming up with better photos and videos to dominate search rankings.

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Macroeconomics Isn't All Ideology

An old debate has cropped up recently about whether economists beliefs in macro are just reflections of their ideological commitments. Russ Roberts says yes, Noah Smith says sometimes, Paul Krugman says not his. If you had to pick a crux of the debate it would be this claim by Roberts:

The evidence for the Keynesian worldview is very mixed. Most economists come down in favor or against it because of their prior ideological beliefs. Krugman is a Keynesian because he wants bigger government. I’m an anti-Keynesian because I want smaller government.

I would like to argue with two parts of this. First, most economists beliefs on the effectiveness of Keynesian policies aren't motivated by how big they want the government to be. Second, the record does not suggest this for Paul Krugman either.

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20 Brands That Help You Start a Business

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Are You Hoping To Sell Your Business? Get Ready Now

Could there be an acquisition in your own future? If you’re hoping to sell your own business, now or in the foreseeable future, here are the ways to prepare.

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Five Areas Where 'The Witcher 3' Could Still Be Improved

The Witcher 3 is without a doubt a clear contender for Game of the Year. Even if it’s only June and fall is always stacked with big releases, it’s clear to anyone who has played it that The Witcher will be in the running by year's end all the same. It’s one of the best RPGs the genre has seen in a good long while, and it might even be one of the best open world games of all time, based on the way it handles its structure and story.

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Box Office: 'Mad Max: Fury Road' Tops $300 Million Worldwide

Warner Bros./Time Warner Inc. just sent out a press release proclaiming the above box office milestone. So yes, Mad Max: Fury Road has indeed crossed the $300 million worldwide mark at the global box office. The film has earned $125.1m in the US and $177m overseas, giving the Tom Hardy/Charlize Theron release a $302.1m worldwide cume. The film opened four Fridays ago with a robust $45.4m domestic opening and a $109m worldwide bow. The film has opened in most of its markets with the film set to open in Japan on June 20th. We all like to talk about China as the big kahuna of overseas markets, but Japan is no slouch either. At a production budget of $150m, conventional wisdom is that the film is now basically in the safe "break even" zone, with would-be profits starting to seep in at the $375m mark (I like to use 2.5x the budget as a general safe zone for actual or eventual profits, but, of course, every movie is different). So presuming it continues its leggy worldwide run, George Miller's fourth Mad Max installment is a solid hit. The success of Mad Max: Fury Road is something of a double-edged sword.

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McDonald’s Big Macs to Wendy’s Frostys: Price rise of 12 iconic menu items

While food prices should be expected to rise over time with the natural progression of inflation, you might be surprised by how cheap some of your favorite fast food items were in the past. If you were around in the 1950s and ’60s, for example, you could probably feed your family of four for less than $2 at McDonald’s or Burger King!

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Box Office: 'Mad Max: Fury Road' Tops $300M Worldwide

Warner Bros./Time Warner Inc. just sent out a press release proclaiming the above box office milestone. So yes, Mad Max: Fury Road has indeed crossed the $300 million worldwide mark at the global box office. The film has earned $125.1m in the US and $177m overseas, giving the Tom Hardy/Charlize Theron release a $302.1m worldwide cume. The film opened four Fridays ago with a robust $45.4m domestic opening and a $109m worldwide bow. The film has opened in most of its markets with the film set to open in Japan on June 20th. We all like to talk about China as the big kahuna of overseas markets, but Japan is no slouch either. At a production budget of $150m, conventional wisdom is that the film is now basically in the safe "break even" zone, with would-be profits starting to seep in at the $375m mark. So presuming it continues its leggy worldwide run, George Miller's fourth Mad Max installment is a solid hit. The success of Mad Max: Fury Road is something of a double-edged sword.

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Serena Williams Will See Endorsements Rise After Historic 20th Grand Slam Singles Victory

It's ironic yet fitting that Serena Williams won her 20th career singles Grand Slam title on the same day the horse racing industry might see American Pharoah become the first since 1977 take the sport's elusive Triple Crown with at win at the Belmont Stakes.

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Forget Cruising, Now Think "Fathom" And Social-Impact Travel On A Carnival Ship

You'll be traveling on a ship, but it won't be called a cruise.

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Racing Towards History? How American Pharoah Compares To Other Triple Crown Favorites

With less than seven hours remaining until the country gets an answer to the question that's raged since the end of the Preakness Stakes three weeks ago -- can American Pharoah break the 37-year long Triple Crown drought? -- another question has emerged: how will he rank in horse racing history?

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American Pharoah's Place In Triple Crown History

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Updated Odds For The Belmont Stakes

Updated odds throughout the day for the 147th Belmont Stakes

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So Far, So Good With Cloud Computing, But Executives Are Still Nervous

Let's face it, the cloud will never be risk-free, and there is no shortage of glitches that erupt in in the cloud computing space. Unfortunately, service outages, security flaws and performance issues come with the territory. It's also important to remember that outages, security flaws and performance issues are also part of on-premises systems as well.

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Friday Box Office: 'Mad Max' Crosses $125M, 'San Andreas' Continues To Rock

The Rock’s San Andreas continued to make waves for Warner Bros. /Time Warner Inc. on its second Friday, earning $7.6 million last night to bring its domestic cume up to $80.276m. Yes, it dropped 58% from last Friday, but that’s not a surprise especially considering the surprisingly robust $54m debut weekend. Dwayne Johnson’s $100m earthquake adventure should earn around $26m (-53%) for its second frame to bring its domestic cume just under $100m. Meanwhile, it has earned $24m thus far in China and is indeed shaping up to be something of a monster hit, relative to budget and expectations. Just in America, it will pass the $103m domestic cume of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island by Monday or Tuesday to become Johnson’s biggest by-himself hit ever. While I have no inside information pertaining to this, I have to imagine that director Brad Peyton, who directed The Rock in Journey 2 and an eventual Journey 3) is now in the running to direct Shazam if he wants it. From the director of Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore...!

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Friday Box Office: 'Insidious 3' Scares Up $10.4M, Melissa McCarthy's 'Spy' Spies $10.3M

Insidious: Chapter 3 was the surprise winner at the Friday box office, topping the charts if but for one night only. The first two installments came courtesy of the now-defunct FilmDistrict, so this one arrives from Focus’s newly revived Gramercy branch. The prequel to the first two horror hits, which features supporting player Lin Shaye bumped up to glorified lead this time around, started with a $10.4 million Friday, including $1.55m in Thursday previews. Now the second film also earned $1.5m in Thursday previews during its September 2013 debut weekend only to snag a $20.2m Friday, so obviously this one was a bit more frontloaded. Now for the record, absolutely no one was expecting Insidious 3 to be as big as Insidious 2 anymore than we should have expected Taken 3 to be as big (in the states at least) as Taken 2. Insidious 2 had a terrifying 1.99x weekend multiplier, although when that gives a $5m title a $40m debut weekend I’m the only one keeping track. Let’s say Insidious 3 has a slightly better hold over the weekend (the reviews are surprisingly not terrible) and gets to around $24m for the frame, which is a terrific start for a (I presume) $5m entry.

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How Will The FIFA Scandal Impact The World's Most Popular Video Game?

It was announced on June 2nd that Sepp Blatter is stepping down. Who is he and why does that matter? Well, if you’re American, there’s a good chance you have no idea who Sepp is.  Most don’t. And that’s okay. So if you don't know, Sepp was the elected president of FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association ("F.I.F.A.").

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Inspiration from Ukranian Music, a Report Card, Walt Whitman, and More

Once a month (or so), I share a dozen things that have inspired me to greater personal, professional, and financial success in my life. I hope they bring similar success to your life.

1. Friedrich Nietzsche on stupidity

“The most basic form of human stupidity is forgetting what we are trying to accomplish.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

The greatest challenge I have as a person is to keep an eye on the larger things I want to accomplish in life while struggling through the flood of small things that life constantly tosses my way.

There are always little urgent things that need to be dealt with. There are always little distractions. There are always little problems. There are always little pleasures.

Those things can grab your attention. They can pull your eyes down from the horizon and fix them on the ground right in front of you, and when your eyes are on the ground in front of you, you walk aimlessly. You’re no longer headed toward that goal on the horizon.

Look up. Look far away. Do it as much as you possibly can.

2. Matthieu Ricard on the habits of happiness

From the description:

What is happiness, and how can we all get some? Buddhist monk, photographer and author Matthieu Ricard has devoted his life to these questions, and his answer is influenced by his faith as well as by his scientific turn of mind: We can train our minds in habits of happiness. Interwoven with his talk are stunning photographs of the Himalayas and of his spiritual community.

For me, there are several daily habits that do an incredible amount to lift my mood. A daily walk is one. A brief spell of meditation is another. A little bit of intense exercise is another. Playing with my children without distraction is yet another.

Yet, sometimes, I skip over those habits. I convince myself that there are other things that are more urgent or more important.

And my mood slowly spirals downward.

The thing I always need to keep in mind is that I get far more done if I make my personal happiness a priority. If I’m happy, I tend to work much more quickly and much more effectively. I tend to enjoy life more and be much more available to the important people in my life.

3. Carl Sagan on technology

“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.” – Carl Sagan

Every day, I see people using technologies that they don’t understand – the internet, Facebook, cell phones – to decry other technologies that they don’t understand.

Every single day, we rely on thousands of technological advances, the vast majority of which we don’t understand on any deep level. Everything from the food on our table to how we communicate with others is influenced by technologies that we don’t understand but merely trust.

Often, that trust is borne by accepting the extremely obvious benefits of the technology without considering the negatives that are often hidden within the technology. Or, in some cases, the reverse happens – we focus strongly on the negative and decry something with a lot of positive in it.

The thing is, almost all of us are very ignorant as to the benefits and costs of technologies, especially new ones. We are very poor at assessing risks. Many people refuse to believe scientific studies on the impacts of new technologies.

Few things scare me more than anger and destruction based on limited and biased knowledge. Sagan states that feeling very beautifully and succinctly.

4. DakhaBrakha’s Tiny Desk Concert

This video’s description explains it better than I could:

People always ask me, “What’s your favorite Tiny Desk Concert?” Well, right now it’s the one recently performed by DakhaBrakha. The creative quartet from Kiev, Ukraine make music that sounds like nothing I’ve ever heard, with strands of everything I’ve ever heard. There are rhythms that sound West African and drone that feels as if it could have emanated from India or Australia. At times, DakhaBrakha is simply a rock band whose crazy homeland harmonies are filled with joy. All the while, they play tight-knit tunes featuring accordion, drums, reeds and shakers while wearing tall, Marge Simpson-looking wool hats that made me jealous.

I want the world to see this Tiny Desk Concert more than any other right now. It’s refreshing to hear the power of acoustic music and the many worlds of sound still waiting to be explored. — BOB BOILEN

This music sounds like happy folk music from another planet… and then it gets stuck in your head.

5. A report card

Sarah and I have always wanted to strike a balance between congratulating our children on doing well in school and also encouraging them to improve in the area where they struggle the most. Working on an area that’s personally challenging is an incredibly powerful way to build character and also teaches you how to learn something that isn’t easy.

This year, we really focused on this with our two oldest children. One of them struggles with handwriting clarity, while the other struggles with organizational skills.

In both cases, when we received their end of the year report cards, we could see an obvious improvement throughout the year in those areas. In our school district, both of those areas receive a grade at the middle elementary level, and our children’s grades went up steadily in their challenging area throughout the year.

It is wonderful to see their successes in other areas, but it is by far the best of all to see the progress of their effort in an area that’s challenging to them.

If a seven year old and a nine year old living in my house can take on their weaknesses and succeed, why shouldn’t I?

6. Walt Whitman – A Summer Invocation

Thou orb aloft full dazzling,
    Flooding with sheeny light the gray beach sand;
Thou sibilant near sea, with vistas far, and foam,
    And tawny streaks and shades, and spreading blue;
Before I sing the rest, O sun refulgent,
    My special word to thee.

Hear me, illustrious!
    Thy lover me — for always I have loved thee,
Even as basking babe—then happy boy alone by some wood edge—thy touching distant beams enough,
    Or man matured, or young or old—as now to thee I launch my invocation.
(Thou canst not with thy dumbness me deceive.
    I know before the fitting man all Nature yields.
Though answering not in words, the skies, trees, hear his voice—and thou, O sun,
    As for thy throes, thy perturbations, sudden breaks and shafts of flame gigantic,
I understand them — I know those flames, those perturbations well.)

Thou that with fructifying heat and light,
    O’er myriad forms — o’er lands and waters, North and South,
O’er Mississippi’s endless course, o’er Texas’ grassy plains, Kanada’s woods,
    O’er all the globe, that turns its face to thee, shining in space,
Thou that impartially enfoldest all — not only continents, seas,
    Thou that to grapes and weeds and little wild flowers givest so liberally,
Shed, shed thyself on mine and me — mellow these lines.
    Fuse thyself here — with but a fleeting ray out of thy million millions,
Strike through this chant.

Nor only launch thy subtle dazzle and thy strength for this;
    Prepare the later afternoon of me myself — prepare my lengthening shadows.
Prepare my starry nights.

Summer brings little miracles every single year.

7. Peering through the long grass

There is a grassy field not far from my house. During the summer months, our family will inevitably wander over to this field and explore it.

The grass is often tall enough to easily disguise our children, particularly if they crouch. As Sarah and I look about, we can often see where they are hidden, sometimes by a glance through the grass and sometimes simply by a depression in the carpet of green.

Few things are more beautiful in summer than this.

Many thanks to A Guy Taking Pictures for this image.

8. Henry van Dyke on using your voice

“Use what talents you possess, the woods will be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” – Henry van Dyke

If you are afraid to write, don’t be. The world is made better by your writing.

If you are afraid to record and share music, don’t be. The world is made better by your song.

If you are afraid to make videos and share them, don’t be. The world is made better by your recording.

Sure, the vast majority of the stuff will never reach a high level of popularity, but if one person sees it or hears it or watches it and gets some value from it, then it was well worth doing.

9. Graham Hill on less stuff and more happiness

From the description:

Writer and designer Graham Hill asks: Can having less stuff, in less room, lead to more happiness? He makes the case for taking up less space, and lays out three rules for editing your life.

I’m really beginning to understand where this perspective is coming from. I sometimes feel like I have more stuff to deal with and maintain than I ever want to and that the vast majority of the value in my life comes from a pretty small amount of stuff.

I guess, on the whole, I feel like I’m continually headed in a “downsize” direction. I think the happiest I’ve ever been was when all of my possessions fit in a Rubbermaid tub (yes, that was true, once upon a time). I just didn’t have much stuff to worry about and could focus on other things.

10. Barbara Kingsolver – Hope: An Owner’s Manual

Look, you might as well know, this thing
is going to take endless repair: rubber bands,
crazy glue, tapioca, the square of the hypotenuse.
Nineteenth century novels. Heartstrings, sunrise:
all of these are useful. Also, feathers.

To keep it humming, sometimes you have to stand
on an incline, where everything looks possible;
on the line you drew yourself. Or in
the grocery line, making faces at a toddler
secretly, over his mother’s shoulder.

You might have to pop the clutch and run
past all the evidence. Past everyone who is
laughing or praying for you. Definitely you don’t
want to go directly to jail, but still, here you go,
passing time, passing strange. Don’t pass this up.

In the worst of times, you will have to pass it off.
Park it and fly by the seat of your pants. With nothing
in the bank, you’ll still want to take the express.
Tiptoe past the dogs of the apocalypse that are sleeping
in the shade of your future. Pay at the window.
Pass your hope like a bad check.
You might still have just enough time. To make a deposit.

Life will never be easy.

But it will always be great, if you let it be.

11. A wonderful animated summary of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits

This is from a channel that summarizes books on a variety of topics, but this video really stood out to me for two reasons.

First, Covey’s 7 Habits is a really good book. It’s full of thoughtful ideas about getting all of the spheres of your life in the right order. I’ve taken a lot of pieces from that book and adopted them in my own life.

For me, the chief idea that really changed my life was that of the idea of rocks and sand. Some things in our lives are rocks – they are the big important things, and they should be the first things we put into the jar of our life. Smaller things are pebbles and sand – they should be added later, to fill in the space around the rocks.

Second, the video itself is well-executed. It compresses the ideas in the book down to seven condensed and rather entertaining minutes without really missing anything too big.

Good material and good execution always catch my eye. This video remixes Covey’s source material really well.

12. Steven Pinker on optimism

“We will never have a perfect world, but it’s not romantic or naive to work toward a better one.” – Steven Pinker

I saw this on a bag at Chipotle a few weeks ago and I wrote it down on the first page of a fresh new pocket notebook that I had just started. For the next week or two, every time I opened that notebook, I saw that quote.

Every time I saw it, it challenged me a little. Am I focusing too much on the flaws in the world? Do I worry too much about how the solutions for a better world aren’t perfect and think too little about how they do help and how they are a step in the right direction?

The biggest mistake we can make as people is to insult and denigrate someone else who is striving for a better tomorrow. Even if we see their plan as flawed and imperfect, we must never, ever lose sight of the fact that someone is working to make the world a better place.

If you have anger for someone, save it for the person destroying the world, not the person trying to improve the world by following a path different than the one you would follow. Get angry at the people robbing billions from taxpayers, not the guy down the street with a different political focus than you who also wants a better tomorrow.

It is never bad to try to make tomorrow better.

The post Inspiration from Ukranian Music, a Report Card, Walt Whitman, and More appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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LegalZoom Sees Supreme Court Ruling As Tool To Challenge N.C. Bar

A challenge to the North Carolina bar's regulation of legal services in the state.

Source Forbes - Business http://ift.tt/1HS2OlI

Music Mavericks: Making Money Without The Majors

Source Forbes - Business http://ift.tt/1BRf4AI

Pandora Pays Music Makers Just 4% Of Its Total Income

As the prevalence and importance of the streaming music industry increases, there has been much discussion about fairness, with both sides of the argument chiming in with conflicting reports. Artists say they aren’t making much (if anything at all) from the plays of the music they created, while labels and streaming sites say that there is money there, and it is going to right places.

Source Forbes - Business http://ift.tt/1HbDhb5

Wall Street’s scariest problem

THEY’VE got one of the most highly sought after jobs in the world. But while the chance to make a lot of money is appealing, it’s proving too much for some young workers.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1GqVmD7

What Is Private Browsing, and Can it Protect You Online?

Using a private browsing session online — or going ‘Incognito’ on Google Chrome — can help conceal sensitive data and stored passwords.

It’s next to impossible to use the Internet without leaving a digital footprint of some kind, but private browsing can offer you some protection from prying eyes.

Private-browsing capabilities are built into the Internet browsers you use everyday, though sometimes they go by different names — for instance, Google Chrome has Incognito, and Internet Explorer has InPrivate mode. By using a private browsing session, you can keep your search history and other data somewhat secret. There are several more potential uses, which I’ll cover below.

However, you should know that private browsing is far from a silver bullet if you’re truly concerned about keeping your data safe online. Between Internet shopping, online banking, and the rise of cloud computing, our personal and financial details are ripe for the taking if they fall into the wrong hands. But is private browsing alone an effective hedge against data theft? Not likely — read on to find out why.

What Is Private Browsing?

Normally, every website you visit is recorded in your browser’s history. Your browser will remember the URLs of sites you frequently visit, files you’ve downloaded, data “cookies” that track your activity on certain sites, what you’ve typed into search engines, and any account log-ins you’ve decided to store.

Assuming you’re on a private computer, this can be very convenient. If you frequently visit certain pages, your browser may automatically fill in the URL as soon as you start typing. If you read something useful but can’t remember where you saw it a couple days later, a quick peek at your history will point you in the right direction. If you’re tired of remembering passwords, your browser can remember them for you.

Perhaps, however, someone else uses your computer and you’re uncomfortable knowing they’ll have access to such a complete digital footprint. If you use your browser’s private mode, all the information I listed above disappears as soon as you close your browser. Maybe you were surfing sites you’d be embarrassed to share, or maybe you were planning a surprise anniversary trip — either way, whoever hops on your computer next will likely be none the wiser.

Other Uses for Private Browsing

Keeping the websites you visit from prying eyes is probably the most common use for private browsing. However, there are other reasons you might want to use it. In fact, I use private browsing while researching articles for The Simple Dollar so that I’m not inundated with ads for loans, credit cards, or the like while I browse the web.

Here are some other ways private browsing can come in handy:

• Protecting yourself when you’re not on your own computer: Maybe you’ve forgotten to log out of Facebook — or worse, your online bank account — when using a public computer. When you use private browsing, you’re automatically logged out of any open accounts as soon as you end your browsing session. That can keep your information safe from an opportunistic data thief or an overly curious friend or stranger.
• Blocking sites from collecting your personal information: Your browsing history is so long and detailed that much of what you see online is targeted specifically for you. Amazon shows you products you may want to buy based on past purchases, and Google thinks it knows what you want to search for based on what you’ve looked for previously. If you’d like to “start fresh,” private browsing can let you do that.
• Making sure you’re getting the lowest price: Online retailers may vary prices partially based on data such as your location and browsing history. This is particularly common in the travel industry — that plane fare you’ve eyeballed may jump the next time you look simply because the airline wants to give you an extra kick in the pants to book it. Or if you live in a higher-income area, you may be shown a higher price than someone who’s looking at the same product across town. Private browsing can level the playing field.
• Override usage limits: Maybe you want to read another article on a news site, but you’ve hit your free-story limit for the month. Or perhaps you’re prohibited from downloading more than one set of grocery coupons. Private browsing may help you circumvent these limits if the sites use cookies to remember whether you’ve been there before.
• Log in to linked accounts at once: If you have several accounts on the same site, you can use private browsing to bring them both up at once. I can use private browsing to check my work and personal Gmail accounts simultaneously — otherwise, I have to sign out of one to check the other, or use two different browsers, such as Safari and Chrome.

Limitations of Private Browsing

Private browsing can help keep your digital tracks covered, but only to an extent. There are several ways your personal data is still up for grabs, especially if you do a lot of web browsing away from home. Here are three common limitations of private browsing:

Spyware and keyloggers

Private browsing won’t protect you from a range of malicious programs that could already be installed on your computer. The most common type, spyware, is typically installed without your knowledge. It can collect your personal data and even change your computer settings without your permission. You may have even installed it yourself, thinking you were installing something else — perhaps free software, or even what you thought was anti-virus software.

One particularly insidious type of spyware, keyloggers, records every character you type, whether it’s a chat session, an email, or the credit card number or password you just typed while making a purchase.

External network monitoring

A private browsing session will not protect you from anyone who is monitoring your activity externally. For example, even if you used a private browsing session to research an upcoming vacation while you were on the clock at work, your network administrator could still see what you were doing. The same goes if you’re online at school, the library, or the like — your requests are first funneled through those networks.

You’re not completely in the clear at home, either. Your computer accesses the web via your Internet service provider, and then its requests are funneled through the server of the website you’re trying to access. You can be tracked at both of these points.

Data theft via public networks

Just as private browsing can’t hide your tracks from the tech guys at work, it does nothing to keep your not-so-friendly neighborhood hacker from using a few simple tricks to gather your data when you use public Wi-Fi. Technically an external monitoring threat, data theft is a major risk for anyone using a public network to hop online.

There are a couple of main ways hackers can get your data when you connect online: One is by setting up their own legitimate-looking network and then recording everything you do once you connect. Another is by using “sniffing” software that extracts data while it’s traveling to or from the public router.

What Can Data Thieves Do With my Information?

If data theft sounds like your biggest concern after reading the previous section, you’re probably right. The Pew Research Center recently found that 18% of Americans recently reported that they’d had personal data stolen online. And data thieves can do a lot of damage, depending on the information they receive, including:

• Going on shopping sprees: When someone has your credit card number, they’re usually going to use it, and fast — perhaps before you even realize it’s been stolen. If they have your banking information, they can quickly drain your accounts.
• Committing tax, employment, or medical fraud: Someone who has your Social Security number and other information could file a fraudulent tax return in hopes of snagging a refund. They could also file for unemployment benefits in your name — this recently happened to a friend of mine, who discovered it was startlingly common as she talked to officials at the unemployment office. Data thieves can even use your insurance information to get medical care or prescriptions.
• Open new accounts in your name: Certainly, a data thief may apply for new credit cards in your name, but the possibilities are endless — they could also open bank accounts and bounce checks, apply for loans, and even open up new utility accounts as you. All of these things could trash your credit score.

Beyond Private Browsing: Other Ways to Protect Yourself

So if private browsing can’t keep you completely secure, what can? Unfortunately, there are no guarantees of total security in the Internet age, but there are several things you can do to help keep your data safe online.

Develop common-sense digital habits

One of the best defenses you have online is a healthy skepticism. Don’t download anything from a website you’re unsure of, click on links or attachments in suspicious emails, or click buttons on questionable pop-up windows. You should be particularly wary of free programs or files. All of these tactics are particularly helpful for avoiding spyware.

Similarly, the easiest and most obvious way to stay safe from data theft is to avoid using public Wi-Fi or any network that allows unfettered access. If you do need to surf the web at Starbucks, try to refrain from shopping, online banking, or anything else that could expose more sensitive data. And be sure to verify the network’s name before you connect, so that you don’t unwittingly hop onto a hacker’s similarly named network.

Keep your system updated and on guard

You know those updates that you keep ignoring because it’s not a convenient time to restart your phone or computer? Stop ignoring them! The same goes for updates to any software you have installed. Developers use updates to “patch” security vulnerabilities, so it’s crucial to stay current.

Your computer also has a built-in firewall that can help prevent some threats, but it can only do that if it’s on. Make sure by double-checking in your security settings.

Finally, a good anti-virus program can scan your computer for existing threats and prevent you from downloading new ones. Choose a program from a reputable dealer or site — unfortunately, some shadier-seeming free software is really just a front for spyware — and keep it updated.

Double-check for encryption

If you’re using a public network and insist on doing online shopping, banking, or something else that could leave important data vulnerable, pay careful attention to data encryption.

You want to see “https” instead of just “http” at the beginning of a URL when you’re on a site where you will input any potentially sensitive information. You may also see a green bar pop up by the site’s URL with a lock icon. This means the site is the real deal and that your information will be encrypted when it’s sent, so that hackers can’t see it.

Check out the HTTPS Everywhere browser extension, available for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, which automatically bolsters your security on any HTTPS-enabled site.

Use a virtual private network

Even if you use private browsing, anyone who has access to the network you use to connect to the Internet can potentially see what you’re doing and pin it to your Internet Protocol (IP) address, which can potentially be traced back to your router — and your address.

A VPN, or virtual private network, lets an external server act as a buffer between you and the Internet. Now, anyone who’s watching can only see the VPN’s IP address. Perhaps more importantly, your data is encrypted going to and from the VPN server.

You can use a VPN at home or on the road, so this is probably one of the safest ways to surf if you really need to use public Wi-Fi. Several VPN providers such as Private Internet Access or TorGuard will provide their layer of extra security for less than $10 a month — money well spent for anyone who is concerned about cybertheft.

Switch to a privacy-conscious search engine

Sure, you can use privacy mode in your regular browser, but there are options that offer more robust protection. One is DuckDuckGo, a search engine that doesn’t retain any data on its users.

That means that if you search for a particular term, you get the same exact results as another person who searches for that term. It may not sound particularly startling, but since our search results are typically influenced by our previous search history, location, and other data, it can be a big deal.

Consider a service that guards against identity theft

A service such as Identity Guard or LifeLock can help proactively protect you from identity theft in several ways: They monitor your credit reports, check public records for any new use of your Social Security number, and guard against online account takeovers, among other things. (They offer low-tech methods, too, including lost-wallet protection.)

And if your data is stolen, you’ll typically receive up to $1 million in identity-theft insurance, as well as access to experts who can help make things right. If you’re interested in such a service, check out The Simple Dollar’s guide to the best credit monitoring services.

Don’t Depend on Private Browsing for Online Privacy

Private browsing can help you keep your browsing history under wraps, but only in limited circumstances. It works best to cover your tracks if you’re concerned about other users of your computer or smartphone gaining access to your logged-in accounts or search history, or as a simple safeguard on a public machine. And in the event someone steals your laptop, they won’t have access to stored usernames and passwords if you’ve been using private browsing.

However, remember that private browsing is no guarantee against other kinds of snooping, whether it’s via spyware or monitoring from network administrators or others who can access your browsing history externally. It also provides little protection from online data theft, particularly when you send personal information over vulnerable public Wi-Fi networks.

That doesn’t mean you’re doomed to cybertheft if you need to buy some shoes while sipping your latte at your favorite coffee shop. However, there are steps you can take to lessen your chances. Those include making sure you send data only via sites with robust encryption, double-checking that you’re connecting to the right network, and even considering a virtual private network or identity-theft service for another layer of security.

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The Future Of TV Is Here. Can Cable Survive?

The cable business, as we have come to know it, will soon be a thing of the past.

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Africa's Richest Woman Injects $220 Million Into Portuguese Power Solutions Company

Africa’s richest woman Isabel dos Santos has reportedly completed the acquisition of a 65% stake in Efacec Power Solutions of Portugal after signing a sale contract for more than $220 million.

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Start a Location-Independent Business: 7 Skills You Can Teach Over Skype

Teaching is a great way to bring in some extra cash. When I was in high school, I taught piano lessons to younger kids after school and on the weekends — it was a great way to earn money as a teen, and I was able to help kids discover the joy of music.

Of course, when I was teaching piano lessons, I lived in a small town where you could walk anywhere you wanted to go in five minutes. Teachers who want to find students in sprawling urban areas often have a harder challenge; that $30 you earn for an hour-long lesson seems like a lot less money once you consider the hour-long commute it takes to get to your student’s house! Likewise, if you live in an out-of-the way area, you’re going to have a hard time getting students to come to you.

That’s where Skype comes in. Plenty of people are teaching music lessons, math lessons and more over Skype, and making good money doing it! When you teach lessons over Skype, you don’t need to worry about a commute; all you have to do is open up your laptop and get started.

What Can You Teach Over Skype?

The short answer is “nearly anything,” so here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Music Lessons

Whether you teach from the Faber beginning piano books or the Suzuki violin method, teaching music over Skype is a great way to help students learn the fundamentals of music.

How can you teach the physicality of music — posture, fingering, etc. — through a tiny laptop screen? The LA Times describes one Skype music teacher, Talc Tolchin, who uses multiple cameras to get the job done:

[The student’s] computer camera is aimed over her shoulder and Tolchin watches her left hand as it bops from sevenths to thirds. Tolchin has two cameras — one mounted on the ceiling so students can watch his hands, the other trained on his face.

You could also conduct the majority of your music lessons over Skype and meet once every other month for an in-person lesson. That way, your students get the best of both worlds.

2. Tutoring

You can teach everything from pre-calculus to SAT prep over Skype, and unlike music lessons, you don’t ever need to worry about meeting in person. Just open up your laptop and get ready to explain polynomial functions!

If you plan to tutor over Skype, it’s a good idea to set homework for your student to email you in between tutoring sessions. That way, you ensure your student is mastering the material even when you’re not around to help.

3. Mock Interviews

A lot of people get really nervous about job interviews. That’s where you come in. By setting up mock interview coaching sessions over Skype, you can help job seekers prepare everything from interview outfits to their ability to describe a situation where they successfully managed a conflict between co-workers.

This type of coaching program will require strong marketing skills; after all, parents often seek out music teachers or tutors for their kids, but you’re going to need to convince people to hire an interview coach for themselves. Take a look at other Skype interview coach websites, such as Barry Drexler’s interview coaching site, to see how these coaches market themselves.

4. Public Speaking

Public speaking is still one of our top fears. If you can help people overcome their discomfort with speaking in public, you’ve got a job opportunity. Use Skype to coach people on their delivery, their posture and the correct way to confidently address a crowd.

Check out Jezra Kaye’s public speaking coaching site to see how you can set up your own Skype coaching business. Notice how Kaye includes a monthly email newsletter and other goodies for potential clients — in this type of work, building rapport will help you stand out while establishing your expertise as a coach.

5. Dating Skills

Yes, you can teach dating skills over Skype! Help people learn how to make small talk, how to ask someone out and even how to behave during the date.

You’ll find a lot of dating coach Skype businesses online, so take a look at the competition and then figure out how to make your site attractive to potential dating clients. Pick a strategy that you think works for you; some sites are all about pickup techniques, while others, like Dr. Samantha Rodman’s dating sessions, are about communication skills and personal goals.

6. Organization

We’ve written before about how to make money from organizational systems like KonMari. Here’s one more way to make cash from your organizational skills: Take them to Skype. Use the camera feature to look into your clients’ homes and help them figure out what to keep, what to resell and how to clean up the clutter!

7. Pet Training

Want to help people understand their furry friends a little better? Become a Skype pet trainer. Since you’re working over Skype, you’re not directly training the pets; you’re teaching your clients to train their pets.

Don’t believe us? Take a look at our article about cat behaviorists who work over Skype to help families and felines. It helps if you have a pet certification before you get started, such as the animal behavior certification from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

How to Get Started

No matter what you plan to teach, take a look at our guide to setting up a tutoring business. You’ll want to create a website that explains your teaching program and qualifications and then begin marketing yourself to prospective clients. Sometimes it’s as easy as sending an email to your parent friends announcing that you’re starting a piano teaching business. Other times, it requires a little more marketing savvy.

How much can you earn? A cat behaviorist can earn up to $100 an hour. Barry Drexler charges $150 for a 90-minute interview coaching session. If you are able to prove what your coaching is worth, you can set your own price.

Don’t forget about referrals. Your first student is often the key to getting your second and third students. If you are a good teacher, expect to get some of your business through word-of-mouth, but don’t stop marketing! Plan to spend at least 50% of your work time promoting your Skype business until you get a full student roster.

If you need more help, there’s probably someone out there ready to teach you how to start a small Skype business — over Skype, of course!

Your Turn: Have you ever taken a class over Skype? What advice do you have for people who want to teach Skype classes?

Nicole Dieker is a freelance writer focusing on personal finance and personal stories. Her work has appeared in The Billfold, The Toast, The Write Life and Boing Boing.

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