Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Investing has become a no-brainer

It was about one year ago that a press release came across our desktop about how to make money in the stock market. Its pitch went something like this...

It is no secret that what separates the rich elite of the world from the rest of us is the knowledge of investing and making money through the stock market.

For years, the precious secrets that allowed people to make maximum returns on minimum risk have been closely guarded. But "The Newbie's Guide to Profitable Stock Investing," blows the lid off of these tenants and now makes them available to each and every person looking for financial solvency.

"I wanted to create an easy to ready, simple to understand guide that could help anyone achieve their financial dreams," said author Edward Moraz. "With 'The Newbie's Guide to Profitable Stock Investing,' I feel that I've achieved my goal and given the average person the key they need to unlock the golden gates of financial investing."

The book is sure to cause a sensation by simply outlining the basic tenants and well-kept secrets only the richest investors have known for years.

"Even if you've never opened the business section to your local newspaper, [the book] makes playing the stock market easy to understand," said Moraz. "Throughout history, the biggest obstacle stopping "regular people" from dabbling in investing is simply not knowing where to start. With this book, each and every would-be investor has a jumping off point so that they may realize their personal financial dreams."

All of this is now obsolete, we believe. The reason why is because of artificial intelligence. There are now software programs so smart and sophisticated they make investing a no-brainer. Any moron can plug in the stock-picking robot and start making money. Sure, these systems cost a few hundred dollars, but would that not be a worthwhile investment if it can lead to a steady income for yourself? For example, the promoters of a program called Forex Ambush 2.0 reveal how a single mother who had absolutely no previous experience or knowledge of investing is using their system to earn a steady $5,157 per month.

Another robotic system, Stock Assault 2.0 promises similar earnings, but it works using stock picks, whereas Forex Ambush is based on foreign exchange currency trading.

It's sure a different era now than it was less than twelve months ago, when you had to read a book to learn how to pick stocks. Now, you just pick the software and then sit back while the robots earn money for you.

Happy New World!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Newly Launched Site Will Pay Top Dollar for Gold

Gold Guys USA, a jewelry, precious metals, and scrap buyer, is proud to announce the launch of its new online site. Gold Guys USA has been in the precious metals salvage business for nearly 30 years and is now offering its expertise online. For consumers with unwanted gold jewelry, they now can take advantage of skyrocketing gold prices. The gold industry has benefited from the current economic crisis. For people looking to both sell and buy gold, GoldGuysUSA.com is the right place to cash in.

“With the current economy, people are looking for instant money making opportunities,” says Scott Rubin of Gold Guys USA. “Now, with the increase in gold prices, people can really turn their unwanted gold jewelry into good money.”

Instead of approaching the nearest pawnshop, people are invited to visit www.GoldGuysUSA.com, provide their postal address and the details of the items they wish to sell and within 24 hours can have cash on the way.

Gold Guys USA does advise however, hanging onto some pieces of old jewelry. Selling old jewelry as scrap may not be worth it, especially if the piece is well made. Gold Guys USA experts say gold sold as scrap loses its retail value by approximately 75% or more. To take advantage of the rising gold prices, they advise selling those special pieces as jewelry rather than scrap. The scrap value, they say, is the value of the metal alone and fails to take into consideration the artistry or antique value.

Some pieces of gold jewelry have little or no resale value at all, say Gold Guys USA advisors. Old class rings, used garden-variety wedding brands or a single gold earring barely have a resale value and would make good items to sell as scrap. Advisors say to get the jewelry appraised to find out its actual worth. Credentialed appraisers are available at both the National Association of Appraisers and the American Society of Appraisers sites. The consultation from the appraiser is chargeable and may range from $50 to $200 per hour.

Gold Guys USA say it is essential to find out if the old jewelry is worth a resale. The prices of gold are based on troy ounces of 24-karat or pure gold. The troy ounce contains 31.1 grams or 20 pennyweights. Daily gold prices are available on websites such as goldprice.org. Gold less than 24K does not count as 100% pure gold. 18Kgold is considered 75% pure, 14K is 58.3% and 10K is 41.7%. All gold jewelry above the 10K limit must have a karat stamp.

GoldGuysUSA.com buys gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, scrap jewelry, broken scrap jewelry, gold watches, diamonds, sterling silver, gold dental, rhodium and coins. To learn more, please visit www.GoldGuysUSA.com

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Are Low Carb Diets Bad?

We received a report about low carb diets this morning that suggests they may not be as good for you as we believed. The troubling thing is, the report knocking low carb diets comes from one of their competitors - a company that sells exercise equipment. Could there be a conflict of interest here?

America's fixation on low carb diets has been shown to be ineffective over the long term for dieters however study results released today suggests it may have harmful effects on brain function as well. The study out of Tufts University focused on women aged 22 to 55 engaging in low carb diets similar to the Atkins Diet. Participants were found to have significantly diminished memory scores than the control groups consuming a normal diet. Their scores were lower when tested for reaction time and visual spatial memory. The decline was short lived however as memory scores returned to normal upon resumption of a regular balanced diet.

The nation's obesity epidemic has reached alarming levels despite decades of fad dieting, ignoring American's simultaneous trend toward decreasing amounts of physical activity.

Americans today burn 700 calories less per day than they did during the 1960's. Treadmill desks (http://www.trekdesk.com) offer a unique solution compared with fad dieting. They offer employees the chance to burn significant amounts of calories during the day, enhance their health and at the same time enhance cognitive function.

"Study after study is showing that supplements and diets are at best ineffective at attaining long term overall health and many pose potential harmful side effects as well, yet proven methods such as walking garner slight attention," states Steve Bordley, President of TrekDesk, a treadmill desk manufacturer.

TrekDesk, a full sized height adjustable workstation, fits any existing treadmill. Featuring a 72 x 34 inch surface area, there is sufficient space for any desk related task. Workers simply place their computer, phone, files, reading materials, pens and paper and coffee (yes, it has cup holders) and start walking. It is that simple.

Consistent daily walking is very effective in both long term weight loss and also offers significant increases in brain function. A study by the University of Illinois recently showed that memory can be increased by as much as 15% in just 6 months, due to increased blood flow to the brain and that the production of small blood vessels in the brain can be boosted as much as 43%.

"A variety of studies have already proven that walking greatly reduces the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's later in life as well as offering protection from major diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and diabetes," stated Bordley, "weight loss is an important additional bonus."

The trouble with most weight loss programs we see is they are too expensive. Why should you have to pay for eating less? We'd like to see more emphasis on how to lose weight for free.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Gemstone For Boosting Men's Sexual Prowess

Is there something about the possibility of sexual dysfunction or impotence that causes men to cease rational thought and go into genital panic mode? Why is it that so many men seem obsessive about what is happening (or not happening) between their legs?

We were recently having lunch in a Vietnamese Pho restaurant, and the waiter brought a small ramekin of what looked like green salsa. "Our special hot sauce," he said. "Good for men," he added, gazing down at the area below his belt buckle.

We recall being in Malaysia and seeing hand-lettered signs for birds' nest soup promoting its being good for solving "man" problems.

It was therefore not a big surprise when we saw on a website that there is a special gemstone being touted as having the power to increase a man's sexual energy. Green Tourmaline is said to make a man stronger and more powerful throughout his body -- and particularly with regard to his reproductive system. This, of course, is code for being like nature's Viagra. A stone that's good for the stones. It helps you get rock-hard...

We once had the mistaken notion that when more women got into politics there would be less of an emphasis of testosterone in the world, but then along came Margaret Thatcher and now Hillary Clinton.

We are reminded of a scene in the brilliant HBO series, Deadwood, when Calamity Jane admonished a group of men in the saloon saying she had more balls than all of them put together. Maybe she was wearing a necklace of therapeutic Green Tourmaline gemstones.

Friday, December 12, 2008

7 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for Social Security Benefits

Many people make the mistake of waiting too long to apply for Social Security disability benefits, according to Allsup which represents tens of thousands of people in the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) process each year.

"If you have become disabled and can no longer work for 12 months or longer, then you can and should apply for SSDI as soon as possible," said Ed Swierczek, senior claimant representative. "Many people make the mistake of thinking they need to wait until some specific time period has passed. This simply isn't true."

SSDI is a federally mandated insurance program overseen by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provides monthly benefits to individuals who are under full retirement age (age 65 or older) and who can no longer work because of a disability (injury, illness or condition) that is expected to last for 12 months or is terminal. Individuals must have paid FICA taxes to be eligible. More details are provided in the "SSDI Overview" on Allsup.com.

Reasons For The Confusion

There are a number of reasons people might think they need to wait to apply for SSDI benefits, Mr. Swierczek said. For example, claimants might think they have to wait one year after their disability to apply in order to confirm the disability is long term.

"There are a number of ways to confirm that a disability is long term, including a doctor's diagnosis and medical evidence of a chronic condition or disease, and terminal illness," he said. "You don't need to be disabled and unable to work for a year before you apply."

Another reason people may stall is that they already have private long-term disability insurance coverage. "There are a number of benefits to applying for SSDI, even if you have private LTD coverage," Mr. Swierczek said. "One of those is that it freezes your earnings record for the years you are disabled, which can protect your Social Security retirement benefits." More information on the benefits of SSDI can be found in the section, "Why You Want SSDI," on Allsup.com.

Another reason for the confusion is the five-month waiting period for receiving SSDI cash benefits.

As Mr. Swierczek explains, "If the Social Security Administration approves SSDI benefits for you, there is an automatic five full months waiting period required before you can in fact receive those cash benefits. But this five-month waiting period is just for receiving the benefits. It does not determine when you can apply."

Another time element that can confuse SSDI applicants is the 12-month time limitation for receiving retroactive benefits. This is important and carries risks of lost income for someone who waits a long time to apply for disability benefits.

Here's an example to illustrate:

§ Ms. Smith became disabled and quit working in August 2005.

§ She did not apply for Social Security disability benefits until July 2007.

§ She was awarded benefits in April 2008.

§ The Social Security Administration determines that Ms. Smith's date of onset is Aug. 12, 2005. However, she did not apply until July 2007. The SSA will only award benefits going back 12 months from that date (July 2007 back to July 2006).

§ This means Ms. Smith's benefits will not go any farther back. So if she had applied when she first became disabled--she would have been entitled to several additional months of benefits.

Don't Wait to Get Started

One important reason not to wait is that the process of applying for SSDI can take several months, and in some cases up to two years or more, to receive an award from the SSA.

"There are a number of factors in the delays to getting SSDI benefits. But it's most important for people to realize that once they quit work because of a disability, their situations are not likely to get easier -- but rather more complex," Mr. Swierczek said. "Apply for SSDI sooner rather than later because it puts you on the path toward a better future."

For more information about the SSDI process, including "Seven Mistakes to Avoid When Seeking Social Security Disability Benefits," (http://www.allsup.com/About-Us/News-Room/Current-News/Seven-Mistakes-to-Avoid-When-Seeking-SSDI.aspx?=PRW4) go to Allsup.com.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Identity Thefts Help Crooks Rob Banks by Phone

A new federal indictment in New Jersey demonstrates how anyone can rob a bank by telephone.

On November 24, 2008, the U.S. Attorney for the state of New Jersey announced the arrest of multiple defendants “charged with engaging in an international conspiracy to deplete millions of dollars from U.S. victims’ home equity lines of credit (HELOC) using personal information obtained through identity theft and unauthorized computer access.” Those named in the case are alleged to have stolen financial account information and funds by calling the bank and impersonating real customers from institutions such as Citibank, JPMorganChase, Wachovia, Washington Mutual, Bank of America, Navy Federal Credit Union, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union, the State Department Federal Credit Union, and dozens of other financial institutions. Those indicted are estimated to have successfully stolen more than $2.5 million from innocent customers of banks and credit unions, and have unsuccessfully attempted to steal approximately $4 million more.

According to the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendants “routinely traded confidential customer information such as Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden names, and online banking passwords over e-mail; impersonated bank customers through a process known as “social engineering”; used technology to disguise caller identification information; and changed customer address information in bank files. Proceeds from the scheme, which currently exceed at least approximately $2.5 million, made their way to conspirators in Japan, Nigeria, Canada, South Korea, among other countries.”

“The facts as alleged by the U.S. Attorney unfortunately demonstrate that the warnings in my repeated testimonies before the United States Congress over the last decade have come true,” said InsideIDTheft.info editor Rob Douglas. “Americans’ financial accounts are not being protected by the financial industry. Anyone can rob a bank by phone.”

Mr. Douglas, an expert on the use of social engineering and “pretext” phone calls designed to steal financial account information and funds by phone, has repeatedly warned of the threat posed to the financial services industry by social engineering and pretext calling. Douglas is also an expert on the use of Caller ID Spoofing, also allegedly used in the NJ case. His testimonies – both state and federal – have resulted in a number of laws being passed. Yet, Douglas notes that the majority of banks are still easy picking for identity criminals and there is not enough being done by the financial services industry to protect the security of Americans’ funds.”

InsideIDTheft.info advises all Americans to do the following to protect financial accounts:

1) Never provide account information in reply to an email or phone call purporting to be from your bank. Reputable banks will never ask you to provide information by phone or email.

2) Use alphanumeric passwords and PINS for both telephone and web account access. Never use mother’s maiden name or other biographical data.

3) Monitor all financial accounts on a weekly basis to spot fraudulent transactions.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Fast-Food Survey From Animal-Rights Group Should Be Ignored

Today, the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom warned health reporters and editors about a deceptive "survey" of fast-food meals being distributed by an animal rights group calling itself The Cancer Project. As reported in this morning's Los Angeles Times, the Cancer Project survey recommends meatless meals such as veggie burgers and cheeseless bean burritos as the only way to avoid eating "unhealthful" fast food.

Center for Consumer Freedom Director of Research David Martosko said: "It's important to distinguish animal rights propaganda from genuine health advice. This so-called Cancer Project is basically an offshoot of PETA. Nothing more."

The Cancer Project is led by Neal Barnard, a past president of The PETA Foundation. More than two-thirds of the Cancer Project's budget comes directly from the wealthy founder of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida. The Cancer Project's parent organization, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, has also received more than $1.3 million from PETA.

Earlier this year, The Cancer Project demanded that hot dogs be excluded from the National School Lunch Program. The single biggest study ever to examine meat and colon cancer diagnoses, a 2004 Harvard University project, found no link at all between the two.

Martosko added: "It's pure fiction to promote veggie burgers and bean burritos as a cancer-prevention strategy. This is just as much a part of the animal rights agenda as doing away with circus elephants and seeing-eye dogs. If you wouldn't take dietary advice from PETA, you shouldn't trust this 'Cancer Project' group either."

Interviews and reactions to The Cancer Project's survey are available. For a backgrounder on the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (The Cancer Project's parent group), see http://tinyurl.com/PCRM7things


Several successful drug-free, alternative treatments for cancer we have heard about that more than 2,000 people have used have been written about in a book that is now available online. The book is called "Natural Cancer Treatments." Click to learn more...

Monday, December 8, 2008

Forex Ambush 2.0 Review

This report focuses on Forex Ambush 2.0, a membership program that claims 100% accuracy on the foreign exchange currency trading information it provides. But what does that really mean? Does it guarantee 100% that you will make a profit with each and every trade you make? I would not be certain on that score.

From the looks of it, Forex Ambush 2.0 appears to be an offering from those same folks who brought you Stock Assault 2.0, an automated stock picking software program we told you about last month. There are similarities and differences between the two systems.

While Stock Assault 2.0 is downloadable software, Forex Ambush 2.0 is a membership site you join. When we visited their website, we read that in the future the subscription rate was going to be $197 per month, but for a limited time there was an introductory special where membership could be obtained for a one-time fee of $197 and no further charges.

Another thing we noticed was that there was an impressively long list of testimonials from people who had success using Forex Ambush, but presumably this was the first version and not version 2.0. We do not know what the difference between the initial offering and this upgraded incarnation may be.

Nobody should get involved in any kinid of an investment program thinking they are going to get rich quick and therefore are willing to bet the farm. On the contrary, investing does involve risk and nobody should invest more money than they can afford to lose. That being said, if Forex Ambush is being sold with a 60-day money back guarantee, and if they suggest you can start making money with as small an investment as $250, then perhaps this so-called artificial intelligence technology may be worth looking into more deeply.

Click for a more detailed Forex Ambush 2.0 Review

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Americans are in crisis preparation mode

As the year 2008 draws to a close, three categories of consumer merchandise are enjoying record sales volumes—firearms, precious metals, and emergency storage food. The automotive industry may be going into the toilet, but families are spending money on crisis preparedness. We believe this shows how worried and frightened the population has become.

Firearms dealers all over the USA are having a hard time keeping any inventory on hand for anxious customers. Reports are that guns and ammunition are selling at levels up to 50% higher than previous records.

The demand for gold has similarly erupted. The third quarter of 2008 showed global sales 45% higher than the quarter before, which itself set the previous high-water mark.

Survival gear and emergency food producers are shipping product as fast as they can get it through their facilities and onto the loading docks. Using packaging technologies that deliver shelf lives measured in years and even decades, producers of storage food are experiencing unprecedented demand today for their products.

Victor Rantala, owner of the crisis preparedness company Safecastle LLC, said: “Our business volume this year will triple over last year, and most of this increased activity has come in the last 3-4 months.

“By far, our best seller right now is Mountain House freeze-dried food. It stores for more than 25 years, it’s easy to prepare, and it tastes great. Outdoorsmen and adventurers consider it a preferred staple. Our customers, those who are looking at a future that looks very uncertain, see it as a way to lock in today’s prices and to ensure a level of peace of mind that is hard to otherwise put a value on.”

Said Rantala, “Anxiety and bearish outlooks abound wherever one cares to look today. There’s precious little a concerned citizen can do in reaction to global forces spinning out of control. But we all do what we can. At Safecastle, we’re particularly happy to give our customers this holiday-season opportunity to become better positioned for what looks like rough times ahead.”

One highly respected company to deal with for emergency preparedness supplies is American Family Safety. Among the products they offer are the very useful customizable emergency kKits for home and school.

They have an extensive list of supplies for specific emergencies, including earthquakes, hurricanes, blackouts and even terrorism attacks. Although we do not believe people should panic about the times of trouble that may be ahead, it is always better to be safe than to be sorry. That is why it may be a very wise idea to be invest in a Safety Kit so you can stay safe.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Can we negotiate our way ouf of this economic crisis?

Could it be that the era of confrontation is ending and a new time of sitting down and talking over one's differences is beginning? That is the way some people are thinking new president Obama will be dealing with conflicts both internally and internationally. Imagine meaningful negotiations between, for example, Israel and Palestine. Well, there is a new book that people are talking about that could help anyone in a negotiation situation.

Whether you're negotiating with an intimidating boss to keep your job, a big bank to keep your business alive, or an entire nation to keep it moving forward, one of America's best-selling new books has answers you'll need this holiday season.

In ''Negotiating with Giants: Get What You Want Against the Odds,'' negotiation expert and Harvard MBA Peter Johnston relays dozens of real-life David & Goliath stories from across history, surfacing lessons we can all use to handle the growing number of giants in our personal and professional lives. Combining Wall Street smarts with sympathy for the little guy, Johnston hits a nerve with millions of Americans who face a faltering economy that produces new giants every day. The author's acclaimed book tackles our most challenging negotiations and conflicts, laying out unique strategies and concrete steps for negotiating everything from messy divorces and brutal hostage-takings to deals with hulking business titans such as Wal-Mart.

"If you feel like David looking up at Goliath, this insightful and entertaining book is now your best weapon - for individuals, entrepreneurs, smaller organizations and smaller nations," says Mark Edwards, a successful international business executive.

Find out more at www.negotiatingwithgiants.com

''Negotiating with Giasnts'' has been featured in media worldwide, including CNN, PBS, FOX, Business Week and Oprah & Friends, with Johnston responding to questions about mortgages, credit cards, personal relationships and the role that giants have played in the current economic meltdown. Reviewers have unanimously praised the book's stories and down-to-earth advice:

"Highly readable." - The National Post

"'Negotiating with GIANTS' has an almost folksy style that easily carries the reader through the six chapters ... With Johnston's book in hand, readers have some powerful ammunition they can use to fight and win." - The Chronicle Herald

"Very valuable." - CNN News, Issue #1

"One of the world's leading negotiation experts changes how we should be thinking about our most challenging negotiations and conflicts." - Jules B. Bloch, LLB, Professional Arbitrator

"Informative and engaging." - Embassy Magazine

We wonder if this book could help people negotiate their relationships back together. We have a friend who keeps telling me she needs to find a way to get back with my ex boyfriend.