Mindconnection eNL, 2006-09-17

Past issues

In this issue:

1. Product Highlights
2. Brainpower tip
3. Time tip
4. Finance tip

5. Security tip
6. Health tip/Fitness tip
7. Miscellany
8. Thought for the day

This particular model is representative of the 800-series. The flip-open 800-series pocket translator is just amazing. Click on it and read about it.

Discontinued.

Nothing has changed in over 100 years. It's not that newspapers continue to get the story 100% backwards. It's that the "reporters" deliberately go out of their way to lie about what they are allegedly reporting on.

View this video: http://www.aish.com/movies/PhotoFraud.asp

People tend to follow time structuring techniques at (or close to) one of two extremes: completely structured or not structured at all.

• Completely structured. This is the person who can't breathe without consulting a Day Planner, PDA, or other scheduling device. Such a person is constantly reacting to his or her schedule, instead of controlling it.
   
• Not structured at all. This is the person who doesn't set time aside for important things. Such a person is constantly reacting to the schedules and demands of others, rather than deciding what to do and doing it.

If you structure your time completely, you leave no room for such things as creativity, spontaneity, and other benefits that come from "free time." You are also under constant stress to conform to the schedule.

If you fail to structure your time or are not structured enough, things still get done. But they get done usually in more of a rush and that means less quality and more stress.

When you go about the task of structuring your time, leave some cushion in there. Allow for emergencies, yes. But also allow for time where you have nothing planned. It is in this time that people tend to do their best work solving problems, exploring new ideas, tending to relationships, or just being fully human.

If you feel out of control and can't seem to schedule anything around all of the unexpected demands on your time, then let those demands fit around your schedule instead.

If you feel out of control because your schedule leaves you exhausted, try exerting a bit less control via your schedule.

Remember, there is no law saying you have to get everything done. What really matters is that you are "completely there" when you are doing something. If your day is analogous to trying to fit 55 gallons into a 50 gallon container, remember that the container can't change. Your only option is to put less into that container. Structure your time accordingly.

One reader wrote that this whole discussion doesn't apply to him, because Medicaid and Medicare would cover any needs he would have. Before we delve into the latest installment on this topic (which the "mainstream" media consistently get wrong, just as they do with any other topic), let me address that. Assuming you live in the USA, this applies to you. If you live in another country, the details will be different.

These programs are already in very deep doo-doo. And it isn't just because they have been so grossly mismanaged. If you look at the demographics (huge boomer population headed for dependency on these programs) and the economics (enormous federal debt), you have to wonder where the money will come from to fund these programs even a decade from now. The typical American already pays nearly 80% of his/her income in taxes (if you count the hundreds of different taxes altogether). So, yet another tax increase isn't going to make up the shortfall.

Depending on the government for anything is just asking for trouble. It's not because govt workers are stupid. In fact, many (if not most) of them are fairly sharp. The problem is the entire system is trying to please too many people and so it ends up pleasing almost nobody. From where I sit, the biggest problem is the typical lawmaker who is "elected" to "represent" you.

Let me sum it up this way. "Your" Congressman and "your" senators make somewhere around $180,000 a year. They don't pay SS tax on that. In addition to this salary, they have huge opportunities to make boatloads of money (such as appropriating highway funds to land they recently bought). Just look at how many folks went into "public service" fairly broke and became multi-millionaires in time for re-election.

These people have no idea what it's like to be in your shoes. Depending on them to legislate in your interests is foolhardy, at best. So if you think Congress will "save" Medicaid or Medicare, then you are really stepping out on a limb.

Your only rational choice is to assume the government that leaves you with about 20% of the fruits of your labor during your entire working life isn't going to ensure you have a posh retirement--or even an adequate one.

I'm not saying everyone should have long term care insurance--I addressed who should and should not, in earlier installments of this series.

But if you are buying LTC, pay attention to the Fixed and Adjustable elements so you don't get entirely ripped off.

Fixed elements

These are the same basic things most insurance policies require. Your age, marital status, health history, and so forth. Look for where the policymaker provides discounts. Many "experts" advise buying LTC as early as possible.

I don't personally think that's correct. Don't be pushed into buying a product you don't need, just because you might save money by buying early. If you have exceptionally good health habits, you probably won't need LTC at all. Cross that bridge when you come to it. On the other hand, if you abuse your body, then buying LTC should be a "top of mind" project for you.

Adjustable elements

These are the things that can really trip you up. I think it's here that LTC sales reps can often be downright predatory (or, in the case of some, extremely helpful).

Look at these factors:

• Benefit length. For how long would you need nursing home care? This varies from "unlimited" to something short like a year. For very healthy people, a stay of a year or even less would be adequate. You may read that the average stay is about 30 months, but that's an average--that doesn't mean "typical." Some people stay in their own homes past age 100, so don't get caught up in age-related sales pitches. What matters is your likelihood of staying healthy and relatively independent.
   
• Elimination period. This is much like a deductible. It's how many days you'll have to pay for your care before the policy starts paying. You can waste a lot of money trying to get a shorter elimination period. Remember, it's long term care.
   
• Inflation protection. This is critical. The US federal gov't pays for the excesses of Congress by inflating the supply of money, which causes each existing dollar to lose value. This is why a World War II dollar is worth only 3 cents in 2006. Count on annual inflation of about 5%, regardless of the propaganda put out by the Federal Reserve or any other party. Inflation is a form of theft, and it has proved too lucrative to be abandoned now. It's been institutionalized as a way to separate you from your hard-earned money without actually being called a tax. Some LTCs use compound inflation, others don't. Beware the higher cost of paying for compound inflation protection--it may chew up more of your funds than the inflation itself.
   
• Period of maximum cost. Most LTC policies will pay a maximum per day or maximum per month. Before you buy an LTC policy, actually visit some nursing homes and decide how much you want to spend. Tip: Cheap isn't the way to go.
   

As usual, I want to close this coverage of long-term care insurance by pointing out that your health is a much more sound investment than any insurance policy. You might eventually need the insurance, but don't conduct yourself in such a way as to make that a certainty. See http://www.supplecity.com for free articles on taking care of your body so it can, in turn, take care of you and your finances in the long-term.

1. Elect a pro-crime legislature.
2. Stay silent while that legislature mandates that only criminals can have guns.
3. Pay $600 for ADT to install a security system in your home.
4. Pay $49.95 for montlhy ADT fees.
5. When your home is broken into because the ADT system advertises there's something to protect, dial 911.
6. Wait 45 minutes for the police to show up.
7. Spend two hours in the hospital emergency room.
8. Spend more time being drilled by cops so they can fill out an asinine report.
9. Spend the next 6 months wrangling with the insurance company.
10. Resolve to use common sense and arm yourself so this doesn't happen again, noting that in 9 cases out of 10 the defending homeowner never needs to fire a single shot. The mere presence of the weapon is sufficient for protection.

Implementation of Step 10 is possible only if your brain is not organically deficient. This is very unlikely if you read the NY Times or engage in other brainwashing activities along those lines.

This article explains why a greens-based diet is so powerful. If you want to head off degenerative diseases and win the "battle of the bulge" today, this article is a "must read."

1. Research indicates that plants grow healthier when they are stroked. Politicians seem to think the same thing about taxpayers.
    
2. Help U.S. Marines: http://www.mypersonalfitnesscoach.com/supportourmarines.html .
    

3. See: https://www.mindconnection.com/main/specialoffers.htm. It has some great offers that are worth following up on--such asgasoline offers. I especially like this one: Free special offer for people who are tired of not sleeping. Visit QualityHealth to get your free special offer and get the sleep you need.
    

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