"Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold"-Proverbs 8
"people have power has a much as we give them"-unknown
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. www.gospelspots.com"
"Love of Money
3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."-1 Timothy 6
Gambling...
"Warning to Rich Oppressors
1Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you."-James 5:1-6
"..• 93 treatment providers in 111 locations throughout the state are registered with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to provide outpatient treatment. ..
"
Nationally recognized leader in the treatment and recovery of individuals and families suffering from the effects of compulsive gambling and chemical ...
Nation:
Bible
What is a Biblical perspective on gambling?
"Pastor Scott Richards holds a Bible Q&A session at Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson AZ"
'..# Pathological and Problem Gamblers are much more likely than others to have problems with drinking, drugs and smoking, and to suffer from depression. (National Council on Problem Gambling)
# There is also a strong link between suicide and pathological gambling. (National Council on Problem Gambling)..
"..A U.S. News & World Report computer analysis of 55 counties that got casinos between 1990 and 1992 found that the 4 percent increase in new businesses in these counties matched that for the rest of the nation, leading to the conclusion that gambling does not generate economic expansion in the areas in which it operates.
The fastest growing industry in the world is Indian gambling. There are 150 Indian casinos in the U.S. as of May 1997..
"Myth: People can generally win their money back if they have a losing streak.
stay in business? The fact is that gamblers lose far more money than they win in these places.
Fact: This is simply not true and casinos exist because people don't win their money back. Think about it: how long would a casino that paid out more money than it took in be able to stay in business? The fact is that gamblers lose far more money than they win in these places...
GLOBAL
Brazilian trio get 40 years for slayings
By STAN LEHMAN, Associated Press Writer (yahoo news)
Sat Jul 22, 8:05 AM ET
"SAO PAULO, Brazil - A wealthy young woman, her lover and his brother were convicted Saturday in the deaths her parents, a crime that riveted Brazil with a tale of love across rigid class lines. Each was sentenced to about 40 years in prison.
Manfred and Marisa von Richtofen were beaten to death at their home in a wealthy district of Sao Paulo on Oct. 30, 2002.
Manfred von Richtofen, the great nephew of the World War I German ace known as the Red Baron, and his wife disapproved of their daughter's relationship with Daniel Cravinhos, who is from a lower-middle-class family.
Prosecutors said Suzanne von Richtofen, Cravinhos, and his brother Christian plotted the murder because they wanted the couple's estate, valued at $920,000.
"The three, acting in cold-blooded fashion, plotted and carried out the murder of the von Richtofen couple out of greed," Chief Prosecutor Roberto Tardelli told the jury on Friday.
Prosecutors said Richtofen, 22, let the brothers into the house late at night and checked to make sure her parents were sleeping. Then the brothers sneaked into the bedroom and bludgeoned them to death with iron bars.
The house's library was ransacked to make it look like a break-in and Daniel Cravinhos and Richtofen went to a motel to fabricate an alibi, police said.
The brothers, who confessed to the crime, took some $7,000 from the house. Investigators were led to Christian Cravinhos when he purchased a motorcycle the day after the murder, paying for it with 36 $100 bills.
Richtofen was driven by a desire to "get her hands on the money and assets her parents had worked so hard to obtain," Tardelli said. She "wanted her freedom and her independence without having to work for it."
Defense attorneys were expected to appeal. Richtofen's lawyer, Mauro Octavio Nacif, tried to convince jurors that she did not orchestrate the killings.
"If Suzanne had not met Daniel, would her parents still be alive today?" he asked. "Of course they would. This crime was committed only because Daniel wanted to. He was the only one with a motive � money."
The lawyer for the Cravinhos brothers blamed Richtofen. "The only person responsible for all this is that young lady," Geraldo Jabur said, pointing to her.
More than 200 people packed the courtroom for the final session, which ended early Saturday.
During the five-day trial, Daniel Cravinhos, 25, and Christian, 30, claimed Richtofen persuaded them to kill the couple because she said her parents often mistreated her. Daniel Cravinhos said her father tried to sexually molest her, but Richtofen denied it.
Richtofen accused her estranged boyfriend of threatening to leave her if she did not help kill the couple.
"I couldn't resist his spell. He was like a God for me," said Richtofen, adding Daniel was her first lover.
"He once told me to imagine how wonderful it would be to live with him without the presence of my parents," she said. "A few months later, he told me the time had come to get rid of my parents, and if I didn't follow him, he would abandon me."
___
Associated Press writer Tales Azzoni contributed to this report.
"
1Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'
3"The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg� 4I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'
5"So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
6" 'Eight hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,' he replied.
"The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'
7"Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?'
" 'A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,' he replied.
"He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'
8"The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
13"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.
"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."-Job 1:21
"3 Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream... "
"pride comes before a fall" ( bible verse-Proverbs 16:18)
"....16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. 18 They confronted him and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God."
19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD's temple, leprosy [c] broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the LORD had afflicted him.
21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house [d] —leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
22 The other events of Uzziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field for burial that belonged to the kings, for people said, "He had leprosy." And Jotham his son succeeded him as king."
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Health Issues: Skin
A group calling itself "Occupy Morris" marched down Main Street in Morris Wednesday afternoon."...A group calling itself "Occupy Morris" marched down Main Street in Morris Wednesday afternoon.
The group gathered on the campus mall at the University of Minnesota, Morris and marched through downtown Morris.
There were approximately 20 participants in the march.
This is the second march through Morris organized by the group.
A news release from Andrew Showalter, a UMM student who organized the marches, states: "The 99 percent of us who aren't sharing in this prosperity are fighting back across the country and the world, and now the movement has come to Morris. Wednesday, November 9, at 4:30 PM, we will be meeting on the University of Minnesota, Morris Mall and marching through Morris, joining our sisters and brothers across the nation in fighting back against those who to seek to oppress us for a more just economy and a more just country."..
"ST. PAUL, MN—Late last night, a federal trial jury convicted Thomas Joseph Petters, 53, of Wayzata, Minn., of orchestrating a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme. The verdict followed a month-long trial before U.S. District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle in the U.S. Courthouse in St. Paul, Minn. Specifically, Petters, who was originally indicted in December 2008, was found guilty of 10 counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and five counts of money laundering...
*see Scams
"A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS investigation gives new meaning to the term "flying solo."
Xcel Energy employees fly on private jets, that some days, are nearly empty and you pay millions for it.
When a tip caller questioned the number of times Xcel flew its lear jets we started tracking the flights and the cost to you.
We found Xcel employees were encouraged to fly the luxury jets, even as the company asked to raise your rates.
While you've been pinching pennies, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has been watching Xcel Energy executives flying on, not one, but two company lear jets.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS tracked the planes for a year--600 flights mostly between St. Paul and Denver.
The lear jets seat 10 to 12 passengers each.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS wanted to find out just how many people were on board, so we watched arrivals and departures over several weeks at Xcel's St. Paul airport hangar.
On Oct. 20, .two passengers get off a plane that arrived from Denver.
The very next day, planes made two trips.
One arrived with only the two-person flight crew aboard.
Day after day, we saw ratepayer money being taken for a ride.
In a one-week period, we counted only 20 passengers on 11 flights that could have carried as many as 110 passengers.
Former Minnesota public service commissioner Kris Sanda said, "It's ridiculous and if I were commissioner I would be all over this."
For nine years Sanda made sure Minnesotans were getting a fair deal from utility companies like Xcel.
When she saw the video of the the planes she said, "It is very shocking to me as a former commissioner in Minnesota, that a utility as well known as NSP/Xcel would have two lear jets in this economy, ridiculous."
What seemed ridiculous to Sanda, seemed unbelievable to Xcel customers who have seen the company ask for and get five rate increases in Minnesota and five other states in the past year.
Customer Michelle Cardinal said, "I mean they are asking for increases but they are flying. That's money, that is my money that is paying for that, for them to fly aircraft empty."
Xcel Energy's two major bases of operations are Minnesota and Colorado.
A check of property records showed three top executives own homes in both states.
And, in a recent letter to stockholders Xcel CEO Richard Kelly wrote trips back and forth for top executives "are not considered personal travel."
The company's flight department has a $5.8 million budget.
Xcel told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS their planes flew 809 times last year. Xcel told the Star Tribune those flights averaged five passengers. So using Xcel's own numbers, it costs an average of $1434 to fly one person one way on one of the planes.
We checked airline rates. There are 15 flights to Denver from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport daily. Some of the flights cost as little as $97. We found first-class seats for as little as $694.
Just last week, Xcel asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to raise your gas rates by $16.2 million.
Last year, use of corporate jets raised a red flag in a rate increase request in northern Minnesota. That's when the state reprimanded Minnesota Power, the utility for cities including Duluth. The state called corporate aircraft "an executive perk" which "ratepayers struggling through an economic crisis should not be required to fund."
What the 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS investigation has uncovered will be reviewed by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office as it reviews whether Xcel gets its rate increase.
Rep. Keith Ellison said, "It seems to me that there is a complete lack of corporate responsibility gong on here."
Ellison wants state regulators to examine how and why Xcel uses its planes.
More than 120,000 Minnesota households, including many in Ellison's Fifth Congressional District, get financial help from the federal government to keep their heat and lights on.
Ellison said, "It is disturbing because look they are a public utility and they have a public charge they have a monopoly and therefore have some public accountability."
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS asked Xcel executives who gets to use the planes and if there is a policy.
Kate Noble said, "I think it is pretty much if you have a meeting in Denver you try to get on the corporate jet first and then try an airline."
But, when she saw the video of planes that fly almost empty, Noble said, "It surprises me that they would fly it without anyone on board."
Xcel turned down our request for an on-camera interview, twice.
Instead the company emailed us a statement saying the planes are available for "business-use only."
In a search for a more complete answer, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS sought out Xcel executive Judy Poferl to ask her why planes fly near-empty so often.
Poferl said, "I think we are responsible in how we we use corporate aircraft. I think it's a good use of, it improves our efficiency."
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS traveled to Washington, DC to speak face-to-face with Xcel CEO Richard Kelley. He declined to appear on camera, but he said he would be surprised if the planes flew with only a few people on board.
He turned down an offer to view the video.
Next month Xcel will be in front of state regulators asking for a natural gas rate increase.
If approved, the increase could be included in your January bill." Minn. bill would link utility rates to travel spending, Posted at: 02/17/2010 9:59 PM | KSAX.com
By: Bob McNaney and Becky Nahm "A bill aimed at protecting Minnesotans from funding utilities' lavish expenses was proposed following a 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS investigation of Xcel Energy.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS found Xcel Energy was using two lear jets to shuttle people between its Denver and Twin Cities locations while at the same time asking for permission to increase its rates. The investigation revealed the jets were often nearly empty and showed seats on commercial jets would have been cheaper.
Wednesday the House Energy Finance and Policy Division held a hearing on proposed legislation that would require utility companies to disclose use of corporate aircraft and entertainment expenses before asking to raise rates.
The Attorney General's office supports the bill.
Kermit Fruechte from the Attorney General's Office said, "That part of the bill is about transparency, transparency for ratepayers and transparency for the regulators."
Bill Stamets also from the Attorney General's office said utilities who want to recover travel and entertainment expenses would be required to include those expenses in their initial filing.
He said, "We'll examine then whether these are reasonable and necessary for the provision of utility service and whether the rate payer should be paying for these."
Xcel officials have defended their use of their corporate jets.
Xcel Energy attorney Chris Clark told lawmakers, "I think our shareholders recognize our corporate aviation department is actually one of the many tools we use to run our business effectively."
The House energy committee will continue discussing the bill next week."
102 Richard Schulze 3.4 66 Edina, MN Best Buy
114 Carl Pohlad 3.1 92 Minneapolis, MN banking
135 Cargill MacMillan Jr 2.8 80 Wayzata, MN inheritance
135 Whitney MacMillan 2.8 78 Minneapolis, MN inheritance
149 Glen Taylor 2.7 66 Mankato, MN printing
204 Barbara Carlson Gage & family 2.2 65 Minneapolis, MN Carlson Cos.
204 Marilyn Carlson Nelson & family 2.2 68 Minneapolis, MN Carlson Cos
297 Stanley Stub Hubbard 1.6 74 Lakeland, MN DirecTV
"..10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business...-James 1:10
"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The gap between the rich and the middle class is larger than it has ever been due to the bursting of the housing bubble.
The richest 1% of U.S. households had a net worth 225 times greater than that of the average American household in 2009, according to analysis conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal think tank. That's up from the previous record of 190 times greater, which was set in 2004....
America's Disease is Greed
by Andrew Greeley Published on Friday, August 20, 2004 by the Chicago Sun Times
"
The most serious spiritual problem in the country today is reckless and untrammeled greed. Greed caused the disgraceful corporate scandals that fill our newspapers. Greed is responsible for crooked cops and crooked politicians. Greed causes the constant efforts to destroy unions that protect basic worker rights.
Greed has produced rash tax cuts that have given money to the rich and in effect taken it away from the poor. Greed has led to the immigration policy in which hundreds of poor men and women die every year as they struggle across the desert for the jobs that el norte promises them. Greed accounts for the efforts to take profitability out of the pensions and health insurance of working men and women. Greed is responsible for the fact that so many Americans have no health insurance and the fact that the recent reform of Medicare was a fraud. Greed causes newspapers to overestimate their circulation.
Greed is responsible for the obscene salaries of CEOs. In the '90s the ratio of CEO compensation to average workers' compensation was 250 to 1, meaning that the boss earned on his first day of work during a year as much as the worker did in a whole year. In European countries the ratio is closer to 100 to 1. Recent estimates put the current ratio at 500 to 1 -- the boss makes as much before lunch as the worker does all year. Greed is the cause of the high wages paid to the bosses even if the company is failing.
.."
"Quotes, facts, and Biblical passages on the topic of money. Produced by Revelation Video Productions. For high quality, low-cost video worship backgrounds, please visit us at http://www.1revelation.com"
Comedy
Ted DiBiase featured on Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous
"WWF villain Ted DiBiase "The Million Dollar Man" and his bodyguard Virgil featured on Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous hosted by Robin Leach. This was from 1988. Many years later I was able to meet Ted DiBiase and he told me the entire interview was fake (obviously) and filmed at one of Vince McMahon's homes."
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Sports-Wrestling-Pro, Fighting, etc...
"(CNN) -- A spirited and leaderless protest in the Wall Street section of New York that started last month has inspired a growing number of demonstrations acoss the world.
The protests, dubbed Occupy Wall Street, began on September 17 as hundreds of people descended on the streets of Manhattan's financial district. Since then, the movement has spread to dozens of other cities. And, on October 15, the movement went global with protests in dozens of countries.
The movement, which is modeled after social-media-driven demonstrations in the Middle East, aims to raise awareness about the role financial institutions played in the continued economic downturn affecting the world markets, and to show their discontent at the lukewarm attempts to prosecute those at fault. Demonstrators are also rallying against the state of the war in Afghanistan, the state of the environment, and a wide array of other domestic and international issues.
Occupy protests spread worldwide: Read more on CNN.com
Are you attending or covering the protests in Wall Street? Have you witnessed the marches, sit-ins, or arrests taking place? Explore the iReport submissions above, and send us your photos and videos to add to the timeline.
"
"
Bill White: What are you supposed to do when the ones with all the power ... Movie Connections: Featured in "HBO First Look: North Country (#12.23)" (2005) more ... The over-emotional finale is also questionable (were these filmmakers ... Does the film show all sides and give both the men and the women a fair shake ...
"...Again, according to our own research, just five months after Kennedy was assassinated, no more of the Series 1958 "Silver Certificates" were issued either, and they were subsequently removed from circulation. Perhaps the assassination of JFK was a warning to all future presidents not to interfere with the private Federal Reserve's control over the creation of money. It seems very apparent that President Kennedy challenged the "powers that exist behind U.S. and world finance". With true patriotic courage, JFK boldly faced the two most successful vehicles that have ever been used to drive up debt:"
Executive Order 11110, John F Kennedy Vs The Federal Reserve
"..President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 and the United States Notes he had issued were immediately taken out of circulation. Federal Reserve Notes continued to serve as the legal currency of the nation. According to the United States Secret Service, 99% of all U.S. paper "currency" circulating in 1999 are Federal Reserve Notes..."
"...Presidential Executive Order 11,110 is quite infamous among conspiracy buffs. Jim Marrs, author of Crossfire: The Plot that Killed Kennedy, writes that the order instructs the Treasury secretary to issue about $4.2 billion in silver certificates as a form of currency in place of Federal Reserve Notes.1 Written by John F. Kennedy, Marrs also speculates this order was part of a larger plan by Kennedy to reduce the influence of the Federal Reserve by giving the Treasury more power to issue currency. The order wassigned June 4, 1963. A few months later, of course, Kennedy was killed, and conspiracy theorists hypothesize a link between the murder and E.O. 11,110. They argue that the Federal Reserve was somehow involved in the assassination to protect its power over monetary policy."
" * United States Notes - How they are vastly superior in every way to the Federal Reserve Notes which you currently carry in your wallet.
* How the nation, the state, and you can have their wealth increased by 40% through the replacement of Federal Reserve Notes by United States Notes.
* How Federal Reserve Notes cheat and swindle both you and your children of your labor and savings.
* How, if you are An American working in America, there is no law which requires you to either file a tax return or to pay income tax.
* What the real reason is that you pay a personal income tax - Hint: It is NOT to support the nation.
* How United States Notes will stop the need for 2 parents to work to support a family, will stabilize prices, will secure your retirement savings, and much much more.
* How state budget deficits, such as the current $30 billion + deficit in California, can be solved both with United States Notes and a additional " Matrix " covered up secret known as CAFR's - Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.
"
Milton Friedman - Greed
"In his book "Capitalism and Freedom" (1962) Milton Friedman (1912-2006) advocated minimizing the role of government in a free market as a means of creating political and social freedom.
An excerpt from an interview with Phil Donahue in 1979."
'...In an exclusive interview with Yahoo! News and The Huffington Post, he credited his father for teaching him how to live, and explained that all parents can make a "better human being" by offering their children unconditional love:
The power of unconditional love. I mean, there is no power on earth like unconditional love. And I think that if you offered that to your child, I mean you’re 90 percent of the way home. There may be days when you don’t feel like it, it’s not uncritical love, that’s a different animal, but to know you can always come back, that is huge in life. That takes you a long, long way. And I would say that every parent out there that can extend that to their child at an early age, it’s going to make for a better human being.
.."
"Warren Buffett is worth $45 billion. That wealth isn't only a factor of savvy investing and good business — the "Oracle of Omaha" is also known as a penny pincher. Buffett still lives in the same Omaha, Neb., home he bought in 1958 for $31,500.
Follow his frugal formula, and you too may wind up with a lot more money than you ever dreamed.
This week Financially Fit covers five tips to build wealth and success.
1. Live Below Your Means.
Being wealthy isn't just a product of your salary or investment prowess; it's learning how to save.
"We can make a lot of money, you can make a little bit of money, but the second you spend all the money is when people get into trouble. Saving is the key to preserving your wealth," says Ed Butowsky, managing partner of Chapwood Capital Investment Management, a firm that manages money for wealthy individuals.
As many Americans realized during the booming real estate market, just because you think you can afford something doesn't mean you should buy it. Keeping an eye on your bottom line will pay dividends over the long term.
"2. Bounce Back From Defeat
With nearly 15 million workers unemployed right now in the U.S., it's easy to get discouraged. Don't! Most successful and wealthy people have overcome obstacles and failure along the way. Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple when he was 30. Today, he's a billionaire and a legend. Plus, after getting fired, he created another billion-dollar media company, Pixar.
"Bouncing back from defeat is something all great achievers have. They have this undying belief good things will happen and will continue to happen," says Butowsky.
Take Michael Jordan. "His airness" was cut from his high school basketball team. Motivated by the rejection, Jordan became a star the next season. The rest is history.
3. Self-Promote
Regardless of the profession, the rich and successful tend to have a strong sense of self-worth — key to skillfully navigating an upward career path. Mark Hurd, who was ousted as CEO of Hewlett-Packard in August, couldn't be kept down for long. Using his business skills and connections, in September, Hurd was named president of Oracle. (Hurd and Oracle founder Larry Ellison are known to be close friends.)
4. Have Street Smarts
Bernie Madoff lived the high life for decades, scamming unsuspecting clients, with a money-making formula that proved too good to be true. Only afterward did we learn that with a little due diligence, most clients could have easily uncovered the fraud.
But it's not only the swindlers and the con men you have to watch out for. Many times, friends and family take advantage of the rich. Whether it's a handout or an investment idea, Butowsky advises his high net worth clients that in most cases, it's wisest to just say "no." The best way to do that: have someone else do it for you.
"You need to really set up a wall between you and your family," he advises. "If you don't want to give them (family or friends) money ... saying no is probably a good idea."
5. Buy Cheap
The rich can afford to splurge, but that doesn't mean they do.
John Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager, bought his Hamptons "dream house at a bargain basement price," according to Greg Zuckerman, author of the Paulson-based book, "The Greatest Trade Ever." The story has it that Paulson eyed the home while it was in foreclosure. Finally, on a rain-soaked day, he purchased the home on the Southampton town hall steps. He was the only bidder.
On New York City's Upper East Side, Michael's— The Consignment Shop for Women— has been a bargain-hunting destination for more than 60 years. "We have a good percentage of women who can afford to shop on Madison Avenue but really like the idea of saving that money," says proprietor Tammy Gates.
From Chanel to Gucci and Louis Vuitton, the store specializes in high-end designer merchandise for a reasonable price. Speaking of her clientele, Gates says, "they're wealthy for a reason. They recognize that bargains keep people wealthy. Paying top dollar when you don't have to doesn't make sense."
"
Some people will do anything for money. CNBC's "American Greed" an unprecedented original primetime series, examines the dark side of the American Dream..."
"The high price of drugs is destroying what there is of the dismal U.S. public healthcare system. AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) have been crippled nationwide and the formularies of state Medicaid programs are under enormous strain. The pharmaceutical industry protests that they run a risky business and that their prices are fair. There's nothing wrong with drug makers earning a fair and decent profit, nor, certainly, with researchers bringing home good pay for doing good work. But with government subsidies, tax write-offs and the numerous incentives industry receives in the form of corporate welfare, the profit from bringing a drug to market dramatically outweighs the cost.
It appears that industry operates on the model that says, "Greed drives the engine of discovery." While this idea may be partly true, it has many pitfalls -- and millions of human lives tumble into these pits each year. Examples were sharply highlighted at a meeting on neglected diseases sponsored by the humanitarian group, Doctors Without Borders held in New York City, March 14, 2002. There is little or no research occurring on better treatments for malaria or tuberculosis, despite their impact on millions of people. Compound this neglect with the fact that legal controls over certain drugs allow companies such as GlaxoSmithKline to actually block countries from obtaining fairly priced generic medications...
Dr Russell Blaylock WHO & United Nations contracted with major pharm companies...
"
http://www.oneradionetwork.com - One Radio Network - THIS IS JUST 10 MINUTES OF AN HOUR SHOW - LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE AND LISTEN TO THE FULL SHOW FOR FREE - W.H.O. and United Nations contracted with...
http://www.oneradionetwork.com - One Radio Network - THIS IS JUST 10 MINUTES OF AN HOUR SHOW - LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE AND LISTEN TO THE FULL SHOW FOR FREE - W.H.O. and United Nations contracted with major pharm companies to produce vaccine long before any "outbreak" - Dr. Blaylock is a board certified neurosurgeon, author and lecturer. For the past 25 years he has practiced neurosurgery in addition to having a nutritional practice. He recently retired from both practices to devote full time to nutritional studies and research. "
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Science: Biology, Animals, Biological Warfare, etc...
Sicko 7 of 13
"Movie By Michael Moore
Moore shows us how France, England, Canada and yikes! Cuba actually help sick people instead of letting them wither and die for lack of health insurance. Then he instructs us to loot those places for ideas. Anti-American? Hell, no. Moore argues that if another country builds a better car, we buy it. If it crafts a better wine, we drink it. Why not free universal health care?
http://informationclearinghouse.info/..."
-Action
Obi-Wan Kenobi Vs. Darth Vader: Episode III
-Drama
Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves Trailer HQ (1991)
"Director: Kevin Reynolds
Cast: Kevin Costner; Morgan Freeman; Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio; Christian Slater; Alan Rickman
Plot: After being captured by Turks during the Crusades, Robin of Locksley and a Moor, Azeem, escape back to England where Azeem vows to remain until he repays Robin for saving his life. Meanwhile, Robin's father has been murdered by the Sheriff of Nottingham and when Robin returns home he vows to avenge his father's death. Even though Marian, his childhood friend, cannot help him, he escapes to the Forest of Sherwood where he joins a band of exiled villagers and becomes their leader. With their help he attempts to cleanse the land of the evil that the Sheriff has spread "
-Heavy Metal
"Scrooge experiences a preview of where his soul will spend eternity. A truely disturbing scene. Alec Guinness once again as Jacob Marley.
There are many movie versions of this story, everybody seems to have a favorite. This one is mine. It's the one I grew up on, I think I watched it on tv during every christmas season of my childhood.
Christmas Carol is not the name of the movie of course but I'm trying to protect my videos from extinction by choosing a more generic title. "
*see Christmas
LYRICS:
Man I wanna tell ya'll something, Man.
Man I'm not gonna let these material thing's, get in my way, ya'll.
I'm trying to get somewhere.
I'm trying to get somewhere,
Thats real and pure and true and eternal.
Father God, I am clay in your hands,
Help me to stay that way through all life's demands,
'Cause they chip and they nag and they pull at me,
And every little thing I make up my mind to be,
Like I'm gonna be a daddy whose in the mix,
And I'm gonna be a husband who stays legit,
And I pray that I'm an artist who rises above,
The road that is wide and filled with self love,
Everything that I see draws me,
Though it's only in You that I can truly see that
its a feast for the eyes- a low blow to purpose.
And I'm a little kid at a three ring circus.
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
[Mr. Franklin, Step up to the mic sir]
The paparazzi flashes, and that they think that it's you,
But they don't know that who you are is not what you do,
True, we get it twisted when we peak at the charts,
Yo before we part from the start,
Where's your heart?
You a pimp, hustler?
Tell me what's your title,
America has no more stars, now we call them idols,
You sit idle, While we teach prosperity,
The first thing to prosper should be inside of me.
We're free
Not because of 22's on the range,
But Christ came in range, we said yes now we changed,
Not the same, even though I made a fall,
Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I'm Paul.
[YEP!]
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
Don't wanna walk away,
Don't wanna walk away
How do I sense the tide that's rising?
De-sensitizing me from living in light of eternity,
How do I sense the tide that's rising?
It's hypnotizing me from living in light of eternity,
How do I sense the tide that's rising?
De-sensitizing me from living in light of eternity.
[Lord what we gon do,We're relying on you,
all eyes are on you Lord,
all eyes are on you, all eyes are on you Jesus.]
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
[Don't let me lose my soul, my soul.]
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
[This is my honesty, Father, won't you cover me.]
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
[Don't wanna walk away, and all those people say]
I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
[Don't wanna lose, I don't wanna lose my soul.]
Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world,
That fight for our love, and our passion,
As our eyes are open wide and on you.
Grant us the privilege of your world view,
And may your kingdom be, what wakes us up, and lays us down.
[Hallelujah, Don't wanna lose our soul,
No, Don't wanna lose my soul.]
Hey excuse me,
I'm looking or the after party,
Toby,
Haha, yeah, last door on the left, you'll hear it.
Thanks,
No problem.
Don't let me lose my soul, I never wanna walk away,
I don't wanna lose my soul,
No, no, no.
Don't let me, don't let me, lose my soul,
I don't wanna walk away,
Don't let me walk away,
Na na na na no,
Don't let me lose, my soul,
I'm never gonna walk away. "
" 1 William Gates III 59.0 51 Medina, WA Microsoft
2 Warren Buffett 52.0 77 Omaha, NE Berkshire Hathaway
3 Sheldon Adelson 28.0 74 Las Vegas, NV casinos, hotels
4 Lawrence Ellison 26.0 63 Redwood City, CA Oracle
5 Sergey Brin 18.5 34 Palo Alto, CA Google
5 Larry Page 18.5 34 San Francisco, CA Google
7 Kirk Kerkorian 18.0 90 Los Angeles, CA investments, casinos
8 Michael Dell 17.2 42 Austin, TX Dell
9 Charles Koch 17.0 71 Wichita, KS oil, commodities
9 David Koch 17.0 67 New York, NY oil, commodities"
Related Sites: Wikipedia "(born February 14, 1942) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the Mayor of New York City. He gained his wealth as the founder of financial news and data company Bloomberg L.P. Although a lifelong Democrat, he ran on the Republican ballot and was elected mayor in 2001, then reelected to a second term in 2005."
Scrooge ... in 10 Minutes! (1935) A Christmas Carol with Seymour Hicks
"This is the 1935 Seymour Hicks version of "Scrooge" an adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" ... IN TEN MINUTES!"
It's A Wonderful Life bank run (full version)
"CNN) -- Elliott Rodger left behind a 107,000-word "story" of what the shooting suspect called his "twisted world." While he e-mailed it to his parents and a therapist the day he allegedly went on a terror rampage, investigators and journalists soon found it.
The central theme of "My Twisted World: The Story of Elliot Rodger" is his intractable virginity, which he blamed on "the cruelness of women."
Here are five revelations from this disturbing document:
1. 'A bitter form of envy'
Elliott Rodger grew up on the edges of Hollywood but was not quite a part of it.
His father, Peter Rodger, aspired to make films, but he mostly directed commercials. His mother "dated George Lucas for a short time" and was a friend of Steven Spielberg, he wrote. His stepmother, Soumaya Akaaboune, acted in a few movies to her credit and was a regular on the French version of "Real Housewives" produced in Los Angeles.
These connections got him into a few "Star Wars" premieres and the premiere on March 12, 2012, for the first installment of "The Hunger Games," for which his father worked as a second-unit director.
Rodger wrote that the movie was "entertaining" and the premiere "was an extraordinary experience," but he said he "felt very bitter that I wasn't able to bring a girl with me as a date. The majority of men at the event had a date with them, and I felt so pathetic for not having a date. If only a girl at my collage had been attracted to me; I would have gladly brought her to the premiere as my date."
He attended a private Katy Perry concert the night before, thanks to wealthy friends who gave the tickets to the Rodger family. Elliot wrote about how seeing how rich families enjoy life made him resent that his "damnable mother" had not "married into wealth instead of being selfish."
"I couldn't help but feel a bitter form of envy at all of the rich kids at the concert. They grew up in lavish mansions, indulged in excessive opulence, and will never have to worry about anything in their pleasurable, hedonistic lives. I would take great pleasure in watching all of those rich families burn alive. Looking at all of them really drilled in my mind the importance of wealth.
Rodger's parents frantically searched for son during shooting
"Wealth is one of the most important defining factors of self-worth and superiority. I hated and envied all of those kids for being born into wealth, while I had to struggle to find a way to claim wealth for myself. I had to be ruthless, and do whatever it takes to attain such wealth. After all, it was my only hope of ever being worthy of getting a girlfriend and living the life of gratification that I desire."
Rodger lamented being "a kissless virgin.""
".. CENTRAL ISLIP, New York (AP) -- A millionaire who inflicted years of abuse on two Indonesian housekeepers held as virtual slaves in her Long Island mansion was sentenced Thursday to 11 years in prison.
Varsha Sabhnani, 46, was convicted on a 12-count federal indictment.
Varsha Sabhnani, 46, was convicted with her husband in December on a 12-count federal indictment that included forced labor, conspiracy, involuntary servitude and harboring aliens.
The trial provided a glimpse into a growing U.S. problem of domestic workers exploited in slave-like conditions.
The victims testified that they were beaten with brooms and umbrellas, slashed with knives, and forced to climb stairs and take freezing showers as punishment. One victim was forced to eat dozens of chili peppers and then was forced to eat her own vomit when she couldn't keep the peppers down, prosecutors said.
U.S. District Judge Arthur Spatt called the testimony "eye-opening, to say the least -- that things like that go on in our country."
"In her arrogance, she treated Samirah and Enung as less than people," Assistant U.S. Attorney Demetri Jones said. "Justice for the victims, that's what the government is asking for."
Federal sentencing guidelines had recommended a range of 12 to 15 years in prison for Sabhnani, who was identified as the one who inflicted the abuse. In addition to prison, she will serve three years of probation and was fined $25,000.
"I just want to say that I love my children very much," the defendant told the court as two of her grown children looked on. "I was brought to this Earth to help people who are in need."
Mahender Sabhnani, 51, who is free on bail while awaiting his own Friday sentencing, wept as he watched his wife's punishment pronounced.
He was charged with the same crimes because he allowed the conduct to take place and benefited from the work the women performed in his home, prosecutors said. He is expected to receive a much shorter prison term.
Prosecutors contended that the accusations amounted to a "modern-day slavery" case. They said the maids were subjected to "punishment that escalated into a cruel form of torture," which ended in May 2007, when one of the women fled early on Mother's Day. She wandered into a Dunkin' Donuts wearing nothing but rags, and employees called police.
"This did not happen in the 1800s," Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Lesko said during the trial. "This happened in the 21st century. This happened in Muttontown, New York."
The women, whose relatives in Indonesia were paid about $100 a month -- the women themselves received no cash -- said they were tortured and beaten for misdeeds that included sleeping late or stealing food from trash bins because they were poorly fed. Both women also said they were forced to sleep on mats in the kitchen.
Spatt postponed a decision on the amount of back wages owed to the women. Prosecutors suggested that the women were due more than $1.1 million, but defense attorneys said the figure should be much lower.
The couple also face fines and could be forced to forfeit their home, which is valued at almost $2 million. Mahender Sabhnani ran an international perfume business out of a home office.
One of the women arrived in the Sabhnanis' Muttontown home in 2002, the second in 2005. Their passports and other travel documents were immediately confiscated by the Sabhnanis, the women testified.
The defense, which intends to appeal, contended the two women concocted the story as a way of escaping the house for more lucrative opportunities. They also argued that the housekeepers practiced witchcraft and may have abused themselves as part of a self-mutilation ritual.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Hoffman said that 175 letters were submitted to the court detailing Sabhnani's charitable acts around the world. He called her "a woman who spent a lifetime doing good deeds."
Hoffman said that around 2004 or 2005, Sabhnani's weight plummeted from 325 pounds to 135. "She did it by starving herself," and that resulted in a chemical imbalance and significant malnourishment. "She had become a very different person."
"I think it's very harsh," Hoffman said after the sentencing. "She has suffered dramatically.""
"The Top Ten
1. Tiger Woods
2. Michael Schumacher
3. Peyton Manning
4. Michael Jordan
5. Shaquille O'Neal
6. Kevin Garnett
7. Andre Agassi
8. David Beckham
9. Alex Rodriguez
10. Kobe Bryant
Testimonies
The Richest Caveman - The Doug Batchelor Story
"As a teenager, Doug Batchelor had everything money could buy—everything but happiness. His search led him to drugs, fights, and suicidal fantasies, but he still was convinced that life held no purpose. Before his search ended, a cave in the hills above Palm Springs became his home, and he eventually had to scavenge for food in garbage bins.
The happiness Doug wanted eluded him until the day he began reading the dust-covered Bible a fellow "searcher" had left in his cave. What happened next can only be described as a miracle!
His down-to-earth approach to living the Christian life stems from his own experiences. Pastor Doug is now President and Speaker for Amazing Facts Ministries, an international evangelistic organization incorporated as a denominational television ministry within the North American Division territory.
He is an energetic man of vision and deep spirituality with an unusual ability to communicate not only to church oriented people, but also to the millions of secular-minded people of today.
He is the author of five books and has a wife, Karen, and five children. View Doug Batchelor's testimony! "The Richest Caveman: The Doug Batchelor Story"
Full Streaming Video: http://www.amazingfacts.org/Resources...
Related Sites: Bio-Prophecy Code "He is the author of five books and has a wife, Karen, and five children. View Doug Batchelor's testimony! "The Richest Caveman: The Doug Batchelor Story"
"No one can touch Tiger Woods, the runaway No. 1 for the fifth year in a row. Tiger's near $128 million haul is more than double his closest pursuer, Phil Mickelson at $62.4 million. As usual, hoops dominates the 50: More than half this year's list is made up of NBA players. There are 10 baseball players, seven football players, three NASCAR drivers, three golfers and one boxer -- and yet zero women..."
"... is an unofficial, annual, invitation-only conference of around 130 guests, most of whom are persons of great influence in the fields of politics, business, banking, and media. Each conference is under intense secrecy and security, with the last meeting guarded by police, security services, military helicopters and even fighter jets.[...
New World Order Bilderberg Group Open Your Eyes and See The TRUTH
"Chilling video production on NWO, Bilderberg, Trilateral, and CFR (Council Foreign Relations). "
"
Here's a big idea: Writing your name in the sand so large that it can be seen from space. Of course, you're much better position to carry off this sort of vanity project if you're Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Ahyan, a super-rich Arab sheikh who is the president of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. He also happens to own an island--an ideal canvas for what is essentially the world's largest self-referential graffiti tag.
The letters were crafted by a crew who worked for weeks to create them. The inscription measures half a mile high and two miles long--and the letters are dug so deep that they form waterways. The writing won't be immediately washed away, but even Hamad--whose fortune is only surpassed by his monarchial rival in the region, Saudi King Abdullah--can only defy the elements for so long.
Did we mention his name can be seen from outer space?
Hamad, according to Forbes, is a guy who lives large. A member of the Abu Dhabi ruling family, the man known as the Rainbow Sheikh owns 200 cars that are stored in a giant pyramid. (What, you use a garage?) Forbes also noted that Hamad also hand-built a motor home in the shape of a giant globe "one-millionth the size of the Earth."
It should also be noted that the 63-year-old sheikh also has deep pockets when it comes to philanthropy. But don't worry about thanking him -- it seems he's come up with a perfectly good way to give himself a shout-out." Government
" 3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
'For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.
Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest wars—creating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. * Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. * Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. * Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. * View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union."
" 7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes....
2 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous. ...
20 But the wicked will perish:
Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke. ....-Psalm 37
"Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan acknowledged Monday he has received cash from Iran and said the United States knows about it and does the same thing in doling out cash.
In response, the U.S. State Department spokesman said the United States does not question Iran's right to give financial assistance to Afghanistan, nor does it question Afghanistan's right to accept it.
"But we remain skeptical of Iran's motives, given its history of playing a destabilizing role with its neighbors," said spokesman P.J. Crowley.
He acknowledged some U.S. aid to Afghanistan during the past nine years -- particularly at the start of the conflict there -- arrived in the form of cash.
White House spokesman Bill Burton echoed Crowley's fears about Iran.
"I think the American people and the global community have every reason to believe that -- or every reason to be concerned about Iran trying to have a negative influence on Afghanistan," he said aboard Air Force One.
Karzai's comments followed a New York Times report that said Iranian officials once gave the president's chief of staff a bag stuffed with cash as "part of a secret, steady stream of Iranian cash" totaling millions of dollars. That stream, the newspaper reported, gives the president and his chief of staff a fund that has been used to pay "Afghan lawmakers, tribal elders and even Taliban commanders to secure their loyalty."
Karzai told CNN on Monday that the United States is and has been aware of Iran's financial contributions. He also said that the United States gives bags of money.
"The United States is doing the same thing," he said. "They are providing cash to some of our offices."
The president said Iran "asked for good relations in return and for lots of other things in return."
He thanked the various countries for their assistance and stressed nothing about aid is secret.
"The cash payments are done by various friendly countries to help the president's office and to help dispense assistance in various ways to the employees around here, to people outside, and this is transparent and this is something that I have discussed," Karzai said. "Even when we were at Camp David [Maryland] with President [George W.] Bush, this is nothing hidden."
"We are grateful to Iran for the help that they are giving and to those receiving that help under my instruction," he said."
-Korea
"
Seoul, South Korea – Firsthand exposés about the personal lives of North Korea’s leaders can put the lives of their authors at risk, even if they are far away.The latest tell-all, published in Austria by two journalists to whom former Army Col. Kim Jong-ryul told his story, is a case in point.
By his own account, Mr. Kim – who describes the dozens of villas and beautiful furnishings included in the lavish lifestyles of Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il – says he realizes the danger.
“Maybe I’ll be shot, killed in the next few days,” Kim Jong-ryul, who escaped North Korea in 1994 and now lives at a secret address, told reporters in Vienna after the book came out. At least, "now I can die with a clear conscience," he said. But “without [publishing] this book, I didn’t want to die.”
The book adds to a growing body of evidence of the selfishness of the North's Kim Il-sung, who ignored the suffering of his people while focusing on his own comfort and safety. An engineer, Kim Jong-ryul said he was asked to design a special filtration system for the shelter in which Kim Il-sung and his family could hide in order to survive a nuclear attack.
The Great Leader, as Kim Il-sung was routinely called, placed special agents in Europe just to buy the fancy items he wanted. An agent in Romania, for instance, bought a small Cessna plane for him, as well as hunting rifles. Kim himself sometimes spent months at a time looking for all the goods, big and small, on the shopping list.
To go public with such juicy tidbits is enough to invite the death penalty – even for those who manage to flee the country. Activists agree such fear is not the stuff of paranoia. “It’s very dangerous to write about North Korea,” says Peter Chung, who runs an organization in Seoul called Justice for North Korea, which is dedicated to helping defectors.
“In the Dictator’s Service,” written in German by Austrian journalists Ingrid Steiner-Gashi and Dardan Gashi, reveals the dietary cravings and demands, the parties and the lovely surroundings, in which Kim Il-sung existed for much of the 49 years that he ruled North Korea. He died in 1994 after ensuring that his son, Kim Jong-il, would succeed him.
A crime to have known anythingIt may be even more dangerous to write about the man who's known in the North as the Dear Leader.
The nephew of Song Hye-rim, a woman who became either Kim Jong-il’s second wife or longtime consort, and bore his oldest son, was assassinated in Seoul in 1997 after writing memoirs about the dictator. Lee Han-young had been living in Seoul since defecting in 1982 until a pair of gunmen killed him outside the apartment of a friend.
“Kim Jong-il’s private life is not normal,” says Mr. Chung. “It is a crime to speak out about it.”
It is even a crime to have known anything about it, according to a book published here by Kim Young-seung, a schoolgirl friend of Ms. Song.
Ms. Kim, held for nine years in one of North Korea’s infamous prison camps for the worst political offenders, says she never was told the charge against her but came to know during months of torture that her offense was that she had been "a friend of the second wife of Kim Jong-il, and I knew about his private life.”
Her closest relatives were imprisoned as well. During her imprisonment, her parents starved to death, one of her sons drowned, another was shot trying to escape, and her husband "disappeared.â€
"Even the beasts would be ashamed to be there," Kim says.
Her story provides remarkable fresh clues into the private life of Kim Jong-il, who left Song for his third consort, Ko Young-hee, a dancer and mother of sons No. 2 and 3. The latter is the heir-apparent Kim Jong-un, who is in his 20s.
After being freed from prison around 1989, Kim escaped to China in 2001, a year before Song died in exile in Moscow, and then to South Korea via Vietnam. Ms. Ko, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, died two years later.
Kim Young-seung knows she may be at risk but does not feel afraid. “This is my story,” she says, smiling slightly and pulling a copy of her book from her handbag.
Villas and luxury cars amid poverty Kim Jong-ryul’s story provides still more glimmerings. Kim Il-sung “only ate foreign food" and had his chefs study in Vienna, he said. He had a passion for high-priced foreign cars, ranging from Mercedes-Benz and Citroens to Cadillacs and Lincolns, made in the lairs of his worst enemy, the United States.
The leader’s shopping lists for Europe included luxury goods ranging from carpets to gold-plated guns.
The former colonel’s account, says Peters, the activist, “highlights the perverse contrast between the lives of the Kim family dynasty and the tens of millions of beleaguered North Korean peasantry.”
Kim Il-sung died just as North Korea was entering a famine in which 2 million people are estimated to have died. "
-Philippines Imelda Marcos POSITIVE GREED (Imeldific Response to Newsweek's "Greediest" List)
"Imelda Marcos' take on her inclusion in Newsweek's Greediest People of All Time list
by Connie Sison
24 Oras, April 7, 2009
from GMA-7"
"JOHANNESBURG – The son of Equatorial Guinea's dictator of 30 years commissioned plans to build a superyacht costing $380 million, nearly three times what the country spends on health and education each year, a corruption watchdog said Monday.
The statement from Global Witness said that German company Kusch Yachts has been asked to build the yacht, housing a cinema, restaurant, bar and swimming pool, though construction has not yet started.
Global Witness has been urging Washington to institute sanctions against Teodorin Obiang, whose extravagant lifestyle currently includes a $35 million-dollar mansion in Malibu, California, a $33 million jet and a fleet of luxury cars, while earning a salary of $6,799 a month as agriculture minister.
The government press office in Equatorial Guinea confirmed that the president's son had ordered the yacht design, but said he "then dismissed the idea of buying it."
It said that if the order had gone ahead, he would have bought it with income from private business activities and not "with funds derived from sources of illegal financing or corruption."
President Teodoro Obiang, who reportedly is grooming his son to succeed him as president, took power in a bloody 1979 coup. Forbes has estimated his wealth at around $600 million.
Teodorin Obiang justified his wealth in a sworn affidavit to a South African court questioning his ownership of luxury mansions and expensive cars in Cape Town in 2006.
He stated that public officials in his country are allowed to partner with foreign companies bidding for government contracts and said this means "a Cabinet minister ends up with a sizable part of the contract price in his bank account."
The tiny West African nation may be oil rich, but U.N. statistics show that 20 percent of children in Equatorial Guinea die before reaching the age of 5, and the average citizen is unlikely to live beyond 50. The State Department report on human rights also has condemned killings by security forces and the torture of prisoners.
Meanwhile, writer Juan Tomas Avila Laurel is in the 17th day of a hunger strike demanding justice for the people of Equatorial Guinea, inspired by the popular revolutions that have ousted longtime leaders of Egypt and Tunisia and now threaten Libya's Moammar Gadhafi.
Avila Laurel, 44, left Malabo for Barcelona, Spain, amid fears for his safety the day he began his hunger strike Feb. 11. He joins one-third of the population living in voluntary or enforced exile, according to the U.S. State Department.
The government has reacted to the author's hunger strike by denouncing "the web of gossip, lies and miserable maneuvers" surrounding reports about Equatorial Guinea.
"Nonetheless, we hope this person's example also serves to silence many mouths who continuously speak of lack of freedom and respect for human rights in Equatorial Guinea since, as is more than evident, this person has acted at all times with absolute freedom," it said in a statement on its website."
In Dubai, the state of The World is in dispute, by W.G. Dunlop W.g. Dunlop – Fri Jan 28, 6:23 am ET news.yahoo.com "..DUBAI (AFP) – A cluster of 300 artificial islands off Dubai's coast in the shape of a global map is stable, its developer Nakheel insists, despite a court claim alleging that "The World" was neglected and eroding away...
Nakheel, which developed Dubai's iconic palm-shaped islands and the Atlantis luxury hotel among other developments, was hard-hit by the global economic crisis, which led to a sharp fall in Dubai real estate prices.
Nakheel was to split from parent company Dubai World, which rocked global financial markets when it announced in November 2010 that it needed to freeze debt payments, under a debt restructuring plan.
"19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 "'No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 "He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” "
Lazarus - A warning to the rich
"A warning to the rich
Lazarus the rich man, he did not care for the poor & needy, he only cared for himself.
Web site
http://www.jcislord.cabanova.com
The sinner prayer
Dear God,
I am a sinner and I need forgiveness,
I believe that Jesus your son shed his precious blood and died for my sins,
I am willing to turn from sin,
Dear Jesus I ask you to forgive me of all my sins,
Dear Jesus I ask you to come into my heart and into my life and be my personal Lord and Saviour,
In Jesus name Amen."
Treasures in Heaven
" 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. "-Matthew 6
HOW HARD IT IS TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
"Jesus explains it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. HOW HARD IT IS TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
You must be converted and become as little children or you will not enter the Kindom of Heaven. He that is to be Great among you must be your Servant. He that is Greatest must be your Slave. Martha declares that Jesus is The Christ -- The Son of God who has come into The World.
He that Believes in Christ will Never Die
Lazarus Raised from the Dead
I Am the Resurrection and the Life"
Bible Study - Mk. 10:17-31 The Rich Man "
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[d]"
20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
28 Then Peter spoke up, "We have left everything to follow you!"
29 "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
"Bloody Diamond"-Sierra Leone, a heart-aching true life story of what greed can do, but a heart-warming story that good can come out too!
Blood Diamond - Trailer
Narnia: Voyage of The Dawn Treader - Magic Pond clip
5 Minutes Bible Study - Dragon Skin
"In the fifth Chronicle of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Edmund, Lucy, and their spoiled cousin Eustace are summoned to help on a quest in the Eastern Sea. Along the way, Eustace is tempted by enchanted treasure and turned into a dragon. The desperate dragon accepts the help of the great lion Aslan, king of Narnia. But Eustace can only be freed by allowing Aslans claws to painfully tear off the dragons flesh. Grateful for his deliverance, Eustace chooses to become a better boy.
Receiving Gods gift of salvation through Christ is a one-time event, but to become like Him often requires suffering and struggle. It involves putting off old sinful habits and replacing them with new godly ones. Paul wrote, Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt . . . [and] put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:22-24).
What is troubling you today? God may be using the kind rebuke of a friend or a painful trial to prompt you to get rid of a sinful habit and to replace it with godly character (Rom. 8:29; 1 Peter 4:1-2).
The process of becoming like Christ is sometimes painful, but its always worth it.
— Dennis Fisher
To be like Jesus is our goal,
Though it doesnt happen fast;
We trust the Spirit as our Guide
Till were glorified at last. —Branon
The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment; the growth of a saint is the work of a lifetime."
" Published on May 11, 2012
This is an incredible 4 part documentary of famous musical artists spanning a variety of genres who admitted they have in one form or another sold their souls for fame and fortune
"
*see Shootings in GoodnewsUSA.info: Colorado, Homosexuality, Hinduism, Heavy Metal, Devil, etc...
"8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[e]"
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."-Matthew 4
Pop Stars Who Took Ghadafi's Money
"Added On March 7, 2011
A-list celebs are coming clean about their paid private performances for Gadhafi's family. CNN's Kareen Wynter reports."
"NEW YORK - To count yourself among the 20 richest people on the planet, you'll need a net worth of at least $15.5 billion this year. That's $3.1 billion higher than last year, thanks to an improving global economy and strong world financial markets.
These 20 tycoons are a diverse group with nothing in common but a talent for building wealth--and, for the most part, keeping it. These individuals have a combined net worth of $434 billion, about the same as the economic output as Russia and almost three times the total gross domestic product of Ireland. " "Forbes has compiled a List of World Billionaires. The top ten richest men on earth are -
1. William Gates III
2. Warren Buffett
3. Lakshmi Mittal
4. Carlos Slim Helu
5. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud
6. Ingvar Kamprad
7. Paul Allen
8. Karl Albrecht
9. Lawrence Ellison
10. S Robson Walton Worlds Richest People : 691 Billionaires on Earth
, from quickonlinetips.com
"SAN DIEGO, CA (ANS) -- Pastor Manual Jesus Tec is home with his family in San Diego after a harrowing 11 days in the hands of kidnappers who tortured him and, in the end, tried to kill him, according to his son Johnny Tec.
Speaking to Rich Buhler on his radio program Talk From the Heart on KBRT radio in Los Angeles, 30-year old Tec said on Monday that his father was found by police in Tijuana on Friday morning, October 31.
Manuel Jesus Tec (left), is shown here with his son Johnny in a file photo (From Baptist Press website)
The 59-year old pastor had been missing since October 21 when armed men pulled him over when he was driving in Tijuana. His wife and a son were with him but were not taken and were not harmed.
Shortly afterwards the Tec family began receiving phone calls from the kidnappers demanding ransom for Pastor Tec. At first they demanded $1 million. ..
Tec told Buhler that his father was tortured during his 11-day confinement. Both his hands and feet were handcuffed during the entire time and he came away with bruises and wounds over much of his body.
"When he tried to talk to them about God, he’d tell them that he knew where he was going and he wasn’t worried about himself, but he was worried about them because they didn’t know where they were going,” said Tec. In response they would torture him.
“He became weak from the lack of food and water and believed the kidnappers when they told him that they had killed all his family, they had taken his home, and that he had no house anymore; That all his family, his mother, his father, and all of us were all dead,” according to Tec.
When the family first saw Pastor Tec, he kept asking them if they were going to hit him anymore.
“It has been a miracle, “Tec explained. “My father said that at times when he was praying he would see buses of Christian people that would go into this place and start singing songs of worship. He would worship with them and pray with the people.”
Tec said that in some divine way all of those people who were praying for Pastor Tec were present with him.
Pastor Tec talked with Buhler briefly during the radio interview to say, “Thank you for your prayers for me. I am free now. My God is a big one.” "
"The foreigners are gaining fast. At a combined $581 million, this year's rundown of the top 20 highest-paid non-American athletes is the heftiest we've ever compiled, and an increase of one-third over the previous year. Why? Sure, soccer and Formula 1 -- the two most popular sports away from American shores -- are beginning to pay off as well, and in many cases better, than U.S.-based leagues. But the weakness of the American dollar has never been on better display in the sports world.
Twelve of the athletes on this year's list earn their paychecks from foreign-based leagues. The British pound has been strong for years, strengthening the earnings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, John Terry and Michael Ballack (as well as Fernando Alonso who, until recently, was part of the McLaren racing team). But the distortion really takes effect with the athletes who are paid in Euros, which have gained 15 percent on the American dollar over the past 12 months -- that's why the likes of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and MotoGP god Valentino Rossi have seen significant bumps.
In all, this year's International 20 features nine soccer players, three Formula 1 racers, three baseball players, two basketball players, two tennis players and one motorcycle racer. As always, our list includes salary, bonuses, endorsement income and appearance fees. For the Fortunate 50 list of the top-earning American athletes, click here."
"For the sixth consecutive year, Real Madrid tops the Deloitte Football Money League, and in doing so, became the highest earning sports team ever, reports Business Insider. Despite not winning any trophies, the club's earnings jumped from $541 million for the 2008/09 season to $592 million for the 2009/10 season, enabling them to continue funding Cristiano Ronaldo's most extravagant purchases. Like exclusive yet unenforcable baby rights.
Barcelona came in right behind Real for the second straight year (even though the standings were the other way around in La Liga) and the first time ever, the combined earnings of Deloitte's 20-club Money League topped $5.4 billion.
By comparison, the top earning NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys, made $420 million according to Forbes and the top earning MLB team, the New York Yankees, made $441 million. That would only put them fifth and fourth, respectively, in Deloitte's list of football clubs.
The biggest chunk of Real Madrid's revenue came from their ongoing $1.4 billion TV rights deal, but they also make nearly as much from numerous sponsorships and matchday earnings. And if there's one thing Real like more than making money, it's spending it. Over the last decade, they've spent more than $1 billion on player transfers as they keep breaking their own transfer records for individual players to fill out club president Florentino Perez's live-action fantasy team.
Here's the full Football Money League top 20...
1. Real Madrid -- $592 million
2. Barcelona -- $537 million
3. Manchester United -- $472 million
4. Bayern Munich -- $436 million
5. Arsenal -- $370 million
6. Chelsea -- $345 million
7. AC Milan -- $318 million
8. Liverpool -- $308 million
9. Inter Milan -- $303 million
10. Juventus -- $277 million
11. Manchester City -- $206 million
12. Tottenham Hotspur -- $198 million
13. Hamburger SV -- $197 million
14. Lyon -- $197 million
15. Marseille -- $190 million
16. Schalke 04 -- $189 million
17. Atletico Madrid -- $168 million
18. Roma -- $166 million
19. Stuttgart -- $155 million
20. Aston Villa -- $148 million
Fun, right? Well, it's not so much when you look at how quickly those earnings disappear. As the Andersred Blog points out, just one of the seven English clubs on Deloitte's list turned a profit (Arsenal). Barcelona had to take out a loan to pay player wages last summer and Real's debt is in the hundreds of millions. So keep that in mind when imagining club executives diving into warehouse-sized safes full of gold coins like Scrooge McDuck. "
"In the 18th century, silhouettes (shadow profiles traced and cut from black paper) were a popular alternative to costly portraits. The word took its name from the French controller general of finance, Étienne de Silhouette. During the Seven Years War against England, he tried to raise revenues by heavily taxing the wealthy. Victims of his high taxes complained and used the word silhouette to refer to their wealth being reduced to a mere shadow of what it once was.
With the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah lamented over the shadow of what once was a great city and center of worship now devastated by war. Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow (Lam. 1:12).
But Jeremiah did not remain in despair. He recognized Gods sovereignty in suffering. Later in this book of sorrow, the prophet reflected: I have hope. Through the LORDs mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning (3:21-23).
Has sorrow or suffering made your life feel like a dark silhouette of what it once was? Remember, Gods mercies are new every morning. He is compassionately working in your life for His glory and your blessing. — Dennis Fisher
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear, not a sigh nor a tear
Can abide while we trust and obey. —Sammis"
"
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."
16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18 "Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'
20 "But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21 "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God."
Transportation
Titanic Tragedy
SAGA OF THE TITANIC
By James L. Manniso from titanic-nautical.com "...Why such a compelling and enduring interest in the Titanic? Why even to this day has Titanic become in some circles synonymous with, ”colossal, disaster, luxury, greed, pride, invincibility, wealth, heroism, stupidity, mystery and intrigue? Well, this bard and painting artist has humbly attempted to elucidate on some of the pathos and eros of the Titanic story. In poetry and painting art, in a work entitled “The Saga of the Titanic,” I have attempted to tell my version of the Titanic story. However, this author is well aware that in the presenting of the Saga of the Titanic, of the many Times statements issued shortly after the Titanic disaster. The Times statements that were issued due to a deluge of Titanic songs, articles, and poems were submitted as expressions of pity and outrage… submissions that on the most part were deemed by the Times, "intolerably bad". To the many would-be contributors, Times issued cautionary statements such as:...
When Captain Smith, the Commander of the Titanic was interviewed, he essentially declared the Titanic was “invincible” for he could not conceive of any disaster that would cause the Titanic to flounder. In the minds of many, the Titanic became a metaphor for invincibility… she could not be overcome by the forces of nature… the Titanic was "unsinkable!"...
The interior of the Titanic was luxurious. She was adorned with the finest of furnishings, carpeting, beautiful carvings, and other works of art and luxurious amenities.
Quarters for the First Class passengers were luxurious beyond belief. This ship was virtually a floating palace for the rich and famous. Gaiety and fun was the tenure of the first cabin passengers.
Also, Second and Third Class passengers were treated to accommodations that were superior to those offered by other vessels. However, steerage passengers were strictly separated from the first class passengers...
The rich and famous, especially the entrepreneurs who had invested in the planning and building of this great ship, the Titanic, dreamed of additional riches added to their coiffeurs. But, when the Titanic sank death and destruction came, it did not discriminate between the rich and poor. Victims and survivors were from every class, from the Captain, and investors in the Titanic, to those in steerage, all dreams were dashed by the chaotic nightmare of death and destruction. Fate did not discriminate between the humble and the great the rich or the poor.
..
As with most disasters throughout history there were many recriminations as to both the cause and the fault of the Titanic disaster. Many comments were made, articles written, that alluded to the greed of capitalism as the root cause for the Titanic disaster. Blame was made at all levels from Captain Smith who commanded the Titanic to the entrepreneurs that invested in the Titanic. True, Captain Smith wanted to make a record crossing that would enhance the status of the great ship, Titanic. Caution was probably put aside in favor of breaking records which could lead to increases in passenger revenue for the Titanic's great Atlantic passenger sea trade. There were shortcuts that favored luxury over safety; not enough life preservers or life boats for all on board, bulkheads not brought to full possible height for maximum safety. Beautiful paintings that cost thousands, but no binoculars for the lookouts that cost only a few dollars and possibly less costly higher-grade steel, lead to the demise of the Titanic. The return on the Titanic investment was certainly a paramount consideration in the minds of those entrepreneurs who invested in the Titanic. Because of an attitude of financial gain, there were poor judgments made in favor of financial rewards over safety. These poor judgments were precipitated by the belief that the Titanic was "Unsinkable, Invincible."
" Pride cometh before a fall." The attitude of the higher-ups who put speed, luxury, and money ahead of safety set the stage for the Titanic disaster. If the attitude was "safety first," then there would have been enough life preservers and lifeboats for a full compliment of passengers and crew. If speed was reduced as the great ship approached the ice field a collision could possibly have been adverted or of less severity. If the attitude was "safety first,” the watertight bulkheads would have been sealed to the upper decks and if so, the gaping wound inflicted by the Titanic's collision with the iceberg would have been contained and the ship not have gone down. Also, possibly if higher grade steel were used, more ductile steel, the damage when the Titanic collided with the iceberg would have been minimized.......
These, and many other reasons, were the faults and the causes that were the precursor to the disaster. A disaster that created the Titanic's metaphors of colossal, disaster, luxury, greed, pride, invincibility, wealth, heroism, stupidity, mystery and intrigue. Metaphors that, even to this day, are synonymous with the Titanic disaster. However, the true disaster is not one of metaphors, but one of the poor souls, innocent souls, brave souls, who along with the Captain, officers and crew of the Titanic went down with the ship. The "Saga of the Titanic" commemorates the victims of the disaster and gives them voice, remembrance and tribute.
And I wrote:
The disaster of the Titanic rings throughout history
For its toll of loss resounds in hypocrisy
Because the disaster began in the minds of men
As arrogance and greed had its way with them.
Arrogance, because they believed nature could be tamed –
“Surely, the Titanic can beat nature at its game!"
And greed took on penny-pinching schemes,
As the moguls of gold made profit their dreams.
Thus, the “Saga of the Titanic” has lessons to teach:
The achievements of men have limited reach.
For when the love of money steers men’s goals,
From the depth of the sea can be heard the poor souls
Who cry in whispers from their watery graves?
"If not for arrogance and greed, we would have been saved."
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Life-Love, Agape, Passionate, Romance, etc...
" 25 A greedy man stirs up dissension,
but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
"-Proverbs 28:25
Thank you for visiting GoodnewsEverybody! Please feel free to e-mail me (Sal) at info@goodnewseverybody.com on any comments, suggestions (e.g. any new websites),complaints, or anytype of feedback to improve this website.