Julie Klein's Posts (41)

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"Thank You" Will Never Be Enough!

I found these wonderful quotes that honor all veteran, past and present.  In addition to the veterans themselves, I also would like to extend a huge “thank you” to the families of veterans who sacrificed so much by “holding down the fort” while their loved ones worked to defend us and maintain our freedom.  http://americanprofile.com/articles/20-memorable-veterans-day-quotes/

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 “I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot.” —Gary Hart

“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” —Elmer Davis

“On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free.”—Dan Lipinski

“My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place—police, firefighters, and members of our armed forces.”—Sidney Sheldon

“Our veterans accepted the responsibility to defend America and uphold our values when duty called.”—Bill Shuster

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. “—Joseph Campbell

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” —John F. Kennedy

“The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.”—Jeff Miller

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“I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, ‘Mother, what was war?’”  —Eve Merriam

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms.  It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.” —G.K. Chesterton

“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” – Billy Graham

“In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.” — Mark Twain

 “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” —Maya Angelou

“The hero is the man dedicated to the creation and/or defense of reality-conforming, life-promoting values.” —Andrew Bernstein

“Better than honor and glory, and History’s iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men. “ —Richard Watson Gilder

“The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” —Patrick Henry

“Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death!” – Sun Tzu

“Without heroes, we are all plain people, and don’t know how far we can go.” – Bernard Malamud

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

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Are You on Medicare?

Medicare open enrollment began on Oct. 15 and ends on Dec. 7.  Take time to look at your coverage to determine if you want to make any changes. 

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If you don't have FULL coverage, including dental, vision and hearing care, check out Xpress Healthcare's Premium and Premium Plus plans ($19.95 per month per family; $29,95 per month per family).  They can provide you with great discounts on these services.  Our dental plan provider is Aetna™ Dental Access; and our doctors-by-phone service is Teladoc™, the first and largest service of its kind.  Xpress discounts can also enable you to get insurance with a high deductible and lower cost and use Xpress as a supplement.  http://2YourHealth2.INFO 

In addition, Xpress Healthcare offers their Lifestyle Select plan ($19.95 per month per family).  This plan includes LifeLock® ID Theft Protection (as seen on TV commercials), Roadside Assistance, Legal Care (9 FREE services + discounts on others), PET CARE, and the CashBack Rewards online mall.  Learn more at:  http://julie.joinxpress.com/lifestyle-select.html 

I am on Medicare myself.  I also have the discount plans to which I have referred in this post.  I actually have Medicare complete, a “full” coverage HMO.  Even with my insurance, however, my husband and I saved over $1000 on our dental expenses in 2013.  I have also save money on those prescriptions that were not covered by my insurance or if my insurance co-pay was higher than my discount with Xpress Healthcare. 

Of course, anyone can benefit from our discount plans.  You need not be on Medicare.  Those with insurance can actually buy less expensive insurance with a higher deductible and use Xpress’ discount plans to supplement your insurance to help you save money. 

If you have questions about any of our plans, please contact me.  I’d love to hear from you!

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White Champions of the Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement in the United States was led by several well-known and respected black heroes.  However, until reading an article recently, I did not give much thought to white leaders who also fought for equality for all.

American Presidents and other politicians of the time were front-and-center, but can you name any other white heroes of the Civil Rights Movement?  Not groups, individuals.  In this post, I would like to share what I learned about three mostly unknown Caucasion civil rights leaders.

Virginia Foster Durr moved with her husband, an attorney, to Alabama in 1951.  She met and agreed with various local civil rights activists.  Durr, along with a group of other people, an integrated church meeting was arranged.  Threats and Ku Klux Klan publications afterwards frightened the participants, and they stopped their meetings.

Virginia Durr was an exception.  She remained in the public eye during the 1950’s throughout the Deep South.  She considered it her duty to continue supporting civil rights.  It was Virginia Durr, her husband and E.D. Nixon who bailed out Rosa Parks after being arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person. Virginia Foster Durr and her husband then offered sleeping space in their home to Northern students arriving to support the civil right movement.  She was involved with state and local politics into her nineties.

Joel Elias Spingarn was born in New York City and was an influential liberal Republican and university professor between 1899 and 1911.  As a community leader, he was able to settle a disagreement between W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington’s followers.  Being Jewish, he was part of a minority group himself. It was Spingarn who founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People after recognizing the need for a unified black movement.  

During World War I, while in the army, Spingard set up a camp to train black officers.  In 1913 Spingarn established the Spingarn Medal which is still awarded yearly to an African-American who demonstrated great achievement.

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Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech is believed to be partially based on Spingarn’s speech at one of his many rallies, "I have a dream...of a unified Negro population."

Ralph McGill was the editor of the editorial page of the Atlanta Constitution.  In his newspaper, McGill highlighted the effects of segregation in America.  He received threats from readers, burned crosses in his yard and shot bullets into his home.  The Ku Klux Klan named McGill "Southern-enemy-number-one."  

McGill was friends with John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and he was a civil rights advisor.  He won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in 1959, .and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Ralph, King stated that McGill was one of the few white persons who understood and sympathized with the civil rights movement. 

While we know that innumerable black people worked hard to earn equal rights for all people, the three white Americans mentioned above contributed greatly to the civil rights movement. 

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Bizarre October Holidays

I am posting my list of bizarre holidays late this month.  Since we’re already halfway through the month, I’ll only post those for the second half.  It is a very busy month. 

10/15--Grouch Day      

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10/15--White Cane Safety Day

10/16--Dictionary Day

10/17--Gaudy Day

10/18--Chocolate Cupcake Day, which coincides with Menopause Day

10/19--Evaluate Your Life Day

10/20--National Brandied Fruit Day

10/21--Babbling Day

10/22--National Nut Day 
10/23--National Mole Day – Hmm. Are we celebrating the animal or those on our body? 

10/24--National Bologna Day 

10/25--Punk for a Day

10/26--Mule Day

10/27--Cranky Co-Workers Day

10/28--Ugly Pick-up, Plush Animal Lover's & National Chocolate Day – This will be a busy day!

10/29--Hermit Day

10/30--Haunted Refrigerator Day & National Candy Corn Day 

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10/31--Increase Your Psychic Powers Day & National Magic Day

 I always find these holiday acknowledgements fun.  I hope you do as well.

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Security Tips to Protect Your Home

A home burglary takes place in the United States every 14.6 seconds. According to The Washington Post/Bureau of Justice Statistics, thirty-four percent of these burglars gain access to their victim’s home by simply walking across the welcome mat and through the front door.

Before you rush out to purchase an elaborate home security system or guard dog to protect your property, however, you should know there are 11 simple things you can do to dramatically reduce the risk of loss.

  1. 1.     Purchase home insurance. With a variety of homeowner coverage options available, you can feel safe knowing your home and belongings are well insured in the event your home is burglarized.
  2. 2.     Get back to basics. Studies show that 70 percent of burglars are amateurs simply looking for an easy target. It may sound like a no-brainer, but make sure all door and window locks are secured before you leave, including second story windows.

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  1. 3.     A trusted neighbor is an extra set of eyes, so let them know anytime you’ll be away from your home for an extended period. It’s always a good idea to have someone watching for any suspicious or unusual neighborhood activity.
  2. 4.     Your house should look occupied at all times. Use light switch timers to turn lights on and off periodically. Also, leave drapes and blinds in the exact manner you do when home.
  3. 5.     Change the locks immediately if you ever lose your keys. Remember, a significant number of burglars walk right through the front door.
  4. 6.     Get a bit more creative when hiding your spare key. The welcome mat is no longer a safe haven. Consider leaving a spare key with a trusted friend or family member who lives nearby.
  5. 7.     Stop mail and newspaper delivery when you’re away for an extended period of time. The accumulation of mail and newspapers is a surefire way to let burglars know your residence is unattended.
  6. 8.     Keep all bushes, shrubs and trees trimmed. Burglars love to use lush landscaping as camouflage.
  7. 9.     Don’t leave any valuables in plain view. Burglary is often a crime of opportunity and window shopping is an easy way to pick a target.
  8. 10.  Your home security can be compromised in 140 characters or less, so don’t broadcast your family vacation or upcoming business trip. This includes ‘tweeting,’ ‘updating,’ ‘checking in,’ or uploading vacation photos to social media sites until you’re home. In fact, studies show 65 percent of home invaders aren’t strangers.  Perhaps a friend on Facebook? Or a follower on Twitter?
  9. 11.  Fight back by using social media to your advantage. Update your sites to give the impression that you are home. This can deter any potential outside interest in your property.

Employing these simple, precautionary measures and combining them with the protection of homeowner’s insurance can help provide peace-of-mind that comes from knowing your home is protected

Source:  http://blog.mercuryinsurance.com/insurance-tips/security-tips-to-protect-your-

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Men Get Breast Cancer Too!

I think you would have to be living in a cave not to know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) in the USA.  Second only to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. 

The American Cancer Society's estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2014 are:

  • About 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
  • About 62,570 new cases of carcinoma in situ (the earliest form of breast cancer) will be diagnosed.
  • About 40,000 women will die from breast cancer

(Source: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-key-statistics)

Most people are unaware that women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are at a higher risk of breast cancer due to having BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.  Norwegian, Dutch and Icelandic people also have a higher risk of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.  Men can also inherit these mutations and be at risk of breast cancer.  In addition, women with these gene mutations are at higher risk of ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer.   Men’s prostate and pancreatic cancer risk increases if they have the BRCA1 or BRCA2.  If one woman in a family has the genetic mutations, it is more likely that other immediate family members also have them.

I am of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and a few years ago my physician recommended that I be tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2.  At that time, the tests were extremely expensive, and my insurance would not cover it.  I recently changed insurance companies, so I will be discussing testing with my new physician.  I had a benign tumor removed from my breast which, had it not been removed, may well have become cancerous.  My paternal grandmother and maternal aunt died from breast cancer, making me at risk as well.

For men reading this post, breast cancer is more common in males that you may imagine.  I recently asked a mammogram technician if she ever performed them on men.  She responded that she has three or four male patients every week getting mammograms!   They wouldn’t be getting tested unless their physician believed they were at risk for breast cancer.

Returning to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women should get a baseline mammogram at 40 years of age.  Depending upon the results, there doctor may recommend annual or biennial testing from then on.  On the TV show Good Morning America, Robin Roberts, is a breast cancer survivor.  She encouraged one of the other hosts of the show to get her first mammogram.  With no history of breast cancer in her family and being quite young, she was resistant, but she took the test.  She learned that she did have cancer. 

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Learn more about breast cancer.  You can find articles virtually everywhere this month.  I am encouraging everyone – female or male – with a high risk of breast cancer schedule an appointment right away for a mammogram.  It is not painful, although it is a bit uncomfortable.  I hope that you will all also remind the women in your life to get a mammogram.

I wish you all good health.

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It is Just a Pyramid Scheme!

Although network marketing and MLM’s have been around a very long time, those of us in the industry still find we have to defend it at times.  If you are already in the field, how do you respond to those who believe that all MLM’s are all scams?  I’d like to share a few basic responses to all the misconceptions.

Some people insist that we have to join the company early – on “the ground floor.”  This simply is not true.  So many new companies fail in their first two years (or sooner), I would never consider one. I believe it is safer to join an established company with a good reputation.

Have you heard this one?  “My best friend’s brother tried that once and failed miserably.”  Or, “I tried it 10 years ago, and I never earned a dime.”  Of course I don’t know their best friend and certainly not his brother, but it is very likely he never worked his business or put any effort into it, but he expected to be paid anyway.  Or, they didn’t research the company prior to joining, they sold lousy products or had poor management. 

We have all heard this one more times than we count.  “It’s a pyramid scheme.”  Virtually every corporation IS a pyramid.  The CEO is at the top; next is the executive team; then there is a management group; and finally, the bottom of the pyramid is created the majority of its employees.  Those on the bottom work to make money for those at the top.  On the other hand, an MLM is not a pyramid.  Every representative has the same opportunity as anyone else in his/her company.  How much they earn is up to each individual.  

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Some companies sell over-priced products, or they are not what was advertised.  Unfortunately, this is true with some companies, but certainly not all.  Many store-front businesses do the same.  There are companies out there with great products whose benefits outweigh the high price.  However, not everyone will agree. 

To be prepared, it is up to each individual to research a product and price and the company prior to joining.   Research is also required to be sure the company sells a real product.  If a company stresses recruiting before  their product, they may actually be scams.   

Many companies train new recruits to approach their “warm market” first.  I have never done this.  Just like I know what my siblings do for a living, they know what I do.  If they want information, they’ll ask for it.  They have referred prospects to me, but I never “bugged” them to do it.

I have also heard, “I can’t sell anything.”  Neither can I!  If you have a quality product with a good company, you will not have to “sell” anyone!  My websites provide the information that most prospects need.  I certainly answer their questions, but I simply provide information.  I refer people to a website and respond to their questions.  That is all it takes. 

More really good network marketing companies are available to those seeking a business opportunity than in the past.  The industry’s reputation is improving.  Sure, we still hear the “silly” arguments, but they have become easier to explain in recent years.

If anyone reading this post has other misconceptions they hear repeatedly, please leave your comment below.  Or, if you have a better response than mine, I would love to hear it!

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The Magic Bank

I received this via email from a friend.   The author is not known.  It was found in the billfold of coach Paul Bear Bryant of Alabama after he died in 1982.

Imagine that you had won the following “PRIZE” in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use.  However, this prize has rules:

The set of rules:

  1. 1.    Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.
  2. 2.    You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
  3. 3.    You may only spend it.
  4. 4.    Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that day.
  5. 5.    The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, “Game Over!"  It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.

What would you personally do?

You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for. Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right?

You would try to spend every penny, and use it all, because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right?

Actually, this game is real…

Shocked ? YES!

Each of us is already a winner of this “PRIZE.”  We just can't seem to see it.

The prize is “TIME.”

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  1. 1.    Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life.
  2. 2.    And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.
  3. 3.    What we haven't used up that day is forever lost.
  4. 4.    Yesterday is forever gone.
  5. 5.    Each morning the account is refilled, but the “bank” can dissolve your account at any time without warning.

So, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?

Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about it, and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!

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Bad Breath Can Help Beat the Big "C"

We have all heard it.  Many cancers are preventable by the way we live our lives.  In fact, one in three cancers can be avoided by eating a healthy diet, losing weight if we’re too heavy and exercising.

Most of us know what a healthy diet is, but I have discovered that a surprising number of people do not.  Simply eating less will not maintain good health and weight.

There are a dozen foods that are especially good for preventing cancer.  If we all eat (or drink) more of these, we’ll be going a long way towards preserving our good health.

Some studies say that milk and other dairy products contain calcium that may neutralize potential carcinogens, especially those found in processed meats.

Here is where that Bad Breath comes in… Garlic and Onions contain compounds that cause the strong flavor and “fragrance.”  Those same compounds may neutralize carcinogenic substances and even help repair damaged DNA.  The vegetables included in the Allium genus, like garlic and onions, appear to be especially effective against cancers in the digestive track (esophagus, colon, etc.).

Red Grapes (and red wine) contain resveratrol that deters cancer cell growth and even causes them to self-destruct.  Resveratrol is also found n peanuts, cranberries and blueberries.

There are flavonoids and phenolic acids are in Apples, and they may stop cancer cells from dividing further.  Citrus fruits and berries also contain these acids.

There are antioxidants in Coffee that research shows may be effective against endometrial cancer’ and Green Tea may prevent prostate cancer.

Studies on Curry have shown that curcumin (the main ingredient in turmeric) fights against the changes in healthy cells from cancerous changes.  It also slows the growth of malignant cells.  There is a possibility that it also may prevent brain tumors.

A recent Harvard study indicated that about a handful of nuts daily may prevent death from both heart disease and cancer.  Beans and Lentils have fiber and phytochemicals, antioxidants and folate that protect colon cells from possible development of colon cancer.  A couple ounces of nuts daily can also lower bad ch9olesterol by as much as 7+ percent.  Soybeans carry a powerful compound, genistein that is being researched as possible treatment for prostate, colorectal and prostate cancer.

Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, are loaded with sulforaphane, a potent cancer fighting substance.   Other vegetables that are dark and leafy (kale, spinach, romaine, etc.) contain carotenoids, powerful antioxidants which studies have shown inhibit the grown of cancer cells, including lungs, skin, stomach and certain breast cancers.

The antioxidant lycopene in Tomatoes may stop malignant cells from multiplying, thus blocking cancer.  It is interesting to note that our bodies use the lycopene in cooked tomatoes more readily than raw ones.

Finally, Whole Grains, highly recommended by nutritionists, appear to lower the risk of colorectal cancer.  Doctors recommend that we eat three to five servings of whole grains daily to protect against cancer in addition to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Those who are vegetarians will easily adapt to a diet that includes these powerful cancer-fighting substances, but meat eaters likely noticed that not a single meat product was included in this list.  We do need protein, and in small amounts, it is fine.  However, we can also get our protein from beans and other plant products.

I eat most of these fairly regularly, but I must admit, not nearly enough as I should.  Researching for and writing this post has taught me just how important these “super foods” can be.  I hope that you too will improve your diet to include these tasty and healthy foods.

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Dream, dream, dream…

I woke up this morning feeling very happy, because I had just taken a trip to Yosemite National Park.  Unfortunately, it was a dream, but I felt good having dreamt about it.

My family went to Yosemite at least once a year throughout my childhood, and even after we all grew up, my parents and their children and grandchildren visited Yosemite.  We all called Yosemite our home away from home.  It wasn’t just a place we went.  Yosemite is engrained into us and (silly as it may sound) became part of each of us.  My husband and I moved away from California 18 years ago, so I haven’t been to Yosemite since.  I miss it.

So, you can understand why the dream made me happy.  Throughout my life, I have not remembered too many of my dreams, but once in a while truly meaningful dreams have stuck with me and became memories, almost as though they were real.

I adored my grandmother.  She died in the 1980’s, and I miss her still.  For the first few years following her death, she would come and visit me in my dreams two or three times a year.  They were such real dreams.  We had a very large family (my mother was one of nine kids) and held many family gatherings.  In my dreams, my grandmother would join us at one of these events.  Strangely enough, in the dream, we all knew that she was dead and would not be able to stay.  However, we also knew she would return again.  So I always woke up from these dreams feeling as though I had a wonderful visit with my “Booba” (Yiddish for grandmother).

After a few years, she came to “visit” less and less often, and now she no longer comes to me in my dreams.  Since that time, I have lost several other very close relatives – my two favorite aunts with whom I was very close; my father; my mother; and the most difficult loss, my sister who was my best friend.

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In the paragraph above, the people I named died in the order I mentioned them.  So the most recent was my sister who died in 2007, and I feel like it was yesterday.

Of all these relatives who I loved so much, only once have I dreamed about any of them.  In one dream last year, I was at a big family dinner.  My father was in attendance, but in the dream, I just saw him.  He didn’t speak to me, and I don’t remember him speaking at all during the brief dream.

I am not a religious person.  I am Jewish and proud to be, but I don’t really practice it.  I know that many people who write here are devout Christians, so you likely will see my dreams differently than I.  To me, my memories and dreams are not faith based.

I have, on numerous occasions, right before bed “spoken” to my sister, asking her to come visit me in my dreams.  I have done so with my parents as well.  As I said, my father “appeared” in one dream, but otherwise, none of my loved ones have come to visit me.  I believe that if they did, it would bring me peace and happiness.  I am not unhappy now, but their visits would make me temporarily joyful.

I would love to hear about some of your dreams.  Have any of you had dreams like I have where a lost loved one has come to visit you?

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

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A Terrifying Experience!

Today I am going to share a personal story, a family story.  My older son is a single dad with a beautiful daughter, a little girl. He shares custody with her mother.

It can be awkward for a man when he needs to use a public restroom when he is with his daughter.  It is horrible, but we all know the possibilities.  So, my son and his daughter were at Walmart when he needed to use the restroom.  He took his little girl into the men’s room with him.  As he entered the stall, he told his daughter, “Stand right at this door and don’t move.  I’ll be out in a minute.”  He could see her feet under the stall door.

As he was using the facilities, he could hear someone whispering outside the door.  He called out to his daughter, “Is someone out there with you?”  She responded, “Yes Daddy.  It’s a man, and he wants me to go out of the bathroom with him.”  While he quickly prepared to leave the stall, he told her, “No!  Stay right where you are.  Do not move away from the door.”

When my son exited the stall, his daughter was right where he told her to be, and there was no one else in the restroom with them.

He took his daughter out into the store and told her that they would walk around the store, and he wanted her to point out the man if she saw him.  In a matter of seconds, she said, “Daddy, that’s him!”  She pointed to an elderly, grey-haired man.

My son approached him – and he admits that he “lost it” as soon as he approached the man.  The man had a thick accent that he couldn’t understand very well, but the guy was actually yelling at my son about being a bad father!

My son was calling this sick man all kinds of names, and the guy was doing the same.  Their voices were raised, and a crowd gathered.  My son yelled to the crowd – “Get Security and call the police!”  No one moved.  All the screaming and yelling was upsetting my granddaughter, and she started crying.  The “sicko” guy threatened my son that he wanted to fight him. 

This all went on for about ten minutes.  During all that time, not a single security staff member appeared.  No store manager appeared.  My son was so angry; he said he was afraid he really would hit the guy.  So, he took his daughter’s hand and turned and walked out of the store.

ONE Walmart employee, a cashier, followed him out the door.  She had paper and a pen.  She asked him for contact information, saying she planned to file a report about the incident.  I give her credit for being the ONLY staff member to step up.

My son and his daughter reached their car, and she was still crying.  She thought her daddy was mad at her.  My son assured her that she did nothing wrong, and the man was a bad man.  He was very angry with him.  He explained why he was angry at the man, trying not to frighten her any more than she already was.  She calmed down and appeared to be okay.

It is terrifying to think that my granddaughter could have left that bathroom with that man who was likely a pedophile.  Did my son handle the whole situation correctly? Probably not, but if I was there …if you were there… do you think you would have handled it differently?  Personally, I really don’t know.  I didn’t advise him what “he should have done.”  I did suggest that he contact the store manager in person today to discuss their lack of security.

Right now, I just thank God that both my granddaughter and son are okay.

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The Economy vs. the Middle Class

I will not get into a political discussion in this post.  I ask that no one comment to this post in any political way.  Political comments will be deleted.  Anyone who is honest with themselves knows that the current poor economy was not brought on by any single individual or political party.

Over the past decade, the middle class has shrunk – dramatically.  There are many contributing factors, and this post will not address the cause.  Rather, it is the result I would like to discuss and how it has affected me personally – and millions of other Americans.   

I have always considered myself in the middle of the Middle Class.  I worked hard all my life and I began saving money when I was a teenager.  I began investing as a very young adult.  I had money taken out of my paychecks before I ever saw them to be sure I wouldn’t spend it.

I always worked full time jobs, making decent money.  My investments had done pretty well, and I thought I was on track financially for my retirement – until about 10 years ago.  At about that point, the economy (as it affected me directly) began its downhill run.  I saw my investments declining, several times losing as much as $5000 in a single month.  Within two years, I was laid off two jobs in a row (one with the Federal Government, another in my State Government), and the job market in my small city was practically nil.  The nearest large city is 90 miles away. 

Then, the company where my husband worked went out of business.  In his industry, men in their 60’s were not very desirable.  He qualified for unemployment for a while, and then went on Social Security.

Unable to find a job, I began working at home, beginning first with a typing service, and then I entered the network marketing industry.  I earn a decent income with my current home business, but not the often quoted “six-figure income.”  I have a retirement income from a job I’d left years earlier, and I too now qualify for Social Security.  We have a couple other small sources of income, so we actually are earning more than when we were both working full time. 

Today our everyday expenses make a much larger dent in our income than ever before.  Using our net income as a gauge, and even though our investments are finally growing again, I now see myself as much closer to lower middle class.   I don’t know the actual numbers that differentiate between upper middle class and lower middle class.  I am basing it on our lifestyle.

We certainly are not poor.  Our bills are paid every month, and we always have food on the table.  We do not have credit card debt.  However, with the income we have today from various sources (many like to say “multiple streams of income”), we should be quite comfortable.  We are not.  Trips that we once took regularly are now few and far between.  We do not have premium TV channels or top-of-the-line cell phones.  We do not spend extravagantly.  We are fortunate to have a very low mortgage compared to most homeowners.  Our increased costs are normal living expenses – groceries, gasoline, utilities, our mortgage, etc.  Groceries and utilities, in particular, have increased dramatically.

Compared to many people, I know that we are very fortunate.  We have money coming in to pay our bills. There are millions far worse off than we are.  However, at this time in my life, after working hard and investing throughout my life, I did not expect to be concerned about my finances.

I know my husband and I are not alone.  Most people I know are in the same situation, or worse.   This post is simply a real-life story about how the economy has affected my husband and I – and my guess is, most Americans.  I would like to hear how the economy has effected some of you as well.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

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Ray Kroc, Entrepreneur Extraordinaire

It is likely that most people know the name Ray Kroc.  In 1955, he opened the first McDonald’s restaurant, and… “The rest is history.”  My research for this post brought me to two websites where I found most of this information.  http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197544#     http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/our_story/our_history/the_ray_kroc_story.html

“If I had a brick for every time I’ve repeated the phrase ‘Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value,’ I think I’d probably be able to bridge the Atlantic Ocean with them.” —Ray Kroc

Like many other entrepreneurs, Ray Kroc started working when still a child.  He ran a lemonade stand in front of his Oak Park, Illinois home; and he worked in his uncle’s grocery store soda fountain. 

Kroc quit school and became a salesman for Lily-Tulip Cup Co.  Selling came natural to him since he was young, willing and able to work long, hard hours, and he was very ambitious. He quickly became the company's top salesperson.  While working with the cup company, he discovered that one of his customers had invented a unique shake mixing machine he called the Multimixer.  Kroc was attracted to the exceptional machine, believing it could be an extremely lucrative product.

Kroc acquired exclusive marketing rights to the machine and spent several years traveling throughout the country selling Multimixers to restaurant and soda fountain owners. A decade or so later, as soda fountains began going out of business, Kroc’s business declined.  However, about this time, a restaurant in San Bernardino, California ordered eight mixers.  Curious about the large order, Kroc went to California.  There he discovered that Dick and Mac McDonald ran a small, successful hamburger stand. 

Their menu was very limited, allowing them to focus on their burgers, fries and beverages, resulting in quality products and service. The restaurant had no indoor seating, and the food was prepared in an assembly-line manner.  The customers placed their order and received it in less than a minute!  Kroc recognized the potential for huge profits if they built hundreds of these restaurants nationwide.  He shared his vision with the brothers. The McDonald’s didn’t want to do it themselves.  Kroc proposed that he do it instead. The brothers agreed and gave Kroc the exclusive rights to sell the McDonald's method.

In 1955 Kroc founded the McDonald’s Corporation and a few years later bought the exclusive rights to the McDonald’s name.  The restaurants were so successful that 100 million hamburgers had been sold by 1958.

Ray opened his first McDonald's in April 1955 and used the meticulously clean, efficient restaurant as a showcase to sell McDonald's franchises. He sold18 franchises his first year in business. Kroc set up a company that purchased or leased land on which McDonald's restaurants would be located. Franchisees paid Kroc monthly rent for the land or a percentage of their sales.

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Kroc and the McDonald brothers disagreed about the business, so in 1961, he bought out the McDonalds for $2.7 million-cash.  He opened more than 700 restaurants in 44 states by 1965, and McDonald's became the first fast-food company to go public. By the end of the decade, there were nearly 1,500 McDonald's operating worldwide.

Ray Kroc created a training program, later called Hamburger University.  Franchisees and operators were trained how to run a successful McDonald’s.  More than 80,000 people have graduated from the program to date.

Ray Kroc never stopped working for McDonald's until he died in 1984.  He went to work in his San Diego office nearly every day until his death in 1984.

After researching Ray Kroc, I truly believe that he was an Entrepreneur Extraordinaire.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

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The Roll with a Hole

Nearly everyone, particularly in the United States, is familiar with the bagel.  However, few people know the history of the bagel or how different today’s bagel is from those I grew up eating.  My parents owned a Jewish delicatessen, and their bagels were wonderful!

The traditional bagel is made from high-gluten flour, yeast, salt, water and malt.  Once the bagel dough is shaped into a circle, they are boiled in a kettle for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.  After that, they are drained and baked for about 10 minutes.   Bagels are the only bread that is boiled before it is baked.  Before bagels, like so many other foods became supersized, bagels weighed five ounces or less, and they made a crackling sound when you bit into them.

Bagels were baked and eaten by Eastern European Jews for centuries.  When European Jews came to America, they brought bagel bakers with them. Bagel making was a highly skilled craft.  Since the Lower East Side of New York City had the largest number of Jewish people, bagel baking thrived there, and by 1900, there were 70 bagel bakeries on the Lower East Side.

That little hole in the center of the bagel isn't just for looks; it is also efficient. The bagel hole came in handy to thread multiple bagels onto a dowel, making transport easily, especially for the street vendors selling the doughy delights.

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The huge puffed-up American bagels, with cinnamon, raisins, onions and more, bear little resemblance to the small dense and chewy rings of East Europe and New York City in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  The vast majority of bagels in the United States today are first steamed in an oven instead of boiled, and they are then baked.

I still eat and enjoy bagels, but to me, only the name remains the same as the bagels I remember from years ago.

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My whole life I have heard that women are paid far less for the same or equivalent positions.  But why is this – and is it true?  So, I decided to research this topic.  It was rather eye-opening to learn some of the facts and statistics surrounding this subject.

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg wrote a book called, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.   According to Sandberg, there are a variety of reasons do not hold equal power.  One huge problem, according to Sandberg is that women are taught not to seek power, therefore limiting their own ambitions and sabotage their careers.

  • 57% of college graduates are women, and 63% of those have master’s degree. That majority, however, seems to matter less as their careers progress.

·        21 of the Fortune 500 CEOS are women.

·        Women hold 14% of executive officer positions.

·        Women hold 16% of board seats.

·        Congress is 18% female.

·        In 1970, Women were paid $0.59 for every dollar men made. It's now $0.77.

Various studies have concluded that women must prove themselves more than men. One study found that men are promoted based on potential, while women are promoted on accomplishments.

Could it be that women are also holding themselves back? 

·        4000 employees at big companies were asked if they wanted to be CEO.  36% of men said they would.  Only 18% of women answered “yes.”

·        Far fewer women than men say they want to be president.

·        Middle school boys say they want to be leaders when they grow up. Middle school girls usually don't say that.

·        Successful women sometimes like "impostors" who will be found out.

·        Despite the fact that women generally outperform men, female surgical students give themselves lower grades.

·        Girls receive lower grades on tests when they have to check off M or F before taking it.

·        Men attribute their success to innate qualities and skills. Women attribute theirs to luck and support from others.

·        If a man fails, he’ll often say it is because they really weren't interested.  Women, on the other hand, blame their lack of ability.

·        Men are 60% more likely to think of themselves as "very qualified" to run for office.

So why do women seem to be less ambitious and confident?  Sheryl Sandberg’s research revealed that: 

·        Parents talk to girl babies more than boy babies.

·        Mothers overestimate their sons' ability to crawl but underestimate their daughters.

·        Mothers spend more time comforting and hugging infant girls.

·        Mothers spend more time just watching their infant boys play by themselves.

·        Teachers call on boys more often.

·        Teachers answer boys when they shout out an answer.  However, they often scold girls who call out, and tell them to raise their hands.

All these factors limiting women’s ambition can certainly affect individual women’s careers, but it also can affect the economy as a whole.  Why?  41% of women are primary breadwinners. 23% are co-breadwinners. 52% of black children are raised by a single mother.

The number of women working outside the home has increased dramatically since 1950 when about one in three women held jobs.  By 1998, nearly three of every five women of working age were in the labor force.  By 2010, nearly 65 million women held jobs, 53 % of them worked in the three industries that employed the most women: education and health services; trade, transportation, and utilities; and local government.

The Federal Glass Ceiling Commission released a report stating that only 7%-9% of senior managers at Fortune 1000 firms are women. Considering that women make up nearly half of the nation's workforce, this is a disturbing number. Highly educated and/or experienced women face their biggest challenges at upper levels of corporations. Well-qualified women face “glass ceilings,” due primarily to stereotypes or preconceptions (81%), and employers who are hesitant to “take a risk” by promoting a female (49%).

Women today are leaving the corporate world in huge numbers-twice the rate of men. They are leaving to find positions that are more satisfying and rewarding, or they are starting up their own business.

The National Foundation for Women Business Owners stated that women own approximately 7.7 million companies; an increase of 43% since 1990. Women are starting new businesses at twice the rate of men. Subsequently, big companies are losing valuable players. This is becoming costly to organizations that invested time and money in their employees.  Both organizations and women could benefit by reexamining the obstacles that prevent females from advancing and from being valued in the workplace.

I am not sure my research taught me anything about how this problem can be resolved, but it did prove to me that there definitely is a “glass ceiling” for women in the corporate world.  This is 2014.  Such discrimination should not exist.

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Warren Buffett, Robert Kiyosaki, Donald Trump and Bill Gates all endorse network marketing. I am not earning a six-figure income, but I am earning a living in network marketing – working at home!  Thousands of people around the world are working in network marketing and making a decent living. 

Sometimes it confuses me.  I speak with people everyday who want to supplement their income, so I introduce my business to them.  My business is not for everyone.  No business is, but more often than not, I think the prospects are hesitant, maybe even afraid of the network marketing industry. 

  • Perhaps they have come across too many biz op ads making absurd claims.  And since they seem “too good to be true,” maybe all of the biz ops are.  Those of us in the industry that are honest and have integrity never tell prospects that network marketing is “easy.” It definitely is not.  Like any other business owner, it takes work.  Many people begin by working their business part-time and build up to full time, along with the full-time income.  If they owned a traditional business, must work very long hours, they have to open the business in the morning and close them at night.  They have to hire employees, etc.  A network marketing business does require work, but it is far easier to reach “profit” mode with a home business.
  • There are still those who think ALL network marketing businesses are a “pyramid scheme,” which is far from the truth.  The FTC closely monitors network marketing companies and puts those who are conducting illegal businesses out of business.
  • They don’t believe they should have to pay money for a j-o-b.  Many people simply do not understand the concept of a home business; if they “join” a network marketing company, they are business owners, not employees.  In addition, they apparently do not realize what it would cost to open a traditional business.  Most network marketing businesses cost $500 or less –often much less - to get started. The cost to purchase a traditional business is generally in the thousands.  For those who buy a franchise (Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc.) they would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to get started.

It is a shame that many people are afraid or hesitate to get involved with network marketing.  Everyone does NOT succeed in the industry; however, the potential to earn a decent living, even become financially free is great. 

As network marketers ourselves, I believe it is our responsibility to teach people about the industry, the great benefits and potential, as well as the myths.  The more successful network marketers join our industry, the sooner the “stigma” of the field will disappear.  Does anyone really believe that Warren Buffett, Robert Kiyosaki, Donald Trump and Bill Gates would endorse network marketing if it was a scam?

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How Well Do You Know Your Business?

For my team call this week, I prepared a series of 30+ questions.   The questions asked about our products, prices, and commission we were paid.  I also asked several questions about network marketing in general.  Some of these would apply to other companies besides my own Xpress Healthcare business.

First, I must say that we had a very small group on the call.  Due to the horrible weather in places, power outages in a variety of places and the Olympics being televised, there were very few team members in attendance.

I asked a few questions that had no right or wrong answers. 

  • I asked team members to share something they did during this past week for which they were proud of themselves.  No one had an accomplishment to report.
  • I asked when they forced themselves to step out of their comfort zone to perform a task, how did they congratulate themselves for their success?  One team member shared a good story.
  • I asked if anyone had accomplished a goal they had set for themselves during the past month, and if so, what was it.  No responses.

 

We market discount plans, and each plan contains several benefits.  Some of the questions were about which benefits were included in a particular plan.  The responses were mixed.  The team members knew some, but no one knew them all.

My questions included how much we are paid in residual commission on specific plans.  Again mixed answers.  No one person knew them all.

When I asked about limitations to particular plans, they knew the answers to two of the five questions.

Here’s a question for all of you reading this… What is the average amount of time it takes a rep to learn everything there is to know about your company’s products, business opportunity and the business itself?  If you answered with any number, you are wrong!  It is impossible for anyone to learn everything there is to know about their business.  The most important thing is if you cannot answer a prospect’s question, do you know exactly where to find the correct answer?

For this reason, I recommend to my team members that they review their own marketing websites to see what their prospects see, and research their “back office” to learn how to navigate it and where they will find information they need when they need it.

I was surprised to learn that no one on the call knew where our company operates.  We are a US-only company, but we do not promote our products in five states due to laws in those states.  I believe this is a very important fact to know, and I suggested that those on the call learn them – memorize them!

I also asked for the advantages of network marketing over a traditional business.  They came up with several good answers.

I sent out the list of questions to team members.  I plan to repeat this call in the future to see whether team members studied and learned the information about which they were not knowledgeable. 

So, how about you and your team members?  Do they know all the basics?  Do you?  Do you and they know where to go for answers besides their sponsor?

I learned a lot from the call last night, and it told me the areas in which I must do more training.  So while it was a little disappointing, it was a great lesson for me to have learned.

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The Unknown Geniuses Behind 10 of the Most Useful Inventions Ever – Part 2

 ALANA HOROWITZ  - MAR. 3, 2011

 

1925: Charlie Brannock creates the first accurate way to measure shoe size using toys.

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Whose idea: Charlie Brannock

The inspiration: The son of a shoemaker, Brannock grew up thinking about feet. As a young man, he became obsessed with figuring out the best way to measure one. The only way to figure out your size at the time was with a wooden block, a method that didn't work very well.

While attending Syracuse University, he set out to solve the problem once and for all. Using a toy construction set, Brannock built a prototype of a device that accurately measured foot sizes.

What came of it: With sales in the millions, the Brannock device has become a staple for shoe stores all over the world. And even though the product is about 85 years old, it remains more or less true to the original model.

***** 

1966: James Goodfellow creates ATM pin numbers so people can take money out of the bank after hours.

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Whose idea: James Goodfellow

The inspiration: The Scottish engineer was tasked with figuring out a way for people to take out money from their banks after hours and on weekends. Eventually, the idea for the ATM was born, and some credit Goodfellow as its inventor. But what Goodfellow undoubtedly created was the Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Goodfellow knew there needed to be a way to confirm the customer's identity at an ATM, but fingerprint scans or voice recognition devices seemed a little too complicated. Then he realized he could link a set of numbers, known only to the account owner, to an encoded card. If the two numbers matched, the person would receive their money.

What came of it: Goodfellow patented the pin number in 1966, and 40 years later received royal honors for his invention. Today, his system can be found in ATMs worldwide, not to mention anywhere debit cards are accepted.

***** 

1967: Robert Kearns invents windshield wiper speeds and wins a $30 million lawsuit against auto companies that steal his idea

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Whose idea: Robert Kearns

The inspiration: Kearns, an engineer, grew up right near a Ford plant and believed the auto industry was a beacon for innovation. Then, while driving his Ford Galaxie one rainy night, he came up with an idea of how he could contribute to it. In the 1960s, windshield wipers typically had two settings, high and low. So if rain wasn't steady, driving could be extremely difficult. Kearns, who had a bad eye, began to squint to try and see more clearly. Then he wondered, why couldn't windshield wipers blink too? (Note: there is an excellent documentary on Kearns called "Flash of Brilliance").

What came of it: Kearns patented his idea in 1967 and sent it around to the major American car companies, but none bit. However, they eventually all began using his intermittent wipers in their cars. Kearns spent most of the rest of his life battling Ford, Chrysler and other car companies. He eventually won over $30 million, but he lost his wife and his mind in the process. Kearns died in 2005 of complications to brain cancer caused by Alzheimer's disease, shortly after winning the legal battle.

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I ran across a fascinating website today (http://www.businessinsider.com/ten-inventions-you-never-knew-had-inventors-2011-3?op=1#ixzz2sIWwSubl) regarding ten people who invented everyday items, about whom most of us are unaware.  The article is too long for one PR, so I’ll share it in parts 1, 2, and 3.

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ALANA HOROWITZ  - MAR. 3, 2011, 10:56 AM

 

When we hear the word "inventor," we think of people like Thomas Edison or the Wright Brothers.

Some of the coolest inventors, though, are people you probably don't know.  They didn't invent planes or light bulbs; these people created products used so often, you probably didn't even realize they were inventions.

For instance, have you ever wondered how a lollipop ended up on its stick? Or how the straw became bendable? These seemingly simple ideas took a lot of creativity and technological prowess.

 

1959: A picnic lunch inspired Ernie Fraze to invent the pop top found on soda cans.

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Whose idea: Ernie Fraze

The inspiration: Fraze, the owner of a successful engineering company, was attending a picnic when he realized he'd forgotten to bring a can opener for the drinks. He ended up prying them open using a car bumper! A few months later, he was having trouble sleeping and thought of the can dilemma. While waiting to get tired, he decided to solve it.

What came of it: Fraze designed a new kind of can, often referred to as a pop top, that could be easily opened with a removable tab. Eventually, his company began manufacturing a system of mass producing these cans to be used by soft drink and brewing companies everywhere. By 1980, Fraze's company was pulling in over $500 million dollars of annual revenue from his brilliant invention. Anytime you open a can of beer or a soft drink, you can thank Ernie Fraze for how easy it is to do.

 

1937: Joseph Friedman invents the bendable straw so his daughter can more easily drink a milkshake

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Whose idea: Joseph Friedman

The inspiration: Friedman was sitting at his brother's soda shop, watching his daughter drink a milkshake. The young girl was struggling to enjoy her beverage through a straight paper straw, whose end she could barely reach. Her father, an inventor, thought of a way to help her out.

What came of it: Friedman inserted a screw into the straw, and wrapped floss around it to create a ribbed texture. When he took the screw out, the straw naturally bent over the rim of the glass and his daughter was able to drink her milkshake with ease. He patented his idea in 1937 and started his own company to produce the straw. The rights to the flexible straw were eventually sold to the Maryland Cup Corporation, which now sells about 500 million of them every year.

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A Huge and Growing Problem

I believe that everyone today is aware of identity theft.  It is unfortunate, but many people assume that since they do not use credit or debit cards, they are safe from ID theft.  There are myriad ways that thieves can gain access to your checking or savings account records and your social security number. 

One of the more recent areas where thieves are targeting identities is in medical records.  Let’s say you order a copy of your credit file.   When it arrives, you are surprised to discover that there are collection notices against you for several emergency hospital visits, with thousands of dollars unpaid.  Once you begin investigating this entry in your credit report, you find the report states that you were involved in a serious car accident and had your leg amputated after you were air lifted to a hospital for treatment. 

Since you have both your legs, and you have not been involved in a traffic accident or been admitted to a hospital, you assume it was a simple error on your report. This is a typical and all-too-common example of medical identity theft.  You may make the discovery from that credit report, or a hospital may start sending you bills for treatment you never had.  You may be contacted by the hospital or police who tell you that they believe you are a potential victim of a fraud they are investigation.    

Medical records are exposed to theft via the internet in ever increasing numbers; therefore, medical fraud is quite simple for a thief to commit.  The fraud may go undetected for months or even years.  More medical records are also being digitalized and shared with health care providers, health insurance companies and consumers, making them more vulnerable to theft.  How about your medical chart? Are the charts in the receptionist’s office within easy reach of anyone? 

It’s not just about the health insurance and health service options, but it’s also about ensuring patient medical records are accurate and shared only with authorized people, and that health services and charges are applied to the rightful account owner. 

Prescribing the wrong medication to a patient based on fraudulent medical records can cause death in which case the impact of medical identity theft is irreversible.  How can doctors and hospitals reconcile a patient’s past and recorded information with the identity thief’s medical information acquired with a recent blood analysis even after a case of medical identity theft is detected?  As you can see, the impact of the health identity theft is huge to the victim’s life, privacy and financial losses. 

In general, consumers have more protection against credit identity theft than medical identity fraud. If a consumer discovers credit identity theft promptly after it is committed, they can notify their banks, credit card companies, the FCC and the police. The victims seldom are responsible to pay more than $50 no matter how much was actually stolen.  

With medical identity theft, the identity theft victim whose social security number appears on the record is responsible for paying the fraud charges.  Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Medical privacy laws in place to protect consumers, there is only limited protection against medical fraud.  Unfortunately, HIPAA also equally protects the identity thief when the personal information of both the thief and the victim are combined.  When the thief receives medical care using your name and medical records, your records are then updated with the thief’s medical information. So, not only can this commingling be detrimental to your life during your future doctor visits, you also may be prohibited from separating your records from those of the thief, because the thief is also protected by HIPAA.  

Medical identity theft is more difficult to track, because only a name and social security is necessary to receive medical care in most cases. It is, therefore, critical for you to monitor your credit report.  If you detect possible medical identity fraud, immediately contact your health insurance company, the health service provider and the credit reporting agencies. In addition, file a police report to document your case, and inform all parties that you are a victim of identity theft. 

With all this information, I hope all readers can now recognize the importance of having an Identity Theft Protection Plan in place to monitor your records for you.  They will detect fraudulent activity before you do. 

Do you still believe having no credit or debit cards protects you from ID Theft?  I personally recommend that you join the LifeLock® Identity Theft Protection Plan through Xpress Healthcare® for two reasons:  

1)     LifeLock®  has years of proven excellent service, and it provides the best monitoring services; and

2)     Joining LifeLock®  through Xpress Healthcare® costs you less ($20 per month, per FAMILY), and along with LifeLock®  services, at no extra charge, you will also receive a Roadside Assistance program, discounted pet care services and products and discounted legal services (9 of the most common services are free!)      

3)     To join LifeLock®  through Xpress Healthcare, visit Lifestyle Select Discounts                                                                                                                                                      Whether you join LifeLock® through Xpress Healthcare® or join another ID Theft Protection company, don’t wait!  Get the protection you need today!

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