Here is a great website from a guy who is involved in the field of climate change research. I became aware of his writing and immediately got the idea that he is an impressive personality as well as being well connected to the environmental research community.
I encourage you to peruse Lyle's site.
Here's a guy building some crazy church furniture. The complete facebook address is www.facebook.com/jabirkey. His name is J.A. Birkey (he goes by Andy) and he specializes in custom church furniture built by hand, not by a factory somewhere. It is hard to imagine that in today's computer and corporate dominated world that there are still guys that build things for a specific purpose and space. Andy builds each piece specifically for the church that it is going into and he says that he is especially careful and honored to build furniture that is memorialized and in rememberance of a parish member or relative.
What I like about sundays
Finally the gps locator got me in the right area! Once again sitting in the sauna doing my daily update. I watched a 20/20 program last night on the IFB church. Brought back alot of memories for me that I worked really hard at blocking out. When
I was young the IFB church I was involved with was ultra conservative and literally beat into our heads that it was " their way or hell". I of course being of sound mind and body decided to question their beliefs and was therefore outcast and treated as if I was the devil incarnate. Spare the rod spoil the child was one of their favorite quotes and boy did they take that to the extreme. I could probably write a book about my experiences( maybe I will some day...) anyway I find it kind of humorous how they always said " God said this or that was wrong, therefore you can not do it. ( go to movies, dance, girls expose their knees, etc.) Well, evidently God must have changed his mind as the rules for the church and school are alot more lax than they were when I attended. I'm sorry did I miss a biblical revision?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
A good buddy of mine tells it like it is growing up in a ultra-conservative home. Oh, the painful memories!
When thinking of home improvements, it’s very natural to go into pure what I call “bean counter mode”. Especially when doing small things around the house, its very easy to see money invested as purely dollars and cents. You are thinking,
“Thanks for that gem of wisdom, Mr. Obvious”.
I had an experience yesterday that really turned my head around to see it in a little different light. It’s been almost 30 years that I have been in the construction field, mainly working on the finish carpentry inside of high-end homes and churches. For 30 years my wife has seen me make beautiful cabinetry and furniture in my shop here at the house. Every day when she comes home, she sees the progress on these pieces for clients, then goes into our house which for the most part, has received very little attention for the 16 years that we have lived here. She loves our little 1920′s bungalow and would love to see it look like the pictures she sees of my clients homes, but is not one prone to complaining or reminding me constantly about how much our house needs attention.
Back to yesterday, I had one of my friends help me drywall and tape the basement bathroom project that has been in the works for three years. It is funny, but in a morning the room went from a bombed out construction site to a real defined space. A space that actually looks and feels like a bathroom.
Is it just drywall or is it a life improvement?
I was still on another job site when my wife got home, but I received an all caps text screaming how much she loved it. Now, I am not a hugely sentimental guy normally, but that text and the half an hour in the bathroom after I got home looking and planning with her really made me feel good.
That was some serious return on investment.
If I could, I would stop working on all my clients projects and max out that bathroom for her today. That’s not in the cards, but it is definitely moved to the top of the priority list. Her reaction just made it fun again.
I guess I am encouraging you to enjoy the process of home improvement. I know you might be thinking that it’s not possible, but try to begin to think about projects around the house in more than just dollars and cents. A project that improves the quality of your life in your house is really a more worthy goal than just increasing the market value or marketability.
Focusing on improving life in the house when doing home improvements:
- Makes the process more enjoyable (dare I say even fun?)
- Involves your partner and family
- Is very empowering for those of you DIYers. (heck, it is for me, even after doing it for 30 years)
- Shows your passion in the completed improvement.
Now that’s a multi-level return on investment. I guess you can teach an old dog a few new tricks.
Here's a good article about a different way to look at the value that we can extract from home improvement projects. He describes how we can improve ourselves while our houses get a makeover. Give it a read and see what you think.
Toto has been the leader in plumbing products for many years. I often see these toilet seats in the high end houses that I work on nearly every day. What a great upgrade that is fully able to be installed by a do it yourself person on a weekend.
When I'm looking for reliable income stocks, my favorite starting point is the Dividend Aristocrats Index that Standard & Poor's updates every year. To make this list, companies must have increased dividends for at least 25 consecutive years. This is a major accomplishment and only a select few stocks make the cut. Think about it -- these are stocks that consistently grow dividends despite wars, recessions, oil shocks and real-estate meltdowns.
Dividend Aristocrat stocks include some of the best known companies in America: Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Proctor & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) are all names that appear on the list. These are companies with well-known brands and other competitive advantages that allow them to grow through good times and bad.
In addition to consistently growing dividends, the Dividend Aristocrat stocks often outperform the S&P 500. Last year, Dividend Aristocrat stocks returned 19.4%, which was more than four percentage points better than the 15.1% return of the S&P 500. In the past three years, returns on Dividend Aristocrat stocks averaged 5.7%, far superior to the S&P 500's negative 2.9% return.
Only 42 companies made the Dividend Aristocrats list in 2011. Three names were deleted this year for failing to raise dividends, and three new companies were added that achieved the 25 consecutive-year milestone. The new names were packaged food companies McCormick (NYSE: MKC) and Hormel Foods (NYSE: HRL), along with Ecolab (NYSE: ECL), which makes cleaning products.
-->
Of course, not all Dividend Aristocrat stocks are equally attractive. Some look better than others, either because of higher yield or faster dividend growth. I screened the 2011 list for the highest-yielding dividend aristocrat stocks.
Here are the top five names...
1. CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL)
Projected Forward Yield: 7%
CenturyLink (formerly known as CenturyTel) is a telecommunications provider of voice, networking and Internet access services. Dividend growth for this stock has been exceptional, growing 64% in the past five years.Like most telecoms, CenturyLink generates enormous amounts of cash flow, and dividend payout from cash flow is conservative at 36%. CenturyLink, the fifth largest phone company in the United States, expects to acquire Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q), the third largest, in April in a stock deal valued at more than $10 billion.
2. Pitney Bowes (NYSE: PBI)
Yield: 6%
Pitney Bowes sells mail processing equipment in the United States and internationally. This company's dividend growth has been steady, but unimpressive at just 3% in the past five years. Earnings had been falling, which pushed dividend payout nearly to 100%. However, Pitney Bowes recorded better-than-expected profits in the fourth quarter of 2010 and analysts expect this company to return to moderate growth in 2011.3. Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED)
Yield: 5%
Consolidated Edison is an electric and gas utility serving more than 3 million customers in New York City and surrounding areas. Although the 69% dividend payout rate for this company leaves plenty of room for growth, it has been sluggish, growing only 1% in the past five years. Consolidated Edison benefited from record deliveries of natural gas to its East Coast customers this winter, but the utility's long-term growth is pegged at a modest 3-4% a year.4. Cincinnati Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: CINF)
Yield: 5%
At one time, financial stocks were well-represented on the Dividend Aristocrats Index, but many fell from the list after cutting dividends during the credit crisis. Cincinnati Financial is one of the few standouts that continued to raise dividends. This Midwestern property and casualty insurer has boosted dividends nearly 6% in the past five years and about 4% in the last three years. Cincinnati posted a 32% gain in operating profits in 2010 and analysts target long-term growth at 10% a year.5. Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG)
Yield: 5%
This diversified manufacturer is no household name, but most of us sleep in beds that use a Leggett-built box spring or shop in stores that display products on Leggett shelving. Leggett generates strong cash flow and keeps payout from cash flow very conservative at less than 30%. This company's dividend growth of 11% in the past five years has been better than average, and the economic recovery is improving its business outlook. Leggett is forecast to grow 15% each year for the next five years.Action to take--> My favorite Dividend Aristocrat stock for conservative investors is Leggett & Platt. This proven performer combines above-average dividend growth with conservative payout and improving business prospects.
My top pick for more aggressive portfolios is CenturyLink. This telecom has a track record for exceptional dividend growth. While increased capital spending will reduce CenturyLink's free cash flow this year, its pending merger with Qwest creates opportunities for sizable cost savings that could boost future profits and dividends.
P.S. -- I don't know if you've seen this or not, but a Texas man has figured out how to collect thousands of dollars a month in dividend payments alone. Last year he made $41,161 this way. Whether you’re on a fixed income or not, I’m sure you could benefit by copying this man’s formula for your own use. Here’s everything you need to know…
Disclosure: Neither Lisa Springer nor StreetAuthority, LLC hold positions in any securities mentioned in this article.
here's an article for the archives....
Here is a great pendant used for lighting a kitchen island
I can fully endorse HomeClick.com
for sinks, faucets and other supplies for the home improvement project. Great customer service, fast shipping and no sales tax or shipping are just the beginning. The last sink I ordered for a client was sitting on my doorstep in three days! It was also about $150 cheaper than getting it at a local supply house. I am sold.
So my advice to you Blackthorne is to not open up the GAKT (or whatever keyword tool you use) for one whole week. Instead simplify the process. Go over to Amazon and check their bestseller lists. Choose ANY 5 five products. Make them the same niche or not – it doesn’t matter. Each day for the next five days create one squidoo lens on each of the products and send them 10 or 20 BMR’s (if you have it).
Put your call to actions at the top, and add the text below. Just write anything about the product – it doesn’t matter too much as long as it’s unique and makes sense – the text is mainly for Google anyway not the buyer.
Should take you about 3 or so hours for each lens. 1 for the lens itself and 2 for the backlinks.
Then wait a week or two for every thing to kick into place. (You WILL need to wait though – it doesn’t happen immediately)
Statistically (since you love figures) this is probably what will happen:
1 will bomb and you won’t get any visitors
3 will be mediocre
1 will be awesome.Once you find the awesome lens write a hubpage about it, and a blog, and totally own that product. And keep sending backlinks to it and your other properties of course.
Yes it really can be that simple.
This is just simply brilliant. All it takes is some follow through. Or not, just forget about the whole thing and get a dail up connection for checking freaking email.....
The Best Places to Retire Outside the U.S.
by Cindy Perman Retiring in another country used to be a foreign concept to most Americans but it's becoming more common thanks to two main factors: the Internet and the economy.
The Internet has provided some much-needed connectivity and the economy has priced many retirees out of warm-weather cities in the U.S.
"You can live better for less in a tropical paradise," said Dan Prescher, the special projects editor for International Living magazine. "All you have to do is think outside the border."
AARP found 10 of the best places to retire outside the U.S., using five criteria: the cost of living, housing costs, health care (both quality and accessibility), cultural and recreational options and if there's already an expat community there. They include Buenos Aires, Argentina; Corozal, Belize; Le Marche, Italy; Boquete, Panama; and Cascais, Portugal, as well as five other locales.
Click through to find out more about them.
I am so on this it's not funny. I get the feeling the US is going to implode. Maybe it's just me being paranoid, but I'm just sayin'........
Find a real, online job!
OnlineJobs.ph: Filipinos getting online jobs with American companies.
At OnlineJobs.ph, we have partnered with thousands of American, Australian, Singaporean, Canadian, UK and other English speaking companies who are looking to hire Filipinos for full-time or part-time work.
We match up your skills with companies looking for your skillset.
Probably just dreaming here, but I spent some time on this site dreaming of how cool it would be to have a virtual assistant. These guys really seem to have their stuff together for a pretty reasonable price.
Oatmeal Dog Biscuits
1 1/2 cups hot water
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup butter OR margarine
1 Tbls. beef OR chicken bouillon granules
3/4 cup dry milk powder
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 egg - beaten
3 cups whole wheat flour
Gourmet Dog Biscuits: From Your Bread Machine Better Food for Dogs : A Complete Cookbook and Nutrition Guide
-Stir together water, oats, butter, and bouillon; allow to stand for 5 minutes.
-Stir in milk powder, cornmeal, and egg until combined.
-Stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
-Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 4 minutes, adding more flour if necessary to make a stiff dough.
-Roll dough out to 1/2" thick.
-Cut shapes out of dough with a cookie cutter and place on a greased cookie sheet.
-Bake in a 325 degree oven for 50 minutes.
-Allow to cool and dry on wire racks.
Notes: Store in refrigerator up to 1 month OR freeze up to 1 year.
Honeywell Programmable Thermostat
It is very possible to painlessly grab savings of approximately 10 to 15% annually on your heating and air conditioning expenses by simply adjusting your thermostat down 10°–15° for eight hours of each day. The downside is that you have to remember to readjust the thermostat every time. The better alternative is to accomplish the same thing automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing a modern
Programmable Thermostat.
A very common false opinion about programmable thermostats is that a typical furnace or air conditioner has to burn more energy than normal to heat or cool the home back to a livable and comfortable temperature after the thermostat has returned to it previous temperature, providing very little or no energy savings (as well as money savings). But research proves, the moment your living space dip below its normal temperature, the house will lose heat or coolling to the surrounding exterior temperatures far more slowly.
The heat loss is even less (and slower) when the temperature of the inside of the house is lower. So this means that the more time the interior of the home stays at the lower temperature, the more likely you are to save energy, because the home has lost a good deal less energy than it would have if it was maintained at the greater temperature. The same basic rules apply to increasing the temperature of your thermostat setting in the cooling season; if you raise the temperature inside your home it will decrease the movement of hot exterior air into your the inside of your home, saving money on your air conditioning bill.
I am looking to put in a programmable thermostat in the house to try and save some energy and some money this winter. This article shows how the Honeywell Programmable Thermostat functions. Good article with valuable usage tips.
This first sentence is always important as it is what shows up in the search engines. I want the Mervyn Peake Gormenghast trilogy to show up so I make sure that is in the first sentence or two. Of course I would override this using the All in one SEO plugin as the first sentence is surely going to put off searchers………………..
Click for pricing and to read the Gormenghast reviewsApologies to you if you have come here looking to buy the books via a search engine. Although you most certainly can buy them by clicking the links above, and you can bet the Gormenghast books price is the lowest online, this is actually an article explaining just how it is that you actually came here.
You see, what you clicked on via a search engine is actually a listing that has ranked highly because it has written about the topic, i.e The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake, and has included a lot of related words that surround that term, i.e Titus Alone, Titus Groan, and Titus Awakes.
Not to mention Flay and various other characters.
This is actually a series of articles showing you and the readers of this blog just how to get visitors to pages like this by writing content and sending what are known as backlinks to it. At least, you would be reading this via a search engine query if I had spent time sending it backlinks. But I haven’t, so in reality you are not really reading this.
Confused?
Me too
Let’s take a look at the the different ways in which this article could have actually been written if I did actually want to rank number 1 for the term Mervyn Peake Gormenghast Trilogy. I would make sure that I would include a number of keywords that I have found to definitely lead to sales. Let’s see if you can find them. I encourage you to read this properly as there are a lot of terms here that you can employ to make very targeted sales and to attract the right kinds of visitors to your content.
We will also look at a few different ways to write your articles. Don’t just believe what others tell you about the length and style of your writing. Many believe that content has to be long when the reality may actually surprise you somewhat. Which is actually the point of this whole article. Not to mention the fact that I wanted to genuinely introduce readers to the best series of books that I have ever read. This may seem simplistic to you but I know for a fact that a lot of people are still not maximizing the work they do online simply because they seem afraid to actually put their links and images in a prominent position. Maybe this will make you realize. Let’s begin shall we?
1.
Buy Mervyn Peake Gormenghast Trilogy
There is no doubt that the Mervyn Peake Gormenghast Trilogy for sale below is about the best collection of Gothic fantasy that has ever existed. If you want to buy the Gormeghast books for the best price then please see below.
You will find that the Gormenghast novels price is the lowest online and with so many positive reviews you can be sure that the Mervyn Peake books will have you enthralled.
I can honestly say that of the vast number of books that I have read over the years it is the Titus novels for sale that are by far the most intriguing, left me with the biggest impression, and fixed a world in my imagination that has never left.
2.
Mervyn Peake Gormenghast Trilogy Price
Click for the amazing low priceIf you want the best price Mervyn Peake Gormenghast Trilogy collection then you have come to the right place. For just a few dollars you can get the best collection of fantasy and Gothic storytelling ever published. Join hundreds of thousands of other readers who have read and re-read the Mervyn Peake Gormenghast Trilogy, for sale at the lowest price online.
3.
Buy The Mervyn Peake Gormenghast Trilogy
I simply felt that I had to write a review of the Gormenghast Trilogy for sale at Amazon for an amazing price.
This is a series of books that I come back to time and time again. I was browsing Amazon the other day and saw just how cheap the Mervyn Peake Gormenghast novels for sale actually are. If I had to recommend one series of books to everyone then this would be it. I don’t even know how many times I have now read these novels but I KNOW it is a large number.
Being an avid reader, and loving other Mevyn Peake books, especially Mr.Pye, I adore the way that a whole world is created after reading only the first page. The sense of wonder and the reality of the characters that Mr. Peake somehow creates really is spellbinding. Never before or since has an author really managed to create such an atmosphere of place and time with what seems like no effort at all. After all these years I still get a feeling of melancholy as I picture in my mind the motes of dust caught in a stray shaft of murky light that somehow made it in to the dank and turgid hall where the King sat.
This is a series of books that really will have you enthralled. The sense of eerie melancholy within the walls of Gormenghast is more akin to Poe and Lovecraft, but with a much more subtle yet no less misanthropic and cloistering feel.
You get totally caught up in the atmosphere of the place, it lingers long after you have put the book down to rest.
Characters such as Flay are realized in perfect form in your minds eye and the image of Steerpike and his wicked ways will stay with you for ever.
It really is hard to put in to words just how special the series is, buy Mervy Peake’s Gormeghast Trilogy for sale on Amazon and you are going to have a hard time finding anything else that lives up to this Gothic masterpiece of fully realized fantasy.
————————————————————————————————————————————————–
We should never take for granted the way we believe we should write our content. Long, short, reviews, straight out “buy the bloody book right now” content, a site with a mix of them all may be just about the best of all.
There is no magic formula, you need to think about what type of people your content and your choice of keywords will attract and write accordingly. For the white socks analogy we often use then writing 400 words about “White Socks With Red Stripes For Sale” would be daft. What is the point?
Anyways, have a think about it. Don’t just follow what someone told you.
Oh, and the Mervyn Peake Gormenghast Novels really are a once in a lifetime read. I kid you not.
Click for pricing and to read the Gormenghast reviews
That’s how you do it
This is a great post by a guy named Dave who has become a sorta mentor of mine. Dave runs an excellent blog and through my communications with him via his "comments" section and emails has proven himself to be one of the good guys on the internet. I wish him and his wife and animals only the best.
xFiverr's User Protection Policy
At Fiverr, user information is always kept private and secure, our users can choose to remain anonymous even when paying or getting paid.
Buyers and sellers are entitled to cancel orders that have not been delivered successfully, on time, or at all.
Fiverr will do its best to protect sellers against user misbehavior, including removal of false feedback or ratings left by other sellers. We invest a lot of effort in making sure that untrusted people stay away from Fiverr.
Fiverr provides 24x7 customer support services to assist you with account issues, orders and any type of problem with the site. Our team of moderators constantly monitor and clean Fiverr, removing poor quality and improper content, spammers and other wrong doers.
Poor quality sellers hurt the community and first and foremost other great sellers. That said, if you are a seller and your account has been restricted, you will be able to withdraw your cleared earnings.
All subject to our Terms of Service.
Gotta keep track of this guy
Cubs Headlines • More Cubs Headlines
The Chicago Cubs and outfielder Reed Johnson have agreed to terms on a 2011 minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Johnson, 34, returns to the Cubs organization after spending the 2010 campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Johnson played two seasons with the Cubs from 2008-09, combining to bat .287 (143-for-498) with 31 doubles, 10 home runs, 72 RBI, 75 runs scored and a .348 on-base percentage in 174 games with Chicago.
Last season, Johnson saw action in 102 games with the Dodgers and batted .262 (53-for-202) with 11 doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI.
Johnson is a career .281 hitter (781-for-2783) with 156 doubles, 18 triples, 54 home runs and 321 RBI in 886 major league games with Toronto (2003-07), the Cubs (2008-09) and Dodgers (2010).
I know, I know. Not everybody gives a damn about the Cubs. But you will have to bear with me, because this is the time of year when Cub fans begin to forget the pain and indignity of the last 101 years and begin to think of the possibilities of a new baseball season. The wife and I love us some Reed Johnson. The guy plays hard every time his cleats touch grass. We will be keeping an ear to the ground during spring training to track Reed's progress. C'mon Reed, we need your work ethic at Wrigley.....
The process of successful dividend investing is all about identifying outstanding companies, with wide moats and characterized by strong brand appeal. These companies should also be able to generate a rising stream of earnings and cashflow which would fund a growing dividend, that would create an income stream for investors that rises faster than inflation. Investors should be careful however only to select these dividend investments, which trade at reasonable valuations. One of the major reasons why US stocks have delivered almost no total returns over the past decade is because they were grossly overvalued in the late 1990’s and early 2000s. Even selecting an outstanding business like Coca-Cola (KO) one decade ago for investment would have led to low returns, because the stock was overvalued.
Back at the end of 2000, the stock was trading at $60.94, yielded 1.10% and had a P/E of 69 times earnings. As of this Friday Coca-Cola (KO) is trading at $62.92. If you add in dividends, the total returns add up to 31.60% over the past decade. Right now the company is attractively valued at a P/E of 19.40 and yielding 2.80%.
With the markets trading at their highest levels since September 2008, the pool of attractively valued dividend stocks is shrinking. Many investors are faced with the dilemma of whether to keep adding to undervalued positions which are overweight in their portfolios or simply to either remain in cash or purchase stocks that seem overpriced. As a result, it might not be a bad idea to further research stocks which are just a bit away from your entry criteria. I have highlighted seven dividend aristocrats, where I plan to add to my existing position on dips below the entry prices specified in the table:
Aflac Incorporated (AFL), through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), provides supplemental health and life insurance. The company derives almost 75% of its revenues from its operations in Japan, while the remaining 25% are generated in the US. In FY 2009 the company earned $3.19/share. For FY 2010 and FY 2011 it is expected to earn $5.55/share and $6.18/share. I would consider adding to my position in the stock on weakness below $48. (analysis)Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) offers atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services worldwide. For FY 2010 the company earned $4.74/share. For FY 2011 and FY 2012 it is expected to earn $5.65/share and $6.31/share. I would consider adding to my position in the stock on weakness below $78.40. (analysis)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT), which is the largest retailer in North America, operates retail stores in various formats worldwide. In 2010 the company derived a quarter of its revenues from its international operations, which are expect to grow much faster than domestic sales. In FY 2010 the company earned $3.72/share. For FY 2011 and FY 2012 it is expected to earn $4.05/share and $4.45/share. I would consider adding to my position in the stock on weakness below $48.40. (analysis)
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) engages in the exploration, production, transportation, and sale of crude oil and natural gas. It also involves in the manufacture, transportation, and sale of petroleum products. In FY 2009 the company earned $3.98/share. In FY 2010 and FY 2011 it is expected to earn $5.87/share and $6.46/share. I would consider adding to my position in the stock on weakness below $70.40. (analysis)
Emerson Electric Co. (EMR), a diversified global technology company, engages in designing and supplying product technology, as well as delivering engineering services and solutions to various industrial, commercial, and consumer markets worldwide. The company operates in five primary business segments: Process Management, Industrial Automation, Network Power, Climate Technologies, and Appliance and Tools. In FY 2010 the company earned $2.61/share. For FY 2011 and FY 2012 it is expected to earn $3.26/share and $3.78/share. I would consider adding to my position in the stock on weakness below $55.20. (analysis)
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) engages in the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of flavor products and other specialty food products to the food industry worldwide. It operates in two segments, Consumer and Industrial. The company derives almost 60% of its sales from the US. For FY 2009 the company earned $2.27/share. For FY 2010 and FY 2011 it is expected to earn $2.61/share and $2.81/share. I would consider adding to my position in the stock on weakness below $44.80. (analysis)3M Company (MMM), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified technology company worldwide. It operates in six segments: Industrial and Transportation; Health Care; Consumer and Office; Safety, Security and Protection Services; Display and Graphics; and Electro and Communications. In FY 2009 the company earned $2.27/share. Earnings per share are expected to increase to $5.73 in FY 2010 and $6.17 by FY 2011. I would consider adding to my position in the stock on weakness below $84. (analysis)
The above selections would be best described as great companies whose stock might have gotten a little ahead of itself. Other than that, all seven stocks are expected to generate increasing earnings over in the foreseeable future, which should assist them in raising dividends like clockwork. In order to avoid overpaying, dividend investors should only consider initiating or adding to their existing positions on any weakness.
Proper position entry at attractive valuations is just one of the items dividend investors should consider in order to ensure maximum chance of success in income investing. Proper portfolio diversification is another item that would ensure that a portfolio is not overcommitted to a certain sector or individual security. Investors should also avoid placing all of their bets at the same time, but should rather spread them over time. Last but not least, investors should try to selectively reinvest dividends in the best investment situations, rather than reinvest distributions blindly into the same overvalued stock for example.Full Disclosure: Long all companies listed above
Relevant Articles:
This guy always has the best take on the market. Specifically as things relate to dividend bearing stocks. I am close to adding another position to the portfolio and it will probably be one of these stocks mentioned above.
In a previous article, I discussed stay-at-home work opportunities that can help you could generate some extra cash. As a follow-up, here are 10 home-based possibilities that you could develop into full-fledged careers.
As such, some of these jobs may require additional schooling or accreditation, but the tuition or fees would be tax deductible and your initial investment in self-improvement would continue to pay dividends, in the form of income and lifestyle flexibility, for years to come.
-->These positions are among the most feasible and popular in today's problematic economy. For the purposes of this article, I've spoken with career search counselors who've provided me with approximate annual salary ranges for each position.
Salaries will differ, based on your geographic region and your particular circumstances, but the ballpark estimates listed below roughly correspond with what you could expect, as far as gross income is concerned. Whether you negotiate a deal whereby your employer pays your payroll taxes, or whether you pay taxes as an independent contractor, is contingent on what you're able to negotiate.
10) Travel Agent
You don't have to work out of an office or be affiliated with an established travel agency to perform these functions yourself. You could set up your own web site and offer your services to individuals and companies as a travel arranger and booker of air and train travel, hotel rooms, package tours, and rental cars. The more clients you get, the greater discounts you'll be able to wrangle from airlines, hotels and rental car agencies, because of the volume of business that you provide to them. Annual Salary: $20,000-$30,0009) Property Manager
You don't have to live on-site or own a property, to tackle the administrative responsibilities of a property manager, which is a fancy word for "landlord." Real estate management companies, apartment buildings, office parks, and condo complexes all need an administrator to keep the trains running on time. The filing, bookkeeping, phone calling, tax management, and all the other related functions are capably handled from a home office. If you possess good organizational and managerial skills, this one's worth considering. Annual Salary: $30,000-$40,0008) Technical Writer
The position of technical writer is a perfect fit for someone with expertise in a certain area who has been laid off, wants a more leisurely pace or is semi-retired. You'll need writing skills, of course, but if you market yourself as an expert in a certain niche, you can find publication or web site titles that cater to that niche. Your best bet is to get placed on the masthead as a permanent contributor, for a regular flat stipend, instead of getting paid by the word or story. This is a great work-at-home opportunity for, say, retired engineers or scientists with a facility for language. Annual Salary: $30,000-$40,0007) Telemarketing and Telesales
Many companies are hungry to find articulate people willing to work the phones as a sales or marketing rep. They'll supply you with a list of contacts to phone and you'll methodically work your way down the list, persuading and pitching them to purchase products, services and advertising. If you're articulate with a winning personality and you like people, this job is for you. Annual Salary: $40,000-$50,0006) Interpreter or Translator
American schools don't teach foreign languages as diligently as in previous generations. In fact, it seems that many native-born Americans can't even master English very well. That spells enormous opportunities for anyone who is bi-lingual. Whatever the language, companies, individuals and students are willing to pay an interpreter or translator big bucks for their services. Annual Salary: $40,000-$50,0005) Graphic Designer
As the Internet continues to explode with growth and traffic, a multitude of new web sites, in every conceivable niche, are being born daily. Someone needs to design these sites. The skills of a graphic designer are especially coveted, when print publications transition to the web and go completely online.Online newspapers and magazines need to be laid out in colorful, eye-catching, reader-friendly ways -- and these publications don't design themselves. If you don't have design skills and want a second career, consider attending the many affordable design schools that are springing up in communities everywhere. Annual Salary: $50,000-$60,000
4) Public Relations Professional
PR has become a "catch-all" profession, as a career segue for former journalists or industry veterans. It's common to find semi-retired or laid-off experts in a certain field become a communications and PR spokesman for a company that operates in their area of expertise. This is the sort of work that can be done at home: writing press releases, arranging and hosting teleconferences, setting up press events, reaching out to reporters, etc. Annual Salary: $50,000-$60,0003) Financial Planner
A financial planner helps individuals, families and companies better plan their finances and investments. These advisers help their clients on such matters as higher education costs, cash flow management, retirement and insurance, estates, taxes, etc.Problem here is that the term "financial planner" is rather amorphous; virtually anyone, whether qualified or not, can hang out their shingle and call themselves a financial planner. This fact has lead to many incidents of fraud and malpractice.
The most reputable financial planners, and accordingly those with the best chance of success, are Certified Financial Planners, an accreditation that is earned by successfully completing the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards' initial and continuing certification requirements. Annual Salary: $60,000-$70,000
2) Web-based Software Engineer
This is a person whose task is to design, develop, test, and evaluate the software and systems that enable computers to perform their applications. This job is one of the fastest-growing professions in the country -- and you can do it, from your home. Qualifications include a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in computer science. Annual Salary: $60,000-$70,0001) Medical Claims Processing/Coding
Healthcare is a $2.4 trillion-a-year industry in the United States, accounting for 16% of the economy. Experts estimate that up to $600 billion of that figure is taken up with administrative work and claims processing. Astonishing figures, but sadly true.This paperwork entails insurance and government forms, red tape, and "coding" for the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs. Doctors and hospitals must fill out reams of paperwork, to get reimbursed by insurance companies or Uncle Sam. One of the fastest-growing professions -- indeed, one that has proven to be recession proof -- is that of medical claims processor and/or "coder."
The Medicare and Medicaid programs insist that healthcare providers use a set of proscribed codes to get reimbursed. The formulas that are used to pay providers are complex and seem to change weekly, which creates an enormous need for assistants who can master those codes. Claims processors and coders have become the new "gatekeepers" for medical care and they can ply their trade from home. Many health associations provide training in this area; once you're certificated, physicians and hospitals will become deeply reliant on your skills. Annual Salary: $70,000-$80,000
Very interesting reading, but I have to admit that I think some of these salary numbers are way out of whack. but all things considered, working at home looks to be a viable option.
xFiverr's User Protection Policy
At Fiverr, user information is always kept private and secure, our users can choose to remain anonymous even when paying or getting paid.
Buyers and sellers are entitled to cancel orders that have not been delivered successfully, on time, or at all.
Fiverr will do its best to protect sellers against user misbehavior, including removal of false feedback or ratings left by other sellers. We invest a lot of effort in making sure that untrusted people stay away from Fiverr.
Fiverr provides 24x7 customer support services to assist you with account issues, orders and any type of problem with the site. Our team of moderators constantly monitor and clean Fiverr, removing poor quality and improper content, spammers and other wrong doers.
Poor quality sellers hurt the community and first and foremost other great sellers. That said, if you are a seller and your account has been restricted, you will be able to withdraw your cleared earnings.
All subject to our Terms of Service.
Here's another guy I want to keep track of.....
xFiverr's User Protection Policy
At Fiverr, user information is always kept private and secure, our users can choose to remain anonymous even when paying or getting paid.
Buyers and sellers are entitled to cancel orders that have not been delivered successfully, on time, or at all.
Fiverr will do its best to protect sellers against user misbehavior, including removal of false feedback or ratings left by other sellers. We invest a lot of effort in making sure that untrusted people stay away from Fiverr.
Fiverr provides 24x7 customer support services to assist you with account issues, orders and any type of problem with the site. Our team of moderators constantly monitor and clean Fiverr, removing poor quality and improper content, spammers and other wrong doers.
Poor quality sellers hurt the community and first and foremost other great sellers. That said, if you are a seller and your account has been restricted, you will be able to withdraw your cleared earnings.
All subject to our Terms of Service.
I am gonna use this guy
Thermostats and Control Systems
You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.
A programmable thermostat offers a lot of flexibility in its temperature settings.
Using a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the times you turn on the heating or air-conditioning according to a pre-set schedule. As a result, you don't operate the equipment as much when you are asleep or when the house is not occupied.
Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program. When shopping for a programmable thermostat, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR® label.
General Thermostat Operation
You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home. By turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for 8 hours, you can save about 5%–15% a year on your heating bill—a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long. The percentage of savings from setback is greater for buildings in milder climates than for those in more severe climates.
In the summer, you can follow the same strategy with central air conditioning, too, by keeping your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lowering the thermostat setting to 78°F (26°C) only when you are at home and need cooling. Although thermostats can be adjusted manually, programmable thermostats will avoid any discomfort by returning temperatures to normal as you wake or return home.
A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been set back, resulting in little or no savings. In fact, as soon as your house drops below its normal temperature, it will lose energy to the surrounding environment more slowly. The lower the interior temperature, the slower the heat loss. So the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save, because your house has lost less energy than it would have at the higher temperature. The same concept applies to raising your thermostat setting in the summer; a higher interior temperature will slow the flow of heat into your house, saving energy on air conditioning.
Limitations For Homes With Heat Pumps, Electric Resistance Heating, Steam Heat, And Radiant Floor Heating
Programmable thermostats are generally not recommended for heat pumps. In its cooling mode, a heat pump operates like an air conditioner, so turning up the thermostat (either manually or with a programmable thermostat) will save energy and money. But when a heat pump is in its heating mode, setting back its thermostat can cause the unit to operate inefficiently, thereby canceling out any savings achieved by lowering the temperature setting. Maintaining a moderate setting is the most cost-effective practice. Recently, however, some companies have begun selling specially designed programmable thermostats for heat pumps, which make setting back the thermostat cost effective. These thermostats typically use special algorithms to minimize the use of backup electric resistance heat systems.
Electric resistance systems, such as electric baseboard heating, require thermostats capable of directly controlling 120-volt or 240-volt circuits. Only a few companies manufacture line-voltage programmable thermostats.
For steam heating and radiant floor heating systems, the problem is their slow response time: both types of systems may have a response time of several hours. This leads some people to suggest that setback is inappropriate for these systems. However, some manufacturers now offer thermostats that track the performance of your heating system to determine when to turn it on in order to achieve comfortable temperatures at your programmed time.
Alternately, a normal programmable thermostat can be set to begin its cool down well before you leave or go to bed and return to its regular temperature two or three hours before you wake up or return home. This may require some guesswork at first, but with a little trial and error you can still save energy while maintaining a comfortable home.
Choosing and Programming a Programmable Thermostat
Most programmable thermostats are either digital, electromechanical, or some mixture of the two. Digital thermostats offer the most features in terms of multiple setback settings, overrides, and adjustments for daylight savings time, but may be difficult for some people to program. Electromechanical systems often involve pegs or sliding bars and are relatively simple to program.
When programming your thermostat, consider when you normally go to sleep and wake up. If you prefer to sleep at a cooler temperature during the winter, you might want to start the temperature setback a bit ahead of the time you actually go to bed; you probably won't notice the house cooling off as you prepare for bed. Also consider the schedules of everyone in the household; is there a time during the day when the house is unoccupied for four hours or more? If so, it makes sense to adjust the temperature during those periods.
Other Considerations
The location of your thermostat can affect its performance and efficiency. Read the manufacturer's installation instructions to prevent "ghost readings" or unnecessary furnace or air conditioner cycling. Place thermostats away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways, skylights, and windows. Also make sure your thermostat is conveniently located for programming.
Finally, a good explanation of how to use a programmable thermostat effectively.
- Importance (A-F): This release merits an A.
- Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
- Release Time: First Friday of the month at 8:30 ET for the prior month
- Raw Data Available At: http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm.
The employment report is actually two separate reports which are the results of two separate surveys. The household survey is a survey of roughly 60,000 households. This survey produces the unemployment rate. The establishment survey is a survey of 375,000 businesses. This survey produces the nonfarm payrolls, average workweek, and average hourly earnings figures, to name a few. Both surveys cover the payroll period which includes the 12th of each month.
The reports both measure employment levels, just from different angles. Due to the vastly different size of the survey samples (the establishment survey not only surveys more businesses, but each business employs many individuals), the measures of employment may differ markedly from month to month. The household survey is used only for the unemployment measure - the market focusses primarily on the more comprehensive establishment survey. Together, these two surveys make up the employment report, the most timely and broad indicator of economic activity released each month.
Total payrolls are broken down into sectors such as manufacturing, mining, construction, services, and government. The markets follows these components closely as indicators of the trends in sectors of the economy; the manufacturing sector is watched the most closely as it often leads the business cycle. The data also include breakdowns of hours worked, overtime, and average hourly earnings.
The average workweek (also known as hours worked) is important for two reasons. First, it is a critical determinant of such monthly indicators as industrial production and personal income. Second, it is considered a useful indicator of labor market conditions: a rising workweek early in the business cycle may be the first indication that employers are preparing to boost their payrolls, while late in the cycle a rising workweek may indicate that employers are having difficulty finding qualified applicants for open positions. Average earnings are closely followed as an indicator of potential inflation. Like the price of any good or service, the price of labor reacts to an overly accommodative monetary policy. If the price of labor is rising sharply, it may be an indication that too much money is chasing too few goods, or in this case employees.
More in-depth information is available from Briefing.com, including "live" intra-day market analysis of the U.S. stock and bond markets, technology stocks, economic releases, earnings reports, and day trading highlights.
This is an important day for me, as I need these to come in a little soft in order to grab a 5% 30 year mortgage......here we go!
Copyright © 1999-2011 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use † and Privacy Policy †. en-US
† requires javascript-->
- Partner Sites
- Answerbag
- Livestrong
Here's an interesting way to clean up the old fiberglass shower pan.
-->