Wow, all those people that had millions in mutual funds this year, ALL, I repeat all but ONE lost money with negative returns. See the article. That's right, out of 11,585, only 1 made a positive return! While I know its been a bad year, there had to be more than 1 person who saw this coming! Ouch, talk about a lack of foresight. Actually, they comment about my leader board positive returns in this article which is nice.

When you strip it all down, this is a classic case of resting on your laurels and becoming complacent. Forgetting to study history, and just using what happened the last few months as the precedence. All those fancy lunches, slick brochures, decadent offices, and hot secretaries didn't make a bit of difference when picking your fund manager. See, nothing is too big to fail. And this is a classic example of how following the "herd" can be detrimental to your health. It goes to show you that you can lose 10 years of gains, in just one year. Don't think of it as a problem in just in financial markets, but such a devastation can happen to your health, your house, or more abstractly, your mental state. Things compound, and reach a tipping point, often a cliff, so the way down is often a free-fall. Please watch for the warning signs, signs that I will try to give you on my blog.

Believe it or not, they make mention of me in this article, and my stock returns are very positive in this bear market. I happen to be shortseller. One of the reasons I bring this up is to show you that I put my money where my mouth is. I am just not some bear who talks about doom and gloom, just for fun and profit. Not because I am negative or cynical, but because I am a realist. A "watch out for what the herd's doing" prudent individual. So, just to develop some credibility, I am posting my gains on my blog.

I am not looking for praise or status, this is to let you know I am more then just an alternative health "granola" as some they call us. :) I'll let the returns speak for themselves, and they are realized, I sold everything on Nov. 20th. It took probably 1000's hours of studying and research, but I have done it. :)

So, if you want to stay abreast of my musings, enter your email address in the box to the right. ;0 Good luck in this volatile market. Not trying to scare you, but I hope you are ready for the Great Depression II. Try not to get too down, this is a time for renewal and to get back to the fundamentals of what life is all about. Now that you look back, didn't things quite a bit excessive? And we all know what happens when you get to much fat! All kinds of diseases bubble up!! No pun intended. ;) Little Recession humor anyone?

There is more to follow, so add your email to the subsription newsletter on the right!

With an overwhelming action by the guys at blogactionday.org, bloggers all around the world have decided to write on how to end poverty. In my opinion it has to come from two directions. From the top down and from the bottom up.

First everyone is partly responsible for this mess. It mainly stems from the lack of motivation, greed, and unfortunate circumstances. The greedy take from the many, the poor lack the motivation many times to make their situation better. While there are many poor who desperately are trying to make their situation better, their circumstances gives them no breaks. This is where we need to focus.

While in the first 2 areas its all about morality, I can't change that without many days of nurturing and lessons, which is phase II. Phase I is helping with immediate needs at places like Atlanta's Union Mission and giving to "legitimate" charities that don't pay their principles millions like the United Way. Give to the Salvation Army and find the smaller outfits and we all can make a difference, piece by piece. As a whole we can end poverty.

Well, its my second day writing a blog, and I think I am going to like it. Its amazing to think that I always thought it would take hours to think and write a blog, but in reality it doesn't. Since most of these thoughts come to my mind during the day, you might as well write about them, right?

So, today, I realized that web design, my current job. Actually, my company, but feels like a job because your clients call screaming some times. Its hard sometimes, because the client expects you to think of everthing, just because they are paying you. They expect, you to be the customer and the developer. Well thats hard, its like being right and left brain at the same time!! NO WAY!!! Geez. Anyway, with that said, I have a lot of irons in the fire, additional projects from alternative energy, to selling things I like, to a killer patent.

So, since I am in the Outer banks on an alternative energy project, I had the chance to kitesurf today, 1/2 the reason I am here. It amazes me the power of the wind and water, and how insignifcant we are. The wind or water isn't going to stop for you. We think everthing in the world will, but its you and nature. You must respect it, take your time. You can't rush or manipulate the inputs or your environment, like those people, friends and business sales in the real world. The pull of the kite is so amazon, refreshing and exhilirating... Now if one could only harness the kites power and turn it into energy!! .. Hmmmm. wink More on that later.

But I am removed from society, which is good and bad. All in all, its an time of growth and reflection. Shall be an interesting trip.