text:
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Dear TJ Families:
With deep sadness I share with you the news that TJHSST
Assistant Principal Gary Grosicki died this past week following an extended
illness. Mr. Grosicki was a caring, thoughtful, and optimistic person
with a wonderful sense of humor. He was an amazing colleague and friend
who will be greatly missed.
Although he had been a part of the TJ family for only two
years, Mr. Grosicki was thoroughly devoted to the TJ community. Those who
knew Mr. Grosicki understood him to be a person of integrity and an innovator
whose dedication to students, staff, and our school was an inspiration to all
of us. A career-switcher, he taught science at Cooper Middle School and then
Woodson High School before joining our administrative team. Mr. Grosicki had a positive impact on so many
students and co-workers within FCPS. His love of teaching and learning
showed in the work he did each day.
A memorial service to celebrate Mr. Grosicki will be held on
Saturday, August 18, at the Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home located on 9902
Braddock Road. The service will begin at 1:00 p.m. with military honors to
follow. At this time we do not have information
about donations, flowers or other tributes that may be arranged by the family.
The Grosicki
family extends heartfelt thanks to the many students and parents who have
offered support and condolences over the past months. It can be difficult
talking to children about the loss of a school staff member. The National
Association of School Psychologists has a website
with excellent resources. There are
local resources available, as well:
Support services will be available for students when they
return on August 28. In the interim, should you or your child need support, our TJ counselors can be reached via email any time or by calling or visiting the school next week.
Please feel free to stop by in person over the next couple weeks if there are any needs that arise with
you or your child regarding this news.
Thank you for your support and understanding. Our
thoughts are with Mr. Grosicki's family and friends during this difficult
Dr. Ann N. Bonitatibus
6560 Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312 | Main Office: 703.750.8300Attendance: 703.750.8315 | Web | Twitter
Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.


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SamacSys has been chosen as the provider of professional CAD Models for Traco Power. In an effort to improve their customers' experience, SamacSys will create and provide interactive CAD Models for inclusion on the Traco Power website. Traco Power has been the leading manufacturer of DC/DC converters and AC/DC switching power supplies since 1944. TheyRead More
Supplyframe Selects Dr. Uwe Knorr as Sr Director of Global Business Development for SamacSysRead More
Since the acquisition of SamacSys by Supplyframe, we have been exploring new ways to bring our component CAD models and library services to a wider audience. To this end, we have partnered with Cadence Design Systems by integrating our vast libraries into their Allegro® and OrCAD® PCB design tool suites. Our library of over 15Read More
Supplyframe, a Leading Provider of Supply Chain Tools and Component Search Engines, Acquires SamacSys At SamacSys, our mission is simple: to provide trustworthy, high-quality, and actionable PCB library content for engineers around the world. In the pursuit of that mission, we are proud to announce that we have reached a definitive agreement to join Supplyframe,Read More
Read the recent Electronics Weekly interview with our CEO, Alex MacDougall. CLICK HERE – for the full interviewRead More
Altium PCB Libraries – Symbols / footprints / 3D models – free downloads from: https://componentsearchengine.com Find out more: https://www.eejournal.com/industry_news/samacsys-and-altium-deliver-integrated-platform-for-pcb-footprints-schematic-symbols-and-3d-models/Read More
Target3001 adds full integration to SamacSys from within the PCB design platform.Read More
Component Manufacturers ECAD Models are increasingly being provided through a partnership with SamacSys Component Manufacturers ECAD Models – Our network of component manufacturers is growing by the day. We already provide content for over 3000 component manufacturers including their latest popular products. "With component manufacturers such as ON Semiconductor working with us, it demonstrates theirRead More
Mouser CAD Models are now provided through a Partnership with SamacSys. Mouser Electronics, Inc. are the New Product Introduction (NPI) leader in Electronic Components. After detailed analysis of providers of CAD Model solutions, SamacSys was chosen as the technology leader to provide PCB Footprints, Schematic Symbols and 3D Models. These design assets will be made availableRead More
TE Connectivity PCB Models – Schematic Symbols, PCB Footprints and 3D Models are available to download from SamacSys, including all our partner platforms such as RS Components DesignSpark community: Click Here TE Connectivity is a technology company that designs and manufactures connectivity and sensor products for harsh environments in a variety of industries, such asRead More
SamacSys and EasyPC have today announced the integration of the SamacSys Component Search Engine in to the V22 release of Easy PC enabling users to have access to the vast database of component PCB footprints, symbols & 3D Models. As well as providing its EasyPC users with access to over 14 million components, Component SearchRead More
Ever wished that you could find someone to create all your library parts to the highest quality for free? Wishing you could free up your time, and spend it more productively designing and innovating? Wish no more, SamacSys have millions of Symbols, PCB Footprints and 3D models ready for immediate download into your EAGLE library.Read More
Free Altium Libraries – a new method has been developed by SamacSys to bring free library content (Symbols | Footprints | 3D Models) into Altium Designer. To find out more, please Click Here.Read More
SamacSys has expanded its integration with Altium by supporting its newest design tool, Circuit Studio. Whilst Circuit Studio users get access to Altiums comprehensive parts library, this integration means that users can import the millions of SamacSys libraries in to Circuit Studio too. Not only does this give Circuit Studio users access to millions ofRead More
SamacSys is partnering with Mentor Graphics to provide free PCB symbols, footprints and 3D models within PartQuest, Mentor's online platform for finding component information. As a result of using our PCB libraries, companies avoid the task of library part creation. Library creation can be frustrating and time consuming and cause major delays during the development cycle.Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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June 25, 1985
5' 4" (1.63 m)
Annaleigh Amanda Swanson was born in Denver, Colorado to mother Holli Swanson. Since her mom was a gym teacher, Annaleigh was enrolled into various gym activities - activities that she didn't enjoy. When Annaleigh was 7 years old she told her mom it was time. Holli knew what Annaleigh meant.From there she went on to study at Denver's Kit Andre Performing Arts Center. Annaleigh loved to perform and went on to performing in her hometown until she graduated high school.She wanted to get on with school fast, so she graduated high school in only three years. From there she went to Marymount Manhattan College, where she managed to earn a theater degree in three years.Shortly after, Annaleigh was cast in the ensemble of the touring version of the hit Broadway show Wicked, and was an understudy for the lead role of Glinda. She traveled with the show for 10 months. In 2007 she booked and originated the role of Margot in the Broadway musical Legally Blonde. Legally Blonde was Annaleigh's first Broadway show. read moreShe left the show in September 2007 to take over the role of Glinda in Wicked. This time, at the Gershwin Theater on Broadway.0 posters | Sort by size: All | A0 | A1


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Author Archives: IBMP Integrative Body Mind Psychotherapy
What to Expect during Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a type of treatment that is given to patients with mental health problems, emotional problems, and other psychiatric disorders. It helps sufferers understand their feelings, emotions, along with factors and situations that trigger their condition. The treatment duration could last up to one year, depending on the patient's condition.
For more information about psychotherapy services, reach out to Energetics Institute!
There are different types of psychotherapy.
Behavioural, cognitive, psychodynamic, and interpersonal psychotherapy are a few types of psychotherapy. Assessment is done before the session to help the therapist decide which of the types of psychotherapy is best for you.
Here are different types of psychotherapy services in Perth.
Psychotherapy is a "talking treatment."
Psychotherapy uses talking rather than medication. You will have the benefit of having someone to talk to about your emotional challenges.
It is a two-way process.
There must be a trusting relationship between you and the therapist. Trust is the most important foundation for successful psychotherapy treatment.
Psychotherapy can be time consuming and expensive.
The duration of treatment depends on your condition. However, other types of psychotherapy may only last a few sessions. Always be prepared to devote your time to achieve a positive result.
There are therapeutic techniques used during sessions.
Drama, communication, narrative story, and music are examples of therapeutic techniques that are used during psychotherapy sessions. It can be done individually, in a group or family setting.
In conclusion:
Psychotherapy works if you are prepared to go to appointments regularly and participate during sessions. Do not be discouraged if you are not able to achieve your expected result. Instead, keep looking for ways to get better!
It is a two-way process as both the therapist and patient must work together to achieve a positive result. It is expected that both parties should develop trust with another to ensure a harmonious relationship.
Lastly, during psychotherapy, you are expected to talk!
So, talk to your psychotherapist and be honest about your feelings!
Benefits of Counselling
Counselling is a type of "talking therapy" that involves talking to a counsellor to ask for advice about your situation. A counsellor will listen to your problems and help you deal with negative thoughts and emotion. Besides, it is best to talk to professionals about your issues rather than to family and friends.
Here are other benefits of counselling:
- Emotional Management
Through counselling, you will learn to understand your "self" better, accept your flaws, and change negative behaviour.
- Relief
Counselling involves talking therapy which is beneficial to mental health sufferers as it provides a safe space to talk about their situations.
- Improved Problem Solving Skills
The goal of counselling is to help you understand your situation better and find ways to solve it. A good counsellor will allow you to discover and improve your problem-solving skills.
- Increased Confidence
Counselling can help you become more confident about yourself and your decisions.
- Stress Management
A good counsellor will help you understand the effects of too much stress in our body and why you should learn to manage your stress level effectively.
Be participative. Talk to the counsellor regularly. Counselling is not only for those having mental and emotional difficulties but also for those who need guidance in life, relationship, marriage, etc.
Talk to a counsellor now!
Reach out to Energetics Institute!
Here is a guide to types of counselling services in Perth.
Couples Therapy in Perth
Do you argue with your partner too much? Do you feel exhausted with your married relationship? Do you need help in resolving your relationship issues? You need a professional to help handle your issues!
Call Energetics Institute for about couples therapy in Perth!
Couples therapy is a type of psychotherapy that helps people with a romantic relationship gain an understanding about the state of their relationships and how to resolve the current conflict. It is important for couples to seek couples therapy to rectify relationship issues and prevent a more serious relationship problem from arising. There are various therapeutic treatment couples can subject themselves to, depending on the situation and state of relationship.
With Energetics Institute, we put emphasis on the following general elements:
- Establishing specific problem (e.g. sexual difficulties, infidelity, jealousy, etc.)
- Treat the relationship and individuals separately.
- Focus on solutions that are practical and fair to both parties.
- Make the participants realize about their goals and objectives in the relationship.
We begin any couples therapy with interviews regarding the history of the relationship, family background and values to assess the couples' situation and arrive at the best therapy tools that can quickly rectify the stained relationship. Here at Energetics Institute, we believe that identifying the couples' relationship problem is the tenet to couples therapy. This can help both parties realize the situation and focus on the treatment with the guidance of a well-structured treatment plan provided by an experienced therapist.
What we noticed most with couples who undergo the therapy is the difficulty in changing the undesirable behaviour. (This is understandable) With this situation, we provide couples with homework where they can apply the methods that they have learned during the session. In that way, both of you can learn to perceive and appreciate the relationship positively.
Couples therapy is for all couples – whether on the rocks or living happily. It can resolve conflict, prevent relationship issues from escalating or simply provide a relationship "check-up" for happy couples.
At Energetics Institute, we can help address the following relationship situations:
- Money
- Sex
- Infidelity
- Parenting
- In-laws
- Parenting
- Infertility
- Gambling
- Addiction
- Emotional distance
- Chronic health issues
We are happy to tell you that most couples who came to us for therapy have achieved positive results and are living a happy and successful married life. We have a team of experienced therapists who can ensure that your relationship dilemmas will be given a solution. All you have to do is, be honest and tell us what is bothering you!
At Energetics Institute, we exhaust all the means to help you live a happy life without inhibitions and negativity. A positive and happy married life is achievable with the help of our therapeutic exercises and effective counseling. However, we are not here to exactly "fix" your relationship; but to point you to the right direction towards giving a practical solution to the situation.
In reality, people sometimes ignore the need to undergo couples therapy due to various factors such as the fear of being judged and thinking of it as a "waste of time". Such thoughts are understandable and acceptable. However, you must not ignore your relationship issues! Talk to a therapist as soon as possible.
Here are few signs that you need couples therapy:
- You fight all the time.
- You feel like you don't speak the same language.
- You bicker all the time.
- Always arguing on the same issue.
- You pretend that everything is fine.
- You have mismatched sex drive.
Ask yourself now. Are you experiencing any of those?
If you think that your relationship isn't going the right way, it is best to consult a therapist!
For couples therapy treatment in Perth, talk to Energetics Institute!
If we were to ask what is narcissism we should define it as a trait displayed by someone who has an overly inflated sense of self-worth. Someone who lacks empathy is selfish and has a sense of entitlement. It affects approximately 1 percent of the population with a greater prevalence amongst men than women.
Narcissistic personality disorder should not be confused with having high self-esteem or confidence, it goes far beyond that and is a definite mental disorder.
Narcissism Symptoms
The narcissism symptoms can vary, but most often they include:
- Requiring adoration and being made to feel special and having a sense of entitlement.
- A tendency to believe they are the best at everything and to exaggerate their accomplishments and ability.
- Being overly self-important.
- Expecting too much of others and expecting them to comply unquestioningly with their expectations.
- Believing they automatically deserve the best of everything – car, house, etc.
- Appearing to be conceited or boastful and behaving in an arrogant manner.
- Believing others are envious of them and displaying envy of others.
- Not wishing or able to recognize the needs of others. Displaying a lack of empathy.
- Getting what they want is everything, even if they need to take advantage of others.
- Looking down on others and always needing to be the center of attention.
- Believing they are superior and only want to deal with others who are similar.
- An inability to handle even the slightest criticism.
- Having problems controlling their emotions and displaying extreme behaviour.
- Although they try to display otherwise they actually feel very insecure.
People who develop a narcissistic personality disorder are likely to suffer issues when they do not receive the special treatment they think they deserve and may have problems with school, work, relationships or dealing with financial issues. It can be a challenge for them to function in society and they are likely to need help at some point. At the Energetics Institute, we are trained to talk through your problems and put together the best treatment program. If you or a loved one are dealing with an issue involving narcissistic personality disorder in the Perth or surrounding areas, give us a call on 0414 897024.
It is a thin line to decide when somebody just has an extreme personality and when they are actually mentally ill and in need of treatment from a doctor, so calling us will allow us to talk through your options and see what help may be appropriate. Talk therapy is the most effective option so booking an initial consultation with us is an ideal way to begin.
What Causes Narcissism
What exactly causes narcissism is still a bit of an unknown. As is often the case with types of mental disorder it is a complex issue and so far we have ideas rather than proven facts as to what makes narcissistic personality disorder develop.
One popular theory is that the environment during childhood plays a big role, with mismatched relationships between the parent and the child being problematic, either through too much criticism or too much praise. Similarly, genetics are thought to play a role, where you inherit characteristics from your parents.
Neurobiology which is the study of the connection between your brain and way of thinking and behaving is an interesting idea to study with people suffering from narcissistic personality disorder.
People with narcissistic personality disorder often have less grey matter on the part of the brain which regulates empathy, compassion, cognitive functioning, and emotions.
We may be born with these character traits, but many doctors believe they become apparent during development when we are faced with conflict.
Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder
Usually, psychotherapy also known as talk therapy is the treatment for narcissistic personality disorder. There may be certain medications prescribed if other mental health concerns are present.
Psychotherapy can be useful to teach you how to better understand and empathize with others and therefore develop better relationships. It can also help you to understand the reason you behave as you do and to get a better grip on your emotions.
It can be difficult to get a typical narcissistic person to seek treatment as they are unlikely to accept there is a problem, but the fact is many of these people are deeply unhappy and truly suffer so they would undoubtedly benefit from therapy.
Progress often takes considerable time, as the psychotherapy focuses on behavioural changes and involves accepting responsibility and accepting the need to change, so it is a gradual process. Over time it is possible to build better relationships and recognize the need to behave in a more acceptable manner.
Other things that can we worked on, include:
- Learning to accept failures and criticisms
- Learning to accept realistic goals and lifestyle and that regular life is quite a nice way to live
- Learning to get along better and maintain relationships with family members and co-workers
- Learning to better understand your feelings
Treatment for narcissism is not a straightforward process, so consulting with Energetics Institute is a good way to begin to confront your issue with narcissistic personality disorder. Call us today for an appointment!
Anxiety Treatment in Perth
How do you define anxiety? Is it a normal emotion? If it is… then why do you need anxiety treatment? Find out why in this article!
Did you know that there are 3 million Australians who are living with anxiety or depression? And little did we know that 1 in 8 Australians aged 16 to 85 are showing signs of anxiety disorder.
How did this happen? What is the reason and why can't sufferers subject themselves to treatment? Is it safe to say that anxiety is amongst the most common mental illnesses in Australia? These are a series of question each one of us is asking about.
You can get cured if you are suffering from anxieties! There are organizations and other health institutes who can help you fight mental illness. All you have to do is submit yourself to treatment and follow the prescribed medication and therapy!
For anxiety treatment in Perth, check out Energetics Institute!
So, what is anxiety?
As mentioned in various medical articles, anxiety is a normal and healthy emotion which is associated with nervousness and a state of worrying. However, it can become a mental disorder if a person is experiencing the emotion at a disproportionate level.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anxiety is characterized as the feeling of tension and worrying and is also associated with physical changes in the body such as high blood pressure and sweating.
To fully understand what anxiety is all about, let us find out its symptoms to better diagnose ourselves if we are truly experiencing such mental disorder.
These are the common symptoms of anxiety disorder:
- Behavioural: Staying away from situations that can trigger anxiety which can affect life and social interaction.
- Psychological: Obsessive thinking, fear, excessive worrying
- Physical: Panic attacks, increased heart rate and blood pressure, restlessness, annoyed state
Take note that all of these are just common symptoms which can help you diagnose yourself with anxiety. You still need to see a doctor to clarify your condition.
If you need help in recuperating from anxiety, find the Energetics Institute in Perth!
The Australian Psychological Association mentions six different types of anxiety disorders which are commonly experienced by Australians. These are Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), agoraphobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic disorder and specific phobia.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
People with SAD are known for avoiding social interaction due to fear of judgment and criticism. SAD is also characterized by fear of being viewed negatively by others which leads to severe anxiety.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD makes people experience recurring troubled thoughts, images, impulses as well as repetitive rituals which are sometimes misunderstood due to misinformation. The truth is… people with OCD are aware of their condition but they find it hard to control or resist their compulsions.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is also known as excessive worrying even in the easiest situations. The worrying is very hard to resist and can lead to severe anxiety if left untreated.
- Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is the fear of being contained in a crowded place where it could be hard to get out or get help in case the situation requires it. People with agoraphobia do not like being left at home alone or being in crowded places.
- Panic disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by sudden surges of overwhelming fear, anxiety and other emotions which comes out of the blue and is associated with physical symptoms such as sweats, high blood pressure, increased heartbeat, etc.
- Specific phobia
These are combinations of different types of anxieties which involves fear of objects and situations such as fear of flying, fear of injections and other things.
If you feel like you are experiencing anxiety on a different level, it is best to get treatment as early as now!
If you are in Perth or nearby, Energetics Institute can help you!
Here is the catch… there is no known cause for anxiety disorder but there are triggering factors that occur and lead people to suffer with such a condition. Genes, biology, thinking style and coping strategies are amongst those triggering factors.
You shouldn't fear that you will not get cured!
Energetics Institute has different types of therapy which can help you overcome different illnesses. For anxiety treatment, we offer the IBMP treatment or therapy to help you recuperate from your condition the easy and painless way.
What is IBMP?
IBMP or Integrative Body Mind Psychotherapy is the holistic approach to body and mind wellness which can teach you ways or tips on how you can connect your mind, body and soul to work together to restore wellness. These are important tips to help achieve a balanced emotional state and ways of coping with your condition.
The main purpose of IBMP is to slowly allow you to work together with your mind and body to achieve a healthy and balanced emotional state. It is a process that will lead you to the path of emotional awareness and will make you realize your full potential.
The IBMP is an effective treatment that has helped many clients who are suffering from anxiety and other mental illness. Enroll yourself now!
However, you must remember that the IBMP treatment or therapy is not considered as a replacement of any medical treatment. You can use it as an augment to your medical prescription for better results and faster recovery.
If you like the sound of that, call Energetics Institute for anxiety treatment in Perth!
The Wizards Of Aus!! – A Caution for Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road
At the recent 2011 National Achievers Convention held in Sydney, over 9000 people soaked up the messages of thought leaders' ideas on business, wealth and success. The presenters were global leaders in their core competency, and were global names such as Anthony Robbins, Harvey Eker, Robert Kiyosaki, and Donald Trump. They were a legitimate line-up of solid speakers in their respective fields.
A comment was made during the event that the passionate and excited audience should be careful of a second wave of spruikers who may follow and capitalise on the energy and on the messages and themes of that legitimate event. Why was this comment made ? Welcome to the Wizards of Aus!!
Our society is at a stage in its evolution where money, wealth, success and lifestyle are constantly used as measures of who a person is. More now than ever we are encouraged to adopt financially literate lifestyles, become pro-active investors, and escape the rat race. All this in itself is not a bad thing and represents a society informing itself of new ideas and opportunities, as more people rise out of survival consciousness.
However we also have a society populated by more than a few "Dorothy's" who are quite innocent and naive in the ways of finance, wealth, life and how to genuinely look for happiness. Many people do require genuine support and education in such things as wealth dynamics and creating an investment portfolio, or to change their behaviours or lifestyles. Some people understand this and they go searching. They are all on some journey on their "yellow brick roads" which are hopefully paved with gold. The problem is that the unwary often cannot discern real gold from fool's gold.
The popular modern fairy tale book and film, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is actually a profound psychological mythic story of what can happen to the naive, unaware and unthinking person who happens in life to stumble across a guru promoting a lifestyle, money, success, wealth and happiness via some "special insight" or fantastic system they alone possess. I refer you to my analytical article on the psychological dynamics and truths found in this cautionary tale titled The Wizard of Oz – A Myth for Our Age
The problem of The Wizard is translated into the fact that for every provider of sound lifestyle, financial, wealth and investment seminars, books and coaching, there are even more that are the deceptive wizard types like that portrayed in the Wizard of Oz. Predatory personalities know that there is much wealth to be garnered by offering hyped up programmes to a gullible public, who are desperate to find their pot of gold or happiness at the end of the rainbow.
I reflected on the commentators words of advice from that recent seminar. I thought why not search the internet and look at what recent offerings or presenters have graced our shores, who may appeal to that same audience but where concern may exist that they may not fill the shoes of the A-listers who just left that Sydney event.
In general all these types of events are about wealth creation and the usual marketing hype about insider tips, secrets, and psychology of money. The presenters will typically be touted as thought leaders in this arena of manifesting and wealth and success with money investments. There is often a Barnum and Bailey circus like emotional effect created around such events.
In the Barnum and Bailey circus events of 100 years ago people flocked to the circus to see the amazing midget, the hairy woman, and the Elephant man. Today we are attracted to "circus" ideas such as "3 Days to Cash", "Make Money While You Sleep", "The 4 Hour a Week Millionaire", "Pillars of Success" and so on.
Just like some of the circus freaks, some of these offerings are real and just unusual, whilst some others may be more like a room full of mirrors. At the circus you bought fairy floss and show bags, and at these modern day events one can also buy show bags with books, DVD's and literature and brochures for more upcoming events. Some offerings are solid and some are more wafer thin or like fairy floss.
The advertising and content for all these events has evolved over the years to expand their offerings to not just wealth factors but also lifestyle factors. The psychology of money, wealth and success is a more recent thread, and promotional words like "break through fear", "turbo charged", "discover your life purpose", "manifest your deepest desires" and "connect to your deepest human needs" sexy up most promotional materials.
I have personally attended a number of these seminars over the years, both here and overseas. The genuine one's are solid, and the wannabe's will often be found to reframe and repackage others ideas plus sprinkle in some esoteric Law of Attraction pseudo-logic like that one finds in the very successful book and DVD "The Secret".
A common thread in attracting the Dorothy, Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow to these events is eye catching claims that convey the idea that one can become financially and lifestyle free without following the traditional path of hard work, research, having a plan and the discipline of sticking to it. It would surprise you that some of the second rate presenters may own less assets than their audience, yet may want to share their secrets of wealth creation!! Not all can walk their talk.
The solid industry operators do offer financial education and will be seen to have appropriate industry backgrounds in either Accounting, Taxation, Law, Commerce and/or a proven business history. There are some others who have colourful "poor to rich" stories and backgrounds that appeal to an audience that you too can rise up from poverty to success like me. They may or may not have more substance behind the claimed huge enlightenment moment that transformed their lives. Do not blindly swallow all claims placed in front of you.
There are many Dorothy's in society looking for an "easy way out" of their 8 to 6 employee working lifestyles and will typically spend the hundreds of dollars to attend a multi-day event. The genuine presenters can provide generalised grounded advice and insight to those on the Yellow Brick Road. They may let their substantial careers talk for them instead of needing to make grandiose claims.
One common rort of the wannabe's is that they make claims of financial breakthrough, recognition, success and achievement from places and times that are neither relevant, nor traceable. Scanning through the online material I notice some hypesters making claims of achievement and success dating from as far back as the 1970's.
Chances are that no company records nor the witnessing people either still work there or are even still alive!! Hiding behind history is a common camouflage technique. A basic rule of thumb is that if it didn't happen in the last 10 years then its ancient history and irrelevant. Society and business has moved on paradigm shifting ways over those years and business models, claims, and ideas soon become stale in our information age.
My experience has been that the hypesters typically have a second agenda that means pressure and emotional marketing attendees into more complicated and deeper pocket subsequent programmes, coaching or merchandising. Economically illiterate people may need such ongoing coaching but often these programmes are template and "cookie cutter" one fits all packages that may not work for everyone. The same may be true of the touted formula for success.
When I read the material provided by some of these programmes what I find is that the formulas have a context and a setting where their method or process will be seen to have some application. However some presenters oversell their method as a more generic way to success, economic freedom and so forth. A one size fits all is something to be wary of.
Some of the models I have reviewed require ongoing financial, time, and repeat business, or volumes of business that are not clearly spelt out in the seminar or first presentation. This is what I term the iceberg effect. What is visible is only a small part of what is going to be really needed to make the business model work. Once hooked some people keep following the Yellow Brick Road looking for that illusory pot of gold via some system or business model that may disappoint.
Some touted business models create an ongoing dependency with the promoters support organisation that means profits may need to be reinvested back into the promoters business. This dependency appears to be the real secret of how some presenters get rich and create the lifestyles they then promote. There are a variety of schemes and promoters out there. I suggest to everyone that they have their accountant review any such offering before making a commitment to any of them.
I was curious to see what recent activity had occurred in Australia around such schemes. I did some basic Google and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) searches to see if there was any history or anything notable in regards to any company or its promoters and presenters. I was surprised with what these searches in the public domain uncovered.
According to various ASIC public website releases there has been a need in Australia for ASIC to warn the public about some facets of this transformation and wealth creation industry. A common problem is that some promoters and presenters are seen to offer both Tax advice and Financial advice to the public and clients in contravention of Australian laws.
In Australia one needs a Tax Agents licence to provide taxation advice, and one needs an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) to give Financial advice. Giving those types of advice without such a licence is an offence under law. ASIC has successfully brought legal proceedings against some entities, specifically in relation "the way they arrange, promote and hold live seminars in Australia".
ASIC warned in several media releases that "it is important that it is important to check the credentials of people providing financial advice", and that it is concerned with some elements providing wealth and success seminars in Australia. What may have triggered ASIC's concern?
An example of the general type of concern that ASIC expressed was highlighted in a 2009 article by Scott Pape, who is a respected financial commentator and columnist, who goes under the moniker of "The Barefoot Investor". Scott researched and outlined the chaotic and ultimately criminal background of the so-named "Wolf of Wall Street", one Scott Belfort.
Scott's article claims that Jordan Belfort once setup a stockbroking operation in Wall Street where he and his team gathered enormous wealth from unwary investors to the tune of hundreds of millions. However a lifestyle of drugs, partying, the purchasing of grandiose objects of wealth such as 70 luxury cars, helicopters and mansions soon saw all the investor cash burned through. His scheme collapsed and he was convicted of a "pump and dump" share manipulation scheme, and served 22 months in a USA jail for fraud, money laundering and trading breaches.
Scott Pape documented Belfort's lifestyle as involving "a spiralling addiction that saw him take up to 22 different drugs just to get through the day – which at the time included sleeping with hookers, organising workplace dwarf-throwing contests, sinking his 20 metre yacht, and crashing his car while high as a kite". Based on these claims then perhaps he is not a role model for lifestyle emulation.
Pape notes that whilst in jail Belfort wrote his memoirs "The Wolf of Wall Street" which again gave him success and wealth as a bestselling author. Pape notes that in 2009 he has reinvented himself as a life coach and has a planned self-help guide soon to be published. It did not help his investors who lost their investments in his previous role as the stockbroker.
Scott Belfort came to Australia and presented at a wealth creation event in 2009 which was entitled "Beating the Stock Market", which he allegedly criminally did well based on his past criminal record. The problem is that many Dorothy's would have had no idea about the extent of his past, and the prudency of relying on the integrity and advice of someone with such a history. This is what I believe ASIC is concerned about within this unregulated industry in Australia.
Scott Pape warns everyone to be wary and vigilant when signing up for investment seminars. Many of the wizards of AUS wealth creation, life success, and investing, may have been able candidates for a part in the Wizard of Oz movie!! Typically from the hype of such events the promoters then try to capture emotionally aroused public into a tornado of signing up for books, DVD's, expensive courses, and becoming part of an exclusive and privileged clubs and coaching or therapy!!
Unleashing Dorothy's Dog!!
In the famous tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, it was Toto the dog who pulled aside the curtain and exposed the Wizard as a blustering old man, a fraud who was deceiving others with lights, sounds and levers. Psychologically the dog represents Dorothy's animal instincts and intuition, and was a warning about how to approach spruikers and Wizards with an adult critical thinking mind.
We each need to be the Dog in the way we approach any of these events and offerings that come our way in our lives. Some basic tips from various financial commentators and ASIC which can sharpen our adult critical thinking skills and discernment include:
• Check the ASIC website for any reports or media releases on the promoters or the events or the type of investment under consideration by yourself.
• Check that anyone offering financial advice has a valid Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). Beware that some promoters may try to claim to be an associate of a company where such a licence is housed. This implies the person may or may not personally have the training or background to hold such a licence themself. ASIC can assist with such information.
• Check that anyone offering taxation advice has a valid Australian Taxation Licence. It is an offence to provide taxation advice without being registered to do so. Be aware that some promoters may try to claim to be an associate of a company where such a licence is housed. This implies the person may or may not personally have the training or background to hold such a licence themself. The ATO or ASIC can assist with such information.
• What general Accounting, Financial Services Industry, Investment industry background does the promoter have? Remember their resume will be polished to look attractive and may not tell the full story.
• Check that the promoter has formal training in some serious discipline in a business field. Ideally the training reflects the area of promotion and shows a level of gained competence by an accredited training organisation. I have found that it is possible for any person in society to buy their degrees from "internet mill" Universities. Such bodies exist on the basis you pay them a fee plus submit a tokenistic essay or "thesis". In return they convey a degree of impressive sounding specialist learning. Type into google the name of their university as well as the word "fraud" and see what comes back to you.
• What recognised bodies are the promoters accredited with, or members of. A sign of credibility are formal memberships of key industry bodies and ongoing training in the industry or areas of promotion.
• Do a basic Google search of the promoter's name, their business name, their promoted package name, their industry category, and their other businesses if you find evidence of their links to other business entities. You may be surprised what shows up.
• Does their business model or promoted package sound too easy, too good, or makes extravagant claims? If they do then beware as they may be a hypester or a con artist?
• Show the promotion or offer to your accountant or Financial Advisor and ask their opinion. Do not rely on testimonials on the website or literature of the promoters. It may be contrived, overblown or made up.
• If you are introduced into such an offer or promotion by your accountant, Financial Advisor, or other professional, ask and obtain in writing a disclosure of any conflicts of interest, any commissions or fees that this person will receive, or stand to receive by introducing you to that promotion or event. If a conflict of interest exists then get independent advice, or decline.
• Step away from your emotional reaction and let that pass. Take a cooling off period away from the person or stimulus that is evoking the excitement in you about the opportunity. Do not be pressured into signing up but instead revisit the information a day later when in a rational space.
• Ignore claims of extreme discounts or only so many seats left at the event which compel you to sign up right now or today. Whatever is the carrot will always be there tomorrow as these promoters and spruikers will not turn away a new client or prospect. Such offers are a known pressure selling technique and so potentially represent unethical conduct and should be a red flag about what else is potentially hype, pressure and misleading in the promotion or offer.
• Check upfront what does this event or promotion compel the attendee or person signing up to commit to in order to reap the benefits or gain the realisations of the business model or the success outcome. Many events and programmes are teaser events and gateways into the person being asked to commit more time, money and attendance at future events where the touted claims can only be gained. This may be in the form of study programmes, coaching, phone linkups, and product purchases for more training etc. It is what is termed the iceberg effect as you only see the 10 percent above the water line when signing up. Understand what commitment you really will need to make to claim the benefits of what is on offer.
• Check that the success of what is on offer is not niche or context specific. What made one person famous and rich may have been just true at that point in time and locality, and it may not replicate easily or at all in Australia, or in our current economic climate. The required time to maturation of the investment may also imply some risk due to what could happen economically, legally or socially over time before the benefit can be realised. Professional advice will help you to understand this risk.
• Check what the "Law of Attraction" or "Psychology of Money" types have attracted into their own lives. On principle one should be expecting that if these people are leaders in the psychology of money industry then they should be in the top 10% percentile of our wealth group in society who control about 90% of the wealth. If they are not in the 10% group as their own outcome from using their own touted principles then be wary. Ask them and yourself do they "walk their talk" or how do they demonstrate how their claims can work if it has failed them in their own life.
• Use a well tried and tested personality profiling tool to first understand yourself at a behavioural and attitudinal level, and from there explore your psychology or wealth identity or profile. This quantifiable approach, using such tools as industry leading Extended DISC personality profiling tool is a grounded and staged approach to looking at life and wealth issues from an evidence based approach which is devoid of the hype of many touted programmes on offer.
The GFC exposed many a turkey of poorly devised or illusory business or wealth creation models that went down with their investors' monies. There was such Ponzi schemes as that by Bernie Madoff, people caught out with Margin Lending loans from banks, people burnt with Collateral Debt Obligations (CDO's) on the stock market, to name a few. There are some key lessons there for the gullible Dorothy's of the world. So Dorothy there is no place like home and best you stay there when the Wizards come into town.
Happy conscious investing!
The Disconnection of the Body in Society
Mankind in the modern era has always struggled with our own body. Modern consciousness has had a dominant myth that we must control the body at all costs. The ego processes of the mind, aided by religion, have become opposed through fear of the animalistic nature of the human body, its impulses and desires.
The unconscious mental part of man has become identified with the body not just as a truth, but also as a grouped fear of our uncontrollable aspects of humanity, and both have been seen as repositories of dark forces and what must be hidden and disowned.
Both religion and the scientific age of man have attacked these parts of ourself as "that which is not to be spoken or named", a bit like Voldermort in Harry Potter. The main religions as well as the atheist religion of science, have both agreed that the valued aspect of our human condition lies in the higher realms of spirit, mind, and rational thought.
Science and religion then fall out between themselves over the existence of spirit in man, and so we are left regardless with a culture and set of sciences and religions that promote the myth of the body/mind split. As with most myths the average person takes on such realities without reflection and investigation and so we find a modern evolution occurring in Western society where the body, and our unconscious natures, are treated in degrading ways, or denied and minimised.
We now live in a society where the rational left front brain logic and its attachment to the individual ego dominates people's reality. Many people have as a result developed an unhealthy relationship to their body. This can manifest in one of two main ways with each being an extreme form of disconnection to one's own relationship to the body.
The first form of disconnection from the body is the neglect or abuse of the body via poor diet, lack of exercise, addictions, lack of grooming and cleanliness, and defacing the body via excessive piercings, tattooing and cosmetic surgery. Many people live their lives in their heads and basically ignore their bodies and just clothe their bodies against scrutiny and the external elements. They have no relationship with their bodies, and find no pleasure with or in their bodies.
Such people often attempt to numb out or medicate their bodily impulses via addictions such as drugs, alcohol, food and internet based distractions such as gaming, social media, and videos. Some people actually hate and attack their bodies via self harm, and other unconscious forms of mutilation which include piercings, tattoos, and allowing others to abuse and debase their bodies.
Some sexualise and sell their bodies for money such as in the pornography and sex for money industries. Shame is a dominant theme of such people who identify with the self hatred and low self esteem that runs them.
At the other end of the scale the rejection of the body and the self is shown through perfectionism and its related forms of narcissism. Such people reject their own humanity and instead create a false self both in the mind and the body. In this context the body is not acknowledged but instead used to support and create a false and idealised image outward to the world. The body in its humanity is rejected and instead punished by extreme compulsive exercise, and mutilated by cosmetic surgery.
Such a body is normally camouflaged by dressing in glamour and power dresses and garments, augmented by perfect makeup, and time spent in salons whose business is to "perfect" your appearance. The body becomes just another object to be used to create a grandiose and perfect illusion that implies power, success and some stereotyped version of beauty.
Such people have pride as a dominant theme as pride allows them to override the deeper and repressed felt sense of shame, self hatred and low self esteem that runs the first group of bodily disconnected people. In this way they are still part of the first group but instead of collapsing into the shame, they instead rise above the shame and become more-than-human. The first group identifies with being less-than-human which relates to their feelings of shame.
The narcissists cannot bear to feel their shame and so cut-off all feelings so as not to feel the shame. You cannot cut-off just one type of feeling. When you shutdown to any one type of feeling you actually shutdown to all your feelings. Narcissists are people without feelings.
The perfectionists do feel their shame and have a lot of inner feelings. Their strategy is to cover them up with a false self of perfectionism that projects confidence, assuredness and achievement to the outside world. Their inner world is full of anxiety, torment and self doubt coupled with the base level of shame.
In all these ways both types of the bodily disconnecting people are also disconnected from the wider "body of humanity". This is a spiritual dilemma as when you reject your humanity and fail to love yourself you are doomed to become alone and out of step with the interconnectedness of the universe. Disconnection in the "herd instinct" in the human brain promotes unease mentally or at the bodily level dis-ease which becomes medical disease.
All therapy paths and all spiritual paths that are healthy are about healing the less-than-human and the more-than-human extremes or polarities of human existence, and finding grace and holiness in our essential humble place of our humanity.
There are many transformation gurus, self proclaimed healers, "churches", gurus, and groups who seek out those who are both "less than human" and those who are "more than human", and exploit them towards the "more than human" extreme form of being and spirituality. In this age of Narcissism these "false prophets" are everywhere and have gained traction with their deceptive messages and often New Age pseudo-science dogmas, and blended spiritualities.
Likewise there are religions, individuals, groups and "churches" which shame their audiences into believing they are not OK in their humanity, and that only by giving one's power to that person, group, or church will the person be saved. This is just as exploitative and deceptive as the grandiose narcissist.
The great spiritual teachers of East and West taught an essential truth of basically a Middle Path or finding one's God connection within one's own body which then is a temple of worship and humble grace. In this way the great spiritual teachers emphasised that the true church or body of God is not bricks and mortar but the indwelling spirit or the body of the person who carries that connection to one's God.
Our healing path in the West is to find our way back to an authentic relationship with our bodies that has a spiritual realisation that sacredness of the body is an essential truth in all parts of our being. The body and mind are one and can only notionally be separated. Holiness is about being whole and not divided or split, or about rejecting any part of ourself as being wrong, bad or shameful.
"Ugly" Children's Beauty Pageants
It was announced over the weekend in the media that Melbourne and Perth would be hosting kiddie beauty pageants involving pre-school and above children. In this pageant competition the little girls are groomed, dressed and "dolled up" in adult themes that betray their innocence as children. There is judging and prizes. Unfortunately this trend is but one further manifestation of the increasing sexualisation and earlier loss of childhood in our children.
It is an accepted psychological truth that a person's early years, if they are good, sustain a person throughout their life, just as a bad childhood damages them. Nothing is more vulnerable than childhood and childhood has never been more under threat. The trend in our society is that the experiences which nourish and help shape children into their adult lives are now being compressed into an ever dwindling window of time, and where childhood is being devalued so much that many parents seem increasingly restless to get their children's childhood over as quickly as possible.
Psychiatrists define sexualisation of children as the imposition of adult models of sexuality on children and adolescents, and categorically state it creates psychological harm to children. They note the implied or explicit linking of self-worth with popularity in terms of sexual attractiveness, with a negative impact on self-esteem.
Parents, mass media marketing, peer pressure, single parent and double income family systems, are all propelling our children into premature adolescence as if innocence, magical thinking, wonder and make-believe are detrimental and should be replaced with "the realites of life" as soon as is possible.
Studies of children have confirmed that many children feel pressure to grow up too quickly and to dress, act and behave as "mini-adults", often to impress parents, or have parents impress friends by parading them out like Barbie dolls or spunky, cool little dudes.
The planned children's beauty pageant can be interpreted as part of an emerging narcissistic, dysfunctional form of raising children that is damaging and abusive to the children who undergo such experiences. A child is not able to comprehend the damage to itself that such involvement will create, and will be a willing participant from a place of wanting to please the parents, and from a place of not being able to have a mature mind that could give consent to what it is being asked to do. A parent placing a child in such a role or situation, is in my opinion abusing the child, and abandoning their responsibilities to parent the child towards a psychologically healthy adulthood.
Social commentators now refer to the emergence of a "raunch culture" which pressures girls to have sex early and against their will. Studies of Generation Y by respected researchers such as La Trobe University Sociologist Anastasia Powell reveal trends of sexualized imagery in media, music and popular culture taking its toll on the young.
Boys and men are encouraged by the same imagery to adopt aggressive roles in sex with women, to degrade and objectify them. A 2008 Australian Latrobe University investigation of 3000 year 10 and year 12 school age students from across 100 public and private schools, found that 38 per cent of female respondents having had unwanted sex, from a total pool of 40 per cent who replied they have had sex at all. Also over 30 per cent had not used a condom, over 30 per cent have had oral sex with more than 3 partners in the last year.
Television and media are now directly shaping children's reality through children's and teenage shows, where marketing of products is included along with portrayal of the key characters as mini-adults, who role model for children how they should dress, act, think, behave and speak. Think of such shows as Hannah Montana and the Bratz girl dolls franchise and programmes. The degree of sexualisation of the dolls and the actresses is disturbing yet we face a time when Hollywood, business and Media distributors are largely acting under self regulation which translates to permissive and sexualized themes being a valid option for children's products to express.
Sexualised products appearing on the market for children include padded bras, G-Strings, high heel shoes, pole-dancing kits, babies T-shirts with sexualized messages. The children are often too young to understand the sexualized nature of the product, and often it is a sexualized or narcissistic parent wanting attention for themselves, who creates a "show pony" effect on their children, and effectively use the children to prop up their own low self esteem or narcissistic ego supplies.
Retailers of such products defy challenge of their "right" to market such products, saying it is just "fun" or not to be taken seriously. They dismiss the notion that such merchandise creates a normalization of a sexualized image in children, yet admit they have no psychological training or evidence to back-up or make such statements.
In effect it is a lack of accountability to the consumer as regulations are geared to more tangible and physical safety and other guidelines, and only public outcry is having a change of heart on behalf of exposed, named and shamed retailers who sell such products. Marketing is always pushing the boundaries and ethics appears to be a missing element of the thinking of many of those who sell and promote products and experiences to the wider public. Shareholders and profits appear to be the main concern of many retailers.
The attack on childhood is never more constant, and pushing the boundaries, or chasing new childhood markets, than ever before. Society is increasingly buying into this trend with a new generation of businesses now springing up to cater for children to go to Day Spas, Limousines and $1000 dresses to the teenage school balls, fashion parades, and adult theme experiences recreated for children as young as 5 years old and older.
Young teen women are presented with such sexualized adult role models as Britney Spears, Lady GaGa, Rihanna, Beyonce and Madonna from which to align their emerging sense of selves. Under peer pressure they are forced to conform to obtain acceptance from boys who also adopt the same sexualized expectations of girls from these same women role models.
At the same time these young women also attract attention from older men who are able to exploit their innocence, intimidate them with their more assured and confident natures, which can drive a young girl into the arms of a predator, and without the girl knowing how, or being able to give any real consent.
Parents are increasingly abandoning their own responsibilities to be effective guides and role models for children, and instead without question, abandoning their children in front of televisions, computer screens and other media where the new role models are questionable, unaccountable, and frighteningly absorbed into the unconscious of any exposed child. We as a society are increasingly abandoning our responsibility to our children about how to be children, we are increasingly asking our children to act like adults, but we then do not later teach them how to live, behave and be adults.
Childhood is the only safe psychological foundation and process for children to experience if they are to become secure and healthy adults. The old saying that the person who grows up too soon spends the rest of their life as a child is full of wisdom. Parents cannot afford to adopt a victim stance and say it is all too hard or not their fault. Parents have the main responsibility in taking an active role in providing a measured and balanced view of the children's self-worth, self-image, and the creation of healthy self-esteem where they can critically challenge the sexualized messages streaming through society.
Parents need to start from early childhood in this regard, filtering content they expose their children to, and constantly creating appropriate images and messages for their children. In particular, fathers are crucial in shaping their daughters emerging sexuality via their messages and support. A parent who exposes their child to a childhood beauty pageant where the child is dressed in adult and sexualized attire, is judged by peers and adults, and there is a win-lose outcome, is being negligent, and may be using the child to live out their own unmet fantasies or unachieved goals in life.
I can only hope that Australians take a leadership role in challenging this planned series of pageants. We owe our children by rejecting the assault on the innocence of their childhood years via the objectification and sexualisation that such pageants portray.
The Need for Ethics in our Lives
One could say that spirituality is the belief in a supernatural entity or consciousness, and then codifies a set of ethics based on values such as compassion, love, integrity, and selfless service.
Spirituality addresses issues of the relationship between oneself and the godhead whereas ethics is a code that describes principles, intentions and conduct between oneself and other humans. We see ethics being expressed in context such as business ethics, medical ethics, and personal ethics.
Ethics are often centred around values and value systems such as truth, integrity, freedom, service, rights, responsibilities, and sacrifice of the personal good for the common good. This implies both boundaries and constraints for the individual who would align to, and be governed by such an ethical code.
We each need both a personal code of ethics plus a knowledge of the code of ethics that applies when we join a group or community or organisation. These will not always be in alignment and indeed part of our joining a group will be based on how different our ethics and values are from those of any group or organisation or community we are considering joining.
Psychological studies have shown that people with a personal code of ethics and values are consistently happier, healthier and rate their life as having meaning and purpose, than those people who lack such internal frameworks within themself. Organisations are also considered to have healthier cultures when a solid ethical base is lived out within its workforce.
In the context of groups such as businesses or organisations, ethics are a universal consideration and binding principle that every person in that group must fall under for that ethical structure to work and more importantly, to be seen to work.
In recent times we have seen a glaring example of how FIFA, the global soccer organisation has been the subject of wide ranging allegations of behaviour that corrupt the principles of ethics and ethical conduct. By its conduct FIFA has undermined its own integrity and reputation in the minds of billions of people.
FIFA has rendered its ethical codes impotent either by making their ethical code only subject to some employees, and in another setting to have the compromised leaders sit in judgement of themselves and their own once challenged with allegations of unethical conduct.
FIFA is awash with ongoing allegations and corruption and "bought" votes and "bought" World Cup hosting by member countries. FIFA is a large organisation that deals with large amounts of money. FIFA earned at least 1.6 billion dollars in sponsorship fees alone between 2006 and 2010 which makes transparency a key need for such a body which awards lucrative soccer events based on a voting process.
Australia reportedly just spent nearly $50 million in a failed attempt to win the right to host the 2022 World Cup which was won by little known Qatar. Australia only got 1 vote and was embarrassingly bundled out in the first round of voting despite lobbying "proving" it should have been a finalist. A wave of allegations has since emerged regarding the corruption in the bidding process of vote buying, delegate corruption, and rigging of processes.
For example it has emerged via a leaked email that Qatar considered bailing out the debt-ridden Argentine football league to win support for its controversial bid to win the 2022 World Cup. They targeted Julio Grondona, the powerful FIFA Vice-President, who hails from Argentina, and who influences and votes in the 24 executive group who awards the World Cup. His own football league is embarrassingly broke and owes their tax authorities nearly 79 million dollars, plus has multi-milllion dollar requests from member clubs who need new uniforms, equipment and funding.
The strategy would have been to bail out the debt and gain Qatar influence and returned favours. Interestingly FIFA's Secretary-General was caught out releasing an email saying Qatar had "bought the World Cup". Grondona who has the nickname "The Godfather", admitted he voted for the Qatar 2022 bid for the World Cup.
FIFA surprisingly do have an ethics committee, which European press allege Sepp Blatter is part of. This committee saw it just and right to suspend both Mr Jack Warner and Mr Mohammed Bin Hammam, who were election competitors of Sepp Blatter. However it has been silent in the face of calls from member governments and professional football bodies such as the English FA to suspend Sepp Blatter for his own alleged misconduct, as well as poor leadership and governance of FIFA, and to suspend the election process for a new FIFA leader.
The FIFA president Sepp Blatter has just defied his critics by ramming through an election process which saw his challengers sidelined by corruption charges, and he reinstated despite having overseen FIFA when the alleged corrupt previous decade of paid off FIFA officials, paid for votes, and money and gift trails being uncovered to key voting delegates occurred.
Once the election process was completed then the "Family" as Sepp Blatter referred to as being the member nations of FIFA, then turned on the "Whistle Blower" member, British FA. This mirrors the actions of a cult where members turn on and abuse any "unfaithful" member who would challenge the leader and the group belief system. The act of attacking the Whistleblower then binds the rest of the group closer to the leader and the belief system out of fear as they then want to further prove their loyalty lest they are the next scapegoat. This then binds them to a culture of favour and return favour that they learn cannot be challenged.
In the last 2 election processes the Sepp Blatter election sell for his campaign was that he would "clean up" the FIFA world body. This claim for a new era of "zero tolerance" has so far appeared to be directed against critics rather than corruption. His claims appear hollow given recent and consistent allegations surfacing that refuse to go away. International anti-corruption body, Transparency International, had called for the election process to be suspended whilst the serious corruption charges were investigated. They noted the conflicts of interest in the way governance at FIFA had been seen to occur. The election occurred anyway.
Ethical principles and altruism developed as people in groups and communities learnt and recognised that they must care for each other if the group or community was to grow and prosper. Unfortunately they also learnt that certain members had only a concern for their own selfish gain at the expense to the other members of the group and community, and any healthy group needs ethics and rules to bring accountability, restraint, and consequences to those who would act for self interest when that hurts the wider group or community interest.
FIFA has shown a blatant disregard for the concerns of its own members, its sponsors, and governments and football bodies around the world. This approach may preserve the immediate hierarchy from scrutiny, but it will create cynicism and distrust that will invariably last for years. The key lesson here is that transparency and abiding by an ethical code of conduct will prevent a crisis of confidence arising where the truth is a casualty to the politics of being right.
Most people will now sneer at world soccer and the mention of FIFA. FIFA has kicked an own goal but is blind to this reality. Stay well everyone.
The Light and the Shadow
The recent headlines about the death of Osama Bin Laden has become a rallying point for the debate on right versus wrong, the Light versus the Dark, and who owns the truth. The nature of religion is defined both by the shadow and the light, to articulate behaviours around the person who would choose the path of light, and so by definition proscribing a path that leads everyone else to some form of hell.
You and I do not need to consciously choose either path. Those who with zeal adopt any such religion will soon identify themselves and their followers as being "in the light" and everyone else as condemned and being on a path to hell of some sort. In this place the righteous mind soon forms with a sense of being special and often rigid in their views.
The problem is always with such identification that the person adopts a closed mind and becomes inflexible and not open to new ideas. Their world is viewed only through the lens of the religious and ethical ideas of that belief system and invariably they fall on the side of right, and everyone else is viewed with suspicion of being on the side of wrong, or at least as being ignorant.
Eastern thought has traditionally viewed these twin forces of good and evil as an interdependent yin-yang principle that recognises that both natures flow into each other, and wisely should not be viewed in isolation. Such thought realises that each extreme contains the other in an eternal embrace and it is wrong to isolate and judge either as right or wrong. The great Mythologist Joseph Campbell states "anyone unable to understand a god sees a devil".
It is from this place that many reasonable people see through the hypocrisy of those who claim to stand only "in the light". Reasonable people notice that righteous people often invoke shadow based condemnations of disbelievers with rules and justifications such as kill them, persecute them, oppress them, and subjugate them.
The righteous fail to see how they act out their shadows under the guise of a spiritual mask of self-justification and attempts to fight evil. The real evil is invariably bound up in their own natures that they refuse to see, and by disowning any such idea, then project such shadow or evil onto others, and persecute others as the wrong or evil one's.
Advanced spirituality of all traditions sees the dual nature of man as an inner struggle that we all must face and deal with internally within ourselves. The spiritually young or ignorant make it an outward facing obsession and struggle with everyone else. The wisdom about good and evil is a personal struggle that we must face which the mystical Sufi poet Rumi notes in his writings "If thou hast not seen the devil, look at thine own self".
Even today we see New Age spirituality hiding behind "the light" and refusing to acknowledge and address the shadow self that we all possess. New Age practitioners try to emulate a spiritual form of the Monopoly game via transcendent practices and wisdoms which give them a "Go straight to Spiritual Go and bypass Jail (The Shadow) and collect Enlightenment ($200 in Monopoly game terms). This is just another form of shadow rejection and avoidance that does not work. We cannot rid ourselves of our duality, but we can embrace and integrate it into a whole inner state, that which denotes the spiritual term "holy".
When people and society divorce their shadow then we will see such religious conflict and personification of good and evil played out in our leaders. The Osama versus Obama is but one more example of how this principle is playing out in the world.
Mankind arranges itself in many ways around the theme of light and dark, from art, literature, to our laws and social groupings and associations.


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The temperatures are still hovering around the level expected for late summer during the day, but in the early mornings and evenings there is a chill in the air. The first leaves are turning yellow and orange, and beginning to fall. The old willow tree in the garden is well into its shedding, scattering small pointed leaves onto the lawn like confetti.
There's a little saying I've seen doing the rounds on the web that in Autumn nature is teaching us the beauty of letting go. It's sweet and perhaps a bit twee, but there is a truth in it too.
Looking at the cycles of the Wheel of the Year and mapping them to our own internal cycles, Autumn can be seen as a period of going inwards after the extroversion and activity of summer. By necessity, we may end up spending more time indoors, and while we have heating to keep off the chill and electric lights to banish the darkening evenings, there is value in allowing yourself to move with this cycle, to take time to think, to be a bit more introspective (in a focused and healthy way).
Autumn is a time of celebrating harvests, and while most of us are no longer involved in agriculture first hand, we all still depend on the harvests to live. Taking time to remember this with gratitude, to connect to the interdependence of all things, is a good way to put things in some perspective. It's also a time to think about what "harvests" you may have reaped over the past year, and prepare for what challenges may lie ahead.
And yes, it is a time for letting go. Deciduous trees shed their leaves in Autumn because they are no longer any use to them: the shorter days, lower sun and falling temperatures make photosynthesis more challenging, and the energy needed to maintain green leaves at this time of year would be greater than the energy they can produce (evergreens are different, and often have smaller leaves, having evolved in colder and/or darker climates). By analogy, Autumn can be a time to let go of any old habits, thought patterns, modes of behaviour or stuff that is no longer useful to you.
This is not about moral judgement; leaves are not "bad" because they are no longer useful, and nor are behaviours and thoughts necessarily bad because they no longer serve. It's just about recognising where you are now, where you are going, and what is helping and what is not.
I have my own things to let go of this Autumn; guilt, shame and anger among them. These are, in the right place and time, useful emotions. They can be moral guides, but they can so easily become tethered to old dogmas and become toxic. I've been doing a lot of self-work recently, and hope to be able to untie some of these Gordian knots over the next few months.
Another thing I want to do this Autumn to let go is downsize my "stuff". I'm not a very cluttery person, I try not to own more than I need and keep a tidy house, but I know I have clothes that no longer fit or I no longer want, which can be donated to charity. I probably have books I have read but don't need to keep which can go to the little "free library" in the old village phone box. Living with less, in order to live more.
Autumn is my favourite season. The colours and smells, the misty mornings and dark nights, the festivals of Samhain, (secular) Halloween and Bonfire Night, all combine to make me feel more Pagan than at any other time of year.
This year has been a challenging one, personally and politically. And while Autumn brings its own challenges (the start of a new Academic Year at work, and Year 2 of Druid College spring to mind), it is also a time to breathe into the darker half of the year, to let go, and to prepare for the winter ahead.
"This is the moment of just letting go…if you had life eternal" – Ghost, Life Eternal.


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Your Personal Chef
"I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul" – Invictus (Poem by William Ernest Henley)
Hello everyone!
I'm about to take you on my journey from a middle-class girl in Mumbai, to being a Secondary Maths teacher to becoming your personal chef! Take my hand and let the journey begin.
I was born is Mumbai, India to a middle- class family. Mumbai, a vibrant city of India, always has a special place in my heart. The city where I still enjoy street food, city where I found my dance moves and a city where I met my love of my life.
Since my childhood I was fascinated by two things – Dance and Food which are two inseparable elements of the tradition and culture I belong. In my childhood whilst I was enjoying my food, practicing my dance moves I wasn't aware that I was in the making and I could not tell you when it became my passion.
Being a girl born into some middle-class Indian families can be quite tough. I wasn't afforded the same privileges as compared to my youngest brother. In my culture, sons are considered to be of high importance, they are the saviour of the family and will continue the family line. They are relied upon to look after the parents in their old age. Girls were expected to stay at home and care for the family, although many women do go out to work. But, I was still incredibly lucky and cannot thank my mother and father enough; they did everything possible to make sure we were all loved and happy.
My mother is a divine cook and I have her to thank for the culinary skills I have inherited. I used to love helping my mother cook delicious meals for the family. There is saying that the way to the heart is through the alley of delicious meals. I bet my mum had this in mind every time she cooked.
As a child, food and dance were the strong pillars that held me up and I was looking forward to pursuing a career in one of those streams. But things did not go as planned; I had to complete my education. I was always told that after finishing school I would get married and look after my own family as my mother had done; it was the tradition in my family. I never understood this tradition and much as my parents tried, I fought against it. After a lot of persuasion, they allowed me to go out to work. I worked as an Import Executive for a reputed company for few months. I enjoyed it to a certain extent as I was earning good money, but the workload was enormous, and I didn't get home 'til late. I decided to quit the job and follow a different path.
My father always says, "Teaching is the best profession for girls". Like many people, he thinks that being a teacher you get lots of holidays, good salary and you get a good family life. So, I became a teacher and taught Mathematics in few secondary schools for 12 years in India and UK. Initially, it was great, I enjoyed teaching. But after a few years, I realised that I was teaching only 10% of the time and the other 90% was spent on administration. After having my two children I continued to teach but I wasn't having any family life. I was stressing out planning lessons, marking and assessment, meetings and completing spreadsheets. The list of tasks was endless!
However, my passion for cooking was to find its way through. I started cookery lessons in schools for staff and students teaching some traditional Indian dishes.
In summer 2015, my husband and I decided to start raising money to provide education for three girls in India. Over two weekends I cooked traditional Indian dishes for friends and neighbours. By doing this one small thing we raised around £500; enough for at least two years' education for those girls. I absolutely loved the whole experience and got amazing feedback. That was the light bulb moment for me – this is what I always wanted to do.
By October 2016, things had started becoming more difficult. I was too shattered in the evenings to work efficiently. I was setting my alarm for 4:00 am on my teaching days. It was the only way I could find some extra time to do marking, planning and catching up with other things. I was constantly tired and never felt like I was doing as good a job as I wanted to be doing. I was trying desperately to keep my head above water, which was a ridiculous and soul-destroying way to live. I remember coming home and crying on my husband's shoulder as I was so unhappy with my job. I felt like I was trying to be superwoman. I was managing family life, cooking, looking after children, marking, planning, Ofsted, meetings and the school run. It was all too much. That's when I decided to quit teaching. I know it was a big decision for me and my husband to make. It takes immense courage and a healthy dose of madness to put an end to what is a financially stable living, to pursue your real calling.
In December 2016, I left teaching to pursue my dream of cooking authentic Indian food at home to deliver to my clients. Quitting my job to start cooking was something that I was at peace with because it felt natural to me.
When I came in this country I could not find the taste I was looking for and I was shocked when I had my first Indian food in a restaurant and friends said this is how the Indian food taste like. I could not find the original aroma, the earthiness of spices, the real traditional dishes and the rich flavours.
I am on a mission to bring my passion of Fresh Authentic Traditional Indian dishes to you. I use only quality fresh seasonal ingredients and combine British produce with Indian spices to create dishes like Butter chicken, Malwani Chicken, Mughlai lamb and biryanis to name the few. My boldness in marrying various ingredients with spices, together with a blend of traditional and modern dishes on the menu, has give Pure Indian Cooking its uniqueness.
It's been a year and a half since I started to follow my dream. I have met inspiring business people and gained amazing regular clients who love my quality authentic Indian food.
There have been lots of mistakes, ups and downs but that's business for you and all part of the learning curve. It has been difficult journey to introduce my dishes to people in Fylde and Wyre areas. Clients are influenced by British Indian food supplied by the many restaurants and takeaways. But, I am getting there.
Part of the difficulty is getting across that I am not a takeaway. My service is different – it is a premier pre-order food delivery service. To ensure the high quality I provide, I need orders at least 8 hours in advance. I cook to order in small quantities. There is no mass preparation of chicken tikka masala. I know that I am going against the rule of our instant world by asking at least 8 hours' notice. But the principle of Dalvi's is 'fresh and authentic'. I want you to enjoy my fresh dishes, smell the aroma and taste the flavours. I want you to believe. I use quality ingredients, marinate any meat and fish dishes and prepare fresh curry sauces. I shop for these ingredients, depending on the order, to ensure their freshness. All my dishes are homemade and cooked from scratch using traditional methods. All this takes time but is worth waiting for 8 hours to enjoy the quality and difference of my food.
I am a full-time mum and some people have said I am crazy for choosing to do something which will take a long time to become successful. But what is the meaning of life if there is no challenge and no love for what you do? I love what I do; it makes me feel alive. It is my passion and it adds extra meaning to my life. I am very blessed to have a very supportive husband and two amazing children. Without them, I could not have achieved what I have so far!
"Follow your own passion – not your parents' or teachers' – YOURS." (Robert Ballard)


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About Us
We are first and foremost husband and wife who love each other, our son Finley, Chelsea our dog, love our families, and praise our mighty and ever-faithful God who blesses us immensely every single day more than we deserve.
We both happen to be naturally creative and artistic growing up 100 miles apart with families that nurtured our creativity. We each had a parent that always had a camera in hand (and still does) teaching us to be the same, never missing life's big, little, and embarrassing moments.
We love to travel, are happiest anywhere outside, are music junkies, hockey fans, still pick out shapes and creatures in the clouds, and celebrate each other's birthdays for a whole week.
We're lucky to be able to meet so many people and truly want to know them and what makes them who they are, and then capture that in an image that will capture a moment for a lifetime. We hope to meet you and thank you for being interested in us.


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Shapoorji Pallonji Northern Lights
Shapoorji Northern Lights
Shapoorji Northern Lights is upcoming Residential Project by Shapoorji Pallonji Group in Pokhran Thane, Mumbai. Luxury Project Shapoorji Pallonji Northern Lights will offer Premium & luxury 1 BHK, 2 BHK, 3 BHK & Jodi Flats/apartments. This outstanding pre-launch Project located at Pokhran Road 2 in Thane West, Mumbai. Northern Lights Thane offers you an amazing outlook and beautiful surroundings giving access to regular Sunshine & a breeze. Your dream will become a reality as Shapoorji Pallonji Northern Lights.
Shapoorji Pallonji Northern Lights Thane is another Luxurious Project by Shapoorji Pallonji Group in Thane, Mumbai. The Shapoorji Pallonji Group known as No. 1 Construction Company among top real estate company across all over India. Brand Shapoorji Pallonji is symbolic of trust & quality. Before This Project, Shapoorji Group also launches new projects i.e Shapoorji Pallonji Joyville in Sector 102 Gurgaon & Shapoorji Pallonji thane. The Northern Thane project is characterized by its design, availability, selective area, and comfort.
Pokhran Road which is very feasible location provides easy connectivity to prominent roadways & a robust growth in social infrastructure. Just a few km from thane Yeoor hills and Upvan Lake located. Thane is listed as a smart city by Indian Government. Railway Station is Few Km Away from Shapoorji Northern Project & Upcoming Metro Station in Close Proximity. The world-class amenities you will get are a gymnasium, indoor games, swimming pool, multi-purpose hall, banquet hall, Kids parks, walking and jogging tracks, 24*7 hours power backup, and water back up and much more.
Shapoorji Northern Lights - Best Of Thane
Northern Lights Thane Location Advantages


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- Home
- B Lincoln Memorial
- B Disney World
- B grand central station
- B Aspen
- B The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial
- B Detroit Windsor Tunnel
- B Statue of Liberty
- B The Alamo
- B Crazy Horse Memorial
- B Hollywood Walk of Fame
- B Black Thunder Mine
- B Empire State Building
- B john f. kennedy airport
- B The Seattle Space Needle
- b golden gate bridge
- B The Mall of America
- B Hoover Dam
- B The White House
- B sears tower
- B MT Rushmore
- B washington mounment
- B Crazy Hourse Mamorial
- B Lombard Street
- B Arlington Cemetery
- B Gateway Arch
- S Hoover Dam
- S Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- S Hollywood walk of fame
- S Golden Gate Bridge
- S Detroit Windsor Tunnel
- S Crazy horse Memorial
- S Lincoln Memorial
- S California Highway One
- S JFK International Airport
- S Aloha Tower
- S Black Thunder Mine
- S The White House
- s tiger stadium
- The Gateway Arch
- S The Mall Of America
- s yankee stadium
- s sears tower
- S The Alamo
- S The Statue of Liberty
- S lombard st
- S Grand Central Station
- S Mackinaw Bridge
- B California Highway One
- S Washington Monument
Aloha Tower
Aloha, do you want to know more about Aloha
Tower? The Aloha Tower is in
Honolulu Hawaii. People built this
light house, in the year 1926. To welcome for the boat lode's of tourist's. The
Tower did not serve as a lighthouse for the rest of the World War II. It also
reserved a repainting in green and brown camouflage with remained for a time
after the war. Restriction to its original sowed color and reopening
Kaycie G


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Jewelry Care
Caring for Your Joryel Vera Jewelry / Care instructions
We will repair any piece of Joryel Vera jewelry, but poor craftsmanship by an unauthorized jeweler is considered damage and may add to the cost of the repair. All Joryel Vera Jewelry is made 925/ sterling silver.
Over time, lotions, powders, soaps, and natural skin oils can make jewelry and gemstones appear dull. Below are some tips for keeping your pieces clean and shiny.Cleaning Joryel Vera, rhodium finish, tarnish resistant Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver tarnishes in the presence of common everyday items that contain sulfur, such as leather, rubber, and chlorine. Other elements to be mindful of are air pollutants and salt water. Because these substances cannot be completely avoided, it is recommended that sterling silver be routinely wiped down polishing cloth regular wear of your Joryel Vera sterling silver can also help prevent tarnishing—we recommend that you enjoy and wear your Joryel Vera jewelry very day. When not in use, store your jewelry in the pouch. Routine cleaning when jewelry appears to be dull.
How to Avoid Damaging Gemstones
Some gemstones are by nature more fragile than others. In general, you can prevent many problems by not exposing gemstones to chemicals such as chlorine or extreme heat or light, all of which can cause fractures, breakage, and discoloration. Salt water should be avoided, as well.
All gemstones, including diamonds, can chip, scratch, or abrade under the right circumstances. Avoid wearing rings or bracelets while doing any manual labor, including housework. Jewelry should be taken off before strenuous activity or during times when it might be subjected to sharp blows or excessive friction.
Never remove rings by pulling on the stone; the prongs or bezel can be damaged causing the stone to loosen or fall out. Store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately in its storage pouch to prevent excessive tarnishing and scratching.
Use hot soapy water, mix dish-washing soap or shampoo with hot water. Let jewelry soak overnight or a few hours. Remove jewelry from cleaning solution rinse can be polished with soft cotton cloth no hard rubbing or chemical necessary. To remove heavier tarnish, wash your silver jewelry with warm water and mild soap.
If more thorough cleaning is required, an authorized jeweler can clean your pieces to restore them to their original condition. We recommend having your jewelry professionally cleaned once a year.


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Today is installment number two in a four-part series on the role self-awareness plays in helping us shine brighter. The focus of today is Habits. Last week Katie asked me a series of questions during... Read More »
Dear Patti…
Dear Patti,
Your thoughtful gesture from last week affirms so much of what I believe about people who shine.
- People who shine choose gratitude
- People who shine understand little things make a difference and, therefore, don't talk themselves out of doing something because it doesn't feel grand enough.
- People who shine seek opportunities to uplift others.
- People who shine understand the power of a note…especially when it comes in a yellow envelope.
Thank you, Patti, for the handwritten note and generous check you mailed to House of Shine last week. We especially appreciated you writing, "I wanted to continue in the giving spirit and donate to House of Shine. Thank you for what you do. I know my check isn't for much, but I know it is going to make a positive impact on someone's life because that is what you do".
Since the experience you were thanking us for took place four months ago, it would have been easy for you to dismiss the idea of reaching out because you believed too much time had passed. People who shine know there is no time limit on making other people feel good.
Equally appreciated is the trust you have in us to be good stewards of your donation, using it to spread more shine in another corner of the world. It's what we exist to do and we appreciate you enabling us to do more of it.
Thank you for your thank you.
Sincerely, Your friends at House of Shine


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Many people would say the smallest number of shares an investor can purchase is one, but the real answer is not quite as straightforward.
While there is no minimum order limit on the purchase of a publicly-traded company's stock, it's advisable to buy blocks of stock with a minimum value of $500 to $1,000. This quantity size is due to the fact that no matter what online or offline service an investor uses to purchase stock, there are brokerage fees and commissions on the trade. In most cases, one share would cost the same amount as $500 of the shares.
Buying on the Open Market
When purchasing stock on the open market, an investor should open a trading or brokerage account with a financial institution, such as E*TRADE, Charles Schwab, or TD Ameritrade. Once the trading account is opened, it's up to the investor how many stocks he/she wants to purchase at any one time. Before making any purchase decisions, an investor should do ample research on the various types of equity securities that are offered.
Although there may not be minimum limits on equity orders, brokers may require a minimum initial deposit to open a trading account.
Once an investor identifies a stock worth purchasing, an online trade should be executed using a brokerage account. There are two types of trades that can be made in this scenario, the market order, and the limit order. Stocks that trade in multiples of 100 shares are known as a round lot. For fewer than 100 shares, the orders are called odd lots.
If the investor makes a market order, they are choosing to purchase the stock at the current market price. If the investor makes a limit order, they are choosing to wait to purchase the stock until the price falls to a specific limit. While purchasing a single share isn't advisable, if an investor would like to purchase one share, they should try to place a limit order for a greater chance of capital gains that offset the brokerage fees.
Commission fees are usually charged on a per-transaction basis up to a specified number of shares that are purchased/sold. Most people prefer to reduce the average commission costs by spreading them over the purchase of many shares.
Buying a small number of shares may limit what stocks you can invest in, leaving you open to more risk.
How to Buy Fractional Shares
There is a way to purchase less than one share of stock. A fractional share is a share of equity that is less than one full share and usually is the result of a stock split, dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP), or similar corporate action.
A DRIP is a plan in which a dividend-offering corporation or brokerage firm allows investors to use dividend payouts to purchase more of the same shares. As this amount "drips" back into the purchase of more shares, it is not limited to whole shares. Thus, you are not restricted to buying a minimum of one share, and the corporation or brokerage keeps accurate records of ownership percentages.
The reason DRIPs are so popular is that most of them don't have commissions or brokerage fees, so it is cheaper for investors to increase their holdings and use their dividend payouts without having to pay extra fees.
Key Takeaways
- There is no minimum order limit on the purchase of a publicly-traded company's stock.
- Because there are fees and commissions added to the price of the stock, investors should consider buying blocks with a minimum value of $500 to $1,000.
- Opening a trading account with an online broker is a great idea.
- Investors may consider buying fractional shares through a dividend reinvestment plan or DRIP, which don't have commissions.
Fractional shares are also being utilized by automated investment companies and apps such as Betterment, Stash, and Stockpile. By allowing people to trade fractional shares, such companies provide investors—many of them beginners—with access to stocks they may otherwise not have been able to afford to trade. Due to the growing popularity of such investment platforms, fractional shares are also likely to increase in popularity.
Buying on the Open Market and Fractional Shares
If a brokerage firm charges $20 per trade and an investor purchases one share of ABCWXYZ Corp. for $10 per share, then the total cost would be $30 per share—the cost of the commission plus the cost of the one share. If the investor decides to buy 100 ABCWXYZ shares instead for the $10 per share, then the average cost would be reduced to $10.20 [($1,000 + 20) / 100].
Thus, by increasing the number of shares purchased, the average cost (including commission) per share would be reduced and the investor who purchased 100 shares would only have to wait until ABCWXYZ stock price rose $0.20 to $10.20 to break even. As for the investor who purchased just one ABCWXYZ share, they would have to wait until the stock price soared 200% to $30 before breaking even.
But what if you were looking to take part in a DRIP? Let's say you were enrolled in the DRIP of Cory's Tequila Corporation (CTC) and you owned one share of CTC—which pays a dividend of $2 per share and is trading at $40—the $2 dividend would be automatically used to purchase an additional 0.05 ($2 / $40) shares of CTC.