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A Letter to the Legacy of a Legend: President John F. Kennedy

Mr. President,

I love people with everything I am worth. As strange as this might sound, I also fear them with a passion. As you know from your short tenure here, it is often people who prove to be the downfall of noble others.

Although I was born eleven years after your assassination, my study and research into American history has shown me I am surrounded by sheep. This particular breed has a warped hankering for conspiracies.

No more glaring example of this exists than your own story. Although Lee Harvey Oswald is accused of slaying you, the perpetrators of this bold act of treason were, in fact, powerful American entities: huge corporations, the massive military complex, members of the Russian government, even the Mafia. Take your pick!

You were the youngest President to assume the White House. Before and after your election, we were exposed to a litany of corrupt American Presidents. You, with your unshakable ethical underpinnings, were an anomaly. I believe whole-heartedly in destiny and fate. I believe you were brought into this topsy-turvy world to open the collective eyes of Americans.

I applaud your noble quest to restore morality to the White House, although it was a hopeless battle from the start. The historic actions that took place during your administration and your unfortunate assassination by power-hungry, modern-day cowboys made us average Americans take note. These cowboys hired gunmen to ambush you from a distance, waiting for the opportune moment to wreak havoc upon our nation. This single action made us notice the corrupt powers hovering — still hovering — over American society.

Your choice to go against the grain instead of following the corrupt flow of history sealed your fate with certain powerful Americans. These men are hidden within the corrupt bowels of secret societies – the very secret societies you boldly denounced. Things have gotten completely out of hand since your death, for these secret societies are running amok within our government. Corruption has become such an epidemic that, for the first time, two politicians (Democratic Senator John F. Kerry and Republican President George W. Bush), who boldly admit their affiliations with the secret society known as the Skull and Bones, went head-to-head in the 2004 Presidential election.

In this election, American votes weren’t worth the ballots upon which they were recorded. Both candidates had, and still have, a hidden agenda. Though George W. Bush (a corporation disguised as a human being) won a questionable re-election, society alone elected this man, putting the rule of the South back on the map and allowing the Skull and Bones to pursue its larger objectives.

Mr. President, this describes an ingeniously orchestrated coup d’etat – one more sinister than that surrounding your death. More sinister it is, because it was not a design meant to publicly shock and awe a nation or the world, as in your case. It was a design so covertly cunning that absolutely no one was the wiser – not even our nation’s most recognized conspiracy theorists.

In the 2000 race for the White House, Vice President Albert Gore went up against Republican candidate George W. Bush. Mr. President, the chain of events surrounding this particular race were also a strategic coup d’etat. In this election, Americans by the thousands — African Americans, European Americans, Hispanic Americans — were disenfranchised. These voters were predominantly of the middle class, and because of that, they were treated like shit.

In the weeks following the election, these disenfranchised Americans, Americans abroad, and the international community witnessed a bold display of governmental corruption playing itself out in plain view as thousands upon thousands of votes were literally trashed.

This in a country that leads an ongoing campaign for worldwide democracy! The situation was so convoluted in America that the popular vote was ignored and the Electoral College votes were partly the deciding factor. In the end, cloaked Skull and Bones members of the Supreme Court settled this election. And wouldn’t you know it, this Supreme Court was — and still is — manned by a body of judges who were put in place by Republican candidate George W. Bush’s father, George H. W. Bush. That year, this farce known as the American democratic process showed its true colors for the world to see, as an American president was literally selected, not elected.

But you’re still a force to be reckoned with, Mr. Kennedy. Although all of America knew of your sporadic extramarital affairs, they also realize no one is perfect. People act as if, just because you were married and held the title of America’s Commander in Chief, they expected you to morph into some sort of drone incapable of recognizing a nice piece of ass when you saw one. Now, I’m not implying that I condone your actions, Mr. President, but then again, who am I in this world to judge you, especially when those actions had no bearing on your extraordinary accomplishments?

Your brother Bobby did everything he could to protect you. After your death, he woke up. Fully recognizing why you chose to seek the Presidency, he took the weight of your objectives upon himself. And he, too, was killed. You and Bobby died as free men — free from the corruption that runs rampant in our government this day. The word freedom was strategically filtered into American minds as a platform to allow big government to control the masses.

Though the story I have to tell will shed new light on your death, I fear it will eventually end up collecting dust. I fear it will be just another book in a long line of books concerning your life and death. Alas, had you lived, I fear your struggle might have been in vain, because Americans are complacent. Many of us choose not to see or acknowledge the evil taking place in our country. In addition, many of us are afraid to speak out. It’s much more convenient for these lazy, scared Americans to ride the wave rather than go against the flow.

Mr. President, in closing, I pray you rest in peace, though I realize it has to be one hell of a struggle for you, knowing the mystery that surrounds your slaying is still unsolved. Yet know that many Americans envy you in a big way. Your struggles are over, while our trials continue to rain down upon us. This will continue until destiny and fate deliver another like you — one who is ready, willing, and able to stand tall for average America.

Pragmatic author A.K. Kuykendall has a passion for writing conspiracy, espionage, horror, and suspense literature that blends the concepts of fact and fiction. For more information on his projects, visit The Writer of Books or, to email the author directly for Q&A on this article, write to legacyofalegend@thewriterofbooks.com.

Discover the Best Dog Grooming Tips From a Top Expert

All dogs require grooming, how frequently depends on the coat type of the dog. When you bring your new puppy home the last thing you might be thinking about is getting the grooming kit out, especially with his lovely soft puppy coat. However, introducing your dog to grooming early in his life is essential if you want a dog that will find the process of grooming tolerable – if not pleasant. At this stage of his life it will also strengthen the bond between puppy and new owner.

Get him used to his feet and nails being held, examined and gently squeezed and gently open his mouth and check his mouth, teeth and gums. Lift the ear flap and look inside and lift his tail to check the anal area. As well as him being conditioned to letting you examine him regularly, these checks will ensure an easier and less stressful time at any forthcoming parlour visits or veterinary examinations.

This is particularly important for the high maintenance breeds that require regular grooming either at home or at the grooming parlour. In addition to regular home handling it is wise to get the dog used to being placed on a table, but do ensure that grooming sessions for the younger dog are not too lengthy or you run the risk of him becoming bored and restless. Shorter sessions are best, and inviting other members of the family to take over will increase his confidence in being handled by different people.

Introduce him to a soft brush at an early stage, just a few strokes at a time before he becomes restless or tries to chew the brush. Reward his patience with praise or a small treat gradually increase the amount of strokes you apply to the coat. A little time in the first few weeks of your lives together will make a great difference to the way he can be handled in the future.

Keep him comfortable and support him on the table making sure that nothing loud or scary occurs. To be spooked now might affect his confidence in the future. Use the correct command “stand” and praise as necessary.

Regular grooming allows you as the owner to assess the condition of your dogs’ coat through inspection.

The coat should be glossy and healthy looking, the eyes should be bright and alert, tail held aloft and wagging with a spring in his step. A good healthy balanced diet, the right amount of exercise and regular grooming contribute to the condition of your dog’s coat.

Choosing a particular breed of dog suits our personalities and possibly our own personal image. To choose a stylish dog and to keep it looking stylish a great deal of work is required on the owner’s part or a great deal of money to send him to the groomers!

When a dog has had his weekly groom or visit to the hairdressers, it makes both him and us feel good.

Madeleine Harding is a dog grooming expert who runs a successful dog grooming business in Chichester, West Sussex, UK. She trained at the renowned Brinsbury College and works with all kinds of different dog breeds. She uses her specialist skills to groom each dog according to their individual needs.

The Cat’s Mastery of the Present Moment

Cats are masters of the present moment. Have you ever seen your cat wringing her paws over what to do about a problem or sprinting around the house multi-tasking? The only crazed feline I see in my household is Lexie Lee chasing her favorite feather toy until she pounces on it with sheer delight.

I have been the caregiver of six cats in my adult life, and I have learned about living through them. They taught me one important, life-altering lesson. All the cats focused on the present and enjoyed life immensely when doing so. My beloved cat, Tatianna, savored food when she was hungry or even when she thought she was hungry. In fact, when her face was in the food bowl, nothing else mattered. She was not worried that the last can of food had just been served.

She appreciated the dappled sunlight and could lie for hours with its warmth enveloping her body. She learned quickly when and where the sunlight would be streaming into a room. Then moment by moment she moved to follow the sun rays and entertained me with her antics. Light breezes that caught the lace curtains always captured her attention. She liked to stretch out on the window sill and let the curtains flirt and flutter around her. Movements, such as a bird washing in the birdbath, a squirrel foraging for food or a raccoon crushing leaves under foot, caused her to focus intently on the outside and what was happening that moment in her environment. Then when I arrived home, she focused on welcoming me properly by kneading her paws on the top of my shoes the minute I sat down. I, in turn, offered up a kind word, a caress, or a scratch under the chin to acknowledge our special moment.

Cats are not enamored with the past — “Wasn’t that a tasty mouse I had last week?” They certainly are not focused on the future — “When are they going to board me again?” They do not know they are not going to live forever. Cats do not worry about when the next medical breakthrough will help them or save them. They do not know the warning signs of their deteriorating health like you do and do not flop restlessly about during the night agonizing about what will happen next.

From the time you rise in the morning to the time you retire in the evening, you are surrounded by a myriad of blessed moments. Most are ordinary moments such as the car starts, the cereal box is not empty, and the traffic flowed smoothly. Every once in a while you experience extraordinary moments such as your 25th wedding anniversary, a job promotion, or an elected position.

Neither ordinary nor extraordinary moments should ever be taken for granted. Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s inspirational quote “What a wonderful day I think, turning it over in my hand to its starting point again,” can guide us to focus on the moments of the day. So I made it a practice to acknowledge the day by simply saying, “This is a special moment” or “This is a blessed moment.” Simply ordinary occurrences — Tatianna crawling in my lap, a wink form Tatianna, or Katarina licking Tatianna while she got her fluids — precipitated these frequent comments. Confronting and conquering medical odds were extraordinary accomplishments and also gave us reasons to celebrate and give thanks every day.

When being a caregiver to a cat with a terminable disease as I have been, the present moment is truly all you have. It is all you can really be sure of. This is actually a good thing. That mindset allowed me to be grateful for each day that we started our day together. I was grateful that Tatianna had an appetite and had an interest in household activities. I was grateful she played with her companion, Katarina, and enjoyed spooning with her in the morning sunlight. Once again, it was the present moment that mattered — not that she had become ill or that someday she would have to give up the battle.

So I learned to avoid focusing on the past or future thoughts. I could not change the past events and I would deal with the future — when the time came, when that present moment arrived. Tormenting myself by wondering “Will it be next week? Next month? Six months from now? Will it be when I am on a trip or teaching a class? Will the ultimate surrender be unexpected or will there be guideposts along the journey?” were paralyzing thoughts. Tatianna’s way of approaching life always brought me back to the present moment.

Eckhart Tolle believes “when your attention is fully in the Now, that Presence will flow into and transform what you do. There will be quality and power in it. There is joy and aliveness in what you do.” Brian Narelle’s theory is humans live our lives in horizontal time. “This is a plan upon which our lives are stretched out like railroad tracks running across the Great Plains. As I walk along, I often stop to look back and remember events and things that happened to me. These events serve to fuel my paranoia when I again face my future, projecting these memories onto other imagined events to come.” Animals live on vertical time and teach us to stand, to be, to breathe, in this very moment. Keith Smith suggests that “creatures listen to ancient voices that only whispers to us. Their instinct to survive and exist in the moment, to fully attend to the sights, scents, and sounds that surround, speak to an old way of being.”

Throughout Tatianna’s life, she exemplified centered peacefulness — whether she was eating, dozing, playing, hiding, snuggling, or sleeping.

Remarkably, her centered peacefulness was with her in dying as well. Her powerful teaching to me was to slow down and smell the catnip! There is an old saying, “The past is history, the future is a mystery, and today is a gift. That is why they call it the present.” Enjoy today with your cat!

Linda A. Mohr is the award-winning author of Tatianna

An Investment Property Buyer Guide For Dubai

For any investors serious about buying property in Dubai, one should be sure to have all one’s finances sorted out before you begin searching for the ideal real estate.

Due to the fact that the purchase process, once underway, can progress extremely rapidly and should a property investor not have a mortgage agreed upon or should the investor in question not have enough money to hand the sale – it could result in the whole process falling through as a result of the continual fast-moving nature of the Dubai property market.

Many investors, internationally and locally feel that in direct contrast to the “highly sophisticated sales process in Dubai which sees developers and estate agents presenting potential clients with superior show homes to view and lovely brochures to peruse, the property buying process in Dubai currently lacks some sophistication and transparency.” – This is not good news when sales agents seek to ‘clinch’ a deal with a potential purchaser.

Read on to see how to avoid the common issues that investors may encounter during the buying process in Dubai.

Altogether there are so many developments which are in the process of being built, that an investor will have to spend a considerable amount of time comparing the qualities of any given development, the developer and the specific properties characteristics and features, all this needs to be compared with the investors available funds, to ensure they get the best valued property for their budget and investment criteria.

When one attempts to arrange a mortgage (in order to buy property in Dubai) an investor can either do this in their country of residence or locally in Dubai. An increasing amount of financial institutions are now offering more products to non-resident purchasers on a monthly basis, therefore it is extremely beneficial as an investors to ‘shop around’ for the best interest rates and payment terms.

Should the investor require financial assistance in order to purchase a resale property, he/she will have to have a valuation completed on the property to satisfy the financial institution and further show that the property in question is indeed worth the asking price.

To help smooth matters out, it is advisable to have a solid idea as to what kind of investment you would like to attach yourself to…before you begin searching!

The good news for purchasers looking at buying investment property in Dubai is the fact that there are no property related taxes to speak of. Translated, this means that there is only a minimal additional outlay with buyers having to cover lawyer’s fees he ongoing maintenance of the property as well as any shared areas or facilities.

For all those investors seeking to gain profits from their purchase immediately, there is always the option of purchasing real estate in Dubai that is on resale.

It is important to bear in mind that because there is currently no formal conveyancing system in Dubai, as well as no way of finding out who holds the freehold title of any given property, an investor is encouraged to ensure the property transaction for any resale unit ‘goes back via the original developer.’

This is critical as it is quite common place for investor’s who are not aware and alert to become the victim of fraud. It really cannot be emphasized enough - an investor interested in any resale property must contact the original developer before signing any contract to purchase (note to self – this is one of the most important issues one needs to contend with when purchasing property in Dubai).

As had been done in the past, many property investors turn their properties over to a secondary purchaser during the construction period already, in order to take advantage of any capital gains already accrued.

When it comes to the buying of a resale property during its construction period, most developers will allow for the resale of off plan property; however some developers are of the persuasion that only the original purchaser is allowed the right to resell during construction.

The secondary buyer, in such cases will only be able to resell property upon completion of the development. It has however become the norm for investors to purchase during the construction phase, as the majority of property developments are still to be completed!

Due to the fact that there are no escrow account structures in Dubai, any money an investor pays goes directly into the developers’ accounts (so as to fund the building process).

The fact that in Dubai, the government has a sophisticated process in place, whereby “any developer wishing to sell property units has to agree to place 50% of the price of each unit in a bond and only then is he allowed to sell his property.”

Translated loosely, this means that should a developer go bankrupt or renege on a contract in Dubai, the government should have sufficient funds in the bond to get the project completed.

Such insight into the buying and selling process of Dubai’s property market is imperative and undeniably necessary for all potential investors to be able to equip themselves with all the needed information to speedily come to an investments choice, which will prove lucrative and highly successful.

Property Select offers a comprehensive selection of overseas Property in Dubai and the Unite Arab Emirates (UAE), including a news feed, members club and reviews of the latest property developments from around the world.

Cyprus Property For Sale in Polis & Latchi is Authentic Cyprus

Geography maps of Cyprus will show that the towns of Polis & Latchi are situated in the far west of Southern Cyprus, which has the remote and arguably most beautiful areas of the island. Cyprus property for sale here is for the person who wants the authentic Cyprus, the location has become a popular sea-side resort with an acclaimed traditional centre that has kept its many buildings and beauty intact, but this is no Agia Napa or even Paphos. It is a laid back sort of place which has not surrendered to its resort label, it has a central pedestrian area mostly given over to shops and tavernas, but it also has many nooks and crannies to explore.

Cyprus property for sale is increasingly available and fortunately there are quite strict building zones which limit the amount of construction in the area. This is not the place for investors to buy up lots of apartments ready for the summer season, but there is a market for villas for rent in Cyprus for the long term. These are usually taken up by tourists who come for full seasons; workers in the area or quite a few people who are relocating want to rent before deciding where to buy.

Getting cheap car hire in Cyprus is easy and armed with geography maps of Cyprus you can explore the area at your leisure. The main road out of Polis towards Chrysochou Bay sweeps the eastern coastline, and there are incredible views over to the West towards the Akamas Peninsular. There are Cyprus property for sale developments in the area, many of which respect the traditional architecture. There are some changes planned with a golf course being built in the area and maybe a new highway from Paphos, this has been on the table for many years but has still not been approved, it would certainly reduce the travelling time from Paphos airport.

Many people chose the villages for Cyprus property for sale in this region to relocate permanently as they are so welcoming and beautiful. Some smart planners buy their retirement home from Cyprus property for sale available now off-plan and then put their villas up for rent in Cyprus long term until they are ready to take up residence, taking advantage of the capital growth on their property. Then when retirement comes, the huge tax benefits kick in; NO inheritance tax, NO wealth tax, UK state pensions that are still entitled to the annual up-rating. All pensions, public and or private are tax-free for the first 3,417 Euro and then taxed at the flat rate of 5% or you can opt to be under the normal tax regime in which the first 19,500 Euro is tax free rising to 30% on 36,301 Euro which would be more beneficial if you only receive a small pension.

So armed with some geography maps of Cyprus you can scour the region and make the decision of where to search for Cyprus property for sale, it is possible to enjoy the genuine Cyprus whilst still being close to an airport and the amenities of Paphos, having simply the best of worlds.

Kate Deas-Smith recommends having geography maps of Cyprus handy when looking for Cyprus property for sale.

Cat Eye Care - Is It Important?

Cats eyes have often been used in horror films. But as a pet owner, you will know that the cats stare is really the complete opposite of what is portrayed in films. That is why cat eye care, is so very important for you to know.

How do cats say I love you? well this is through their eyes, of course. This is why you should never be frightened by there gaze. So how does this work? First of all, the cat stares at you for a long time. And after that, it blinks its eyes slowly. Some people call this the cats kiss. But you should also know that this is your cats way of showing you that it loves you.

But how do you return the favor? This is easy, all you need to do is follow your cats lead. Stare at it for a long time and then slowly blink your eyes. See? Cats eyes have also be used for romantic films as well.

Do not believe the horror films you see. Cats do not and never have had a third eye. Their eye sight is really far better than a humans. Instead of a third eye, what cats have is a third eyelid. This is called a nictitating membrane.

This inner eyelid protects the eyes of the cat from harm and also from dryness. You will always notice that when a cat is sick, this membrane will be some what closed. This should always alarm enough for you to call your vet or get your cat to them fast as possible.

But this third eyelid will also show once a cat is happy. So you will know what kind of mood your cat is in just by looking at the membrane.

You should always observe the pupil of your feline friend. A change in size of one of the pupils can often be an indication of an inflammation. It can also be a sign of a kind of a neurologic, disorder, this is called Horner’s Syndrome. Or worse, it can also indicate tumors or injuries in the central nervous system.

Never believe what others say that cats are color blind. They do see some colors. They may not see them as clear as human do, but its not true that they cannot see any colors at all.

Cats can also see clearly over long distances. There vision is very different from peoples. There vision will blurry if they are looking at objects that are very close to them.

Yes it is true, cats do have the nocturnal vision. But they can not see in complete darkness. Do you see the muscles on their iris that surround the pupils of their eyes? They are constructed in a way that it narrows into a vertical split when they are exposed in the bright lights. And it opens fully when they are in a quite dim light.

This feature of the cat may be traced back to their roots. They can use this feature to hunt for food during the night, that is if they were left out in the jungle or left with no one to care for them.

So you must forget about the horror movies that you have seen. Now it is time to put some effort into your cats eye care. Never let a minor ailments worsen. Always call your vet immediately when you think there is something not right or amiss. You do not want your cat to lose their sight or even worse lose their lives. Just remember it is always better to be safe than blind.

Graham Williams is an online author and maintains a site devoted to Caring For Your Cat. So if you would like further FREE information on Cat Care. Then please visit my site.

Real Estate Investment - Beware the Expenses!

Anyone who knows me is aware that I am a huge advocate of real estate investing. I firmly believe that when done responsibly, real estate investing is one of the single greatest drivers for wealth available to anyone. The key is responsible investing! That means you don’t use those nasty little things called ARMs, you do your due diligence and you certainly don’t buy past (or even at!) your means. But all of that stuff is for another article. What I want to talk about today are those real estate investment costs that you must make sure you account for before purchasing any property!

1. The Mortgage Payment: I am sure you already know what this is, so I won’t insult your intelligence by explaining it to you. But I will reiterate a point I made above – Just because you can afford a certain mortgage payment does not mean that you should. It makes a lot more sense to find a house that is a little less expensive than what you can afford and put the money you save into another investment. I guarantee that you will be able to find a house for just a little bit less, that you will like as much as the more expensive one you are looking at.

2. Taxes, Taxes, Taxes: Do not underestimate your taxes. If you are serious about buying the house and have a pretty good idea about what you will end up paying for the property then approximating your monthly tax expense is not difficult at all. Determine what the tax rate is for the area you will be purchasing the property in and multiply that rate times the approximate purchase price of the house. For a house valued at $200,000 with a 1% tax rate you simply take .01 x $200,000 = $2,000. Then to determine what that comes out to per month you just divide $2,000 / 12 which equals $166.66 per month. That wasn’t too hard now was it? For my investments I like to establish a range based upon my best case and worst case scenarios for what the purchase price might be. For instance if I believe that I will be able to purchase the house for a price between $190,000 (best case) and 210,000 (worst case) then I would calculate my taxes for both of those scenarios.

3. Vacancy Allowance: If you are planning on turning this property into a rental, you better factor a vacancy allowance into your calculations. That is, for how many months in a given year do you expect your rental property to be vacant? This number can be difficult to determine because it can fluctuate dramatically depending on the area you are located in, if you happen to know people in the area who manage rental properties ask them what their vacancy allowance is for the area. If not, a 5% - 10% allowance is a good rule of thumb. Personally I hate taking random estimates, I will if I have to, but I prefer to see if I can find some local property managers willing to share their experience with me.

4. Insurance: This expense is another no brainer. The big thing you want to check here is to make sure that you are not under-insuring the property. Yes getting less insurance than is necessary will save you some money monthly, but if tragedy strikes and you need to rebuild the home, you will never forgive yourself for not purchasing adequate insurance. Do not take the risk of under-insuring your property, it’s just not worth it.

5. Maintenance and Repairs: Homes, just like anything else must be maintained and occasionally repaired. The plumbing might need some work, a leak might spring in the roof, or you accidently kick a hole in the wall. Not to mention that the grass out front will not cut itself. Figure about a 10% allowance for this basic upkeep expense. This number can fluctuate pretty wildly depending on how old the house is. My sister for example owns a home that was built in 1911. Repairs are much more likely to be necessary in that house than in a newer home.

6. Utilities: If you are going to live in this house then this is an obvious expense you need to account for. If it is going to be a rental you need to determine what you will pay for and what the renter will pay for. In my area the renter pays virtually all of their own utilities, but in some areas the property owner covers a lot more. This is something that you will have to determine for yourself in order to stay competitive.

7. Bad or Uncollectable Debt: If you are going to be living in the home this number does not concern you. But if you will be renting it out you should consider that there may be times when your renters will skip out on you. This allowance can be tricky to determine, it depends strongly on the area and type of renter your property will attract. I allow a lower allowance for single houses compared to what I allow for multi-resident properties (apartments, multi-plex properties, etc.) A good rule of thumb is set an allowance of 5% based upon the annual income of the property. Overtime you will be able to adjust this number to reflect the economic reality of the area you are invested in.

Remember just because a property looks like a good investment, it can quickly turn sour if you have not done the proper research and taken the time to calculate all of your real and potential expenses into the equation. You will find many circumstances where an investment that originally looked good is not that good after all. More importantly, all of these expenses are negotiation points! Use these various factors to drive the price of the property down to an even more favorable place.

Joshua Niemeyer is the publisher of IncentiveSearch.com, he writes about a wide variety of topics including business development, marketing, investing, finance, web development and more.

MAX-imize Life’s Potential With Philosophy From a Dog Named Max

As I look back on my life, I can honestly say it wasn’t always easy. I mean I was abandoned by my first family when I was just a pup. I had a big sister who was always biting my head. I got cancer and a bad back later in life. And I inherited an annoying little sister who also tried to bite my head. So I could have spent a good part of my life whining about something.

But I ascribe to the philosophy that “you can let life happen to you or you can make your life happen.” I wrote down much of my philosophy in the book I wrote with my mom, “Life to the Max: Maxims for a Great Life by a Dog named Max.” But here’s another Top 10 Ways to MAX-imize Life’s Potential:

1) Keep a positive attitude. Bad things are bound to happen, but thinking negatively just makes things worse and worrying won’t change anything. Get up everyday and wag your tail!

2) Be creative. There are lots of ways to solve a problem. If something stinks in your life, sniff out new opportunities.

3) Relieve your stress. Sometime you just have to bark about stuff, but after that, let it go. Have a good stretch and relax.

4) Keep the faith.Things will happen that are beyond our control. Dig up as much information as you need, but then you have to have faith that things will work out. No whining!

5) Always work hard. You get a great sense of accomplishment from work done well. Being successful takes dogged determination.

6) Take time to play. Recreation is just as important as work —you need to exercise your mind as well as your body. When you play well with others, you learn how to be part of a pack.

7) Take care of your friendships. Friends will be there even when family can’t. Occasionally let them bite your head without retaliation. It means they trust you enough to show you how they really feel.

Laugh freely and often! Laughter is critical to our well-being. Get together with your friends and howl!

9) Take care of your health. It is one of your most prized possessions. If you have the basis of good health, you can lick anything!

10) Take time to “paws” and reflect. Life can be filled with noise and distraction. Sometimes, you just have to sit down and chew things over.

I think if you try out some of these things, you’re going to have a doggone great life. And if you need a reminder from time to time, you can either turn to my book —just a little reminder, it’s called “Life to the Max: Maxims for a Great Life by a Dog named Max” or you can just take a look at your dog. If you watch him carefully, you’ll realize he knows a lot more than you think. And no doubt, he can teach you some new tricks.

Robin Reynolds is an award-winning writer who has more than 25 years of experience writing in a variety of formats. An Airedale Terrier lover since youth, Robin lives in Tempe, AZ with her husband, teenage son, and two Airedales. Visit Nice Creative and Life to Max.

The Current Real Estate Market is Killing Us

There are more victims in the recent economic and housing downturn and they’re buddies of mine: the family dog. You see, as houses are foreclosed, people are being forced to either move in with other family members who cannot accommodate dogs or relocate to apartments who don’t allow pets. Some of these folks are under so much stress that they wait until the last minute when they do not have time to think about what to do with their pets. In many of these cases, these pets are simply left in the abandoned homes where they will starve to death if not discovered.

At this time of crisis, my mom and I have seen many animal shelter groups on TV, encouraging people to turn their pets in to them. But my mom has been reading Nathan Winograd’s book, “Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America” to me and I say, “Not so fast!”

I was shocked to hear that many shelters have routinely euthanized healthy adoptable pets in staggering numbers. Shelters will tell you that their cages are crowded, their intake is greater than demand and they lack the money to care for these animals long-term. If you ask me, many animal lovers have blindly drunk the “pet overpopulation” Kool-Aid that many animal organizations have been peddling for years.

But in interviews, Winograd points out that if pets are killed because a shelter doesn’t have a comprehensive foster care program, that’s not pet overpopulation. That’s the lack of a foster care program. If adoptions are low because people are getting those pets from other places and the shelter isn’t doing off-the-premise adoptions, that’s a failure to do outside adoptions, not pet overpopulation.

If animals are killed because working with rescue groups is discouraged, that’s not pet overpopulation. If dogs are euthanized because volunteers and staff aren’t allowed to socialize them and they went “cage-crazy,” that’s a failure to have behavior rehabilitation program in place, not pet overpopulation.

Of course, I am not advocating for people to abandon their dogs in empty homes. Good grief! Dying of starvation is a very cruel and painful death. However, if you or someone you know is facing foreclosure and needs to relocate a dog, maybe you should consider contacting a rescue or a no-kill shelter. Rescue groups already have foster care systems in place and work very hard to match the right animal with the right home. When our family adopted Krissy, our most recent addition from Southwest Airedale Rescue, my mom and dad had to fill out a comprehensive questionnaire, undergo a home visit so that the rescue coordinator could make sure the home was safe and after a meet-and-greet with Krissy, we were finally approved for adoption.

As I think back on my own rescue from the local humane society, I am so grateful that a rescue group knew that I was going there so I didn’t have to stay too long. Who knows what would have happened to me? I just might have been another victim of the real estate market and when the economy is bad, it just kills us.

Robin Reynolds is an award-winning writer who has more than 25 years of experience writing in a variety of formats. An Airedale Terrier lover since youth, Robin lives in Tempe, AZ with her husband, teenage son, and two Airedales. Visit Nice Creative and Life to Max.

Five Mistakes Real Estate Professionals Make

Working in the real estate industry isn’t easy! Every sale is a complex situation of laws and financials and unique client preferences. And sadly, there is a lot of “churn” in the industry as worn-out professionals leave the industry while new ones replace them. Successful professionals have staying power, but those who are less-than-successful learn expensive lessons before moving on to something else.

If you are a new to the real estate industry and want to start strong, or you are a seasoned professional and want to become even more successful, here are 5 mistakes that you’ll want to avoid:

MISTAKE #1: SKIPPING THE REFERRAL

You spend a lot of money, time, and effort to win prospects and convert them into happy customers. You advertise until someone calls you. You help them find a house. You seal the deal to turn that house into a home. Then you move on, searching for the next customer.

Unfortunately, this is costly. Referrals are a fantastic way to reduce your marketing expenses while increasing your revenue. That’s because your happy customers have friends and family who might also be looking for a home. And your customer’s positive statement about you may be enough to spur their friends and family to call you.

To make it happen, you need to get them thinking about who else they know and then give them an incentive. Either give them a small incentive for each name they give you or give them a large incentive for each referral who buys. While your customers are still beaming about their new home, invite them to give you the names of two or three of their friends who might be interested in a home.

MISTAKE #2: DOING THE SAME OLD THING

You likely have well established processes that you use for every step of your business from filling your pipeline with prospective clients to finding the right house for the right family. These have served you well in the past and you expect them to continue to serve you well into the future.

Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Best practices are good for a while but then get old. Good habits are success-drivers for a while then become tired habits. If you’re doing the same thing today that you have been doing for 6 months, a year, or more, maybe it’s time for a change.

Feel free to make mistakes (just be careful that they aren’t all expensive mistakes) and strive for innovation in your routines. A simple change here or there can yield tremendous results that may surprise even the most skeptical real estate professional.

MISTAKE #3: IGNORING THE INTERNET

The internet has been around for a while. It’s not so new anymore. Many businesses have robust websites and draw in many, many clients. It’s an inexpensive but in-demand marketing tool.

Unfortunately, the web is not effectively used by real estate professionals. For some reason, real estate professionals are largely “offline” or have an inadequate web presence. This may have to do with how busy they are, or it may be related to the mistaken notion that the internet is an international medium while professionals need to focus on the local market.

Real estate professionals need a better web presence. Something as simple as a carefully planned blog, or a few regular articles, can be enough to fix your stake in the world of the web in order to grow your business. Well-planned websites do not have to be expensive, nor do they have to be a lot of work. The secret is in finding the right professional or professionals who can help turn your marketing vision into a business-building reality.

MISTAKE #4: FORGETTING THE ECONOMIC WAVE

If you want to know what the economy is like, just go to the beach. Watch the tide come in and then go out. Watch the boats rise and fall. The economy is sometimes strong and sometimes weak and real estate professionals who remember that and are prepared for it will do just fine.

Unfortunately, many professionals “make hay when the sun shines” by selling a lot of homes when the economy is good but then they suffer when things slump. It’s a planning issue, and a marketing issue.

If you’re selling – no matter what economy you’re selling in – you need to be aware that the economy could become better or it could become worse. Set aside a small nest-egg for yourself (just remember that the average recession lasts 11 months). And, keep two kinds of marketing at your fingertips: marketing for when times are good and marketing for when times are tough. You know there is a difference in why people buy and sell during these times, now it’s time to implement it into your marketing!

MISTAKE #5: TRYING TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE

This is a mistake that many businesses make, particularly fledgling businesses. They start out hoping that “everyone” will be their customer. But that is never the case. Obviously, there is no single product that all 6 billion (or more) people in the world want to own. Limits of geography, language, finances, and accessibility necessitate that only a select few could ever own a given product.

Unfortunately, real estate professionals try to cast their net too wide. Instead of focusing on one core segment of the populace, or on one area of a city or state, they spread themselves thin and focus on as much as possible. It’s expensive and ineffective.

Instead, choose one or two areas where you excel and drive that message home again and again and again. Focus on a certain group of people or on a certain area of a city or on a type of real estate. Become known for that thing. In an ironic twist, it’s often these specialists who limit themselves to a tiny target market that become exceedingly successful compared with those who try for a wider audience.

Aaron Hoos is an in-demand copywriter who writes effective, compelling content for the financial and real estate industries. Visit his website at AaronHoos.com to grow your financial or real estate business.

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