Greetings from
The Publisher . . .
Changes, a Slowing Economy? and Curing Swine Flu
With the economy slowing down, we've seen some print publications stop publishing or switch to online versions only. Others are expanding their websites. We will too. I think the Web is great as long as you know exactly what you are looking for. One service that newspapers and magazines provide is offering new ideas or new research you wouldn't know to google. The expressions “what's new?” or “what's news?” really fits publications much better than google-ing.
One drawback of the news media is sound bites — the “Oh my Gaud, new research shows that most Americans are suffering from a lack of a common vitamin. Find out which one and change your life—if you can survive until 11.”
Getting the full story is what a publication can provide. You don't get bit by sound bites and you can still change your life.
Ultimately, aren't print publications the most consistent with the nature of human beings? We were built to read articles in a comfortable, relaxing position. They're can be much better for your well-being than the news and some publications even help you sleep.
Carrying around paper as compared to a metal box or stone tablet is a sign of evolution, isn't it? And we all know you shouldn't read with your fingers. Print is here to stay. Banks? Who knows?
Banks & Bad Economy?
I've been wondering lately just how bad the economy is. Is it bad or just hesitant? When banks and others said they needed help—send money quick—we heard things were really bad and they really, really needed money. Then, after the government started to watch how the money was being spent and decided to attach a few strings—just as any bank would—the money was not as attractive—or as needed. Some are now paying the bailout money back rather than accept those strings. Wouldn't you think that if anyone knew that there's no such thing as easy, string-free money it would be the banks?
Some have even stated that they want to be able to pay the big bonuses again and are returning to that system. Is it good to hear that they're getting back to normal? Maybe we need more options. It's not that it worked before.
So how bad is it, if one economic quarter later, they're paying back these loans that they really, really needed?
The simple truth is, if the economy were that easy to fix, we'd all know how to do it. Nobody likes it slow and nobody has a simple fix. We're experimenting and discovering.
Maybe it's useful to have the time to notice just how much greed runs our economy and decide if that's really a solid economic engine for us/US. Where do we want to commit our resources? GM? Electric cars? Solar power? It might take a little time to shift through the options.
The good news is that there are a lot of exciting options. The great news is most of the country is up for looking at new options. There are enough revolutionary ways to “energize” us/US right now that we can literally reorder the world.
Did you know that Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest investors in solar power? They have more oil than most gods, but they also know the future.
For that matter solar electricity generation works right now. Due to my solar panels, my annual electric bill was $356 this year.
One of the things that make these times so incredible is not that there are a lot of new business opportunities for profit—and there are—it's that we are looking at making changes that most of us want to see in the world. A whole new economy is available with different engines—other than greed—to move it. What comes with a slow/hesitant economy is a greater sense of “we're in this together” than we ' ve had for a while. That in itself is energizing.
Swine Flu & Popcorn Journalism
I've been researching it and I want you to know that the swine flu has no connection to greed, Wall Street or those receiving government loans, aka pigs in heat.
It's more a function of pigeon practices. Some throws out the popcorn and all the pigeons—the media — flock to it. It's the feeding frenzy of the day.
Look at it this way. In a normal year, 36,000 people die from influenza related complications in the US according to the CDC. When writing this about 140 people had died from swine flu—in the world! Swine flu just might be the sound flocking pigeons make.
As some time in our lives, we have probably all heard that if we have the opportunity to be paid a penny on day one, and two on day two, and 4 on day three, then 8 on day four, then 16 and on — do it!! Great teaching tool, but I've never really seen this applied, unless it's when popcorn journalists tell us what's coming. These “penny projections” should really stay in the classroom.
The cure for the epidemic or pandemic? Eliminate fear. Add perspective. Other methods? Soap and water. Wash you hands. Cover your mouth when you cough. Don't follow pigeons, read The Light Connection.
If washing your hands and covering your mouth are the prescriptions for pandemics, what do they recommend we normally do? Maybe we need to upgrade our manners.
The problem, of course, is getting water. With the drought, water cut backs were at 10% last week and are now at 20%. Next week they'll be at 40%, then 80%, 160%. I hate to say it, but not all of you will be saved. Penny projections told me so.
I am, however, working on a way to spontaneously manifest water—but you'll have to wait for a future issue for that. Make sure to stay tuned.
Meanwhile, have a Great Month,
Steve
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