How About a Point System for the Creative Geniuses in Our Society?

Did you know that most of the 160 plus IQ people live very poorly, it’s true, and as a think tank coordinator this bothers me, because if these folks had the resources like many of the billionaires of the world have, can you imagine how they could “change the world” and what an incredible bonus this would be for the rest of us? Think about that for a moment.Is it possible to make a different system for them? A system which rewards them with their basic needs so they can go and create, but one that also could give them the tools to bring those creations to fruition? You see, the other day I was discussing this issue with a creative genius who is now only in college, John Altmann, and we reasoned that we are wasting human potential terribly, and how our society and even to some extent our education system, is dummying down our society in a slightly mind numbing fashion.Okay so, I was thinking, the “point-system” for ideas would offer points for original thoughts, and these points could be converted into a secondary currency (current cash and electronic monetary system) for some things. The points could also be used in an online catalog, and these genius people could buy things such as:1. Productivity Software2. Computers, Tablets, etc.3. 3D printers4. Aptera electric cars5. Electric moped, bicycle6. Modularized Work Shop7. Paid intern assistants, who can also earn pointsAnd other things created by the participants, donated by corporations, grants, etc, and once it got going it would “fly like nothing else,” copyright Boeing “slogan” of course. Do you see where I am going with this?Look, we probably have 10s of thousands of modern day Leonardo da Vinci types out there, and they are quietly working away and thinking, but we are not getting their full benefits, as we are not honoring their work, and unfortunately it is getting worse, yes, occasionally they rise to the top, but many never do, and we lose their gifts to humanity, that’s a shame really.By doing this, the creative geniuses who wish to opt out of the current economic system, which doesn’t make sense for them with their 160 plus IQ or creative genius – could still participate in a dual system which paralleled our current economic system providing them with the tools, resources, and help they needed to bring us their creative genius, you see? Please consider all this.

What Do Missing Nutrients Have to Do With Our Health Crisis Today?

So why is it so easy to get sick today in America? You see it every day. Friends come down with or develop some nasty disease way too often. We love our friends and sometimes we feel so helpless. I am not a doctor and you probably aren’t either. But today even doctors are discouraged by how much disease there is and how little their work of doctoring actually helps people get well or avoid getting sick. The World Health Organization who compares the general level of health of all countries in the world rate us as spending more for our healthcare system than all the other countries put together. But where do we rate in quality of our actual health? We are number 72 behind Mexico Sri Lanka and even several third world countries.This would indicate to me that too much of our health expenditures are misdirected or perhaps wasted because something is horribly wrong.Well drugs are good and they have their uses, but they should always be temporary. They do nothing to keep us healthy on a daily basis. Even doctors will tell you that the thing that determines how well someone responds when they need a drug is their general level of health. Doctors prefer to do their work when the body HELPS! If your body is not in a good enough level of health then it cannot respond in a favorable way when a doctor tries to get you well.So how do we build our own wellness so that when we do need a doctor he or she can actually help us?Drugs don’t cause the body to build good health. There is only one thing that does build the body and that is food.So what is wrong with our food today that it is NOT keeping us healthy? Do you want a list? Well it all boils down to one thing and that is THE main problem with our health in 2010, the reason we are number 72 in our level of health in the world-Missing Nutrients. In Grandma’s day she and many of her friends grew their own food. She used organic fertilizer swept from the barnyard floor. They picked their dinner fresh from the plant at the peak of ripeness and freshness. When the tomato bugs moved in, she picked them off or used other plants to make them leave. What she planted often helped control other garden pests. Grandma grew what we now call organic vegetables. In those days the government measured the nutrients in the produce and set Required Daily Amount levels.But they never expected those levels to change over the years. Today we don’t farm like Grandma did. We use heavy duty pesticides and herbicides to protect the crop and those get into the plant and cause- missing nutrients. The soil is not enriched by barnyard soil, it has synthetic chemicals to fertilize the crops-missing nutrients. Pretty is more important than nutrient levels to the big agra companies that now own 99% of all farms these days. Nutrients that may be missing in action are not even thought about. Then the veggies are picked green and shipped to the store thousands of miles away where they are gassed with ethylene to make them look pretty and ripe without actually BEING ripe-more missing nutrients. Today the big chemical companies now grow seeds genetically modified so the plants contain their own powerful pesticides. Some are designed to protect the plant from herbicides. While the animal studies on GMO have shown severe organ and reproductive damage caused by their eating those GMO foods, the GMO producers don’t seem to think there will be any human damage from our eating them so we eat them almost every day without even knowing.All this combines to make the perfect storm of missing nutrients. Since the government measured the nutrition in our veggies in the late 40′s and early 50′s the measurable levels have drastically changed with one main result-missing nutrients:Vitamin C level-Then = 1 orange / Today = 10 oranges to get the same now missing nutrientsVitamin A level –Then = 2 peaches / Today = 53 peaches to get the same now missing nutrientsIron level–Then = 1 cup of spinach / Today = 65 cups of spinach for the same missing nutrientsLets face it with the food we have in a modern grocery store, we need to eat enough food for an army to get enough of the missing nutrients to keep a body healthy.So what do we do? How do we fight back for our good health? Well learning to grow a garden is a good start, even if it is in your sunny kitchen window. Also, in order to not have to eat enough for 10 people every day of our lives, we MUST supplement our diets or we could die, quite literally, from malnutrition. It won’t look like the starving children on TV but when our body can no longer keep us well or protect us from what pathogens are going around, it is caused by malnutrition or simply-missing nutrients. Even extreme overweight is caused by malnutrition and that problem is epidemic these days.But I warn you. Don’t go out and buy a bunch of vitamin pills at Walmart and think you are supplementing. If your supplement is not 100% food sourced then it is synthetic chemicals and chemicals are not food…If you have a problem with missing nutrients you need REAL FOOD. In another article we will talk about how to get that without eating for 10 every day.

Life After Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Is Good

So you filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy, what comes next? First of all you are not alone. More than 1.5 million Americans will file for bankruptcy this year alone. Filing bankruptcy can be stressful, but it is certainly not the end of everything, but in fact a chance for a new beginning. Seven years after the payment plan ends and the debtor officially receives their bankruptcy discharge the debtor can once again enjoy the liberation that comes along with sound money management and financial freedom. Those individuals post Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing who strictly followed their court ordered repayment plan now have a second chance at rebuilding their credit scores and their financial lives.However, debtors must beware that if they do not complete their repayment plan in the 3-5 year time frame that was agreed upon, they risk losing their bankruptcy discharge and debt forgiveness. The only way around this is if the debtor legitimately was unable to make the payments due to an accident, medical illness, or unemployment. The debtor in those circumstances would need to contact their bankruptcy attorney immediately to work something out with the court such as modifying the repayment plan or converting the Chapter 13 to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Filing bankruptcy is not only one’s right but it is a testament to the fairness of the American court system that enables individuals with overwhelming debt a way out where they are protected under the law.Putting a bankruptcy filing behind you is easy as long as the individual does not go back to the same financial mismanagement that got them into financial trouble in the first place. The debtor needs to use common sense when budgeting in the future. Being frugal and diligently watching one’s spending to ensure that they don’t incur more debt than the budget allows for and that the debtor earns is important. These careful practices will allow the debtor to quickly rebuild their credit, and we know that good credit scores following a bankruptcy filing are like a debtor’s calling card. It sends a message to prospective creditors that the debtor has learned their lesson and they are responsible to pay their debts back just as they did in the Chapter 13 repayment plan. The debtor does not need to justify to a prospective creditor by email or phone that they are trustworthy.After all their improved credit scores that are in black and white on their credit report will speak volumes as to the debtor’s willingness and ability to pay back their debts. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is certainly not a quick fix for severe debt, but it is a viable solution as well as a resolution towards regaining one’s financial freedom.

Empowerment – Taking Control of Your Life

Virginia Woolf once said that “To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves.” Empowerment is the process of developing our personal power so that we control our own life, leading to personal freedom. To become empowered, I found the following six steps to be helpful:1. Understand that you have control over your life and that no one can control you. This first step is absolutely critical. Although others may have controlled your life in the past or may still attempt to do so, you are the one who ultimately controls your life. It may be difficult to break old patterns, but it can be done. On a daily basis, remind yourself that you are the one who controls your life. Develop an affirmation, such as “I am in control of my life.” Tape this affirmation to your bathroom mirror so that you see it every morning.2. Don’t give your power away; stand your ground. Without realizing it, many people give their power away. They let others make decisions for them and run their lives. If you want to change this, realize that no one takes your power away; you give it away. Learn how to make your own decisions, whether they end up being right or wrong. Even if you make the wrong decision, you can always learn from your mistake. When you begin to take control of your life and make your own decisions, others may attempt to change your mind or take over. When this happens, stand your ground. Tell people that you are in control of your life and are responsible for making your own decisions. Don’t waver from your position.3. Develop your self-esteem and self-confidence. Generally, a lack of self-esteem and self-confidence are at the root of feeling powerless. Think about what you can do to increase your self-esteem and self-confidence. Some suggestions include developing a list of all of your gifts, talents, strengths, skills, and abilities (those items that make you unique); developing a list of personal affirmations and reviewing these daily; identifying and addressing your weaknesses; reading self-help/self-improvement books; and taking classes to boost your self-esteem and confidence.4. Develop or expand your knowledge base. It is well known that information is knowledge and knowledge is power. The more knowledge you have, the more powerful you are. Think about what types of information you need to increase your self-esteem, improve your self-confidence, increase your ability to take control of your life, and defend your position. Then research books, classes, websites, and other resources that will help you develop your knowledge base or expand your knowledge in specific areas.5. Learn what assertiveness is and how to become assertive. Being assertive occurs when you ensure your needs are met while, concurrently, meeting the needs of others. To become assertive, you have to identify how you want to be treated, and what you will and will not accept. It helps to use “I” language when communicating with other people in an assertive manner. For example, “When you make decisions for me, I feel that I don’t have control over my life. Although your intention may be good, I am in control of my life and able to make my own decisions.” You can practice role playing (with friends or family members) to improve your communication style and ensure your needs are met.6. Take responsibility for your actions. When you assume control of your life and run it the way you desire, be prepared to take responsibility for your decisions and actions, whether right or wrong. After all, you are now the captain of your ship. Accepting responsibility for your decisions and actions will also prevent you from blaming others for poor decisions or actions.Taking control of one’s life and yielding personal power in an assertive manner are the keys to empowerment…and the freedom to create the life you desire and deserve. So, don’t wait another minute. Take control today and watch your new life unfold!Copyright 2009 © Sharon L. Mikrut, All rights reserved.