Archive for March, 2012
Life Coaching Tip of the Week-March 26, 2012: The Importance of Suffering – Video
Posted: March 26, 2012 at 9:28 am
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Life Coaching Tip of the Week-March 26, 2012: The Importance of Suffering - Video
Thank you Keith
Posted: at 9:28 am
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Thank you Keith
Fitness trainer touts Xbox motion control
Posted: at 9:28 am
Its not a game changer for online fitness trainer Josh Neumann, but he believes a new motion control system for Microsofts video game console Xbox presents new health and fitness potential through gaming.
The co-founder of Stay Fit Anywhere set a benchmark for online training and works with clients around North America. Nothing can replace the benefits and interaction of meeting a trainer face to face, he says.
But the immersion gaming of Kinect comes close, and when users connect with one another using the system someone with dumbbells in one part of the world and another somewhere else with a professionals eye for technique can interact by teleconferencing.
Kinect, which is essentially a narrow camera box that attaches to an Xbox, doesnt just lose the hand-held wands or balance boards known to Sony and Nintendo usersthink Wii Fit. Its motion-sensor camera eliminates the need for a traditional game controller altogether.
You dont need to hold anything. Its just you and the game, Craig Flannagan, a marketing manager with Microsoft, said last week while showing off Kinect at a press preview before its wider release next month.
What Flannagan described as player projection tech translates to a camera that captures a users location and movement within an eight foot range, meaning an avatar on the TV jumps and lifts an arm to spike a volleyball the second the human player in the living room does so.
Theres nothing between you and your game, he said.
For blacktop racing, the plastic replica of a steering wheel is gone. In its place are your own two fists, held as if gripping the wheel. Play mechanicsessentially strategic leaning and a few timely elbow pumpspush your hotrod past the plumbers and over the finish line.
Designed by BigPark, a Vancouver-based design firm, Joy Ride is the first car racing game built for Kinect.
Founded in 2007, BigParks team has ties to Electronic Arts and Microsoft. Its popular franchises include FIFA Soccer, NBA Street and SSX, for snowboard cross. (Joy Ride has road elements that remind Flannagan of a half-pipe, which may be a hint of something to come. It feels snowboardy, he says. You can feel the BigPark roots.)
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Fitness trainer touts Xbox motion control
Should you raid retirement to pay college debt?
Posted: at 9:27 am
Dear Debt Adviser, I'm 37 years old, married with three kids, and I have about $15,000 in college debt from my MBA expenses. Should I withdraw retirement savings from my 401(k) or Roth individual retirement account to pay off the debt? I'm sick of having this debt and want to be done with it now. Can I avoid penalties if the retirement money is used to pay off student loans? -- Randy
Dear Randy, With three kids, I would have expected you to have developed more patience by now. Still, 37 is young in the scheme of things. Here's some advice from someone who has been patience-challenged for decades longer than you and comes from a family whose patriarch thought impatience was the most beautiful flower.
I have a three-part answer to your question.
You are responsible for a spouse and three children. Though it may be argued that she is equally responsible for you and the kids, we are talking about you -- and you are most certainly on the hook.
In my experience as a father and husband, I can tell you there is a very good chance in the next five to 10 years the $15,000 you are considering withdrawing may be needed for something more important than retiring an education debt you are "sick of having." Life has a way of sending the unexpected our way at the least convenient time, and often the unanticipated event(s) comes with a high price tag attached. It is hoped you have an emergency savings account of six to 12 months' of living expenses put aside to help fund life's financial curveballs, but you may find additional funds are required.
Also, the $15,000 you remove from retirement funds now could, if left where it is, be worth in the neighborhood of $80,000 by the time you're 67. Even when you take into consideration inflation, you could be missing out on the equivalent of $40,000 if you remove the $15,000 now. As an MBA, you'll no doubt appreciate the time value of money.
Let me suggest that a better idea may be to develop a plan to pay down your college debt more quickly.
Let's do some math. If we assume you have another 10 years to pay on your loan and your interest rate is 6 percent, your monthly payment is approximately $167 per month. If you were to add an additional $500 to each payment, for a total of $667 each month, your debt would be paid off in two short years. To pay off the debt in one year, you would need to boost your monthly payment by $1,125.
Whether you pay off your student loans sooner or later, my guess is once you know this debt is heading for the door, you won't feel the need to incur a penalty to send it on its way immediately.
Should you decide to withdraw retirement savings from your IRA, I would recommend you consult with a tax-planning professional to assure that you follow all the proper procedures. You do not want to complicate an already bad financial move with a problem with the Internal Revenue Service.
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Should you raid retirement to pay college debt?
BYU track and field: Many Cougars record personal bests at USC Trojan Invitational
Posted: at 9:27 am
LOS ANGELESMany Cougars recorded personal best marks this weekend as the BYU mens and women's track and field team participated in the Trojan Invitational at the Loker Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday.
The meet went very well, men's head coach Mark Robison said. There was tough competition at the meet and I was very pleased with our teams performances.
All-Americans Cade Lindahl and Ryan Waite ran well in both the 400m and 800m, with Lindahl placing fourth, running 46.71, and Waite finishing sixth in 1:48.74.
Three Cougars finished top ten in the 1500m, with Jared Rohatinsky finishing sixth (3:50.21), Justin Hedin finishing eighth (3:50.38) and Ryan Jones coming in ninth (3:51.38).
In the short distances, Fanfan Charles finished the 100m in a career best time of 10.58 and Jason Hinds finished in 10.71 and in the 3000m steeplechase Jacob Cosby, Steve Flint and Curtis Carr took fifth, sixth and seventh.
Kyle Baker and Keith Keller finished fourth and sixth in the javelin, throwing 63.48m and 62.09m respectively, and Colby Barber came in second in the shot put with a distance of 16.87m.
Also in the field events, Dakoda John came in third in the high jump with a height of 2.06m and Seth Weiler finished fourth in the discus, throwing 47.56m.
Junior Allyson Anderson led the BYU womens track team with a dominating performance in the javelin.
Anderson set a new personal best in her javelin win with a throw of 51.19m (167-11). Her throw ranks third in BYU history and currently ranks third in the NCAA. Anderson was the lone Cougar to win an event at the meet.
The high jump was also a strong event for the Cougars. Senior Diana Blauer led BYU with a second place finish after a season-best jump of 1.70m (5-7.00). Ada Robinson and Taylor Stapley tied for sixth in the event with a height of 1.60m (5-3.00).
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BYU track and field: Many Cougars record personal bests at USC Trojan Invitational
Business Credit With No Personal Guarantee: 4 Steps To Business Credit Success – Video
Posted: at 9:27 am
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Business Credit With No Personal Guarantee: 4 Steps To Business Credit Success - Video
Boulder personal gardeners set up vegetable patches
Posted: at 9:27 am
Unlike many youngsters her age, 31/2-year-old Sloane Smith loves vegetables.
Her dad, Jason, credits the Boulder-based Personal Family Farmers, Catherine Harley and Dale Zigelsky's backyard garden installation business. Thanks to them --and the backyard, raised-bed garden plots they put in -- the little girl spent all last summer eating beans and cherry tomatoes right from the vine.
"We thought it would be really neat to do a garden (as) a family thing," Smith said. "That visualization of the family out in the yard really came true."
Not that Jason Smith considers himself much of a gardener. Busy schedules prevented Smith and his wife from starting a garden from scratch. And while they considered investing in one of the community supported agriculture farms, the Smiths decided that other weekend activities took precedence.
That fledgling farmer is exactly the audience that Harley and Zigelsky are targeting . Launched in 2009, Personal Family Farmers has grown from serving 10 customers its first year to 40 its second. Forty-five people have already signed up for this summer.
"Our mission really is to trigger the green thumb in the household and then get the homegrown garden to become a natural thing again," Harley said. "They can start and then learn at their pace."
The service includes varying levels of installation, setup and maintenance of 4-by-4-foot plots that each hold 16 plants. Clients pick from a lengthy list of produce options, primarily vegetables with a few fruit and flower choices (more than 60 different offerings total), personally deciding what pops up in their garden.
"People can grow what they want," Harley said. "If they don't like beets, they don't have to get beets."
Price points per plot range from $289 for what Harley calls the "PIY," plant it yourself, to $599 for the full-service option. Harley admits the first year is an investment, but points out that her customers save considerably on their produce bills. Plus, the installation is a one-time cost, and seeding a plot costs roughly $25 in following years.
"Starting a garden in a way that is successful, you're guaranteeing your investment back," Harley said.
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Boulder personal gardeners set up vegetable patches
03/26: Business events
Posted: at 9:27 am
10:35 p.m. EST, March 25, 2012
Chamber
Winter Park: Winter Park Executive Women "Discover Your Personal Brand," 11:30 a.m. April 2, Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 W. Lyman Ave., Winter Park. Cost: $20 for members; $25 nonmembers; Reservation deadline is March 30. Details: 407-644-8281 or winterpark.org.
Sanford: Successful Business Solutions Forum, 5:30-8 p.m. April 19; Sanford Chamber of Commerce Hall, 400 E. 1st St., Sanford. A panel of local entrepreneurs will share their stories of the triumphs and challenges on the path to success. Free, registration required. Call 407-322-2212 or email susan@sanfordchamber.com.
Sanford: Better Neighborhood, Better Life Community Expo, 5-8 p.m. April 26; Sanford Civic Center, 401 E. Seminole Blvd., Sanford. A breakout session will be offered from 6-6:30 p.m. on "3 Keys to Email Marketing." Free. Details: 407-322-2212.
Education
Rollins College Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center, Steps for Starting a 501c3 Nonprofit, 4:30-6:30 p.m. April 16; $25; Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park. Details: 407-975-6414.
UCF-Small Business Development Center, Social Media Marketing for Business Success, 6-8 p.m. March 27, $20; Quickbooks Overview, 6-9 p.m. March 28, $30; Bookkeeping and Taxes, 6-9 p.m. March 29, $30; Contracting with the Army, 6-9 p.m. April 3, $30; Start Up Basics, 6-9 p.m. April 4, free; Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights, 6-9 p.m. April 4, $30; GSA Schedules, 6-9 p.m. April 10, $30; Government Contract Law, 6-9 p.m. April 17, $30; Bids & Proposals, 6-9 p.m. April 24, $30; all classes at Orlando Fashion Square Mall. Details: 407-420-4850 or sbdcorlando.com.
SCORE Orlando, Funding Your Business, 6-9 p.m. March 27, $50; You, Your Business Idea, How SCORE Can Help, 6:30-9 p.m. April 2, 9:30 a.m.-noon April 7, free; Starting Your New Business, 9:30 a.m.-noon April 9, $50; all classes at Orlando Fashion Square Mall. Details: 407-420-4844 or scoreorlando.org.
Seminole State College of Florida-Small Business Development Center, Building the Ultimate Business Plan, 9 a.m.-noon March 29, $95; Websites for Small Business, 9-11 a.m. April 4, $30; Print, Website, and Brand Consistency 2-5 p.m. April 11, $30; all classes at the Center for Economic Development, Seminole State College, 1055 AAA Drive, Heathrow. Details: 407-321-3495 or sbdc.seminolestate.edu/.
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03/26: Business events
Acsys Interactive puts focus on professional, personal development
Posted: at 9:26 am
At Farmingtons Acsys Interactive, a full-service digital agency, management doesnt just talk about work-life balance it practices it.The companys focus on encouraging both personal and professional growth has created a culture where employees feel supported and respected.
Stan Valencis, president and CEO, said employees get a positive vibe from the work atmosphere, and theres a reason for that.
If you want to have a good culture, it needs to be authentic; our senior management really cares about the people, Valencis said.People can sniff out if somethings phony. If theres not a genuineness behind it, people feel it.
The employees are clearly happy.Last year alone, the company hired 25 employees, growing 50 percent to nearly 75 people.
We didnt use any outside recruiting firms to do that, Valencis said.It was all through employee referrals.
About two and a half years ago, an employee approached management, asking to go on sabbatical in order to spend six months hiking the Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine.Management agreed to allow him to go, without pay, while assuring him he would have a job when he returned.
The day he came back, he came in with all his gear and announced he had just completed hiking 2,176 miles and everyone cheered, said Deb Peterson, vice president of human resources.It was something we wanted to help him do.We thought it would be an experience of a lifetime, and it built up a lot of teamwork, discussions in the hall.
Health and wellness is a priority at Acsys.The company offers a program which includes fitness classes conducted by a company-paid trainer four times a week, fitness and wellness competitions, campus flu shots and health and wellness screenings.
Peterson said the fitness classes are offered both during the workday and in the early evening, allowing employees to take a class before heading home. And, Peterson said, the trainer goes above and beyond just classes.
If you want to go for a run, hell get some people together, she said.People really take advantage of this.They have access to a personal trainer thats huge.
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Acsys Interactive puts focus on professional, personal development
Galaxy Systems, Inc., Provides Online Tool for USPTO’s IP Training Efforts
Posted: at 9:26 am
BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Timothy Trainer, Galaxy Systems, Inc.s President stated The Patent and Trademark Offices use of our online intellectual property (IP) tool for its training and education efforts is a great development. This reflects our goals to make IP education fun and informative. While there continues to be significant emphasis and focus on enforcement, our tool facilitates a different way of focusing on the positive aspects of IP by allowing users to see the links between IP and economic and business development.
Galaxy Systems, Inc.s online interactive tool is aimed at demonstrating the value of intellectual property to those who may have no legal or technical background. For years, government and industry have been searching for effective messages to address the rampant violation of copyrights, trademarks and other forms of intellectual property.
The enforcement message is important, but the message that intellectual property is something to be recognized and applied in daily business and economic activity needs the same level of attention. There is a positive intellectual property message that should be promoted. We hope that this is just the beginning of adding a new and active element to raising awareness about intellectual property. Our tool seeks to enable individuals to interact and become familiar with intellectual property, think about it and learn while playing, Trainer said. Hopefully, for those who are negatively predisposed to IP, the use of our online tool will help people see IP in a different and positive light.
Mr. Trainer established Galaxy Systems, Inc., in 2007. The enterprise aims to provide a creative and broad-based learning approach that focuses less on the legal and technical aspects of intellectual property and promotes the general application of intellectual property to grow businesses. A video communicating IPs benefits is available at http://www.galaxysystemsinc.com/ipr. Mr. Trainers intellectual property experience includes positions as past president of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, an attorney at the U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is an adjunct professor at American Universitys Washington College of Law.
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Galaxy Systems, Inc., Provides Online Tool for USPTO’s IP Training Efforts