Hurricane Path Report

Breaking News: Ida May Make Landfall as Hurricane

2011-01-14T12:00:00.001-08:00

Breaking News on Hurricane Ida can be found at 2newsnow.com and 5newsnow.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWvLlb8GNZ4&hl=en

Interview With Stephen Paul, Author of "Hollow Bones"

2010-10-03T03:30:00.001-07:00

Stephen Paul has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Missouri and has taught, researched, counseled, and consulted at the University of Utah. Until five years ago, Stephen maintained a private practice while he and his wife, Jackie, owned and operated a metaphysical bookstore and a vegetarian restaurant, providing an oasis for the Salt Lake community. He currently writes and speaks about how to ride the inevitable waves of change by living more simply, harmoniously, and respectfully--more in line with Spirit.

Stephen collaborated with artist Gary Collins to publish "Illuminations: Visions for Change, Growth, and Self-Acceptance," "Inneractions: Visions to Bring Your Inner and Outer Worlds into Harmony," and "In Love: Visions for Growth and Harmony in Relationships."

Tyler: Welcome, Stephen. "Hollow Bones" is a very intriguing book. I'm afraid if I try to describe it, I won't be able to do it justice. Would you please summarize for us what kind of book it is and what it's about?

Stephen: Let me start by putting "Hollow Bones" in its historical context. In 1993, Native American prophecy was fulfilled when a delegation representing the North American indigenous peoples addressed the Cry of the Earth conference at the United Nations. Hopi spiritual leaders had instructed messengers to knock four times at the doors of the UN in an attempt to deliver their message to the people of the world. It took forty-five years, but on the fourth--and last--attempt they finally gained access. The elders took that opportunity to deliver the prophecies of their spiritual leaders to the world.

The elders warned that a long-predicted time of purification was already under way. They urged that we heed the Creator's original instructions to the indigenous peoples, and voluntarily return to living in simpler, more respectful, and more harmonious ways. The elders warned that should we choose to ignore this message, erratic weather patterns, earth movements, starvation, violence, and war would occur with ever increasing frequency and intensity.

"Hollow Bones" takes place in the not-too-distant future, at a time when those predicted changes and disruptions are well under way. Matthew's life has unraveled since the death of his wife. Now, with his friend, Hope, and her young daughter, Lily, he commences a journey in search of a new beginning.

Along the road, the three travelers face the harsh realities of a failing culture, the sheltering kindness of strangers...and a string of startling revelations. Vivid dreams trigger memories of a shared lifetime with Chief Joseph, long-forgotten Spirit ways, and a two hundred-year-old oath they had made to return. The dreams mark the beginning of a startling series of encounters and events, leading to the long-awaited fulfillment of ancient Native prophecies.

Tyler: Stephen, "Hollow Bones" focuses on spirituality, and many of the ideas will probably already be familiar to people interested in spirituality. But what made you decide to write a novel to express these ideas?

Stephen: In retrospect, I'd say there were two main reasons why I chose to write "Hollow Bones" in novel form. First, I've always personally enjoyed reading spiritual fiction. In books such as "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho or Dan Millman's "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior" an unfolding story transports the characters--and the reader--through a series of intriguing adventures that result in important personal realizations. As a reader, I can be caught up in the engaging adventures, while at the same time benefiting from the insights the characters gain along the way. A novel can bring insights to life in ways that non-fiction simply cannot.

The second reason I decided to write "Hollow Bones" as a novel is that the central theme of the book--the relatedness theme--first came to me as a visual image: I saw and experienced the possibilities of relatedness literally playing out before my eyes. That compelling vision had a built-in narrative that could easily be expanded and elaborated into story format. This is a story that told itself.

Tyler: Stephen, do you yourself believe in the prophecies issued in 1993 as something that will come true. I ask because I'm wondering to what extent you sought to be accurate regarding those prophecies and their implications, and what if any room did you leave to fictionalize the situation? Since you set it in the future, even if a not too distant future, are we to assume it has to be fictional to some extent?

Stephen: I do believe those prophecies will come true. In fact, I believe they are already coming true. When I read the paper or watch the news, I see those prophecies unfolding. In the last week alone, 500 villagers were killed in warfare in Iraq, a level 8.0 earthquake hit Peru, China, India, North Korea, and our own Midwest experienced record-breaking and devastating flooding, hurricane Dean is sweeping a wide swath through the Caribbean, and one of the largest fires in history rages in California. Disruptive events just like those are occurring all over the world, every day.

But, you're absolutely right, Tyler, "Hollow Bones" is a work of fiction. I decided not to focus on the specific events--the purifying events--that might bring about the changes depicted in the story. Because all of the problems we face (climate changes, energy, food and water shortages, wars, etc.) are interrelated, there are many possible scenarios for how the transforming events will play out.

In "Hollow Bones" (as I believe it is in reality) the purifying events are only the means used to bring us to our senses and lead us to realizations we must eventually all discover. They are meant to bring us back into harmony with each other and our world.

Tyler: The book also follows the mythological journey quest format. What sets "Hollow Bones" apart from other books that use the journey motif?

Stephen: Often in the mythical journey genre, a naïve main character is guided and transformed by a much wiser and knowing mentor, teacher, or guide. That guide typically knows exactly what's going on, while the protagonist struggles along unaware.

In "Hollow Bones" none of the central characters see the big picture. There is no all-knowing figure to lead them. It's in the convergence of the separate pieces each individual holds--their joining in community--that the whole takes form. Each person is fulfilling a part of much larger prophecy, without any awareness of the other parts being played out, or the prophecy itself.

Tyler: I understand the book is based on Native American prophecy? Would you tell us a little bit more about that background?

Stephen: I already mentioned the prophecies issued at the "Cry of the Earth" conference earlier in the interview. Those prophecies are important because they establish a time frame and context for the disruptive events taking place in "Hollow Bones." We live at the time when the old Native American prophecies are being fulfilled.

A second set of prophecies actually inspired the storyline of "Hollow Bones." Those prophecies were compiled by author Steven McFadden in his book "The Rainbow Warrior Prophecies." Of those prophecies, Crazy Horse's sweeping vision is considered to be the most important prophecy ever given to the Native American people. Concerned about the future welfare of his people as Whites began invading their lands, Crazy Horse prepared and purified himself and then withdrew to a holy mountain to pray earnestly for a guiding vision.

In the vision that came to Crazy Horse, he was shown not only the future of his own people, but the future of the world. He was grief-stricken to foresee the overwhelming defeat and subsequent subjugation, decline, and suffering of his people, which extended far into the future. Not knowing what they were, he observed metal objects (cars and planes) crisscrossing the continent. To his utter dismay, Crazy Horse was made to witness the unbelievable carnage of two world wars.

After having to endure those images of misery, pain, and war, Crazy Horse was shown a bright light that rose in the East. The light brought forth a tree of life from the blood-soaked soil of this continent. Crazy Horse watched as beings from the spirit world returned to the earth and danced together under that tree. Some of the people living on the earth (people of all races--a rainbow of colors) felt drawn to dance together with the spirit beings under the tree of life, and a new world was given birth.

We live at the time when that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. "Hollow Bones" offers one account of how that might transpire in the lives of people who are alive today.

Tyler: Stephen, what would you say to people who would say such prophecies are only coincidences? In what ways do you see the prophecies are being fulfilled?

Stephen: I would say that I don't believe in coincidence. I believe we would have to be in complete denial not to recognize the relationship between our choices and actions and the turmoil and disruptions in the world. I believe those events are intensifying and increasing in frequency as a direct consequence of our not heeding the call to live more simply, harmoniously, and respectfully.

At the same time I was exploring the Native American prophecies, I was also reading scientific predictions about the future. In my reading, I came across "Plan B 2.0" by Lester Brown. Lester did an analysis of world resources and concluded that there were several interrelated problems (population growth, climate change, poverty, spreading water shortages, rising oil prices, and rising food prices) that all pose serious, imminent threats to the earth and mankind. He predicted that, unless we launch an immediate, fully-committed response to those problems, we will experience terrible economic, social, political, and environmental consequences.

I came away believing that we live at a time when scientific predictions and Native prophecies are converging. Both are being fulfilled.

Tyler: Stephen, as you talk about the prophecies, I am guessing readers will want to read these prophecies for themselves. Would you tell us where one can find copies of them?

Stephen: The messages and prophecies delivered by the Native tribal representatives at the 1993 "Cry of the Earth" conference can be found on the People's Paths website, http://www.yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/political/cry.html. They also offer a link to a site where you can obtain a videotape of the entire conference.

I drew heavily on Steven McFadden's compilation of historic and contemporary indigenous prophecies which can be found in his book "Legend of the Rainbow Warriors." He can be contacted through his website is http://chiron-communications.com. There is also a second excellent account of Crazy Horse's vision in Kurt Kaltreider's book, "American Indian Prophecies."

Tyler: I am also curious how the prophecies you mention came to be written down. For example, I am aware that controversy has arisen around the book "Black Elk Speaks" because Black Elk did not actually write it, but rather the oral stories were written down by John Neihardt, a white man, who probably edited the narrative to make it more readable for a wider audience. Consequently, questions arise about the authenticity of the text and what might have been changed, especially since Black Elk's editor was a white man. What, therefore, makes such Native American prophecies valid in your opinion?

Stephen: As I mentioned, the prophecies presented at the Cry of the Earth Conference are available as public record in tape or transcript form. The conference speakers indicated that many of the instructions and messages given to the indigenous peoples by The Creator were delivered in physical form (stones, wampum belts, etc.). Those records have been carefully guarded and preserved. Some of the prophecies were passed down orally, making them more difficult to document, but the Native Americans take their oral tradition very seriously and would argue that it is superior to many written historical records.

Many of the prophecies compiled by Steven McFadden were collected during interviews with living spiritual leaders. Steven is trained as a reporter, and I trust he did a very thorough job collecting and documenting his sources and information.

I accept the validity of the prophecies for several reasons. First, I believe that indigenous people around the world once had a very close relationship with Spirit, and that they were given instructions and caretaking responsibilities. Second, there is a great deal of consistency among the many different sources even though they live in different parts of this country and on other continents. Third, many of the events mentioned in the prophecies have already come to pass, and the prophecies have proved to be quite accurate (the arrival of the White man, cars, planes, wars). Fourth, a friend who is a Native American medicine man read "Hollow Bones," and he agreed that these prophecies are being fulfilled now. Finally, I trust my own intuition, and my intuition leads me to believe in, and to honor, the essence of the message of these prophecies.

Tyler: Stephen, are you Native American yourself, or if not, how did you become interested in Native American culture and religion?

Stephen: That's a bit tricky to answer. The short answer is, "No, I was not born a Native American." I've always felt an affinity to the Native American people, especially Chief Joseph, but I hadn't pursued those interests much further than to read a book or two, attend a couple of pow wows, and participate in a sweat ceremony.

My level of interest changed a few years ago when I attended a workshop in Montana and sat with Surya Ma and a small group of people in meditation. Suddenly everything shifted: I was dancing around a fire. I looked down and I was dressed in beaded buckskin and a bone breast plate, with an eagle feather dangling by my right ear. For that brief period of time, I was no longer the person I am in this lifetime, but rather a proud, fierce, and life-filled Native American warrior. I saw and felt as he saw and felt. I experienced relatedness--to my tribe, to the creatures, to the earth, to the Great Spirit, to all--through his experience.

When I returned from that experience, a rush of energy shot up my spine and spread around me in a circle of light that appeared as a headdress of feathers. At the same time, a voice in my head shouted, "I have returned!" Only after the meditation ended did Surya Ma explain to the group that Joseph and the Nez Perce had passed though the very land where we sat, during their flight to escape the pursuing U.S. cavalry.

What I saw through that warrior's eyes and felt through his heart was powerful, wonderful, and far beyond my imagining. I had never experienced anything that resembled the relatedness I felt then in this lifetime. It was as if I were being shown the very essence of something we desperately need to remember now. I went away that afternoon knowing I had to write about that experience.

As you can imagine, since then I've become much more interested and involved with Native Americans. I've traveled to several different reservations, participated in pow wows and ceremonies, and rekindled a friendship with a medicine man I have known for a couple of decades. He is educating me about the Native ways.

Tyler: As I mentioned earlier, Stephen, you practiced as a psychologist for many years. How has that work influenced your writing?

Stephen: As a therapist for thirty years, I had the opportunity to know many people intimately, and to witness, time after time, the difficult process of personal transformation. For years, I had a ring-side seat at the tug of war between a person's will to change and their strong resistance to change. During the last few years I practiced, I realized just how important it is for a person to release his or her attachments--their energetic ties to the people and things in their lives--in order really to change and live freely. Those observations and realizations found their way into the "Hollow Bones" storyline and into the transformations that the characters experience.

Years ago, I discovered that I did my best work as a therapist when I emptied myself and opened to inspiration during my sessions: I learned to be a "hollow bone." Often I would learn things I had not known before during those sessions, right along with my clients. That was always exhilarating. I applied the very same practice to my writing, approaching each writing session as a "hollow bone."

Tyler: I understand that in the book, the characters have dreams which they later learn are really past-life memories. Why did you feel the need to include this idea of reincarnation into the book? What can be learned from past-life memories?

Stephen: As I mentioned before, the meditation I did with Surya Ma had quite an affect on me. During that meditation I experienced myself as a Native American warrior (I place the period as the late 1800s) and then heard myself--him?--saying, "I have returned." I wasn't observing that warrior, inferring his perspective: I was that warrior, experiencing the world as he did. I can't say for certain, but it certainly seemed to me that I was experiencing another life I had lived.

I've had several other "incidences" in my life where I've experienced images seemingly tied to memories of other lifetimes (as a medicine man, as a Japanese noble, as a prophet, as a monk, as a female pianist in Europe). In my personal life, and in my work as a psychologist, I've had many brushes with beings at the boundary between the worlds. They have convinced me there's much more to life than what our five senses tell us.

My past-life memories have served many different purposes. They have reminded me of ignored aspects of myself, and helped me to understand personal issues that seemed to transcend the events and circumstances of this lifetime. At times, they have helped me to understand my connections to the people in my life, and the sometimes difficult and inexplicable issues that arise between us. I believe those memories suggest a continuity of experience and interrelatedness that extends far beyond our current frame of reference.

Tyler: Why did you choose the title "Hollow Bones"?

Stephen: I got the term "hollow bones" from Chief Frank Fools Crow who was considered by many to be the greatest Native American holy person to live in the last hundred years. He and his uncle, Black Elk--also considered an extraordinary Sioux holy man--often talked together about the healing work they did. They often discussed how they became "holes" that Spirit could work through.

In an interview with Thomas Mails, Fools Crow described how he prepared himself to do his healing work. He would go off by himself to pray to the Great Spirit. After drawing any negativity out of his being, he would lift his arms to the heavens and allow Spirit to fill him. Once he overflowed with Spirit, he was ready to allow Spirit to flow through him to the person in need of healing.

Fools Crow often used little hollow bones in his healing work. One day it occurred to him that he much preferred to think of himself as a "little hollow bone" rather than as a "hole." The term describes well the empty vehicle Spirit prefers to work through--and it certainly has a better ring to it.

Tyler: Stephen, do you think the Native American emphasis, while it may attract some readers, might alienate others because it seems unfamiliar. Without discussing the Native American perspective, what do you think is the core message that makes the "Hollow Bones" important to readers?

Stephen: I do think the Native American premise of "Hollow Bones" could make it less approachable for some people. I might have had the same reaction just a few years ago. As I mentioned before, the images that inspired me to write "Hollow Bones" came from a Native American's perspective. In a sense, the Native American tradition picked me.

The core messages of "Hollow Bones" are: 1.) that we are all related--to each other, to the earth, to the plants and creatures, and to The Creator, 2.) that we need to free ourselves from our attachments to reconnect with Spirit, 3.) that we can create a new world based on living more simply, harmoniously and respectfully, and 4.) that Spirit will play a part in the creation of that new world--just as it did in the past.

Tyler: And what would you say to readers of other faiths besides Native American religion? For example, why not instead focus on the prophecies in the Bible's book of Revelation rather than Native American prophecies? What would you say to readers who are skeptical of religion in general?

Stephen: The fundamental themes of "Hollow Bones" are universal and perennial. They could have been developed in another culture, drawing on the prophecies and traditions of another tradition. The story could have been set in India, China, Israel, Italy, or Afghanistan.

I'm not so sure that a person who discounts all things spiritual or mystical would be interested in "Hollow Bones." However, I wouldn't describe it as a religious book. I differentiate between structured orthodoxy and mysticism. "Hollow Bones" describes the personal mystical experiences of the characters, without trying to suggest one route to salvation. It is a mystical, rather than a religious work.

Tyler: Stephen, you've obviously been a very busy man. You've written books, worked as a psychologist, and run a metaphysical bookstore and vegetarian restaurant. What do you do to relax or to connect with your own spiritual side?

Stephen: I try to approach everything I do as a "hollow bone," in an empty state of being. I do brief meditations many times throughout the day to bring myself back to that state. I also do tai chi and a lot of hiking and walking to help me remember my place in Being. I love to be in nature, and we try to take frequent trips to the nearby mountains and deserts. We can actually walk to a nearby canyon from our house. It has always been much easier for me to feel connected in nature.

Tyler: Are you working on another book, and if so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Stephen: Right now I'm focused on getting "Hollow Bones" into the hands of readers. However, I do have two other books in mind. The first is a follow-up to "Hollow Bones" which will follow the main characters, Matthew, Hope, and Lily as they set out to explore the new world that is emerging at the end of the first book. In a second, non-fiction book, I'll explain how readers can make the changes (release attachments, empty, open, trust, be) the characters must go through to become "hollow bones."

Tyler: Thank you for joining me, today, Stephen. Before we go, will you tell our readers what your website is and what information they can find there about "Hollow Bones" and your other books?

Stephen: In addition to a description of "Hollow Bones," I have placed downloadable versions of the Author's Note, the first two chapters of the book, and a Reader Views review on my website, http://www.circledancer.com.

Also, I've posted a lot of other useful information on my website. Each day I post an interactive blog and a quote taken from one of my other books, "Illuminations," "Inneractions," and "In Love." I offer weekly suggestions in a section I call "You Can Change the World: Simple Actions You Can Take." There are also downloadable articles I have written about how to live more simply, harmoniously, and respectfully and links to a number of very informative and useful resources.

Tyler: Finally, what do you hope "Hollow Bones" will teach readers?

Stephen: There are several things I hope readers can learn--or remember--through reading "Hollow Bones." The first is that when they read the morning paper or watch the news they are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecies. The predicted intensification of erratic weather patterns, earth movements, starvation, violence, and wars is occurring before their eyes. We have not yet heeded the warning of the indigenous spiritual leaders to live more simply, harmoniously, and respectfully.

I want to remind readers that we truly are all related--to each other, to this earth, to the plants and animals, and to the rest of Being. We live in a culture that emphasizes individualism, selfishness, consumerism, and immediate gratification over relatedness. We need to remember the extent to which we actually are related, and to think and act in ways that are harmonious, respectful, and that benefit the whole.

Finally, I want to present readers with the positive possibilities the future holds if we will only heed the warning. It is possible to create communities that live together in simpler, more harmonious, and more respectful ways--communities guided by the principles of relatedness. I want readers to know that, if they are willing to free themselves from their distracting attachments, Spirit will guide their way through these turbulent times. I want them to discover that they can become "hollow bones."

Tyler: Thank you, Stephen, for joining me today. I wish you lots of success with "Hollow Bones" and your future endeavors.

Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is joined by Stephen Paul, who is here to talk about his fascinating new book "Hollow Bones," Circle Dancer Publishing (2007), ISBN 9780979034800.

http://www.readerviews.com/

Redneck iReport on Hurricane Ida from Destin, Florida

2010-05-04T10:00:00.001-07:00

Sunday, Nov. 8, 4:00 and Hurricane Ida is approaching. She's got 100 mph winds and classified as a Cat 2. The Hurricane just passed by Playa del Carmen and is projected to hit the Mouth of the Mississippi River. Target range to hit is Florida to Louisiana. Waves are much rougher than yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLQyuINEhkA&hl=en

Hurricane Ida bearing down on the Gulf Coast 11-08-2009

2010-04-22T16:00:00.001-07:00

Imagery related to Hurricane Ida - a late season Atlantic hurricane that is becoming a headache for forecasters. Once expected to spin out over the Gulf as a extratropical cyclone, now expected to move ashore as a hurricane east of Mobile Bay and west of Pensacola -- subject to change of course. The long term threat for Ida could be localized flooding as the remnants stall out over the SE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xcXLMkOGxQ&hl=en

TWC Local Forecast for Hurricane Ida - Part 1/3

2010-04-13T09:00:00.001-07:00

This is part 1 of 3 videos focused on the impending arrival of Hurricane Ida which has winds up to 100 mph (upgraded to 105 mph in the next video). This video starts off with a local forecast on how this tropical system will affect us here in North Georgia and the Southeast. I think this is the first time I have seen the intellistar Rain/Wind icon in about 18 months now on the 7 day forecast because of the strong winds expected from Ida. Kim Perez gives the tropical update, while Adam Berg does the travel forecast afterwards. Quick Fact: We are under our 8th flood watch since September 20th, less than 2 months ago! You gotta love this el nino were going through. :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_D3yAVNfnk&hl=en

Alternatives to Fiberglass Insulation

2010-04-07T17:00:00.001-07:00

When building a home, insulation is one of the major aspects that can cut future heating and cooling costs. Fiberglass insulation has been the primary choice, but not anymore.

Alternatives to Fiberglass Insulation

People have become much more sensitive to environmental and energy savings issues when building homes. Whereas such subjects were rarely discussed 20 years ago, they are now on the front burner for many of us. This transition has been so extensive that homebuilders now incorporate both issues in their projects and use their solutions as selling points. If these subjects have become part of the marketing, you know the transition to more environmental and energy consciousness has come full circle.

Have you ever wondered what happens to the newspapers you haul out to curb with the other recycling every week? Since I am mentioning it in this article, it is probably obvious the newspapers are being turned into insulation products. This relatively new insulation product is quickly overtaking fiberglass insulation in new home building projects, remodels and additions. Known as fiber insulation, it is more environmentally friendly than fiberglass, less expensive and just as good at sealing homes.

Fiber insulation is typically made up of recycled newspapers. Yes, those newspapers you haul out to the curb each week with the trash. Small amounts of ground up cardboard can also be included in some products. The material is shredded and then treated with acrylic binders to make the material hold together. To prevent fires, it is treated with various forms of fire retardant materials.

Fiber insulation almost always comes in a loose fill form. The loose fill is typically blown into cavities requiring insulation instead of being stapled up as seen with traditional fiberglass rolls. The material usually goes in dry, but there are wet versions that are sprayed on much like more traditional spray on insulation products.

As you may know, recycling newspaper is something everyone does these days. Just take a look down the street on garbage day. Recycle boxes of newspapers are on every driveway. This massive recycling produces tons of shredded newspaper material. Frankly, it can't be turned into usable materials fast enough. This inventory problem means the material is extremely cheap. As a result, fiber insulation can cost up to 25 percent cheaper than fiberglass insulation.

Whether you are building new, doing an improvement or just adding on, fiber insulation represents a good deal on all fronts. Just tell them you want the stuff made out of recycled newspapers.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.

All Eyes Watching Hurricane IDA Update

2010-04-04T21:00:00.001-07:00

Hurricane IDA New Update. This hurricane is gaining strength and could get up to a cat 3 storm Hurricane IDA is being watched by all. Is it going to gain strength or is it going to disapte and just turn into a tropical storm before it hits the states?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Im6mP3k8bw&hl=en

Hurricane IDA Update 1

2010-03-01T16:00:00.001-08:00

A hurricane warning was in effect Sunday night from Pascagoula east to Indian Pass, Fla., and a tropical storm warning extended across the rest of the Mississippi Coast to Grand Isle, La., as Hurricane Ida swirled up the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 105 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center revised Idas track to the east Sunday night. The storms speed also had increased to 14 miles per hour. NHC expects Ida to turn north and increase forward speed today, followed by a northeast turn tonight. Ida is expected to make landfall tonight or early Tuesday, which could increase flooding by coinciding with high tides, the National Weather Service projects will be 3 to 4 feet above normal. Gallery:WATCHING IDA Story: What to do before, during and after the storm In addition, Ida is forecast to drop 3 to 5 inches of rain, with as much as 8 inches in some areas. NHC warns of a dangerous storm surge of 4 to 6 feet above ground level near and to the east of where Idas center makes landfall, accompanied by large and destructive waves. (C)Stormfreak1234

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3acc-vRMcIg&hl=en

Hurricane Ida - November 8, 2009 - Satellite animations and forecast track

2010-02-28T21:00:00.001-08:00

Hurricane Ida quickly gained strength to a Category 2 and its forecast path puts it on course for the United States Gulf Coast. disasters.exweather.com These are the latest satellite animations and forecast track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlrvjZu1568&hl=en

Miami History - How Much Do You Know About Florida's Wild Child?

2010-02-21T16:01:00.001-08:00

Miami is a city known for many things: culture, nightlife, and music. It is also known for history, a history rich in color and flavor. Some of Miami’s past is well known – such as the legacy of the undefeated 1972 Dolphins – and some of its past can only be found in the crevices of Miami history books. Take our quiz and see if Miami is a city you know a lot about or a city you need to visit…and soon.

1.Miami became a city officially on what date?

a. October 30, 1902

b. July 28, 1896

c. December 25, 1913

d. April 2, 2005

2. Miami is the second largest city in Florida, what is the first?

a. Jacksonville

b. Orlando

c. Tampa Bay

d. They are all the same size

3. Miami is regarded by many as what?

a. The surfing capitol of the south

b. The music capitol of the World

c. A Melting Pot

d. A great place for skiing

4. The average temperature per month in Miami has never been recorded lower that what?

a. 80 degrees

b. 75 degrees

c. 65 degrees

d. 32 degrees

5. On Febrary 15, 1933, what happened in Miami’s Bayfront Park?
a. A hurricane hit

b. An assassination attempt was made on Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president elect

c. An earthquake was recorded

d. Cupid came a day late

6. Miami International Aiport is one of the world’s busiest airports. How many passengers go through it each year?

a. 35 million

b. 120 million

c. 900,000

d. one or two

7. In the 1970’s, Miami disco hit the scene with the help of what band?

a. Electric Light Orchestra

b. KC and the Sunshine Band

c. Rick Dees

d. New Kids on the Block

8. What actor was born in Cuba and moved to Miami at the age of five?

a. Andy Garcia

b. Al Pacino

c. Robert Dinero

d. RuPaul

9. What television sitcom was set in Miami?

a. Friends

b. Will and Grace

c. The Golden Girls

d. Leave it to Beaver

10. Because of Miami’s global corporate service organizations, Miami is considered to be what?

a. The Southern New York

b. The Gamma World City

c. The Center for International Tourism

d. A very busy place

Answers: 1. b. July 28, 1896; 2. a. Jacksonville; 3. c. a Melting Pot; 4. c. 65 degrees; 5. b. An assassination attempt was made on Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president elect; 6. a. 35 million; 7. b. KC and the Sunshine Band; 8. a. Andy Garcia; 9. c. The Golden Girls; 10. b. The Gamma World City.

See how you did:

9-10 Correct: You are a master of Miami history. Feel free to call Miami, My-ami.

6-8 Correct: You know a lot about Miami history. It’s fair to say Miami hearts you.

3-5 Correct: You should probably book a trip to Miami and take notes…lots of them.

Less than 3 Correct: Uh, not very good at all. Your punishment is season tickets to the Miami Dolphins.

Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for www.milleniumlimo.com. Having been to five continents and over 40 countries, her travel column can be found at the Millenium limo website.

Window Manufacturers Qualifying For Energy Star Ratings

2010-02-18T18:00:00.001-08:00

Energy Star is part of a government-backed program promoting energy efficiency. Windows are one area where the program works.

Window Manufacturers Qualifying For Energy Star Ratings

Energy Star qualified windows, doors, and skylights are highly advised for your home improvement plans. To get an Energy Star rating, manufacturers must produce windows that are highly efficient at transfering solar energy while also insulating against heat loss.

As of the writing of this article, the following manufacturers offered Energy Star windows.

Acadia Windows and Doors

Accurate Dorwin Company

Alside, Inc.

American Integrity

Amerimax Building Products, Inc.

Amsco Windows

Andersen Corporation

Anlin Industries

Atrium Windows & Doors-WA

Biltbest Windows & Doors

Canadian Vinyltek Window Corp.

Cavco Windows & Doors

CertainTeed Corporation

Clearview Industries

Comfort Line Windows

Crestline Windows

Deck House, LLC

Deluxe Windows

Drutex Windows and Doors

Eagle Window & Door, Inc.

Empire Pacific Industries

Fibertec Window and Door Mfg

Fleetwood Windows & Doors

Four Seasons Solar Products, LLC

Gienow Building Products, Ltd.

Great Lakes Window

H Window Company, LLC

Hayfield Window & Door Co.

Hurd Millwork Company, Inc.

Inline Fiberglass

International Window Corp.

JELD-WEN, Inc.

KVW Windows & Doors

Keystone Industries

Kinro

Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc.

Lauren Windows

LbL Windows

Lincoln Wood Products/Timeline Vinyl Products, Inc.

Lindal Building Products

Loewen Windows

Magic Window

Marvin Windows and Doors

Milgard Windows, Inc.

Nan Ya Plastics Corporation

NanaWall Systems

New Morning Windows

P.H. Tech Inc.

Pacesetter Corporation

Parrett Windows

Pella Corporation

Philips Products

Pollard Windows

Prima Products, Inc./Polybau Vinyl Windows

Quaker Window Co.

RSL Inc.

Reliance Windows

Republic Windows & Doors

Semling-Menke Co. Inc.

Sierra Pacific Windows

Simonton Windows

Slocomb Industries, Inc.

Starline Windows

Sunrise Windows, Ltd.

Superior Engineered Products Corporation

Superseal Mfg. Co., Inc.

The Peachtree Companies Inc.

Thermal-Gard, Inc.

Thermo-Twin Windows

U.S. Block Windows Inc

Veka, Inc.

Vetter Windows

Weather Shield Windows & Doors

Windford Window and Door LLC

Window Mart

Window Products, Inc.

Windsor Window Company

While these companies offer Energy Star Windows, only a portion of their window lines may apply.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.

Texas Allocates $255 Million to Home Ownership

2010-01-03T13:01:00.001-08:00

Texas is making $255 million in homebuyer funds available to Texans for the purchase of a home.

"Owning a home has always been an essential part of the American Dream. For families, home ownership is not merely a source of pride, it is often the first step on the path to prosperity. And for our communities, home ownership provides an important source of stability," Governor Rick Perry said.

"Research studies show that when a majority of families own the home in which they live, you end up with safer neighborhoods, greater economic opportunities and a stronger sense of community."

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) will release $240 million in low interest home loans, with approximately $180 million dedicated to purchases in the Hurricane Rita Gulf Opportunity Zone. Borrowers in the Opportunity Zone will pay a low interest rate of 5.875%. They will be allowed up to 5% of the purchase amount through grants for down payment assistance.

The Opportunity Zone residents do not have to be first time home buyers.

There are two loan options for those who purchase outside of the Zone area. The first is an unassisted loan that offers no added funds for down payment and closing costs. The other is an assisted loan with funds offered for down payment and closing costs.

The interest rates outside of the Zone range from 5.625% for unassisted loans to 6.125% for assisted loans.

The TDHCA will put the remaining $15 million into the Mortgage Credit Certificate Program. These certificates are available to eligible homeowners through the First Time Home Buyer Program.

"Today's announcement represents the best opportunity for many low to moderate income Texans to achieve their dream of home ownership," said TDHCA Executive Director, Michael Gerber.

"With 35 lenders participating in our programs, operating more than 300 branch offices throughout the state, Texans everywhere have a chance to begin to make a better future for themselves and their family. We encourage anyone interested in buying a home to learn how they can be a part of this initiative."

Martin Lukac represents RateTake Refinance Rate marketplace. RateTake matches consumers with multiple lenders offering low rates. Got too much credit debt? Get Debt Help and you'd be surprised what we can do together.

Hurricane Katrina - Enduring the Pain

2010-01-01T17:00:00.001-08:00

The devastation caused by this disaster: loss of life, separation from family, loss of animals, income, property, and loss of innocence is something I am incapable of handling emotionally and I am not a survivor of this continuing nightmare. It grieves me to think about it so I have substituted prayer and thanksgiving in place of thought. One year later is when I actually saw pictures of the destruction. I provided assistance through United Way Agencies and my church but I didn't care to watch the news reports. I prayed and still do.

WHAT I PRAY

My fervent prayer is that others will not lose faith in God. I pray they will turn to Him if they have not come to know Him. I pray for their souls and strength of mind and body. I pray faith in Him will keep them in perfect peace in the midst of this trial. I pray others will allow His Love to sustain them that they might fight to survive and not give up on Him. I pray those who know and love Him will grow deeper in their faith.

WHY I GIVE THANKS

I am thankful I have a house to maintain; housecleaning chores, roofing repairs, window cleaning, lawn mowing and landscaping, water pressuring the driveway and weeding of flowerbeds to tend. I am thankful I have utilities to pay and clothes to be laundered and dry-cleaned. I give thanks my siblings who live in Florida have not been in harm's way. I am blessed beyond measure and I give thanks. I am careful not to complain, criticize or condemn. "…life for me ain't been no crystal stair1..." but I have had it easy in contrast to these survivors and so many others.

When I do think, I think on all that's good and pleasant in my life. I think of His goodness, grace and mercy. In doing so, I am humbled.

I have opinions about many things but this one thing I know: God reveals His almighty and awesome character to us so we can have an assurance and confidence that only comes from knowing Him. By knowing Him, we know that even in the most darkest, desperate, and discouraging times in our lives, He is up to something good for us all the time.

1Taken from Langston Hughes, "Mother to Son" from Collected Poems (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1994).

Avis E. Ward is a visonary called to unite the personal, spiritual and political through Love. She is an Ambassador of Love, Inspirational Speaker, Event Planner and Certified Seminar Leader. Avis is also a Consultant to Dental Healthcare Professionals in Case Acceptance and Marketing. http://avisward.com/ or Avis Ward

Hurricane Katrina's Impact on the New Orleans Saints

2009-11-24T19:00:00.001-08:00

The city of New Orleans was the place where Hurricane Katrina hit the hardest in August of 2005. The hurricane extensively damaged the Louisiana Superdome, the home of the New Orleans Saints. Because of this, the Saints were not able to play any home games for the whole of the 2005 NFL season.

The Saints practiced approximately for a week in San Jose, California for a preseason game against the Oakland Raiders. This was their first temporary evacuation site. Then, they moved to San Antonio, Texas to set up temporary headquarters and practice facility. The first home game of the Saints during this time was played at the Giants Stadium with the succeeding games played at either the Tiger Stadium at the LSU and the Alamodome in San Antonio. The administration offices and practices were also held in San Antonio for the entire season.

During this time, media reports indicated that San Antonio expressed the want of a possible permanent relocation of the team to San Antonio. Local officials have strongly voiced out these concerns with promises of upgrading the Alamodome or even building a new stadium for the Saints. Even Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones supported having an NFL team moving to San Antonio. But all their efforts remained futile as the NFL want to keep the franchise in New Orleans. There were also rumors that the NFL wanted to move the team to LA or even have them expand to Toronto.

But this was really bad news for the New Orleans Saints' fans who thought that other people were taking advantage of their situation after Hurricane Katrina to steal the Saints. San Antonio's action angered the mayor of New Orleans calling their intentions as shameful and disrespectful to the team's fans who have supported them for decades despite losing most of their games. But Saints' owner Tom Benson countered that New Orleans may never be a viable location for the NFL after what have happened and that options were suggested for a possible relocation and recruitment of the franchise. Rumors has it that Benson was planning to void his lease agreement by declaring the Louisiana Superdome unusable for home games.

But the NFL strongly wants the team to stay in Louisiana because it has been there since the late 60's and they are doing all the necessary negotiations to keep the team there. A lot of people have approached team owner Benson in the midst of the Katrina relocation controversy expressing their interest in buying the team to keep them in Louisiana but Benson had no intentions of selling the team. Instead, he handed down the control to his granddaughter.

In February 2006, the NFL announced that the Superdome will reopen September of the same year after undergoing repairs. The preseason games of the year though were played elsewhere but rest is assured that the Saints and the NFL were staying in Louisiana for the long term. Fall of 2006 marked the permanent start of the New Orleans Saints playing their home games at the Superdome.

Rick Grantham is an avid NFL fan. Most of Rick's articles focus on New Orleans Saints Merchandise. Many articles are related to nfl stuff and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village

Tropical Update: Ida Weakens

2009-11-22T05:00:00.001-08:00

Meteorologist Jason Brewer brings you the latest on Tropical Storm Ida.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bFlB0LsVug&hl=en

Hurricane Ida Projected Path,Hurricane Ida Path

2009-11-08T22:45:00.001-08:00

tinyurl.com 2009hurricanenamesHurricane Ida Projected Path,Hurricane Ida Path:Hurricane Ida Projected Path 2009 Hurricane Ida path and other information on the natural disaster can be found here.Hurricane Ida is currently unleashing its anger on the island of Nicaragua where it has already forced 2000 people to evacuate and has left many more without electricity.TS Ida has winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and is moving to the northwest at 6 mph (9 kph) and has Mexico on its target.Hurricane Ida ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI2vOrcj5oU&hl=en

Hurricane Ida Projected Path - Hurricane Ida Projected Path (VIDEO UPDATES) | Bitten And Bound

2009-11-08T22:04:00.001-08:00

tinyurl.com News Results: Hurricane Ida Path:Hurricane Ida Projected Path 2009 Hurricane Ida Path:Hurricane Ida Projected Path 2009 Hurricane Ida path and other information on the natural disaster can be found here.Hurricane Ida is tinyurl.com ------ Blog Results: Hurricane Ida Projected Path (VIDEO UPDATES) | Bitten And Bound Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Ida. Coastal stretches in SE La. are a concern. VIDEO STATUS UPDATE. tinyurl ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYj-BAwV3vg&hl=en

look at me now

2009-11-03T07:50:00.001-08:00

roc boys mistah fab red cafe styles p uncle murda dj envy consequence e mun crank dat jay rush the lox ludacris rick ross tru life da paper boi ugk boby valentino yola t pain sic osyrus diss booty nas project pat three 6 mafia craig g marley marl lloyd banks papoose mc lyte playaz circle wu tang clan ya boy fight as crank dat jae millz jr writer eminem 50 cnet lil scappy hurricane chris smitty jim jones twista dj khaled busta rhyme crank dat big boi fat joe bird man pete rock max b stat ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT83nNlTTtg&hl=en

Walgreens, CVS Or Rite-Aid - Which Tenant is Best in 2010?

2009-11-02T16:00:00.001-08:00

There are 3 major drugstore chains in the US: Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid. The table below ranks the companies by market capitalization and sales revenue as of June 2009:

Walgreens ranks #1 with market cap of $34.26 Billion, $62.23 Billion in revenue, 6443 stores and S&P rating of A+.

CVS ranks #2 with market cap of $52 Billion, $93.27 Billion in revenue (CVS revenue alone is less than Walgreens if revenue from its Caremark group is taken out), 6923 stores and S&P rating of BBB+.

Rite Aid ranks #3 with market cap of $1.87 Billion, $26.21 Billion in revenue, 4901 stores and S&P rating of B-.

Investors purchase properties occupied by these drugstore chains for the following reasons:

The drugstore business is very recession-insensitive. People need medicine when they are sick, regardless of the state of the economy. Both rich and poor people in the US have access to medicine. Some even argue that low-income people use more medicine due to free or low-cost drugs offered by government-assisted programs. So the tenants should do well during tough time and have money to pay rent to landlords.

The drugstore business has a good prospect in the US:
- People are living longer and need more medicine to sustain longevity, e.g. Actonel for osteoporosis, Aricept for Alzheimer's symptoms. Older people tend to use more medicine than younger ones. As the 78 million baby boomers are getting closer to retiring age starting from 2008, the drugstore chains anticipate the demand for medicine to increase in next 20 years.
- The drug market continues to expand as the US population will continue to grow.
- There are new drugs to treat previously untreatable illnesses, and new diseases, e.g. Viagra for men's unhappiness, Zoloft for depression, Avastin for colon cancer, Herceptin for breast cancer, Nicotine patches for smokers to kick the habit, Tamiflu for a potential bird flu pandemic, vaccine for swine (H1N1) flu pandemic, Tekturna/Rasilez for hypertension and various new drugs for AIDS and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The new medicines are very expensive, e.g. a year's supply of Avastin costs about $55,000. Eli Lilly has sold about $4.8 billion of Zyprexa in 2007 for schizophrenia and yet most people have never heard of this medicine.
- There are existing drugs now approved to treat new illnesses and thus increase their sales revenue. For example, Lyrica was originally intended to treat pain caused by nerve damage in people with diabetes. It is now approved by FDA to treat Fibromyalgia which affects 5.8 million Americans per WebMD.
- Big advances in genetics, biology and stem cells research are expected to produce a new class of drugs to treat diabetes, Parkinson's and various rare genetic disorders. For example the new drug Ilaris from Novartis targets genetic causes of an inherited disorder that there are only 7000 known cases worldwide. However, Novartis hopes to gradually broaden its drugs to a blockbuster drug to more common disorders caused by similar genetics.
- Technology and modern life introduce and require new products, e.g. pregnancy test kits, Lamisil for stronger clearer toe nails, Latisse for longer thicker eyelashes, Premarin for menopausal symptoms, diabetic monitors, electronic toothbrushes, contact lenses, lenses cleaners, diet pills, vitamins, birth-control pills, IUDs, nutrition supplements and Cholesterol-lowering pills (Americans spent nearly $26B in 2006 on Cholesterol medications alone per IMS Health, a Connecticut-based consulting company that monitors pharmaceutical sales.) There are also more surgeries: C-sections, Kidney transplants, open-heart triple by-pass, and breast augmentations. More surgeries mean more medicines are needed such as Vicodin for pain management and Warfarin to prevent blood clots in surgeries.
- Before the customers can get to the medicine aisles or pharmacy counters, they have to pass by chocolates, sodas, digital cameras, watches, toys, dolls, beers and wines, cosmetics, video games, flowers, fragrances, greeting cards, one-hour photos services, etc. As a result, customers buy more than their prescriptions and medicine in these drugstores. Rite Aid sells more 28,000 non-pharmacy items in its stores. CVS reported that non-pharmacy sales represented 30% of the company's total sales in January of 2007. The figure for Walgreens is 34% and 37% for Rite Aid. Many pharmacy locations are in effect convenience stores especially ones that are in residential or rural areas.
These companies sign very long-term, NNN leases, guaranteed by their corporate assets. This makes the investment in the underlying property fairly low risk, especially for Walgreens with an A+ S&P rating. In fact, these properties are sometimes referred to as investment-grade properties. Once the drugstore chains sign the lease, they pay the rent promptly and timely. This author is not aware of any properties leased by one of these drugstore chains in which the tenants failed to pay rents. Even when the stores are closed due to weak sales (Walgreens closed 119 stores in 2007), these companies may sublease the properties to other companies and continue to pay rents on the master leases.

Investment Risks
Although the pharmacy business in general is recession-insensitive, there are risks involved in your investment:

The main downside about investing in pharmacies is there is little or no rent bump for a long time, e.g. 20-50 years, especially for Walgreens. So the rent is effectively reduced after inflation is factored in. This is one of the main reasons these properties do not appeal to younger investors.

The 3 drugstore chains now have a new formidable competitor, Wal-mart. Wal-mart sells prescription drugs in more than 4000 Wal-mart, Sam's Club and Neighborhood Market stores in 49 states. The retail giant is known for launching in 2006 a highly-publicized $4 generic prescription drug program which now sells 350 generic medications for a 30-day supply. The actual number of medications is less as the medications with different strengths are counted as different medications. For example, Metformin 500 mg, 850 mg, and 1000 mg are counted as 3 medications. Wal-mart probably makes very little profits on these medications if any. However, the marketing campaign generates a lot of publicity for Wal-mart (Target now offers the same medications for $4 but few people know about it.) Wal-mart hopes to draw customers to its stores with other prescriptions where it has higher profit margins. In an unscientific survey with just one brand-name prescription of Lyrica, this author finds the lowest price at Costco, the highest price at Walgreens and Wal-mart at the middle.

Chief Business Correspondent Rick Newman from US World & News Report predicted that Rite Aid might not survive in 2009. It looks like he might be wrong. The study by Audit Integrity gave Rite Aid about a 10.5 percent chance of filing for bankruptcy in 2010. However, its stocks seem to perform quite well in the second half of 2009. For the second quarter ended in August 2009, Rite Aid narrowed its loss to $116 million, compared with a loss of $222 million last year.

Drugs are also sold in thousands of supermarkets, Target, and Costco.

Many leases in areas with hurricanes and tornados are NNN leases with the exception of roof and structure. So if the roof is damaged, you will have to pay for the expenses.

Among 3 drugstore chains, Walgreens and CVS pharmacies in general have the best locations-at major intersections while Rite Aid has less than premium locations.

Walgreens: the company was founded in 1901 by Charles Walgreen, Sr. in Chicago. While the company has existed for more than 100 years, most stores are only 5-10 years old. This is the best managed company among the three drugstore chains and also among the most admired public companies in the US. The company has been run by executives with proven track records and hires the top graduates from universities. Due to its superior financial strength--S&P A+ rating-- and premium irreplaceable locations, properties with leases from Walgreens get the highest price per square foot and/or the lowest cap rate among the 3 drugstore chains. In addition, Walgreens gets flat rent or very low rent increase for 20 to 60 years. The cap rate is often in the low 6% to 7.5% range in 2009. Investors who buy Walgreens tend to be closer to retirement age. They are looking for a safe investment where it's more important to get the rent check than appreciation. They often compare the returns on their Walgreens investment with the lower returns from US treasury bonds or Certificate of Deposits from banks.

CVS: CVS Corporation was founded in 1963 in Lowell, MA by Stanley Goldstein, Sidney Goldstein, and Ralph Hoagland. The name CVS stands for "Consumer Value Stores". As of 2009, CVS has about 6300 stores in the US, mostly through acquisitions. In 2004, CVS bought 1,200 Eckerd Drugstores mostly in Texas and Florida. In 2006, CVS bought 700 Savon and Osco drugstores mostly in Southern California. And in 2008 CVS acquired 521 Longs Drugs stores in California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona for $2.9B dollars. The acquisition of Long Drugs appears to be a good one as it CVS does not have any stores in Northern CA and Arizona. Besides, the price also included real estate. It is also bought Caremark, the largest pharmaceutical services company and changed the corporation name to CVS Caremark. When CVS bought 1,200 Eckerd stores, it formed a single-entity LLC (Limited Liability Company) to own each Eckerd store. Each LLC signs the lease with the property owner. In the event of a default, the owner can only legally go after the assets of the LLC and not from any other CVS-owned assets. Although the owner loses the guaranty security from CVS corporate assets, this author is not aware of any incident where CVS closes a store and does not pay rent.

Rite-Aid: Rite Aid was founded by Alex Grass (he just passed away on Aug 27, 2009 at the age of 82) and opened its first store in 1962 as "Thrif D Discount Center" in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It officially incorporated as Rite Aid Corporation and went public in 1968. By the time Alex Grass stepped down as the company's chairman and chief executive officer in 1995, Rite Aid was the nation's largest drugstore chain in terms of total stores and No. 2 in terms of revenue. His son, Martin Grass, took over but was ousted in 1999 for overstatement of Rite Aid's earnings in the late 1990s. Rite Aid is now the weakest financially among the 3 drugstore chains. In 2007, Rite-Aid acquired about 1,850 Brooks and Eckerd drugstores, mostly along the East coast to catch up with Walgreens and CVS. In the process, it added a huge long term debt (currently owes over $5.69 Billion) and is the most leveraged drugstore chain based on its market value. The integration of Brooks and Eckerd did not seem to go well. Revenue from some of these stores went down as much as 20% after they change the sign to Rite Aid. As of 2009, Rite-Aid has over 4900 stores and over $26 Billion in revenues. Compared to Walgreens and CVS, Rite Aid is the weakest financially. On January 21, 2009 Moody's Investor Services downgraded Rite Aid from "Caa1" to "Caa2", eight notches below investment grade. Both ratings are "junk" which indicate very high credit risk. Rite Aid has contacted a number of its landlords in 2009 trying to get rent concession to improve the bottom line. In June 2009, Rite Aid successfully completed refinancing $1.9 Billion of its debts. In September 2009 Rite Aid reported a lower loss for the second quarter ended in August 2009.

Things to consider when invested in a pharmacy

If you are interested in investing in a property leased by drugstore chains, here are a few things you should consider:

If you want a low risk investment, go with Walgreens. In stable or growing areas, the degree of safety is the same whether the property is in California where you get a 6% cap or Texas where you may get a 7.5% cap. So, there is no significant advantage to invest in properties in California as the property value is based primarily on the cap rate. In 2009, the offered cap rate for Walgreens seems to increase about 1% compared to previous years. So you might be able to get some appreciation in your investment when you sell at a lower cap rate in the future.

If you are willing to take more risk, then go with Rite-Aid. Some properties outside of California may offer up to 10.75%% cap rate in 2009. However, among the 3 drug chains, Rite Aid has 10.5% chance of going under in 2010. Should it declare bankruptcy, Rite Aid has the option to pick and choose which locations to keep open and which locations to terminate the lease. To minimize the risk that the store is shuttered, choose a location with strong sales and low rent to revenue ratio.

If you are not a conservative investor or risk taker, you may want to consider a CVS pharmacy. It has BBB+ S&P credit rating. Its cap rate is higher than Walgreens but lower than Rite Aid. Some leases may offer better rent bumps. On the other hand, some CVS leases, especially for properties in hurricane areas, e.g. Florida are not truly NNN leases where landlords are responsible for the roof and structure. So make sure you adjust the cap rate down accordingly. Some of the CVS locations have onsite Minuteclinic staffed by registered nurses. Since this clinic idea was introduced recently, it's not clear having a clinic inside CVS is a plus or minus to the bottom line of the store.

All 3 drugstore chains have similar requirements. They all want highly visible, standalone, rectangular property around 10,000 - 14,000 SF on a 1.5 - 2 acre lot, preferably at a corner with about 75 - 80 parking spaces in a growing and high traffic location. They all require the property to have a drive-thru. Hence, you should avoid purchasing an inline property, i.e. not standalone and property with no drive-thru windows. There is a chance that these drugstores may not want to renew the lease unless the property is located in a densely-populated area with no vacant land nearby. In addition, if you acquire a property that does not meet the new requirements, for example a drive-thru, you may have a problem getting financing as lenders are aware of these requirements.

If the pharmacy is opened 24 hours a day, it is in a better location. Drugstore chains do not open the store 24 hours day unless the location draws customers.

Many properties may have a percentage lease, i.e. the landlord can get additional rent when the store's annual revenue exceeds a certain figure, e.g. $5M. However, the revenue used to compute percentage rent often excludes a page-long list of items, e.g. wine and sodas, tobacco products, items sold after 10 PM, drugs paid by governmental programs, etc. The excluded sales revenue could account for as much as 70% of store's gross revenue. As a result, this author has seen only 1 store in which the landlord is able to collect additional percentage rent. The store with a percentage rent is required to report its monthly sales to the landlord. As an investors, you want to invest in a store with strong gross sales, e.g. over $500 per square foot a year. In addition, you also want to check the rent to revenue ratio. If the figure is in the 2-4% range, the store is likely to be very profitable so the chance the store is shut down is low.

It does not matter how good the tenants are, avoid investing in declining and/or low-income areas or small towns with less than 30,000 residents within 5 miles ring. In a small town, it may be the only drug store in town and captures most of the market share. However, if a competitor opens a new location in the area, revenue may be severely affected. These properties are easy to buy now and hard to sell later. In 2009 where the credit market is tight, you may have problems finding a lender to finance these properties.

Many properties have an existing loan that the buyer must assume. If you have a 1031 exchange, think twice about buying this property. You should clearly understand loan assumption requirements of the lenders before moving forward. Should you fail to assume the existing loan (assuming an existing loan is a lot more difficult than getting a new loan), you may run out of time for a 1031 exchange and may be liable to pay capital gain.

About 10% of the drugstore properties for sale and typically CVS pharmacies require very small amount of equity to acquire, e.g. 10% of the purchase price. However, you are required to assume an existing fully-amortized loan with zero cash flow. That is, all of the rent paid by the tenant must be used to pay down the loan. The cap rate may be in the 7% range, and the interest rate on the loan could be attractive in the 5.5% to 6% range. Hence, the investor pays off the loan in 10 to 20 years. However, the investor has no positive cash flow. This requires you to come up with outside cash to pay income tax on the rental profits (the difference between the rent and mortgage interest). The longer you own the property, the more outside cash you will need to pay income taxes as the mortgage interest will get less and less toward the end. So who would buy this kind of property?

The investors who have substantial losses from other properties or stocks market. By acquiring this zero cash flow property, they may offset the income from the drugstore tenant against the losses from other properties or stocks market. For example, a property has $105,000 of rental profits a year, and the investor also has rental losses of $100,000 from other properties. As a result, the combined profits are only $5,000.
The uninformed investors who fail to consider that they have to raise additional cash to pay income taxes.

Out of the Box Thinking

If you put too much weigh on the S&P rating of the tenants, you may end up either taking a lot of risks or passing up good opportunities.

Good location should be the key in your decision on which drug store to invest in. It's often said a lousy business should do well at a great location while the best tenant will fail at a lousy location. A Walgreens store that is closed down later on (yes, Walgreens closed 119 stores in 2007) is still a bad investment even though Walgreens continues paying rent on time. So you don't want to blindly invest in a drug store simply because it is a Walgreens.

No company is crazy enough to close a profitable location. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand that a financially-weak company like Rite Aid will make every effort to keep a profitable location open. On the other hand, a financially-strong Walgreens will need justifications to keep an unprofitable location open. So how do you determine if a drug store location is profitable or not if the tenant is not required to disclose its profit & loss statement? The answer is you cannot. However, you can make an educated guess based on store's annual gross revenue is often reported to the landlord as required by the percentage clause in the lease. With the gross revenue, you can determine the rent to income ratio. The lower the ratio, the more likely the store is profitable. For example, if the annual base rent is $250,000 while the store's gross revenue is $5M then the rent to income ratio is 5%. As a rule of thumb, it's hard to make a profit if this ratio is more than 8%. So if you see a Rite Aid with 3% rent to income ratio then you know it's likely a very profitable location. In the event Rite Aid declares bankruptcy, it will keep this location open and continue paying rent. If you see a Rite Aid drug store with 3% rent to income ratio offering 11% cap, chances are it's a low risk investment with good returns. The weakness of corporate guaranty from Rite Aid is probably not as critical.

David V. Tran is the President and Chief Investment Advisor at Transmercial (formerly eFunding, Inc.), a commercial real estate & loan brokerage company in San Jose, CA. His website is http://www.transmercial.com. He may be contacted at (408) 288-5500. Transmercial does business in all 50 states. He is the #1 US commercial real estate expert author. David currently offers 3 FREE real estate investment seminars:

How to invest in commercial real estate.
How to maximize cash flow with 1031 tax-deferred exchange.
TIC: Fractional ownership in high-value commercial properties.

David's blog features a daily list of 10 Best Commercial Properties in 50 states. You are welcome to share this report, unedited and in its entirety, with anyone you like. You may not remove this text. © 2007-2009 Transmercial.

Eric Benet- You're The Only One

2009-10-29T10:11:00.001-07:00

Johnny Gray Foolin Around- Sanging ... Eric Benet You're The Only One Calvin Richardson Ruben Studdard Stevie Wonder Joe Brian McKnight Singing Acapella Johnny Gray Fort Worth Texas Hurricane Wedding Song Love Contest Harmony India Halle Berry America's Got Talent Seattle Ellen DeGeneres Oprah Winfrey American Idol 50 Cent Game Rick Ross Grammy's 2009 Chris Brown Rihanna Arie Ne-Yo Jamie Foxx Marques Houston Omarion Luther Vandross Gerald Levert Tank Justin Timberlake ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtjS3y7wMRs&hl=en

Razor Ramon vs IRS King of the ring

2009-10-26T23:00:00.001-07:00

SHOWPAINI ON JUMALTEN LAJI Bill Goldberg Hulk Hogan and Sting vs Diamond Dallas Page Rick Steiner and Sid Vicious Cage match UTUBEKIDDER WAS FEISALKID123 AND FEISALKID My personal top 10 memorable moments in wwe history =) *Sorry about misplacing the number on the ECW Reunion Show, thats number #6... More Tags Flag of United States Trevor Murdoch (Trevor Rhodes) * Flag of United States Johnny Nitro (John Hennigan) * Flag of United States Randy Orton * Flag of Samoa Umaga (Eddie Fatu) * Flag ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2OOTacvsIQ&hl=en

Memories & Black Holes

2009-10-25T02:00:00.001-07:00

skyscrapers signal a downturn www.guardian.co.uk Twitter credit card iPhone app is a Squirrel www.techradar.com Leaving Iraq ends US mission veiled in ambivalence www.washingtonpost.com Afghanistan news.google.com Rick continues as 'extremely dangerous' Category 5 hurricane well off Mexico's Pacific coast www.startribune.com Europa en.wikipedia.org Conditions Are Right for Life on Europa www.tonic.com Asteroid Impact (HD) www.youtube.com Nasa: world will not end in 2012 www.telegraph.co. ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYabqL-Z4Qo&hl=en

Falls Away - Dawn Richard w/lyrics

2009-10-21T02:54:00.005-07:00

only one for me. I can't believe that this happened to me. I might get restless but you're all I need. No matter how bad the day, time just seems to fall away (wiith you). Nothing really matter cuz.. It could be the end of the world today, a hurricane could come and blow me away, but if you're real close, right next to me, nothing else matters cuz everything falls away (away, away, away, away, away, away) x 3 Falls away (yeaah). Even when the sky is grey, somehow you make it a brighter day. ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYOWl8sAX2o&hl=en

HAZE- freestyle #2 (10 min)

2009-10-21T02:54:00.003-07:00

Haze freestylin for 10 minutes, can you do that? spiderman batman youtube mr.collipark hurricane chris Get money asonproduction young roccet, jeezy pulla raw YOUTUBE RUNDOWN TV THE JEWLERY MAN universalmusicgroup Lil wayne lollipop Kanye West rap r&b t-pain official remix full length afropik.com afropik music lil wayne kanye west weezy lollipop remix rap r&b hip-hop world music indie unsigne Lollipop Lil Wayne Gucci Mane REMIX d carter graduation Lil Wayne Lollipop [Uncensored] hip-hop r&b ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiiF2LczZTQ&hl=en

Lost in Lagos, Portugal

2009-10-21T02:54:00.001-07:00

Lagos is a small town in Portugal built on a large hill overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean. While its old world charm is evident during the day, it can be a real pain at night.

Upon arriving by train in Lagos, I quickly booked a bed in a private home with a local family. I was loaded in a car and driven to the home that was just over the crest of the hill on which Lagos is built. From the home, it was about a mile down to the beaches and water. Ah, good old exercise.

Being from San Diego, I immediately put on my trunks, flip flops and headed for a swim. As I came over the top of the hill, I looked around to get my bearing and admire the view of the sleepy town of Lagos. It reminded me of home and I stomped on down to the water with a smile on my face.

While swimming and catching a tan [okay, sunburn], I met some fellow travelers from London. From the beach, they took me to see cultural sites such as museums and so on. Okay, we went to a couple of bars. As evening turned into night, I endeavored to turn in early as I was burnt out from the long train ride from Lisbon. We agreed to meet the next day and I congratulated myself on my restraint as I walked out of the drinking establishment.

As I walked along, it dawned on me that I didn’t know the name of the street I lived on. No reason for alarm. I was at the bottom of the hill and a mile or so up on the top was my room. Figuring I would see something familiar, I started huffing it up the hill.

Many of us non-Europeans go to Europe for the historic effect. Tiny winding streets with cobblestones are a personal favorite, but not when you’re wearing flip flops and there is practically no lighting. I fell on my butt at least twice on dew covered cobblestones. As I neared the top of the hill, I managed to crack my right foot on one of those owe so cute half curbs that seem to appear throughout Europe.

Making matters worse, I was lost. I stopped to get my bearings and tried to avoid thinking about the sticky, wet feeling on my right flip flop. It was useless. There wasn’t enough light to make out much and what I could see was completely unfamiliar. There were people walking around, but I couldn’t ask them for help since I had been to stupid to write down the address of my host.

Being a typical male, I took the only logical option available to me. I walked up and down streets for roughly two hours, got chased by two dogs, cracked my right foot AGAIN on curb and generally developed a bad mood.

Just as I was contemplating sleeping in the bushes, I rounded the corner and there it was. The most beautiful little white house with a $6 room in Lagos. Delusional and tired, I staggered up to the door. It was locked. I gathered my wits and knocked. The lady of the house opened the door, looked me up and down and started giggling.

Like a wayward son, she took me into the kitchen and made some tea. I had scrapes on my knees and the toenail on the big toes of my right foot was an international disaster zone. She and her husband kept asking me if I had been in a fight!

Lagos is a great town if you’re looking for a little beach time. Just make absolutely sure you write down the address of where you are staying.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more articles about travel to Portugal and Adventure Travel.

Hurricane Rick Reaches Category 5 Off Mexico

2009-10-19T07:04:00.001-07:00

Hurricane Rick has become an "extremely dangerous" Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast. The National Hurricane Center says it is packing winds of 160 mph. (Oct. 17)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqME3IeOhyk&hl=en

How Portable is Your Income?

2009-10-18T20:20:00.001-07:00

How susceptible is your income to natural disasters such as the recent Hurricane Ike? Is it subject to "certain death" if it remains where it is? The recent hurricanes Gustav and Ike have driven home how not only are people's houses and lives are in danger from natural events but also their careers and livelihoods.

My heart and prayers go out to those who have been affected by such natural forces. It can turn your life upside down. These natural forces are not limited to hurricanes but can also include earthquakes, tornadoes and floods. Most people work fairly close to where they live so their place of business is often subjected to the same forces as their house.

With brick and mortar stores and businesses, all the owners can do is lock the building and pray that it will still be standing when they get back to it. Even if the structure is sound, if that company depends on the local population for its clients, it may still go out of business because their customers are spending their money on recovering instead of their products or services.

How do you create an income that is not affected by such a situation?

One answer is Network Marketing. Network Marketing, or Multi-Level Marketing (MLM), can help in several ways. The first way it helps is because as you grow, your business develops nationally and internationally. This spreads your income out so that only a fraction of it would depend on the affected area. This means very little if any reduction in income.

The second way it helps is the residual income it creates. Residual income means that you don't have to do anything, other than set it up, to receive it. If you are in the middle of recovering from a disaster, your income will continue to come in. If you have direct deposit set up, the money will show up in the bank every pay period.

Many people take advantage of the residual income even without a disaster. Some take a few months off for an extended vacation. Other people may have personal emergencies that they attend to. Some take years off to raise their kids. If it is set up correctly, the money will keep coming in.

The third way that network marketing helps is that since most modern companies ship directly to the customers' door, there's no inventory at risk. There's no money sunk into products sitting on the shelf. This cuts costs dramatically since you don't have "stock the store" before you open for business.

The last reason that we will mention is that it's extremely portable. If you have a cell phone, you can be in business almost anywhere. If you want to add something to your portable office, a laptop makes things easier but is usually not essential. If you are forced to evacuate an area, you can travel to your destination and set up shop with minimal disruption.

Many people use this feature to run their business while they are on extended vacations. Some even use it to their advantage. One guy I know will make calls while on a ski slope to emphasize the freedom he has created with his Network Marketing business.

A Network Marketing business takes some time to develop to this point. It can take 2 to 5 years to develop it to a full time income. Obviously, you would want to "dig the well before you're thirsty."

While a natural disaster can wreck havoc on physical property and people's lives, you can minimize its impact on your income by developing a thriving, portable Network Marketing business.

Rick Rule has taken control of his life and enjoys the lifestyle he wants. He also teaches others how to become financially free to enjoy their perfect lifestyle. To see what he can do for you, visit his site at http://www.DiscoverYourOwnFreedom.com

60. Trinidad • Cuba

2009-10-18T11:19:00.001-07:00

houses that surround it, form Trinidads historic centre. The once-rich town belonged to wealthy landowners who prospered from the sugar and slave trades. Today, most of their houses are museums and tourist attractions. Located in the Caribbean Sea at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad, together with the rest of Cuba, lies in the path of hurricanes. In September 2008, Hurricane Ike struck Cuba just ten days after another major hurricane had roared through the country, damaging almost ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnju4d8YqvU&hl=en

Hurricane Rick roars onward - 180 mph/906mb - Weakening Likely Ahead

2009-10-18T11:15:00.001-07:00

Roaring to historic proportions on Saturday with 180 mph sustained winds, Hurricane Rick is finally showing signs of a less favorable environment ahead and weakening to end the weekend. The latest images show a monster hurricane with tropical storm force winds extending outward nearly 120 miles and hurricane force winds tightly packed roughly 40-50 miles outward from Rick's center. Rick appears to have maxed out in intensity late Saturday with an estimated central pressure down to 906 mb and ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lGzsikLpQU&hl=en