The Lifelong Learner
:: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are -Roosevelt ::
The Lifelong Learner
:: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are -Roosevelt ::
Perhaps you’ve noticed, I’ve updated the Random Quote item by adding new quotes — most of them, to be exact. I’ve also included the author of the quote below it, as I think it’s important to know who said it. As I’m going to add new quotes to it, I’ll try to add the date if it’s known and add it as well.
I enjoy reading. I enjoy learning. I enjoy learning from the present and past leaders. A short quote sometimes teaches you more than a whole lecture, or even a book. That’s why I like them. I learn from them.
If you have a nice quote, post it below and I might include it in the Random Quote. If you haven’t read my short bio, my own quote (or motto) is: live (smart), learn (continuously), and enjoy (have fun). How about that? I’ve just composed it, by the way, my original was: live, learn and have fun. That’s the theme of this main blog (at least that’s my goal); the other blogs that I have are on software-engineering (my career), and on investing (that’s where my money goes).
I think there is a new level of excitement about Soccer in the U.S. lately. Why? I think the reason number 1 is a teen sensation Freddy Adu, who, at the age of 14, signed up for the highest contract in the MLS, and who had higher offers from big clubs in Europe. And you know what, after seeing couple of flashes of this kid (some compare him, in talent, to Pele), he can play! He has an unbelievable dribbling ability (oh, man, is he fun to watch). Also, what’s in favor for him is that he’s a team player first. He will bring MLS, and soccer in U.S., to another level. In fact, that’s already happening (read: Adu will do for MLS what LeBrown is doing for NBA).
Adu is already putting a lot of people into the stadium (read: selling out stadiums) and putting people behind their television (rankings are highest they’ve ever been in MLS 9 years of existence).
Are you not excited yet? Then stay tuned, as I think soccer in U.S. will get more and more popular.
MLSnet.com — home of Major League SoccerRead a great introduction to MLS by Eric Wynalda: Ten Reasons to Watch
What you always did
You will always get
What you always got.”, “WisdomTips.com”); ?>
I think that’s a pretty good quote, which I recently came across at WisdomTips.com (a pretty good, usefull site, containing a lot of useful tips).
Here are the four best indicators for tracking the economy, as recommended by Money magazine.
Follow these indicators and you’ll be as well informed as many professional investors.
Bureau of Labor Statisticts employment report (available bls.gov/ces), which tracks job creation.
The ISM Reports on Business (ism.ws), which take the pulse of the nationç—´ industrial and service sectors by surveying executives in fields ranging from agriculture to retailing.
Consumer Confidence Index (conference-board.org), which gives a sense of consumers� willingness to spend and thus spur economic growth.
U.S. Leading Index (also at conference-board.org), a compilation of 10 economic indicators designed to predict how the economy will be behaving three months down the road
It’s still fairly cold in Northern New Jersey, so to heat things up make sure you check out the SI.com – Sports Illustrated – 2004 Swimsuit Edition! You’ll feel the heat. Thumbnails of each girl are shown in the middle. If you find a girl you like, click on the thumbnails to the side. Enjoy.
Some useful information about Cellular Service: Who’s has fewest customer complaints? Who’s the biggest?
Complaints. According to Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which tracks complaints, AT&T had the highest complain rate ( 6.4 complaints per 100,000 customers); Verizon had the fewest (1.5 per 100,000 customers).
The full stats:
AT&T Wireless: 6.4 complaints / 100,000 customersSprint PCS: 4.0/100,000T-Mobile: 3.5/100,000Cingular Wireless: 3.2/100,000Nextel: 2.0/100,000Verizon Wireless: 1.5/100,000
(I have T-Mobile, but I might switch soon.)
Number of Customers. Who’s the biggest? Verizon Wireless, at 36 million customers; Cingular has 23.4 million; AT&T Wireless has 23.3 million; Sprint PCS has 19.3 million; Nextel has 12.3 million; and T-Mobile has 12.1 million subscribers.
: Seems like Verizon is your best bet, but I’m waiting to see if Cingular will change for the better (it might merge with AT&T; plus a lot of ongoing improvements). Verizon phones are not that good and they’re not very cheap, either 
This is a list of bargain-listing sites, as listed in PC Magazine. Check these sites for lists of sales, coupons, and rebates, browse. You should be able to find some good deals. (I have not checked all of them, but I check DealCatcher, SlickDeals, DigitalDeals & SlickDeals constantly.)
You’ll find both new stuff and old clunkers at these sites, many of which link directly to deals featuring the latest products at the manufacturers’ sites.
Is there such a domain name? You bet, a high schooler Mike Rowe owns it. What’s interesting, though, is that Microsoft is trying to force him to give it up: they offered him $10 for the domain — they must be out of their minds. This is a funny story. Must read.
Over the next 10 to 20 years, skilled jobs will be firmly on the rise, offering opportunities to people of all ages. But some old standbys, like manufacturing and secretarial work, are in long-term decline.
Fortunately, my skills, as a software programmer/engineer and a web designer, should be in demand (that’s what they say). The one thing, in all of this, is for sure (and you’ve probably noticed): the world is getting more and more complex, and as mentioned above, skilled, more technical jobs will be in demand — that is, in any area. If you don’t see your profession there, don’t worry: just concentrate on being the best in whatever you do. Good workers are always in demand.
FAST GROWING:
Registered nursesPhysicians’ assistantsMental health workersHealth-services entrepreneursBiologistsNeurologistsWeb designersMarketing professionalsAdvertising writersComputer programmers, systems analystsFinancial planners, personal bankersAssistant morticiansTelevision personalitiesActors and directors (movies, TV)Athletes, coaches, umpires, refereesGaming industry croupiers
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JOBS IN DECLINE:
ButchersBarbersManufacturing workersAgricultural workersSecretariesClerks
Source: Barron’s
These sites let you find shopping bargains.
MySimon.com * Buying advice through Shopping Picks* Brief descriptions, pros, cons, and tips
NexTag.com * Intuitive but text-heavy* Shows recent price drops and a graph of price change over time (pretty cool)
PriceGrabber.com (Best Bet by PC World)* Efficient use of space thanks to text-heavy listings* Indicates whether the best deal found is refurbished or used
Shopping.com * Clean and simple* Front page displays fewest number of product categories and subcategories* Posts user reviews from Epinions (its sibling company)
