Happy Holidays 2011 from Coastcontact

A World of Best Wishes

Shalom aleichem

As-Salāmu `Alaykum

Best Buy Screw-up Means the Economy is on an Upswing

Some shoppers are having a very frustrating holiday season, thanks to retailer Best Buy. Some of their gifts aren’t going to make it in time for Christmas, according to Moneyland.

Amazon along with some major on-line photo suppliers ran out of some cameras a week before Christmas.

ABC television reported an upswing in car sales during December.

In the latest sign that the economy is surging at year’s end, unemployment claims have dropped to the lowest level since April 2008 as reported by the Associated Press.

Unfortunately, whether you are buying a new washing machine or a new television, the goods are not manufactured in the United States.

Still there are signs of growth in house construction and other businesses. Let’s not forget the increased employment in North Dakota thanks to oil extraction activities.

70% of or economy is based upon consumer consumption. Reports are indicating a 6% increase in sales over last December.

It appears we have turned the corner!

Andy Rooney

I never really liked Andy Rooney. His constant complaining may have been entertaining to some people but I found his dialogues irritating. I guess I was in the minority but not alone. One news report called his commentaries acerbic (synonym for bitter, caustic, prickly, etc.). Still I wish everyone a long life and he had one since he died at 92. He died only a month after delivering his 1,097th and final televised commentary. “I wish I could do this forever. I can’t, though,” he said. So he knew the end had come.

Just one question. If Andy could report from heaven would he be
sending us a list of complaints? My guess is YES!

May he rest in peace.

How To Regain Your Self-Confidence

From ThirdAge Health & Wellness but you don’t have to a senior citizen to realize these suggestions apply to everyone.

Negative experiences — going through a divorce, losing a job — can profoundly alter the way we see ourselves and deal with the world around us. You may find yourself feeling like you can’t control your life, or that you’re not good enough. And that can lead to more serious problems like depression. But there some smart steps you can take to help yourself bounce back.

Focus On Your Strengths

In order to get past nonstop negative thoughts about yourself, begin refocusing your attention on what you’re good at. Perhaps you’re a great listener, a whiz at math, or an excellent cook. Make a list of all of your strengths. Yes, this may seem like an exercise you haven’t done since the fourth grade, but it will help get you into the mindset of believing you are a strong, talented person who is ready to conquer the world.

Start A Creative Project

Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit, sew or paint. But a hectic life can make many people forget about these hopes. After you experience a huge letdown, you’re likely to benefit from revisiting your creative desires. What have you been meaning to do for years, but have never actually tried? Singing? Pottery? Photography? Again, make a list, and commit to making one of your creative projects a reality. It will take your mind off what recently happened – and give you something positive to focus on.

Smile

According to several studies, smiling is good for your health and can even make you feel more confident. When you smile – even if you don’t feel happy – you’re sending signals to your brain that can actually cause you to feel happier. Additionally, smiling helps lower your blood pressure,
release endorphins, and lower stress. It’s a good habit to get into!

Surround Yourself With The Right People

Spend time with friends and family members who are sources of positive energy. Ditch that friend who subtly makes you feel bad about yourself. Spend more time with the one who puts wind in your sails and makes you feel empowered. When you surround yourself with people who accept you and appreciate your strengths, you will begin to internalize those sentiments and end up feeling better about yourself.

Exercise

Regular exercise does more than improve your energy levels and physiological health – it also releases neurotransmitters and feel-good endorphins, which can make you feel more happier, calmer, and more centered. That goes a long way towards improving your self-confidence.

Take A Risk

We’re not talking about something extreme, like taking a huge financial gamble or climbing Mt. Everest. But facing one of your fears can make you feel powerful and in control. It’s not easy to do, but the benefit can be significant. What’s something you’ve been afraid to do? It could be something as simple as karaoke, or it could be a bigger commitment, like
learning to surf. By doing something that scares you, you will know that you can do it, and you’ll have a newfound sense of self-confidence.

Be Grateful

When you feel insecure and down, it’s easy to get stuck in the trap of focusing on what you don’t have. That only makes you feel worse and less likely to obtain the things you want, whether it’s emotional validation or money. By appreciating what you already have, you can retrain your brain to be thankful instead of resentful. Set aside some time to write down three things per day that you are grateful for. These could be skills you have, relationships you value, or work that you find meaningful. Do this every day for at least one week, and you will start to feel the habitual gratitude that leads to self-confidence, because you know your life is good.

World’s Wealthiest Man

Carlos Slim Helú & family have $74 billion.

The world’s richest person for a second year in a row, the Mexican telecom mogul is also the year’s biggest gainer, having added $20.5 billion to his fortune and widened the gap between him and No. 2, Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, to $18 billion. A 19% rise in the Mexican stock market, a stronger peso, and successful mining and real estate spinoffs from conglomerate Grupo Carso all contributed to the astonishing increase. He also merged his fixed-line telecom company into America Movil, Latin America’s largest wireless carrier; the Slim family stake in that holding accounts for 62% of his net worth. He has other holdings in retailer Saks and the New York Times. Recently unveiled a new building for his Soumaya Museum, which houses his vast art collection. It is open to the public for free.

Poor Bill Gates is number 2 on the list with a wealth of $56 billon.

This data according to Forbes magazine. Forbes provides a list of the 20 wealthiest at http://www.forbes.com/2011/03/09/billionaires-20-richest_slide.html

New Page Link to Flickr

Flickr provides easy access to both still and video. A page has been added to this website.

Use this link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastcontact/

Apple Plans To Invest In a Sharp Factory

Apple Inc. (AAPL), that is the company that manufactures iPod, iPad, and iPhone, has $76 billion in cash on hand. That is more money than the GDP of 2/3 of the world’s countries.

Morningstar reported today that Apple will “invest $1 billion in Sharp’s Kameyama plant in Japan, without elaborating. Their source is a Reuters news agency report.

One comment on this story read in part: “But not in the USA. Now, if we are talking about job creation tell us Mr. Jobs why Apple is not helping out. Surely we can make LCD screens here. Where is your corporate responsibility to country?”

A second comment contradicts the first saying in part: “You can’t force (or expect) companies to accept lower returns due to patriotism, nationalism etc. Capital is portable, it is agnostic. It seeks the highest risk adjusted returns, just like water flowing downhill. The solution is creating an environment where Companies are better off investing here, rather than outside the country. There are tons of drivers for this, regulatory, legal, labor costs, tax, FX hedging etc.”

My opinion is both are correct. We are faced with a conundrum. A company’s first loyalty should be to its shareholders. At the same time there ought to be some loyalty to your nation. Here is perfect opportunity for the president of the United States to get on the phone and talk to the COO of Apple, Timothy D. Cook , and perhaps to Steve Jobs too. “How can we induce you to bring jobs back to the States?” A good negotiator could make some headway. Perhaps the negotiator is the president’s chief of staff, Bill Daley, who is known to have excellent ties to the business community.

When Bill Daley is done talking to Apple executives he needs to move on to the leaders of other large American companies.

Jokes that can be told in Church

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little

girl whispered to her mother, ‘Why is the

bride dressed in white?”The mother replied,

‘Because white is the color of happiness,

and today is the happiest day of her life..’
The child thought about this for a moment

then said, ‘So why is the groom wearing black?’
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three boys are in the school yard bragging

about their fathers. The first boy says,

‘My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece

of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50..’
The second boy says, ‘That’s nothing. My Dad

scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls

it a song, they give him $100.’
The third boy says, ‘I got you both beat.

My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of

paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight

people to collect all the money!’
~~~~~~~~~~~~

An elderly woman died last month. Having

never married , she requested no male

pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions

for her memorial service, she wrote,

‘They wouldn’t take me out while I was

alive, I don’t want them to take me

out when I’m dead.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~

A police recruit was asked during the

exam, ‘What would you do if you had

to arrest your own mother?’

He answered, ‘Call for backup.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Sunday School teacher asked her

class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus

with them to Jerusalem …

A small child replied,

‘They couldn’t get a baby-sitter. ‘
~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Sunday school teacher was discussing

the Ten Commandments with her five

and six year olds. After explaining the

commandment to

‘Honor thy father and thy mother,’

she asked, ‘Isn’t there a commandment

that teaches us how to treat our brothers

and sisters?’ Without missing a beat,

one little boy answered, ‘Thou shall not kill.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~

At Sunday School they were teaching

how God created everything, including

human beings. Little Johnny seemed

especially intent when they told him

how Eve was created out of one of

Adam’s ribs..Later in the week his

mother noticed him lying down as

though he were ill, and she said,

‘Johnny, what is the matter?’

Little Johnny responded,

‘I have pain in my side.

I think I’m going to have a wife.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two boys were walking home from

Sunday school after hearing a strong

preaching on the devil. One said to the other,

‘What do you think about all this Satan stuff?’
The other boy replied, ‘Well, you know how

Santa Claus turned out.

It’s probably just your Dad.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~
You don’t stop laughing because you grow old.

You grow old because you stop laughing!

Take heed and pass these along to people

who need a laugh. I thought you would enjoy this

…times are tough right now…for all of us…so

we need something to make the day a happy

place. “They” haven’t found a way to tax

you for laughing yet.