The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Solar Power Systems In The Home

In our quest to become a completely green nation, one of the major considerations is finding ways to create enough energy to supply our needs. Over the years we as a nation have made and saved power by harnessing wind, water and solar power.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of solar power use, and it has been estimated by the United States Department of Energy that if we covered one-hundred square miles of desert with solar panels, the electricity gathered would be enough to power the entire nation with its daily requirement! The problem is in how we would harness and then distribute all this energy - so this where residential solar panels step in.

Advantages

The advantages received with a residential solar panel installation are significant. For one thing, solar panels can be used for quite a long time - many manufacturers estimate a good twenty years of continual usage before the need will arise for replacement. This means that once installed, there is very little maintenance involved, beyond possible battery replacement for models that use them.

Also, unlike the installation and use of diesel or gas power generators, solar panels are completely quiet while supplying electricity to the home. In fact, many users of solar energy report forgetting the panels are even there, working on producing energy for their home.

Of course, over time the solar panel system will save the owner extra money because you no longer have to spend so much on high electrical bills. This is one of the biggest benefits for those who own a home solar system.

On the Flip Side of Solar Power

Unfortunately, there are also some disadvantages to the installation and use of residential solar power systems. The big one for many is the initial price, which typically is about $32,000 for the proper installation to the home. And once installed, the system is there for good - if you decide to move, the system cannot come with you - it becomes a permanent fixture of the home. Also, if the need ever arises for the replacement or repair of roof tiles, the panels will need to be taken down, the repairs to the roof made, and then the panels reinstalled by a qualified electrician.

Large Appliances

Another downside to solar panels is how they will not produce enough energy for devices that require a lot of electricity to run, such as the home's hot water heater and electric range. This in turn means still needing to pay the electric company for some service, although much less than before.

The final disadvantage of solar panels is how several types cannot stand up to hail or extreme weather too well - due to this, it is recommended to find an insurance policy that will cover any damages by fire and weather to your solar system.

As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages of solar power in residential usage. However, if you take precautions and keep yourself informed, home solar panel systems can be a great investment for you and your family.

Ernest Jarquio is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Solar-Panels-Central.com. He provides more resources on topics such as advantages and disadvantages of solar power [http://www.solar-panels-central.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-solar-power.html], solar outdoor lights [http://www.solar-panels-central.com/solar-outdoor-lights.html] and Sharp solar panels [http://www.solar-panels-central.com/sharp-solar-panels.html] that you can research on his website even while lounging in your living room.

Positive People Power - Taking Control By Being Proactive NOT Reactive!

WE MUST PUT A STOP TO THE EVER-INCREASING PRICE OF OIL!

In the last few months the price of many necessities has markedly increased. Sure, we can call it 'inflation' and say it's just a part of life - but it's a component which is slowly but surely strangling all of us, financially. The situation is now so bad that it is spiralling out of control, leaving most of the world's population without money for anything other than the bare essentials. Some of us can't even afford those!

Does it have to be this way? We say "no!"

For too long now, the corporate world stuck it to us. Their quest for ever-increasing profits, along with their crazy system, which actively encouraged speculation of all commodities, including oil and other energy sources, food and water, meant that prices were continuously going upwards. Since the price of oil is now escalating so rapidly, this will have a flow-on effect to all other aspects of our life. This can't be allowed to continue - but where can we turn to get help?

Surely our governments will put a stop to this. They could rule that speculation is illegal and could unanimously cap the cost of a barrel of oil. But will they do this? No.

They could stop taxing the people at the pumps and in this way, bring the price down. But have they done this? No.

There may be other ways to halt this greedy manipulation of prices - but have our governments done anything to address this issue? Absolutely not! Speculation and profits for large corporations are all part of their ideology. They don't care who it hurts. They don't consider the average family. They're only interested in supporting big business and large investors.

Fact: BP made Six and a Half Billion Dollars in twelve weeks in early 2005 and the other oil companies made equally as much, if not more, profit during that time.

Fuel costs are sky rocketing. We're at the mercy of oil producing nations, the oil cartels, the oil companies, our governments (in the form of extra fuel taxes and levies) and finally the gas station. (See how far down the 'food chain' we regular people really are?) As the end consumers, we're hit with the ultimate final cost. We're the suckers who are slugged the highest price after all the governments and 'middle men' have stuck their snouts in the trough. The whole system is designed to make massive profits for a few while we, the majority, are given no choice but to fork over more of our hard earned cash each week, if we want this product.

The price of oil is governed by greed and speculation. If the oil nations think we'll pay more, they reduce production and the cost goes up. If they then find that, when the price is too high we're buying less fuel, they'll increase oil production and reduce the cost per barrel. During the summer, the speculators think demand will go up and this pushes the price of a barrel of oil skywards. During the winter, they think we'll need oil for heating and again they use the stock market to push shares higher. When there's the threat of war near an oil producing country, again the price fluctuates. There doesn't have to be an actual war - just a rumour will do it. Not long ago the weather forecast indicated that a hurricane might cross the path of an oil well. This information drove investors into a frenzy. That particular hurricane came and went, and did absolutely no damage, but the prices stayed high.

The whole system is crazy. These corporate guys are pulling the strings and we're their puppets. Why do we put up with this? Are we such gluttons for punishment? The oil price is a world-wide problem. It affects anyone who drives a vehicle, takes a bus or travels by plane - and that's most of us. Why do we, the majority, put up with this form of dictatorship from a minority?

There are a few reasons.

1. We were brainwashed into believing that cars could only run on gasoline.

2. Oil companies made huge profits - so they were happy to perpetuate this myth.

3. Car manufacturers also liked the status-quo. They didn't want to put big bucks into research and development of vehicles which ran on alternate sources of energy.

Now that we have our new powers of reasoning, we can taking a step back from the problem and clearly see what issues are involved. Then we can begin to find effective, progressive resolutions.

SO, IS THERE A PLAN? ABSOLUTELY!

Now it's time for a change. This system is hurting us - the over six billion people who also have to live on Planet Earth. Now it's time for us to unite and say "Enough is enough." We need to exist here too. We have rights. We demand fairness. We won't put up with this any more.

SOLUTIONS TO THE OIL PROBLEM:

o There are millions - maybe billions - of us, the consumers, who ought to take a combined stand. We're the ones who pay the most - therefore we've got the most to gain. We need to unite and make it known that we've had enough and we're not going to take it any more.

o We can boycott those companies which collude and force prices to be high.

o We can threaten to vote out governments which allow speculation and put taxes on the necessities of life.

o We can demand the production of cars, or other rapid transit systems, which run on solar energy, hydrogen, water, sugar cane derivatives, electricity, oxygen or a hybrid engine which can use a combination of energy sources. The technology already exists but it's not readily available to the mass market.

o We've got to find ways of heating our homes which do not rely on oil.

o Those of us who are scientifically, mechanically or engineering-minded must work together to discover new methods for clean, 'green' transport and heating.

We need to find renewable sources of energy which do not pollute, are freely available and do not get manipulated solely for profit. Nikola Tesla, inventor and engineer, believed that there were supplies of energy which could be tapped into and utilized by everyone but the authorities at the time suppressed his findings.

Tesla said, "Electric power is everywhere present in unlimited quantities and can drive the world's machinery without the need of coal, oil, gas, or any other of the common fuels."

If Mr Tesla was able to find this source, the information must still exist. Like all knowledge which has been given to humanity, one day it will be found again and used for the benefit of all. Those who seek to suppress information which is meant for our world will ultimately fail in their attempts to hide the truth.

'The choices you make today, determine your tomorrow.'

"The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice." George Eliot

We must choose to unite and solve this problem. If our politicians can't find answers, we must seek the solutions ourselves and here's how:

POSITIVE PEOPLE POWER.

Positive People Power isn't about protesting. People Power is having a say in the way things are and it's about making positive change.

If enough of us get together, we will be able to focus on finding new concepts and better ideas to make our lives, our community, and our world a much nicer place to live.

We can no longer leave it up to governments, or others, to solve our problems. Politicians are still looking at the world from the same perspective they've done for centuries and it's now obvious, that this isn't the answer.

If we ever want to progress, we're going to have to use new methods to find long-term answers - there isn't any other way.

Positive People Power is being pro-active not re-active.

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of waiting for someone to find the answers for life today. I want to stop living this way and start working towards a new world. I want to shape the present and the future with others who are like me, and I already know how to do this. If I wait for circumstances to change or for that 'right moment', it might never come. Maybe today is the day!

I'm sure I have a way - a really practical way - to change society and make life more positive. I can give hope to millions of people, if only they will listen to what I'm trying to say.

The AlterQuest Organization has been formed so that people, in communities, town and cities all over the globe, can come together and work on new ways to solve old problems. If we work on the adage that for every problem there is a solution, we should be able to make the most wonderful changes in our world - as soon as we put our minds to the task.

AlterQuest is here to co-ordinate the charge for Positive People Power. This is a power we have grossly underestimated until now.

PEOPLE WHO JOIN FORCES HAVE TREMENDOUS POWER.

o We have the ability to change things which are wrong and are not in our best interests.

o We have the power to use all manner of concepts, which lead to the establishment of a better world.

o We have the power to say "There are over 6 billion of us on this planet and only a handful of you, who are having any say.

o We don't want your biased media with its vested interests in swaying our opinions. People have the power to make their own media - one which encourages positive ideas, progressive concepts and future growth of our civilization.

o We don't want your radio and TV, if it's only going to show the same old programs which inhibit our minds and stifle our creativity. We can make our own programs which will stimulate us and enthuse us to take positive action to make life better.

o We don't want your corporations. These multi-national conglomerates have amalgamated to quash their smaller competitors, steal their ideas, stomp on any new concepts, cut costs, downsize, cause billions of us to be unemployed or under-employed, keep us poor, manipulate our governments, pay virtually no dues and taxes - and generally suppress billions of individuals - all in aid of ever greater profits for the corporation and their stockholders. THIS IS WRONG! SO VERY WRONG!

o We'll teach those industries which try to screw us for every last cent that they can no longer do this. They may think they run the show, but they rely on our hard earned money to keep their companies afloat. Without our money, they'd soon find out who's really got the power. In the bible it said 'The meek shall inherit the Earth.' Well, we're the meek and we're claiming our inheritance!

o Positive People Power means all of us will have a vessel for change.

o It means regular people will have a say.

o We can make our own small businesses and employ others again. We can build and run small to medium sized businesses for all our essentials such as bakeries, grocery stores, butchers' shops, computer companies and more....

o We can even form our own power/utility companies, water management, newspapers, magazines and TV stations. We surely can't do a worse job than those who run these things now. We won't continuously put prices up, just to appease our stockholders. Heck, we'll all be the stockholders - every last one of us. So we sure don't want to hurt ourselves, do we?

o We can use our natural talents and the skills for which we studied or trained.

o We can establish good social welfare (but if I'm right, we won't need much - because with this system everyone will have the opportunity to have a job.)

o We'll bring the best health care to everyone and not just to those who can pay and we'll abolish the cruel and unfair system of private health insurance which exists in so many countries today.

o We can give every single person or family on this planet a way to move forward. A way to have some hope. A way out of poverty and a way to live in dignity.

"The point in history at which we stand is full of promise and danger. The world will either move forward toward unity and widely shared prosperity - or it will move apart." Franklin D. Roosevelt

WHAT CHANGES WOULD WE HAVE TO MAKE?

o Democracy was meant to be about people having a say - but in reality, we've had very little influence over our world. This is about to change! Now we must learn from our mistakes.

o It's time to stop sitting on the fence. We don't have to take this nonsense any more. If you think something is wrong, say so. Don't put up with it, otherwise those wielding the power will think it's OK to continue doing the same thing to us.

o Money should not come before people. Civilization is not supposed to be about the economy - it's meant to represent the people who live in it. While we allow 'the economy' to be more important than the population, there will never be real and lasting progress.

o There are many possibilities for change - all we have to do is focus on the desire for progress and tap into the universe to find the many diverse answers.

o If we want to have a better world, we must address the fundamental issues which have, for so long, blocked our advancement. We must examine these problems, utilize all the methods possible to solve them, and put the resulting knowledge into action.

o The answers AlterQuest offers your communities are the same solutions which people in other towns, cities and countries are using in order to regain their sense of dignity.

o Happy people make for a happier world.

There are many countries where the conditions of the population are intolerable. No food, no income, no schools, no hospitals.

Who can these people turn to?

Do you think this is only happening in third world countries?

It's happening all over the planet! If you're a low income family anywhere in the world; if you have to work long hours for little pay; if your income does not cover your expenses; if you see wealthy people who have become this way by trampling on the rights of others - then, no matter which country you live in, the system is insufferable.

We all need to be empowered.

We need to have more say.

We should be able to have some control over our lives.

We must change destiny - before it's too late.

We have the power to alter our circumstances, if only we seize the chance.

We have the right to say "We're not going to take it any more!"

Don't get angry... get even.

Take affirmative action.

Mahatma Gandhi (ex Prime Minister of India) said, "I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have, if he or she will make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith. What is faith worth if it is not translated into action?"

MONEY SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS.

Do you know what the majority of us are, as far as the corporate world is concerned? We're 'consumers'! Fancy that. They've given us a label. Oh how I hate that word........ Consumers indeed!

The word 'consumers' is bandied about in reference to the billions of us who, in the eyes of the corporate world, have become nothing more than spending machines - Beings with available funds who are willing (and able) to purchase their products.

How often have you heard this used lately - on the news, in the financial report or used by politicians. They have made us into a sub-class of purchasers. As long as we're there with our 'consumer dollars' they think we are happy and content.

To a certain extent, we've allowed ourselves to be manipulated by these mega corporations. We've bought their products, eaten their food, worn their clothing, used their fuels, driven their cars and flown on their airlines.

What have they done for us in return? They've manipulated the cost of all our goods and services so we're constantly paying higher prices while they make ever-increasing profits. They've amalgamated until they owned practically everything. They've forced the closure of smaller businesses, which tried to compete. They sacked billions of us and forced billions more to work long hours for virtually no pay, until we were all in debt.

Well, money speaks louder than words so, if we all work together, these 'consumers' can turn around and bite these corporate types where it hurts!

If nothing else, we, the six billion people of the Earth have spending power and we have the right to withhold this, en masse, until we get our demands met.

Fact: Australians spent Eight billion dollars in the first two weeks of the Christmas period in 2004.

Wow. Eight billion dollars equates to a lot of bargaining power. We have the option to spend it where and when we choose. We also have a choice to bank anywhere we wish. So, all your corporations who think you can hog all the money you make in profit; not pay an equal share of taxes; not give back to our communities; pay the lowest wages and offer only part-time or casual positions with bad working conditions and lay off thousands of honest, loyal workers.... Think again!

Now, I'm going to reiterate my previous comments because they are so important.....

Until we make ourselves heard, we will always be relegated to the level of 'voters' or 'consumers'.

The only time we're really considered is when there's an election and our governments want our vote or when corporations realize we're not spending as much on their products.

We need to exploit this situation and turn it to our advantage. We are the majority. Those who wield all the power are, in actuality, the minority and it's time we tipped the balance back in our favour.

OK. I'm done convincing you. If you're sick of the way things are, there is NEVER going to be a better time to put Positive People Power into action.

"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person," Mother Teresa, winner of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize.

The following email came into my inbox a short while ago. It points out just how effective the combined power of people could be:

THE EMAIL.

It has been calculated that if everyone in the United States did not purchase a drop of gasoline for one day, the oil companies would choke on their stockpiles. At the same time it would hit the entire industry with a net loss of over 4.6 Billion Dollars which would affect the bottom lines of the oil companies. Therefore May 19th has been formally declared "Stick It To Them" Day and the people of this Nation should not buy a single drop of gasoline on that day. The only way this can be done is if you forward this email to as many people as you can and as quickly as you can to get the word out.

Waiting on this Administration to step in and control the prices is not going to happen. What happened to the reduction and control in prices that the Arab Nations promised?

Remember one thing, not only is the price of gasoline going up but at the same time airlines are forced to raise their prices, trucking companies are forced to raise their prices, which affects prices on everything that is shipped. Things like food, clothing, building materials, medical supplies etc. Who pays in the end? WE DO! We can make a difference. If they don't get the message after one day, we will do it again and again. So, do your part and spread the word. Forward this email to everyone you know. Mark your calendars and make May 19th a day that the Citizens of the Unites States say "Enough is Enough!"

I think that says it all......

"Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings." John F. Kennedy

If you think this is a plan - then please, join with us to make it a reality.

Take a look at the AlterQuest website: http://www.alterquest.org Join the Network. It's free - and it will probably be the best money you (n)ever spent!

We guarantee that with people-power, we can turn this world around and WE CAN SHAPE THE FUTURE!

Karen Fiala N.D. Email: network@alterquest.org

KAREN FIALA N.D. & GEORGE W. FIALA have a strong passion to help people to help themselves. They think the only way for humanity to move forward, is if people take control and stop blaming everyone else. Sure the planet is in a mess and most of mankind didn't do it, but man CAN change the way things are, and it's our life's work to show you how. A dream? Maybe. A passion? Definitely! A sense of purpose? Absolutely! We hope you agree. We are the founders of Alterquest.org which is developing in to a global think tank for regular people to unite and find useful ways to move forward. Please visit us at: http://www.alterquest.org

The Power of Publicity - Finding Your Media Niche

Whether you are the owner, manager, or public relations director of a company, chances are, you're always looking for ways to get your name in the public eye. While advertising is a great start, enhancing your advertising with publicity creates a perfect marriage of exposure for your company. What is publicity? It's non-paid communication to promote your company in a positive light using media vehicles like television, radio, magazines, and newspapers. Through publicity you build mutually beneficial relationships between your business and the public on whom your success or failure depends.

When it comes to publicity, most people believe they can write a press release, send it to a TV station, radio station or newspaper and just wait for the avalanche of phone calls. But time goes by... and after they realize there aren't any reporters beating down their door, they make a few phone calls to the newsroom only to discover that no one even read the press release. All of that time and work goes down the drain. You're back to square one and you start over, but to no avail. So how do you end the vicious cycle of disappointment?

Research can make or break your pitch

Research. Plain and simple, you need to know your audience and know your media market. And research is the key to both.. So first and foremost you need to take a look at your message and ask yourself a few questions--is it newsworthy? Is it consumer-related? Does it have a local twist? Is it a visual story? What demographic am I targeting--how old is my audience and what is their target household income? The answers to these questions will help you craft your 'pitch' and determine which media outlets you should target.

While most people go for the saturation effect, seeking radio, television and print media simultaneously, the reality is that your message might not be a good fit for all media. So that brings us back to the research table. Now it's time to do a little homework and figure out where your message stands the best chance of garnering media attention.

How do I get on TV?

TV newscasts communicate to their audience through pictures and conversation. Producers look for newsworthy topics that are visual and entertaining or informative 'how-to' segments. They want compelling conversation and pictures that will grab the viewers' attention. They don't want a 'talking head' rattling off statistics or blatantly plugging a new book.

Worried that your message isn't visual? Try this- ask yourself how you'd explain your message to a child? Did that help you think of any pictures or simple words that fit your message? Those pictures or simple words can translate into graphics for a TV story. We once had a life insurance agency that wanted us to arrange local and national TV appearances for their CEO. The pitch we created offered interviews discussing the importance of life insurance and why it's vital for women to protect themselves for the future. Sounds like you could sleep right through it, right? But we offered more than just the interview. We had the client prepare graphs and bullet points with short information snippets showing the mortality rate of women versus men. The TV stations turned them into graphics and voila-- it became a very powerful visual story that was successful for our client and the media.

Keep in mind too, that the morning, noon and evening newscasts are each geared towards a different audience. The early morning shows are usually watched by working adults and families getting ready for school. Notice how the news formats shift into more of a talk and lifestyle segment that's sprinkled with news 'updates' after 8AM when most commuters have already left for work?

Saying Your Piece on Talk Radio

Radio talk shows engage their audience through words rather than photographs. Most radio stations are turning to local angles for interviews. So it's important to figure out if your message has a local tie-in or is important to your community.

Because radio doesn't require visual props or photos, it's a great fit for just about any message, so long as you can discuss your topic for a good 30 minutes. Because what you're really doing is having a conversation with the listeners, you need to be well-versed in your topic and able to handle plenty of questions. Your message should be topical too; something people want to talk about at the office water cooler or over coffee.

Radio talk shows, which are found mostly on the AM dial, also vary from morning to night. Morning shows have shorter interviews during this "drive time" to work. Talk show hosts don't have time for a 30 minute interview because morning shows are jam-packed with news, weather and traffic updates.

Midday shows were once known to target women, but that's changed because so many people listen to the radio at work. Now, you'll find many business shows air during typical daytime work hours. After work, you'll find the second "drive time" of the day. Unlike in the morning, listeners are more relaxed. They're on the way home from a long day at work and there's more time to air a 30 minute interview.

During the evening, it's a mixed audience of people listening from home. And don't discount the reach of overnight interviews--while you may think no one is listening, think again! Overnight talk shows (from midnight to 5 a.m.) are very important due to overnight jobs that bring in listeners - 2nd and 3rd shift factory workers, public service employees and many other industries that operate all night long.

Getting Yourself in Print

Print publicity includes magazines and newspapers. While they are two different vehicles, their requirements are similar to television. Your pitch needs to be newsworthy, entertaining, informative, and in some cases, even visual. Newspapers work on tight deadlines, so make sure you don't wait a week after a hot story is released to offer your expertise or an interview on the topic. Magazines, on the other hand, often have a 30 to 60 day lead time. Research the publication you want to contact and make sure they have a reporter who covers your topic or message. It's also helpful to offer quality visuals. For example, restaurants offering a recipe, a gym offering tips to a tighter tummy, even the latest trends in jewelry, can all be accompanied by photographs to support the story.

I've Narrowed the Search, Now What?

Once you know the types of media you want to target, how do you know which TV stations, radio stations, or print publications are in your area? You can always subscribe to some sort of media list, but why would you do this when the internet is full of free media information? Some websites you may find helpful are www.radiolocator.com, www.usnpl.com, www.newspapers24.com , www.mondotimes.com and www.newslink.org. You can also use a basic search engine and search for your city + media, for example type in "Tampa Media." You'll find a whole list of media outlets at your fingertips.

Now that you've found a list of media contacts, you're well on your way to creating a Power Publicity campaign to drive business to your company. Now that you understand why it's so important to find your media niche, next up in our series, we'll focus on creating a powerful message. To be successful at publicity, you must create your message specifically for your target audience and then find the best media vehicle to drive your message home. That's why pushing those standard press releases didn't work for you in the first place.

About Marsha Friedman:

Marsha Friedman is the CEO of EMSIncorporated, (EMSI) a leading publicity firm that has represented many well known clients such as Motown's Temptations, Teamsters Union President Jim Hoffa, Jr., National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane, Bristol Myers Squibb, Financial TV personality, Jim Rogers and Dr. Barry Sears.

About EMSIncorporated:

EMSI is a nationally-recognized publicity firm specializing in arranging interviews on radio shows around the country, appearances on local and national TV and obtaining editorial coverage in newspapers and magazines.

Written by Marsha Friedman, President, http://www.EMSIncorporated.com For more information contact Steve Friedman at 727-443-7115 ext. 202.

The Myth That All Foreclosures By Power Of Sale Provisions Are Constitutional

The issue is one of First Impression because the Supreme Court of the United States has never decided whether a federally chartered bank corporation created under an act of Congress to provide an important public and national purpose could use a non- judicial procedure that allows the taking of a property interest without a hearing thus violating the 5th Amendment. The Court, however, has made numerous decisions which would have been relevant in determining whether non-judicial procedures were applicable given the nature of these corporations. Though several appellate courts have had occasion to determine the constitutionality of non-judicial procedures in the form of a trustee sale provision, none have vetted the corporations seeking this remedy. The issue goes to the core of the nature of federally chartered corporations created under special law for public and national purposes. This issue deals with the right of these corporations to put such a provision in a contract and rests on whether the act of foreclosure is a governmental act or a proprietary act. It is an issue which, in the context of the current economic crisis and massive foreclosures, sweeps the breadth of this nation like a plague destroying families and communities as it spreads, swelling the homeless population in its wake. This issue involves a constitutional right affecting the lives of millions of families across this nation.

It would allow homeowner a level playing field with the banks to negotiate loan modification. If the bank had to take them to court, the homeowner could raise affirmative defenses and a right to a jury trial. I ask that you look at the arguments proffered in this letter to make your decision and that you act quickly.

ARGUMENT

I. BANK'S USE OF NON-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURES

IS NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF A LAW OF CONGRESS

To resolve the issue of the constitutionality of a trustee sale by National banks and federal savings associations, we must first identify the nature of the corporations. NATIONAL BANKS AND FEDERAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS are federally chartered corporations created under acts of Congress (The Homeowner Loan Act (HOLA) and the National Bank Act(NBA) for a public and national purposes. In Conference of Federal Savings and Loan Associations et al v. Alan L. Stein et al. 604 F.2d 1256 (9th Circuit) (1979) the court related the history of HOLA and the reason for its' creation:

The Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, 12 U.S.C. §§ 1461 Et seq. (HOLA), was the result of congressional dissatisfaction with state law and practice in the financing of home construction.

..... The Federal Home Loan Bank Board (the Bank Board) was created with extremely broad powers to promulgate rules and regulations. 12 U.S.C. § 1464(a) provides in part:

...[T]he Board is authorized, under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe, to provide for the organization, incorporation, examination, operation, and regulation of associations to be known as 'Federal Savings and Loan Associations' * * * and to issue charters therefore, giving primary consideration to the best practices of local mutual thrift and home-financing institutions in the United States." [bold added]

A. BANKS CAN BE A GOVERNMENTAL

ACTOR IN VIOLATION OF THE 5TH AMENDMENT

National banks and federal savings associations are agencies of the United States created to promote its fiscal policies. National banks and federal savings associations benefit by not paying state taxes, avoiding state predatory lending laws through the concept of Federal preemption, allowing them to export high interest for the credit card thus avoiding the state usury laws. Federal Savings associations also have the same benefits and are no less instrumentalities of the federal government than national banks whose purpose is to promote its fiscal policies. Alexander Hamilton argued that the Central Bank was necessary to the nation in cases of emergency such as the financing of war... Hamilton believed that there was a symbiotic relationship between agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing, and that progress in each of these sectors was necessary for America's economic development. (In the Report of Credit II, Dec. 1790)

B. A PARTY MUST STATE FACTS

SUFFICIENT TO STATE A EITHER A

5th or 14th AMENDMENT DUE PROCESS CLAIM

Non-judicial foreclosures have been the subject of a flurry of cases including the most current Apao v. San Diego Home Loans, Inc.,324 F3d 1091, Ninth Circuit (2002) a California corporation. Margaret Apao lost her home to a foreclosure and sale under Hawaii's non-judicial foreclosure statute. The federal district court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim and that the sale was a purely private remedy. Apao appealed to the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's decision on the grounds that previous decisions of appellate courts upheld the constitutionality of similar non-judicial procedures. The Ninth Circuit held in Apao that the case of Charmicor v. Deaner, 572 F2nd 694 "was controlling" although the consumers in Apao attempted to distinguish it. In Charmicor, the consumers claimed that the statute offended due process by failing to provide a pre-sale hearing and that it offends civil rights statutes and the equal protection clause by discriminating against appellant's shareholders, who are black. The court in Charmicor noted that the "complaint failed to state a claim for relief under the civil rights statutes, because the record was utterly barren of any facts or allegations that could support a claim under the equal protection clause", the Ninth Circuit affirmed. The court in these cases made no reference to several Supreme Court decisions which examined the nature of corporations created under an act of Congress and were content with the notion that Congress could adopt the local customs on debtor creditor relations without further analysis. The fact of the matter is that the issue should be determined under federal law.

C. NATIONAL BANKS ARE PUBLIC

NOT PRIVATE CORPORATIONS

In Easton v. Iowa,188 U.S.220 (1903) the Court said of national banks:

...[W]e cannot concur in the suggestions that national banks, in respect to the powers conferred upon them, are to be viewed as solely organized and operated for private gain.

The Court in Easton went on to say at 188 U.S. 220 at p. 230 that the principles enunciated in McCullough v Maryland, 17 U.S. 316(1819), and in Osborn v Bank of United States, 22 U.S.738 (1824), though expressed in respect to banks incorporated directly by acts of Congress, were still applicable to the later and present system of national banks. The Court cited with approval the holding of the latter as expressed by Chief Justice Marshall which held that banks were public and not private corporations and that they were federal instrumentalities created for public and national purposes. The court in Osborn made it quite clear that everthing that the corporations assumed to do must be done even under its contracts must be done under the authority of the federal charter and the law that created that corporation. In other words under "color of federal law". It was a theme recurring in other Supreme Court decision.

In view of the holding in Osborn which Justice Marshall held that banks were public and not private bank corporations because they were created for public and national purposes, which was approved and held applicable to later national bank corporations not directly created by Congress by the Supreme Court in Easton, why should we now consider national banks private corporations? And why not consider

them "agencies of the Federal government" as referred to in Easton? And why should the same reasoning not apply to FEDERAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS.

In Runyan v. Lessee of Coster, 39 U.S. 122, p. 129 (1840) the court Said:

... The corporation must show that the law of its creation gave it authority to make such contracts.".

Did the law of its creation (HOME OWNER LOAN ACT or NATIONAL BANK ACT ) give National banks and federal savings associations the right to make this contract with this provision?

Can it then be said that the provision in a mortgage contract requiring a mortgagor to transfer his rights to a trustee with a power of sale for the non-payment of a mortgage is authorized by the federal charter? Is this not the right to foreclose on an owner without resort to judicial process and a hearing? Is this not the right to deprive a person of procedural due process? We must then ask the question: Is the act of the national or federal savings associations in foreclosing non-judicially within the scope of a law of Congress? Can the government by way of a federal charter authorize a right to a bank to do what it is forbidden to do itself? It is fundamentally clear that the government can impart no greater power through a charter than they possess themselves. The power to deny a person of procedural due process is denied to the government under the 5th Amendment and is equally denied to the banks. As John Locke said nearly 300 years ago: "...Nobody can transfer to another more power than he has in himself " [John Locke, TWO TREATISE OF GOVERNMENT, BOOK II] The Supreme Court decisions show us that the conduct of banks in pursuit of non-judicial foreclosures must be done under the authority of the federal charter which is a "law of the United States" and therefore "under color of federal law". Thus National banks and federal savings associations Mortgage fsb could be considered a "governmental actor" like the assumption made by the First Circuit in Gerena v Puerto Rico Legal Services, Inc., 697 F. 2d 447(1st Cir. 1983)

D. CONGRESS CANNOT AUTHORIZE OR

DELEGATE A RIGHT OR POWER THAT

IT CANNOT EXERCISE ITSELF

If all the acts, rights and obligations of corporations with federal charters must be done under the authority of the federal charter and a law of the United States, including rights created in contract, how can Congress authorize a provision that it could not exercise itself? The provision can only be validated by what it represents and the constitutional implications it may give rise to.

In United States v Grimaud, 220 U.S. 506 (1911) the Supreme Court decided that very issue and the court citing Justice Marshall at 220 US pg. 517 said.

The court held that Congress can only delegate those powers, or rights that they could exercise themselves.

The powers of a corporation are express and incidental. Runyan at p. 129 supra. If Congress cannot confer the power to foreclose non judicially to National banks and federal savings associations then the provision is ultra vires and void.

II. THE LENDING FUNCTIONS OF

OF NATIONAL BANKS AND FEDERAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS ARE GOVERNMENTAL

In Federal Land Bank v. Bismarck Co. of St. Paul, 314

U. S. 95 (1941) the court was faced with determining

whether the lending functions were proprietary or governmental. The court held that the lending functions of the land bank were governmental and not proprietary because it was created under an act of Congress in which the government lawfully acted. It included foreclosure as part of the general lending functions. As part of their general lending functions, the land banks are authorized to foreclose their mortgages and to purchase the real estate at the resulting sale. They are "instrumentalities of the federal government, engaged in the performance of an important governmental function."(cites)

A.GOVERNMENT CANNOT EVADE ITS MOST SOLEMN CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS BY SIMPLY RESORTING TO THE CORPORATE FORM

Can Congress divest itself of its identity with a corporation created and participated in for a public purpose sufficiently to allow the corporation to use a procedure that does not allow a hearing? That question was asked and answered in Lebron v National Railroad Passenger Corporation. 513 U.S. pgs 374, 375 when the court held that amtrak was created under an act of Congress to achieve government objectives and that although Amtrak's authorizing statute provides that it "will not be an agency or establishment of the United States Government," it was still held as an agency or instrumentality for the purpose of determining rights of it citizens affected by it's actions. Thus amtrak was held to have violated Lebron 1st Amendment Constitutional rights. Justice Scalia thus established that not only the priveleges of government are created in favor of the corporation but also the obligations of government.

Like Amtrak, national banks and federal savings associations are federal instrumentalities and members in banking systems created for a public purposes and controlled by the director of The Office of Thrift Supervision and the director of the Comptroller of the currency. Like Amtrak it is not for Congress to make the final determination of the status of these corporations as government entities for purposes of determining the constitutional rights of citizens affected by its actions. Consumers are citizens whose constitutional rights are affected when non- judicial foreclosures are exercised by federally chartered corporations like National banks and federal savings associations.

B. THE POWER TO FORECLOSE IS AN

INCIDENTAL POWER OF THE NATIONAL BANKS

AS WELL AS FEDERAL SAVINGS BANKS

The history of national banking legislation has been "one of interpreting grants of both enumerated and incidental `powers' to national banks" as well as federal savings associations[which include savings banks]. Bank of America et al v City of San Francisco et al 309 F.3d 551 (Ninth Circuit) (2002) Consider this hypothetical. The California legislature would makes a law that as a matter of public policy foreclosures of any kind will not be permitted on a homeowner's primary residence. The OTS is charged with the supervision of the Home Owner Loan Act like the Office of the Controller of Currency is "charged with supervision of the National Bank Act" NationsBank of N.C.N.A. v Variable Annuity Life Ins. Co. 513 U.S. 252, 256(1995) The OTS and the OCC would promulgate rules allowing the banks to foreclose on the homes that have defaulted and in concert with the banks claim that the power to foreclose was an incidental power of national banks and also federal savings banks and therefore would preempt state law. The State would challenge that decision in court. Both Acts are silent on the necessity of banks foreclosures to secure the residential property in the event of default. The Acts, however, do bestow upon banks the authority to exercise by its board of directors, or duly authorized officers or agents, subject to law, all such incidental powers as necessary to carry on the business of banking..."12 U.S.C.§24(Seventh). The OTS authority to preempt state laws affecting its lending practices lies in 12 cfr §560.2. Because these sections are not explicit on the limits of "incidental powers", an inquiry as to whether the NBA or HOLA would support the use of either one or both methods of foreclosures (Judicial foreclosures and/or non-judicial foreclosure) would be necessary. The holding in United States v. Grimaud, 220 U.S. 506(1911) would apply. The NBA or HOLA could authorize the former but not the latter because the government could not exercise the power to foreclose non-judicially itself.

C. NATIONAL BANKS AND FEDERAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS MORTGAGE FSB CAN BE

CONSIDERED "AGENCIES" OF THE GOVERNMENT

In Acron Investments, Inc. et al v Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, 363 F.2nd 236 (9th Circuit, 1966) the court was given the task of determining if the Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) was an "agency". After reviewing all the relevant code sections the court concluded that the corporation was an "agency" under 28 USC 451 because the control of the government over the corporation was more than custodial or incidental.

Under the Ninth Circuit's own test national banks and federal savings associations are "agencies". Any doubt as to government's control over the "operations" as being "custodial or incidental" is dispelled in Fidelity Fed. S. & L. v. De la Cuesta, 458 U.S. 141 (1982) at p. 161 when the court held that "Congress' explicit delegation of jurisdiction over the "operation" of these institutions must empower the Board to issue regulations governing mortgage loan instruments

With respect to National Banks the holding in Easton would apply as the court held that Congress has the sole power to regulate and control the exercise of their operations.

CONCLUSION

The subject corporations cited share a common heritage with National banks and federal savings associations. They are corporations federally chartered and created under acts of Congress for important public and national purposes for which the Supreme Court has ruled on that premise in a number of cases that their activities were governmental. Thus in Bismarck the Court ruled that the lending functions were governmental not proprietary; and that foreclosure was part of the general lending functions. In Lebron, the Court ruled that the corporation was part of the government for the purpose of determining its constitutional obligations toward the rights of citizens affected by its actions.

The Ninth Circuit and other appellate courts have yet to apply the settled principles enunciated by these Supreme Court cases which lead to one conclusion--- that National banks and federal savings associations' use of a Trustee Sales(non-judicial foreclosures) must be a governmental acts and a 5th amendment violation of due process.

Constitutional powers conferred on a corporation should not be used to produce an unconstitutional result. The fallacy is that state law cannot determine the manner of foreclosure, but federal law with respect to the corporations created under acts of Congress. And federal law cannot authorize a non-judicial foreclosure, nor can the Constitution allow it.

The Web Of Power: Council On Foreign Relations, Bilderberg, and Trilateral Commission

"Oh what a wicked web we weave when first we practice to deceive." Shakespeare's immortal wisdom rings eternal. The web I refer to in Shakespeare's quotation is the international corporate/banking web of power and global dominance; the "we" refers to several little-known groups in our society that conduct the weaving. Who are the faces behind the military industrial complex, and what common traits bond them? Who guides our foreign and domestic policies, orchestrates the wars, the chaos, the suffering, the poverty, while reaping the financial benefits at the expense of so many others?

Gliding the halls of government and commerce like some ethereal ghosts, a select group of powerful wealthy wield their might through clandestine means; their cabal is often described in obscure terms such as the Invisible Government, the Insiders, the Power Elite, and the Establishment. These men and women would like the misinformed public to believe it's all a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma. Yet could their goals simply be transparent and rudimentary; power, greed, and retaining control of their amassed wealth at all costs? Only the machination that accomplishes these goals appears complex: the interwoven infrastructure, the ability to manipulate, to distort the truth, to polarize groups, always diverting the peoples' attention from their true nature and identity. This article focuses on three of their primary organizations that develop their cabal and set into motion their objectives: the Council on Foreign Relations, the Bilderbergers, and the Trilateral Commission.

Council on Foreign Relations: The Council on Foreign Relations, from hereon referred to as the CFR, was founded in 1921. It's architect was Colonel House, the behind-the-scenes power to Woodrow Wilson and representative of the turn-of-the-century American industrialists and bankers, including J.D. Rockefeller, J.P.Morgan, Jacob Schiff, and Paul Warburg.

The late Carroll Quigley, Georgetown University professor and CFR member, stated in his book Tragedy and Hope, "The CFR is the American Branch of a society which originated in England, and which believes that national boundaries should be obliterated, and a one-world rule established". Simply stated, the goal of the CFR is to influence all aspects of American society in such a subtle, gradual process that one day Americans would wake up and find themselves in the midst of a one-world system.

Indeed, for the past eighty years, the majority of cabinet positions have been held by members of the CFR, as well as past presidents, both Republican and Democrat. Certainly, as a leading CFR and TC member, Kissinger's own admittance that "power is the ultimate aphrodisiac" and "Middle East oil is too important to be left in the hands of Arabs" add little doubt to this gang's truer motives.

Quigley also makes reference to The Establishment members' desire to stay "close to governments," an indictment that The Establishment gains and controls its privileged status through political power rather than market competition. Many of the self-proclaimed pillars of capitalism are in reality capitalist failures who seek and constantly rely on bailouts from the American taxpayers. Had Ken Lay's Enron, Dwayne Andreas' ADM, Jack Welch's GE, George Schultz's Bechtel, David Rockefeller's Chase Bank, or the recent airline industry's CEOs not seek bailouts, corporate welfare and exclusive government contracts, laundered through national security and foreign policy, they would have floundered under a real competitive marketplace. However, thanks to their brotherhood CFR connections, they continue to profit.

Members come from predominantly affluent circles and upbringings, as well as from those individuals with a self-serving sense of extreme ambition, elitism, and ultimate disdain for humanity. Its membership represents the interests of a governing American upper social class which owns a disproportionate share of the country's wealth, contributes a disproportionate number of its members to governmental bodies and decision-making groups, and dominates the policy-making process.

You may join the CFR only by invitation, and although the CFR has just 4000 members they are nearly all current and former senior U.S. government officials who deal with international matters, renown scholars, and leaders of business, media, human rights, humanitarian, and other non-governmental groups.

The grand political facade is best exposed by the fact that George Bush Sr. pledged both Bill Clinton and Ross Perot's membership in the CFR club.

Bilderberg Group: Originally named for the Dutch hotel where the first meeting was held in 1954, the Bilderberg meeting is a private annual gathering for the politically and corporate influential, with revolving representation from the world's western leaders in global banking, education, politics, business, military, and the media.

Bilderberg Group founder, Prince Bernard of the Netherlands, a protege of the Rothschild family, once said, "It is difficult to re-educate people who have been brought up on nationalism to the idea of relinquishing part of their sovereignty to a supra-national body".

Many political careers seem to dramatically soar after attending their first Bilderberg meeting, including Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton, and Tony Blair. Once the groomed politicians meet the Establishment's approval as their chosen representatives, the machination is set into motion to convince the various citizenry's to elect these candidates. Henry Kissinger's 1991 Bilderberg address underscores their one-world government intent by saying "today Americans would be outraged if UN troops entered Los Angeles to restore order; tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told there was an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all people of the world will plead with world leaders to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by their world government." This scenario is a prophetic blueprint to our current war on terrorism's stratagem.

Though formally claiming their meetings are only healthy debates, even its members concede that Bilderberg debates do have a global impact on political, economic and military policies, a debate that circumvents our democratic process. At previous meetings, a common European currency and US-China relations were discussed before their respective governments became involved.

Trilateral Commission: Founded in 1973 by David Rockefeller, Zbigniew Brzezinski and others to foster cooperation among the big three industrial powers of the U.S., Europe and Japan, utilizing its future influential members to design a multinational consolidation of the four centers of power--- political, monetary, intellectual, and ecclesiastical--- in the formation of a one-world government.

Overlapping membership frequently occurs within these three organizations, as throughout corporate board rooms, helping to consolidate their interests. Both the Bilderbergers and the Trilateralists insist on anonymity of its attendees, no media coverage, and closed-door meetings. If their discussions are truly for the common good, why not tell the world?

Revolving door politics and influence is a golden key of opportunity for the members of these stealth organizations. In his final address, President Eisenhower warned about the dangers of such a controlling organization in government. "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

His warning was dutifully noted but few heeded his words. Kennedy appointed Dean Rusk, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, to be his Secretary of State, Ford Motors president Robert McNamara, who later served as head of the World Bank, was Kennedy's Secretary of Defense, Investment banker C. Douglas Dillon was Kennedy's Secretary of the Treasury.

In recent administrations, presidential cabinet members have included George Schultz with Bechtel, Dick Cheney with Haliburton, Robert Rubin with Citibank, and Bush Sr., Frank Carlucci and Jame Baker III with the Carlysle Group, each making millions from their insider influence peddling in the private sector. Even President Obama's administration is heavily weighted with CFR members.

The illusion of ideological differences between the two political parties that is conveyed to the unsuspecting American public is best summarized by the advice of former CFR and cabinet member Henry Cabot Lodge to his colleagues "Is there anything we can APPEAR to do?" This charade is given credibility and legitimacy by the controlling CFR influence of top management within corporate media. In reality, a uni-party collusion between the CFR represented politicians and their corporate counterparts continues to solidify and presses its totalitarian agenda.

To insure their power, the Establishment covers their bases. For decades, presidential candidates from both parties have been CFR members. When Bush, Cheney, McCain, Bradley, Gore, and Lieberman, all CFR members. touted the corporate globalization agenda such as NAFTA, FTAA, WTO, World Bank, ad nauseum, one could question where their loyalties might be.

Even in the event that a presiding president's administration gets caught in some unsavory practice, the chosen legislators that head the investigative committees are often members of the CFR; thus, the truth is never revealed and the issue is quietly swept away. During Clinton's Whitewater investigation, Jim Leach, House Republican from Iowa (CFR) directed the investigation. During George W. Bush's tenure, Lieberman (CFR) Dodd (CFR) and Levin (CFR) headed committees that investigated the Bush Administration while Paul Volker, former Federal Reserve and Trilateral Commission chairman, was named chairman of an oversight committee for the International Accounting Standards Board to review recent lapses in accounting ethics.

The governmental solution presented for disciplinary or reform action is often presented by one of their own foxes watching their henhouse, assuring no constructive changes are even implemented. Through the influence of revolving door politics, corporate executives are assigned to direct public regulatory agencies that dismantle the very laws that were designed to protect the public from the abuses of corporations.

For a quick examination into the media's influence on public opinion, consider the virtual monopolistic view of the CFR promotes through mainstream media. Think you're getting the true scoop on the Sunday talk shows? They might as well call this political commentary the CFR Misinformation News Hour. You have CFR guests from both Republican and Democratic parties interviewed by CFR journalists (George Stephanopoulos, Diane Sawyer, George Will) with CFR commercial sponsorship (Archer Daniel Midlands, Merrill Lynch, IBM, etc.). Switch to PBS, you say? Jim Lehrer (CFR) will also make sure the incriminating questions are never asked.

Under the guise of risk management, multinational corporations' global conquest may encounter risks, so when private insurers are unwilling to accept the risks, corporations turn to national and multilateral government agencies which offer investment guarantees and political risk insurance backed by taxpayers.

These companies have even cornered the market on the cures for the very ills they create. General Electric, which owns four of the largest air-polluting companies, is the largest producer of air pollution equipment. Dupont, one of the largest toxic waste producers, has created a lucrative line of toxic waste disposal services and Westinghouse, which earns its money selling nuclear weapons, also profiteers from selling equipment to clean up its mess. Also, alcohol companies own rehabilitation centers and tobacco companies own cancer clinics. A vicious cycle.

The processes of corporate power do not work in isolation. The economic and legal mechanisms that allow the privatization of the commonwealth, externalization of costs, predatory economic practices, political influence-buying, manipulation of regulation and deregulation, control of the media, and the use of police and military forces to protect the property of wealthy, all of these work synergistically to weave a complex web of power. The institutionalization of multinational corporations and banks is exemplified through the structural adjustment programs of the World bank and the international Monetary Fund. These programs channel more of the debtor country's financial and productive resources to war debt payment, an extortion process which ultimately opens easy access for American and Western European companies to exploit these countries' cheap sources of labor and raw materials.

These world institutions serve to extend the concept of colonialism or feudalism globally, circumventing other countries', (including our own) national sovereignty, representative democracies, and ultimately the citizen's wishes, while instead serving the corporate elite and wealthiest shareholders' interests. This financial blackmail is dictated by the international banking leadership with such a ruthless fanaticism to the unsuspecting governments and citizens, the results are consistent. The countries are left in financial and social turmoil, in places as diverse as Bolivia, South Korea, Russia, Nigeria, and Mexico. The shallow premise that these world financial institutions' leaders are guided by benevolence is tragically false, easily recognized when one peruses the disastrous reality of these institutions' actions. in a leaked internal document, CFR member Lawrence Summers proposed in 1991 that the World bank encourage the migration of dirty industries and toxic waste toward less developed countries

Our present reality so strongly resembles a complete Orwellian 1984 chapter and verse, that you wonder if his warning has become the how-to manual by the very people Orwell warned us about; global alliances and perpetual war, political and mainstream media double-speak and perverse definitions of "war is peace" and "peace is war" have become today's normalcy.

Fortunately, this darker tale of humanity has a hopeful side, a hope that resides with us. The 1999 World Trade Organization (WTO) protest in Seattle marked the consolidation of previously diverse social, labor, and environmental activist groups, each finding a common enemy within the ranks of the multinationals and their institutions, creating the birth of the anti-globalization movement. The movement is organized locally, nationally, and internationally, reaching across borders, creating a vibrant web of organizations, communities and networks. People are demanding greater participation in the decision-making process, including ways to exert more democratic control over the multinational corporations as well as questioning these world institutions' policies and legitimacy.

Another recent effort by individuals has been conducted at the shareholder meetings. Small shareholders represented through labor pension funds have organized and applied pressure upon corporations to base their decisions on more humane practices rather than always the bottom line.

In recognition of the citizen's abandonment by our political leaders, a grassroots groundswell underpinning the Iraq anti-war protests was formed and currently, the Occupy America movement has gained momentum and must continue.

What else can we do? Possible solutions could include a public outcry demanding an impartial inquiry and full disclosure of all CFR, TC and Bilderberg members and their associated activities.

We can strengthen ourselves as individuals, becoming more informed of the truth and mitigating our vulnerabilities as to being manipulated as voters, as consumers, and as citizens. Hey, and we could always give them a call or pay them a visit. Here are their addresses:

Council on Foreign Relations:

Harold Pratt House, 58 east 68th St. New York, NY 10021 Ph# (212) 434-9400 Fax# (212) 861-1789

Trilateral Commission: 345 East 46 St. Ste. 711, New York, NY 10017 Ph#(212) 661-1180 Fax#(212) 949-7268

In parting, George Orwell, in his wisdom, may have left us, the people, with some equally powerful seeds to sow..."In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is truly a revolutionary act."

Michael McGuerty is a writer / photographer living in the Santa Fe, New Mexico area.
Please send any comments to: pecoskid@juno.com

Smart Meters Have a Vital Role in Smart Power Grids

Gas and electricity providers are gradually replacing the standard energy meters with smart meters, which are more accurately able to a customer's energy usage. They feature a wireless electronic display which gives full details of all energy consumption, along with the associated cost - both in financial and carbon terms - and makes this available to consumer and provider alike.

Smart meters have the potential to transform the way in which UK households and businesses administer their energy needs. They have received a recent boost from the announcement by energy regulator Ofgem that it plans to invest £500 million in creating up to four 'smart grid cities' across Britain.

Ofgem has asked energy providers to come up with possible locations for new municipal smart grids and the regulator will then pay for smart meters to be installed in all the households in that area. The pilot scheme will see these locations being used as a proving ground for the smart technology ahead of a national roll-out.

The regulator is convinced that Britain's ageing power grid is in need of an overhaul and wishes the smart grid cities to signal the start of this process. It has said that alongside the increasing use of digital technology to revolutionise how energy is distributed and consumed, an ever-increasing share of the UK's power requirements must be met through renewable energy sources.

However, if renewable power sources are to achieve their full potential, Ofgem argues that the UK energy network needs to transform itself from a centralised grid to one with a widely distributed range of sources. The current national grid is configured for large power stations burning fossil fuels, rather than the more intermittent supply generated from renewable sources.

With the new smart grid cities, power for these areas will be produced locally and the smart grid technology will assess and distribute the irregular levels of power generated by renewable sources, such as wind farms. At the points of use - in homes and businesses - smart meters will monitor power usage and calculate the cost for consumers.

There is even an opportunity for environmentally-minded householders to take a more active role in their electricity generation and consumption. By installing solar panels or wind turbines on their properties, these home or business owners can contribute to their own energy needs and even supply excess energy back to the local grid to make a saving on their bills. Again, smart meters have an important role to play in this, by monitoring the levels of home-produced energy and keeping the electricity provider informed.

Kim has done alot of research into price comparisons for customers and how to get the best deal on many household products including Gas and Electricity. She enjoys writing articles to share this knowledge.

How the Power of Prevention Can Help Your Health Savings Account Grow

A majority of medical expenditures in this country pay for treatment of chronic conditions that are mostly preventable. Unfortunately, most people don't take their health seriously until after they get sick. Simply by eating well and exercising, you can avoid the medical conditions and expenses that affect the majority of Americans, allowing the money in your Health Savings Account to continue growing tax-free.

Only You Can Prevent Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes...

Most of us go through our lives stuck in our lifestyle patterns, with no idea of the power we have to positively influence our own health. And so by the time we're in our 40's most of us are on at least one regular medication. By the time we're in our 60's over 85% of all Americans have at least one degenerative disease. And by the time we are in our 70's we're dead.

But in fact, a majority of the diseases people suffer from as they age are almost totally preventable.

- Cancer: Researchers from the National Cancer Institute believe that 80-95% of all cancer cases are due to environmental and lifestyle causes, and are thus preventable. Diet may be involved in at least half of all cancers, and one third of all cancers are linked to obesity.

- Dementia: Mark Houston, M.D., Medical Director at Hypertension and Vascular Biology Institute at Saint Thomas Hospital and Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, estimates that 95% of all dementia is preventable with a lifestyle approach.

- Heart disease: Numerous studies indicate that 90% - 99% of all heart disease may be preventable.

- Diabetes: One of the nation's most renowned health researchers, Harvard University's Walter Willet, has estimated that 92% of type-2 diabetes is preventable.

How to Eat

Probably the very most important factor that can positively affect the health of most people is changing the way they eat. There are many, mostly conflicting theories about what kind of diet is the healthiest. In my opinion, the only one that really makes sense is to eat according to the way we evolved to eat.

The idea of "Paleolithic Nutrition" was first published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1985 in an article by Dr. S. Boyd Eaton. Since then it has been popularized by Loren Cordain, Ph.D., in his book, The Paleo Diet, and studied by nutritional scientists all over the world. The premise is simple: Our genes determine our nutritional needs.

For over 2.5 million years, humans evolved as hunter-gatherers, and the selective pressures of their lifestyle and diet determined the genes that we have today. Our genetic make-up is exquisitely tuned to function best on the foods that we evolved to eat.

A mere 500 generations ago the Agricultural Revolution brought sudden and dramatic change to our diets, and the changes are continuing to this day. But our genes haven't managed to keep pace with the change.

Today approximately 2/3 of the foods we eat were those never encountered by our hunter-gatherer ancestors. The result is high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and a host of other ills that we should not have to suffer.

While most of us do not have access to large wild game and wild-harvested organic produce, the more closely we can mimic the foods that our ancestors ate the better health we will have. So simply base your meals around a lot of fruits and vegetables, along with some lean protein.

You could start by eating eggs and cantaloupe for breakfast. Lunch could consist of a large salad with grilled chicken. For dinner have some wild salmon, asparagus, and salad. Finish off the meal with a big bowl of fresh blueberries.

Exercise

Everyone knows that exercise is good for them, but who wants to spend an hour jogging everyday. (Some people do, but most don't have the time or desire to go out jogging for an hour every day). What does work to give you the maximum benefit for the least amount of time is exercise with intensity.

So if it's okay with your doctor, go out and exercise like you mean it. Run wind sprints, lift weights, and exert yourself. And get it done in 30 minutes or less. Combined with the right diet, this kind of exercise will get the most results for the least effort. You will gain more muscle and lose more fat than if you were going out for long slow jogs, and you'll feel great!

There are of course other factors that affect your health, including stress, sleep, clean air and water, and even genetics. But there's nothing you can do that will have more impact than eating a good diet and being active.

So be proactive, with both your money and your health. Take advantage of the incredible tax and wealth-building benefits of a Health Savings Account (HSA) by funding it fully every year. And take the right lifestyle measures to avoid the preventable diseases that affect most people as they age. Then in your retirement, you can enjoy the good health and accumulated wealth in your HSA that you so rightly deserve.

By Wiley Long - President, HSA for America (http://www.health--savings--accounts.com) - The nation's leading independent health insurance firm specializing in individual and family coverage that work with Health Savings Accounts.

The Power Of A Good Diet In Texas

A series of recent studies seems to confirm that the foods individuals in Dallas, Houston and elsewhere in Texas put in their mouths has a substantial impact on their health.

Oatmeal is Heart Smart.

It’s not the first time oats have been touted as heart healthy, but a new review of recent studies on oats and heart disease risk now back up some of those claims.

The studies stopped short of showing a direct effect of eating oatmeal on reducing heart disease risk or heart-related death, but researchers say they found oatmeal-based foods did produce an overall cholesterol-lowering effect.

People who ate a diet rich in oatmeal and wholegrain oat products experienced a decrease in both total cholesterol and unhealthy low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Elevated overall cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels are major risk factors for heart disease.

In the 2007 study, published in the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, researchers reviewed ten studies on the effects of giving whole-grain foods to adults. Eight of the studies involved whole-grain oats and included a total of 914 adults at risk for heart disease.

When researchers pooled the results of the studies, they found people who ate whole-grain oatmeal had lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels compared with those who ate refined grain foods. The average reduction in total cholesterol levels was 7.7 mg./dL and the average reduction in LDL cholesterol levels was 7 mg./dL.

Based on these results, researchers say there is evidence on wholegrain oats to suggest that health care professionals could recommend oats as part of a cholesterol-reduction program. But they say more study is needed.

The American Heart Association already recommends whole-grain foods for a heart-healthy diet. According to the association, "The fiber found in unrefined whole-grain foods can help lower your blood cholesterol, which is important in preventing heart disease and stroke."

Mediterranean-Style Diet May Help Individuals Breath Easy

Researchers recently reported that a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits, vegetables and olive oil could help reduce childhood respiratory allergies and asthma. The study of children living on the Greek island of Crete showed that diet may explain why skin allergies are as common as anywhere else, but wheezing and sneezing are rarer.

Britain's Royal Brompton Hospital and National Heart and Lung Institute, as well as researchers in Greece and Spain, studied 690 children aged 7 to 18. Children who ate the most fresh fruits and nuts were the least likely to suffer from breathing allergies, and those who ate the most margarine were the most likely to. Researchers noted that 80 percent of children ate fresh fruit (and 68 percent vegetables) at least twice a day.

Grapes, oranges, apples and fresh tomatoes, the main local products in Crete, had no effect on skin allergies but children who ate more of them were less likely to have wheezing or runny noses, the researchers found. A high consumption of nuts was found to be inversely associated with wheezing, whereas margarine increased the risk of both wheeze and allergic rhinitis (sneezing and runny nose) researchers wrote.

This particular diet may explain the relative lack of allergic symptoms in this population. Researchers noted that grapes had never before been shown to protect against allergies. Compounds found in grape skins, especially antioxidant substances, may be responsible.

Dark Chocolate May Pump Up Your Arteries.

It’s dark, indulgent and most individuals in Dallas, Houston and elsewhere in Texas have an insatiable craving for it. But, unfortunately, we all were told that chocolate was bad for us. Well, the tables are turning on chocolate, specifically dark chocolate. A new U.S. study suggests that delicious nibbles of dark chocolate may also boost the function of vital endothelial cells that line the inside of blood vessels.

Cocoa is rich in flavonoids, a group of antioxidant compounds, which are also found in fruits and vegetables, wine and green tea. Research suggests that consumption of foods rich in flavonoids may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The 2007 study, conducted by researchers at the Yale Prevention Research Center in Connecticut, included 45 healthy people with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 35 kg/m2. The participants were divided into three groups that ate either eight ounces of cocoa without sugar; cocoa with sugar; or a placebo.

BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. A BMI reading of 25-29.9 is an indicator of being overweight, while a reading of 30 or more indicates obesity.

For six weeks, the participants underwent endothelial function testing. This type of testing, called flow mediated dilation (FMD), is done by using high-frequency ultrasound to measure the ability of the brachial artery (which runs from the shoulder to the elbow) to relax and expand in order to accommodate increased blood flow.

The study found that FMD improved significantly, up to 2.4 percent, in the group that consumed cocoa with no sugar, compared with 1.5 percent in the group that ate cocoa with sugar. There was a 0.8 percent decrease in FMD in the group that ate the placebo.

In the group of healthy adults with BMI between 25 and 35 kg/m2, the ingestion of dark chocolate over a short period of time was shown to significantly improve endothelial function. This led the research team to believe that greater benefits may be seen through a long-term, randomized clinical trial.

The researchers also noted that, while the findings from this study do not suggest that people should start eating more chocolate as part of their daily routine, it does suggest that there should be more

attention paid to how dark chocolate and other flavonoid-rich foods might offer cardiovascular benefits.

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Knowledge Is Power As You Invest In Insurance

One error you do not want to produce when you buy insurance for your car or your house or whatever else is to suppose that insurance companies are on your side. They are interested in one thing and that definitely has nothing to do with you or your financial health. Insurance providers aren't charities and they will do everything they can to ensure their own profits are as high as possible, including denying important details. What exactly are some of the items insurance companies would rather you not to be familiar with? Read on to find out.

An excellent Insurance Policy

The particular query you must think about when an agent lets you know that the plan they are offering you is a good one is whom it is actually good for: you or the agent. You need to keep in mind that agents market insurance for a profit and they frequently get additional profits from insurers to focus on selling their insurance policies over other competing ones. Additionally, they are offered greater commissions for signing on clients that are low risk, and therefore the premiums they shell out are bigger than their claims. If you know that the broker may take their own interests before yours, then you will find it simpler to obtain insurance that is good for you rather than the broker.

How Premiums Are Determined

Even though all insurers use the basic risk factors when they determine your premiums, for example your geographical area, your age, driving record, credit history and owning a home, there are lots of other variables added into the mix that are not disclosed. Additionally, every insurance provider makes use of various formulas to determine these risks and you're simply placed in the dark. A study from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shows that insurance rates can vary from $600 to $1,300 for the same policy, depending on the State you reside in.

Diminished Value

Once you have been involved in an accident, the worth of your car drops substantially, even if it has been repaired and runs like new, irrespective of the caliber of parts used. However, what most insurance companies don't inform you is that you can actually collect the difference, which is known as the diminished value, a key point you have to keep in mind when you purchase insurance. Bear in mind that not all insurers will allow you to acquire this amount, especially if they covered the cost of repairs. However, you can still benefit by writing it off against your taxes which is why it may be beneficial to use an inspector to verify whether or not the job was done properly and to assess the loss.

Your Mechanic?

If you believe that the repair service is on your side you might be working under a severe misconception that can cost you quite a penny and perhaps even your safety. An increasing number of insurance providers have established partnerships with repair centers which are on their list of "approved" mechanics. Because this is quite a lucrative deal for the repair center they're quite willing to cut corners to keep the repair costs down to keep the insurer happy. There isn't any obvious proof that this does happen but the risk is too great to disregard. These are only some of the things that insurers keep from you which can affect the carrier you decide to buy insurance from. Unfortunately, there is little you can do about some of them but since knowledge is power you can at any rate ask the correct queries and not follow what the agent tells you blindly.

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Producing Clean Power in the Absence of Water

It's hard to go on a water-free diet when you're a manufacturing facility, pushing out exhaust heat at more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Sure, a solar field or a wind turbine could generate water-free clean energy, but I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the lumber mills, the cement plants, the utilities, the steelworks and all of the other facilities that already exist and serve as the backbone of American industry.

Every manufacturing process requires heat to produce materials and goods. And the cheapest and fastest way to cool that heat down is through water; more specifically, steam generation. The good news is that all of the fast moving water that's heated to steam flows through a turbine generator and actually produces energy that is fed back into the process. This is known as a condensing turbine, which uses steam to recover energy. The bad news is that according to the U.S. Geological Survey, almost 2,300 gallons of water are wasted for every megawatt hour of energy generated.

Fresh water is one of our planet's scarcest natural resources. According to the National Renewable Energy Lab, thermoelectric power alone accounts for 39 percent of all water consumption in the U.S., consuming over 200 million gallons per day. And the majority of that water is used to cool our heated power-production equipment.

But why are manufacturing facilities using water to cool their systems when there has been a water-free technology in existence for more than 50 years?

The water-free technology I'm referring to is the organic Rankine cycle (or "ORC"), which traces its roots to the geothermal power generation sector, where it was first popularized in the late 1960s. These systems operate on the same basic principle as the traditional steam cycle with two notable exceptions: ORCs use a contained organic working fluid (typically an environmental refrigerant) instead of water, and ORCs do not require water for cooling.

ORC that takes all of that exhaust heat and cools it using an environmentally benign refrigerant. The refrigerant moves through a closed loop system, turning from liquid to steam and back to liquid again. It produces continuous power, is completely self sustainable and has a lifespan of at least 20 years. And despite its long-standing popularity in Europe, with over 100 working installations, the technology has suddenly begun to rise in popularity in the U.S.

Historically, industrial operations haven't had to worry much about the availability of water or the regulations pertaining to the precious natural resource. But things are taking a turn.

Public attention continues to grow around the issue of water scarcity. Its status as a precious resource is forcing power plant developers to absorb new and higher costs as they wrestle with water permitting authorities to bring projects to fruition. This translates into higher power costs for all customers - both industrial and consumer alike.

The good news is that public awareness of ORC is rising quickly. In particular, industrial and power plant operators have accelerated efforts to work with project developers on ORC-based "waste heat recovery" systems. Across the nation, more than 25 projects have already been completed by a number of developers, with many more in the pipeline.

These waste heat recovery projects harvest the excess thermal energy that is typically vented into the atmosphere by cooling it and repurposing it for power generation. It is the use of organic working fluids with low vapor points and high molecular densities that makes this possible.

Steel mills, power plants, oil fields, cement plants, paper mills, and refineries are just a few examples of large industrial facilities that have both usable waste heat and a large appetite for electricity. Through the use of ORC-based waste heat recovery, these operations are quickly and easily reducing their demand for the traditional water-cooled steam plants - putting water savings in the millions of gallons per year. And on top of that, the byproduct is clean energy that feeds directly back into the plant, pumping out power in the megawatts.

This article originally appeared in renewableenergyworld.com and was written by Jason B Gold, CEO of KGRA Energy (http://www.kgraenergy.com)

Jason B Gold
http://www.kgraenergy.com