The Secrets of the Centenarians: How to Live to 100!

When Helen Boardman was still a girlish 99, she fell in love again--with a

younger man.

"I robbed the cradle," laughs the trim centenarian, who married a man

twenty years her junior for "companionship," she says slyly. "Bill was

lonesome---I wasn't!--but I enjoyed his company and we had the same

interests. So we fell in love."

It didn't hurt that Bill Boardman had the same last name.

"That was a coincidence,"adds Bill. "She kept getting my checks, I got her

bills, so out of necessity, we had to get married!"

Nowadays, the twosome often perform together in plays at Friendship

Village, an independent living facility outside of Chicago where they share a

one-bedroom apartment. Helen writes, directs, and stars in the productions.

"I don't get nervous...I'm over all that," she shrugs nonchalantly.

She's 107. He's 86.

Still romance after eight years? "A little," Helen laughs, "when he's real nice

to me, which is most of the time. He's a good guy."

"To be perfectly frank, " notes Bill, "Helen doesn't seem 20 years older at

all. She's never acted like an old lady. Last New Year's Eve, we stayed up until

midnight dancing. I think she's maintained her youth quite well!"

Indeed, decked out in pearls and a smart black-and-white checkerboard

dress, nestled into a couch in her living room, the woman born in June, l896,

says: "I feel young inside...I'd say about 60." She doesn't even dye her still-

auburn hair. "My mother and father didn't go gray either," she says with pride.

" I guess I'm drinking from the Fountain of Youth."

"Sometimes," she adds, miffed by those around her in their 80's and 90's

who complain about their health, "I feel like a teenager in an old folk's home!"

An avid reader, book reviewer, and world traveler, with 12 trips to Europe

under her belt, Helen also recites poetry, gardens, flower arranges, and lifts

weights daily!

"Just one or two or pounds each arm," she demurs of her bicep curls.

Her secret of longevity? "Strawberry shortcake!" she smiles sweetly. "One

big piece, every day."

* * * * *

The Centenarian Jackpot

The remarkable Helen Boardman is not alone. In the U.S. today, there are

more than 50,000 centenarians, the nation's fastest growing age group.

Although the current life expectancy for the average American is 76.9 years, by

the year 2050 there will be an estimated one million people living to 100.

That's substantial progress. In 1900, the average life span extended to age 47.

In 1800, it was a mere 30 years-old.

"The secret to reaching 100 nowadays is a combination of genetics,

lifestyle choices, mental acuity, and just plain luck!" notes Thomas T. Perls,

M.D., author of Living to 100: Lessons in Living to Your Maximum Potential at

Any Age (Basic Books).

This landmark book, written with Margery Hutter Silver, Ed.D. is based on

the ongoing New England Centenarian Study, begun in l994, which reveals that

old age can be filled with lucidity, mobility, and good health.1

"Of the 1,500 centenarians in our study," says Perls, "a great majority

were in terrific shape the vast majority of their lives. Rather than accumulating

damage, they're actually shedding it."

How so? "Most people believe the older you get, the sicker you get, a very

pessimistic point of view. The centenarians we've met demonstrate the

opposite: the older they get, the healthier they've been. I call them centenarian

jackpots. From a medical standpoint, they've been able to markedly delay or

altogether escape diseases that we normally associate with aging--like heart

disease, cancer, stroke, or Alzheimer's.

"I haven't had anything," notes Helen Boardman. No diseases. No

medications. "I take an aspirin occasionally," she admits, for hip pain.

"Freed from any major illness," says Dr. Perls, "many centenarians like

Helen are cooking their own meals, balancing checkbooks, driving their own

cars, lifting weights, playing bridge, and reading novels, and socializing with

family and friends.

Some are even competing in the Senior Olympics. Take, for example,

another remarkable centenarian, Marguerite Kuekelhan, born in August l897.

At age 105, she's the world record holder (in her age class) for shotput! Last

July, at the Washington State Senior Games in Olympia, the 97-pound athlete

could be seen hurling a 6 1/2 pound metal ball 6 feet into the air

Her secret? "I think it's the spirit within you," she says crisply. Being 90 or

100 is no excuse for inactivity? "Heavens no! I try not to let age keep me down

at all.

This year I'm trying to break my record and make it better," says 4-foot 10

inch dynamo, who hopes to beat her best practice throw at 7'6".

Is all this fun? "No," she groans. "The ball is very heavy; I'd rather bounce a

rubber ball." In fact, she recently played exhibition basketball against the

Seattle Supersonics, warning the crowd: "Before I get started, I haven't

dribbled in about 100 years!"

That's for sure. A widow after 55 years of marriage, Marguerite lives alone

in a tidy apartment in an independent living facility in Olympia, does her own

cooking and cleaning, always uses the stairs, and does her leg and ankle

exercises each morning to maintain strength and balance for the shotput.

"And I still drive," she says with pride, "though I'm giving that up when I

turn 106 this August. I just feel as if my reactions are not as quick as they

used to be. But I still see very very well and I hear well too--though I had to

get one of those things! [a hearing aid].

* * * * *

Genetic Booster Rockets

What in the world is going on here? A woman getting married at 99 and

starring in plays? Another shotputting and dribbling a basketball? What

Fountain are they drinking from?

"These centenarians," notes Dr. Perls, "are blessed with what I call 'genetic

booster rockets', a built-in biological advantage which boosts them above the

norm. Anyone living to extreme old age has this genetic edge. They were

endowed with the 'Rolls Royces' of genes, what scientists call 'super genes,''

which act as longevity insurance. These genes slow down aging and reduce the

risk of contracting diseases. Centenarians in our study who lived to 105 usually

died of pneumonia, or even a household accident--having never developed any

chronic disease of aging. For sure, extreme old age runs in families."

Both Helen and Marguerite's parents lived into their 80's, with close

relatives of both topping 102.

Even with average genes, however, it's possible to extend longevity more

than ever before, says Dr. Perls: "Not long ago, 85 was considered ancient.

Now it's relatively easy to achieve that age if you play your cards right. It all

boils down to four simple things: not smoking, maintaining a healthy diet,

strength training, and avoiding excessive sun exposure and alcohol. Those are

the biggies."

One such example is the nation's oldest man, 113-year-old Fred Hale, born

in New Sharon, Maine on December 1, l890, when Benjamin Harrison was

President.

Up until age 107, the retired railway clerk lived alone in a three-story

farmhouse in Maine, traipsing up and down stairs, shoveling snow off the roof,

chopping wood, hunting, fishing, mowing grass, gardening, and beekeeping--

producing his own honey and bee pollen, a lifelong passion.

He was still driving his own car, making him the oldest American ever to

hold a driver's license according to the Guinness Book of Records.

At 113, Hale is in a special class unto himself, considered a "super-

centenarian," defined as anyone living 110 or longer. There is one super-

centenarian per million in the population, a total of 260 in the U.S. today. "We

don't yet know what sets these people apart," says Dr. Perls. "They have no

major illnesses, and even their hearing and vision don't usually deteriorate

until their late 90's."

Hale, both of whose parents lived to 91, has, in recent years, beat

pneumonia and hip replacement and had cataract surgery. "No diseases, no

nothing," he exclaims, "except for some arthritis," which is cured, he believes,

with a teaspoon of bee pollen taken with each meal.

Although a few falls eventually forced him into the Syracuse Home, a

retirement community in Syracuse, N.Y., he continued using a walker until age

112, hiking half a mile a day. His mental acuity and lively sense of humor

remain undimmed.

How did he survive so long? "Oh, I don't know, punishment, I guess!" he

jokes.

When reflecting on it, he credits his longevity to a good diet, lots of rest (up

at 6 a.m., to bed at 8 p.m.) never smoking, and keeping busy.

"The secret is work," he declares. "Don't sit around. Keep a good attitude. I

always loved to work. When I went home, I got five hours sleep, and then went

to work in my garden. I can still stoop down and pick up a handkerchief better

than most of them!"

* * * * *

Use It Or Lose It

Until Fred Hale was 111, he studied the Reader's Digest 'Word Power'

vocabulary exercise religiously, testing himself on new words weekly. His work

ethic and mental curiosity point to another key ingredient in the longevity

marathon: exercising the brain.

"It's definitely use it or lose it," says Dr. Perls. "The key to mental vigor is

continually learning something new, which builds fresh connections between

brain cells.

"For instance, crossword puzzles (verbal functions), bridge (memory

functions) and intricate jigsaw puzzles (visual-spatial functions) all keep the

mind sharp. Equally beneficial is painting,writing poetry, making sculpture, or

learning a new language. We've also found that music is a powerful vaccine

against dementia and the onset of brain disease. I knew a 102-year-old who

was never in her room at the nursing home because she was too busy playing

Mozart and Chopin recitals in the music room! Doing any of these things

allows you to maintain attention and memory, and the ability to plan, organize,

and exercise self-care.

"I think the mind has a lot to do with the way you feel," says Helen

Boardman, until recently a voracious reader who spent a lifetime writing book

reviews for libraries and turning biographies into plays. Two years ago, she

even completed her memoirs, titled: "105 and Counting," before her vision

began to fail.

"Staying home and watching TV was never my pleasure at all," says Helen,

who does tune into C-Span for the book reviews. She believes the secret of

longevity is: "Curiosity. I love to see the world and I love people. Everybody has

some good in them. If you're curious about things, you'll search them out."

She marvels at the technological miracles spread over the three centuries

which her lifetime has spanned, yet she recounts, with equal pleasure, her days

in a horse and buggy: "I drove to high school every day in my buggy. Maudie

was a retired beige race horse and I loved her! When we got our first

automobile, she was put out to pasture. We accepted the car right away, sure--

but isn't a horse more fun?"

Fun counts in Helen's world. She even tried white-water rafting at 90: "The

ticket seller said that the only requirement was that you had to be at least eight

years old. I told myself: 'If an 8-year-old can do it, I can!" * * * * *

"Good Training" and The Centenarian Personality

Although many may wonder if diet has much to do with the remarkable

health of centenarians, "it's impossible to know because dietary habits have

changed so dramatically over the years," says Dr. Perls. Most processed foods

did not exist during the centenarians' formative years; preserving was done by

pickling, smoking, and salting; and fresh fruit was less available. "Some ate

very little red meat, others ate it every day with bacon and eggs!--and both

types lived to 100." Nowadays, however, there's little doubt, says Perls, that

"good training," -- exercise and proper diet--contribute mightily to living to

100.

"The secret of living a long life is lifestyle as much as anything," thinks

Helen Boardman. "I've always taken exercise, I don't go for liquor, and I never

smoked.

"I'm not fond of red meat at all," she continues. "I prefer vegetables, fruit,

chicken and fish. And when I'm not feeling too well, I have oatmeal. Growing

up on the family farm, we always had it in the morning, and I still love it!"

Chocolate cake? "Unacceptable but delicious!" she laughs.

Fred Hale, at 113, also eats moderately and drinks no coffee or tea. His

diet? "I eat off my fork just the same as everybody else!" he teases.

"I always eat rolled oats with honey for breakfast," he explains. "Lunch is

meat and potatoes. And at night, I eat very light--cottage cheese, apple sauce

and toast. That's it."

Athletic competitor Marguerite eats "very light, which is easier on the

stomach," principally vegetables and fruits: "And I don't use any milk

products. I like soy milk instead. It seems to be easier to digest." No desserts,

she says. Such virtue! "Well, look what the result is!"

Beyond genetics, lifestyle, and mental acuity, there is another profound, yet

intangible, factor that influences anyone's ability to live to 100. Dr. Perls refers

to it as the 'centenarian personality'--a stress-reducing mindset that combines

positive thinking with a fighting spirit.

"Inevitably, most centenarians are upbeat, funny,and gregarious," he

observes: "It's very rare I meet a curmudgeon centenarian! They're not

complainers. In our personality testing, they score very low in 'neuroticism,' the

expression of negative emotions like fear, anxiety, guilt, anger, or depression.

They're positive and optimistic in their attitude and bounce back easily from

life's crises because they don't internalize thoughts or emotions that cause

stress."

"I believe in positive thinking," booms the athletic Marguerite, a founding

and lifelong member of Unity Church in Olympia. "Mental attitude," says

Marguerite, who meditates daily to take herself into "a quiet place" is

exceedingly important. "I was always trying throughout my life to be positive,

but I didn't get to the peak until now....it was a matter of growth."

Her close friend and shotput promoter, John Vlastelia, the president of the

Washington State Senior Games, adds this: "When Marguerite reads in the

newspaper that 'Flu season in full bloom,' she always says 'I am not going to

get sick,' and literally wills herself to good health."

"We know," says Dr. Perls, "that stress--internalizing depression, anger,

worry, fear--is an age accelerator. We've found that centenarians are able to

shake stress off their backs like a duck shakes off water. Many have

experienced great losses and hardships in their lives, yet they'd been able to

recover quickly and move on."

* * * * *

A Realistic View of Death

Perhaps some of these centenarians will reach even the grand old age

achieved by Mme.

Jeanne Calment, the oldest living person in recorded history, who died in l997,

at age 122.

"The chances of living to 122," says Dr. Perls, "is 1 in 6 billion. Although I

think the human life span could be eventually expanded into the 130's, for

most of us, reaching ages 100-105 is a reasonable number to hope for."

Centenarians like Helen, Marguerite, and Fred, thriving in the present as

they do, think very little about their limited futures.

"Death is something that is coming," says Marguerite matter-of-factly,

priming for competition this July at the shotput: "I accept it as part of my

experience in life, but I don't think about it at all."

As for Fred Hale, every time his physical therapist says 'see you tomorrow,'

the 113-year-old answers: "Perhaps! I'm not making long-term plans!"

His attitude toward death? "What took you so long!" he quips merrily.

Then, on a serious note, he adds: "Can't do anything about it. Why be afraid?"

This attitude is typical, says Dr. Perls: "I haven't met any centenarian who

feared death. If anything, they're very thankful for every day they have and they

just hope for more."

As for Helen, "sometimes," she smiles, "I get so sleepy. Anytime I sit down, I

just close my eyes. My daughter was talking about death the other day and said

she can't wait to find out what happens. Well, I feel pretty much the same way.

I have no fear of death. It's just another phase when we're finished with our

work. I'm content to stop anytime now."

But she brightens at the thought of her younger husband, Bill:

"He's my incentive!" she says merrily. "My children are all

independent...they don't need me. Bill does. He needs someone to boss him! I

look forward to what is yet to come."

All in all, is being 107 a blessing or burden?

"Both," she answers calmly. "It's a burden because I was a voracious reader

until I became nearly blind. So I've lost the thing that I enjoyed the most,

though I can listen to books on tape. But it's a blessing because of the things I

still can do. Here's my poem: "My hearing and vision--neither one are very

good; and I sometimes stumble when I walk; but when you ask me any

question about my life, I sure am glad I still can talk!"

"So I'm an OPTIMIST," she declares in parting, "grateful for everything. Every

day. At dinner, every bite is exciting because I never know what I'm going to

eat. The cup is always full. I have never been in want. Everything is good.

Nothing bad.

"After reading my memoirs," she smiles, "my nephew asked me if there

was anything bad in my life, and I said: 'If there was, I forgot it!"

* * * * *

Side-Bar RX

In a culture obsessed by youth, "people have got to realize," says Dr. Perls,

"that your 70's and 80's can be the most fantastic time of your life. I see

people go after second or third careers, or volunteer activities, enhance

relationships with their families, while their experience and wisdom is at their

peaks. Life is their oyster. And it still can be at 100!"

Here are a few health secrets for anyone on the road to 100, a prescription

from Dr. Perls, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Boston School of Medicine, and

geriatrician at Boston Medical Center.

Age accelerators to avoid: smoking, sun exposure, excessive alcohol , high-

fat diet, ionizing radiation, toxic chemicals, excessive risk-taking, and mental

stress. Make fitness, laughter, and relaxing recreation a priority in your life!

Age de-accelerators: Exercise (weight training, aerobics, meditation, yoga); a

diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, with a minimum of meats and

sweets, processed foods, and animal fat or butter.

Supplements: To prevent arteriosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's

Parkinson's, vision problems, cancers, and rheumatoid arthritis, I recommend

taking:

*Vitamin E [400-800 IU per day] to prevent and delay cognitive

deterioration;

*Vitamin B complex (with folate)

*Calcium with Vitamin D (to decrease the risk of osteoporosis)

*Omega Fatty Acids #3 and #6 (derived from flax seed oil or fish oil,

availablein capsules, 1,000 mg daily]

*Selenium [100-200 mcg per day].

*Baby aspirin (81 mg) each day which reduces the risk of heart attack by 50%.

*Green tea--noted by the Chinese culture for 3000 years as a health

booster.

Author's note: Since these interviews were conducted, Fred Hale, documented

as the world's oldest man, died at age 113 on November 20, 2004. He was

physically active and mentally alert right up until the end says his son, an

octegenarian.

Bestselling author GLENN PLASKIN is one of the nation's leading psychology reporters and celebrity interviewers. His specialty today is interviewing the nation's top experts in spirituality, motivation, happiness, and self- improvement. A contributing editor at FAMILY CIRCLE, the world' s largest women's magazine, he is available for TV, radio, and print interviews. He can be contacted directly at: glenfamilycircle@aol.com. He also coaches those interested in writing articles and books.

He is the author of two books--HOROWITZ--the biography of Vladimir Horowitz--and TURNING POINT: Pivotal Moments in the Lives of America?s Celebrities. His celebrity interviews have appeared in Family Circle, US, Ladies Home Journal,Playboy, the New York Times, the New York Daily News, and more than 50 U.S. newspapers.

Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets Protect Your Invention!

Patent numbers are issued sequentially, beginning with the number one. Patent number one was issued to Samuel Hopkins on July 31,1790. It took 75 years for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to issue patent number 1,000,000. Patent number 7,000,000 was issued February 14, 2006. It took only seven years for the USPTO to move from issuance of patent number 6,000,000 to 7,000,000.

What does this mean? Simply, there is more creativity now that at any time in history. The old saw that "there is nothing new" is completely wrong. There has never been so many people and entities creating novel, unique products, technology and services, and so driven to commercialize these inventions. More patents and entrepreneurs attempting to market their products is indicative that there is more competition for successful placement.

It is essential that entrepreneur's protect their inventions. This is a form of insurance. To attempt to market an invention without covering the work with the shield of patent, trademark, copyright or trade secret protection indicates a frivolous approach that will not succeed. Investors, licensees, and investors demand the protection that these intellectual property products afford. Even if the entrepreneur is going to self-market the invention, protection is essential in order to fend off competition.

A pharmacist in Atlanta, at the beginning of the 20th century, created a formula for syrup that he sold at the soda fountain in his pharmacy. John Pemberton mixed the syrup with soda water and sold drinks of the concoction as a wellness beverage to cure aches and pains. Mr. Pemberton had created Coca-Cola. He never anticipated that Coke would become an international comfort product, the soft drink. The smartest thing John Pemberton ever did, besides inventing Coca-Cola, was to handle the secret formula for the syrup as a Trade Secret. To this day, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company zealously protects the ingredients and chemistry involved in producing the base syrup that is the essence of classic Coca-Cola.

Big Boy Restaurants protects the recipe for the tartar sauce that goes on their sandwiches, and that many customers buy by the bottle and take home. McDonalds doggedly protects the process their restaurants utilize to cut, cook and season their French-fries. William Wrigley was just as manic in keeping secret his technique for delivering powerfully flavored, long lasting, chewing gum.

Trade Secrets typically are not able to secure patent protections. The novelty of the Trade Secret is in the blending, chemistry or chronology utilized to deliver the finished product. If you have such a recipe you will want to keep this knowledge very near, as it can become very dear. If the public knew the formula for Coca-Cola, quite possibly there would be a lot of consumers keen to blend their own drink at home. Coke would not like that!

If your product has the potential and necessity to become a Trade Secret you will want to follow several very basic steps. First, write down every event related to the development of the formula. Keep a logbook with the data, dates and details of your work. As you finalize your development work memorialize all of the steps essential to delivering the finished product you wish to keep secret in a recipe or summary document. Then store in a very secure place (a safety deposit box, or safe) all of the work product and the recipe or formula.

The Trade Secret gains incredible asset value when your product becomes a market success. Selling a business built around a fully protected Trade Secret exponentially increases the value of the company. Coca-Cola, Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, Oil of Olay, Schlitz, Dom Perignon, Ben and Jerry's and Estee Lauder's Youth Dew are only a few examples of famous brands built around a Trade Secret.

A Trademark is important in developing brand awareness for a product. Use a Patent Attorney when approaching the highly specialized area of seeking Trademark protection. I have never seen an entrepreneur successfully navigate the very complex workings of the USPTO. I HAVE seen many attempts to handle the process, all resulting in complete failure.

The content of a Trademark can include a customized, identifying icon, stylized brand name and a branding statement. Nike uses the famous slash (icon) the Company's name (recognizable stylized font) and "Just Do It!" (branding statement). Include all of the elements that the public will recognize in your Trademark application.

Look around at local, regional, national and international companies and brands that you see every day. Pat's Cheese Steaks in Philadelphia is a local business that has gained great fame and brand recognition and protects their brand with a trademark. It is a destination for visitors to Philly. Chanel, the French haute couture brand, is internationally revered and the classic "C" that adorns every unit of Chanel product is one of the most recognized brand icons in the world. Truly Nolen, the national pest removal service, trademarks the mouse ears seen on every piece of sales collateral, advertisement and service vehicle the Company uses.

Owning a Trademark confers an obligation to police and protect the assigned mark. The inclusion of (TM) on every unit of product is essential. Again, consult an attorney. Trademarks can inadvertently become vacated and lost.

Copyrights are utilized to protect intellectual property. Movie content, poetry, music, books and plays are copyrighted. We have worked with clients on a number of video and board games. We always copyright the rules and/or the play features of the game.

Recently, Dan Brown, the writer of the wildly successful book the "The Da Vinci Code", was suited for plagiarism by the British authors of a book about the search for the Holy Grail. The search for the Holy Grail is central to the plot of the "The Da Vinci Code". There are full library shelves devoted to the search for the mystical Holy Grail. And yet, during the run-up to the movie release of "The Da Vinci Code" a legal action involving this intellectual property was commenced. Brown and his publisher vigorously defended their rights under their Copyright protection. They won full vindication from the court.

Producers of intellectual content properties (movie studios, record labels, book publishers) are very hesitant to accept unsolicited proposals for review. "The Da Vinci Code" saga is the reason. Legal action is rife in the area of intellectual property. We all remember things that we saw, heard or experienced from the distant, but dim past. Regurgitating a variation of that experience may find its way to the written page. Voila, was this material plagiarized?

Mattel and Hasbro will not review ANY outside toy submissions. Is it not coincidental that there has not been a breakthrough toy introduction in years from Hasbro or Mattel? This is one of the unfortunate byproducts of a litigious society, the limits placed on needed innovations. Protect your intellectual property with a Copyright.

I recommend to my clients, before spending a dime on a patent attorney, that they perform a cursory search at the USPTO.Gov web-site by providing all obvious key words applicable to their invention. If a number of patented products come up, and they are spot-on their idea, the item might not be a candidate for a filing. If the field seems open and clean, then I advise hiring the patent attorney to conduct a professional, thorough search. The in-depth search will confirm the potential for successfully obtaining patent protection.

Patents are the preferred style of protection for most inventors and entrepreneurs. Patents (utility) are very powerful agents of defense against predators, thieves and knock off artists. Not to be a boor, but, again, utilize the services of a patent attorney. I am always amazed and amused at how many people think they can successfully write, provide highly specific 3-D CAD art, file, handle USPTO objections and move the patent through the labyrinth of a Federal Government bureaucracy. Go Figure! They waste time and money, and usually negate any opportunity to have a re-filed patent successfully obtain a patent number.

The Provisional Patent filing is basically a letter that is placed on file with the USPTO. The Provisional filing advises the USPTO of the description of the product you are attempting to develop. The letter has a one-year life cycle and must be extended with a formal patent filing (Utility or Design) or the product is vacated forever.

We utilize the Provisional Patent as a fully legal way to state that a product in early stage development is Patent Pending. This filing is also very inexpensive relative to a design or utility patent. A Provisional Patent filing also enables the entrepreneur to have a one year time window to test and gauge market response to the invention. If reaction is positive, then it reinforces the necessity of continuing to devote assets to further development of the opportunity.

The Design Patent simply covers art features noted in the application. This is the weakest form of patent protection. A competitor only needs to change a design element, cosmetic feature or add an artisan variant to overcome a Design Patent. However, for products that have real commercial potential, but can not overcome prior, existing product art to obtain a Utility Patent, the Design Patent offers one potentially important benefit: the option to keep a product suspended in ongoing Patent Pending status.

We have done this on a number of occasions. A simple amendment to the initial filing means that a bureaucrat at the USPTO must find the file, pick it up, insert the amended filing detail and re-log the filing. As a result the filing goes to the back of the line and we gain months more Patent Pending protection.

Why go through all of this? When a product is in Patent pending mode it has ultimate protection. When a patent number is issued the clock starts ticking on the effective life of protection and details of the novelty of the patented product become public knowledge. Your product is obviated. It can be amazingly simple for the less than scrupulous knock off artist to engineer around your inventions unique features and benefits.

By keeping a product in Patent pending limbo we keep the features shrouded from any public awareness. This often leads to a first to market advantage and competition is only aware that there is a Patent pending. The added time that the product obtains, to build and extend sales traction, and begin the branding process is exponentially more valuable than the legal fees required to keep adding elementary addenda to the Design filing. You want to be first to market, and have as much time as possible to stand-alone in a market.

The Utility Patent is exceedingly valuable, both as a protective shield against competition and as a business asset. The invention that receives a Utility Patent number from the USPTO is potentially of interest to licensees, partners, investors and venture capital. Most patented products (Utility), however, never make it to market. We often see inventions that are novel, and thus patent possible, but not commercial, or needed, or beneficial. We all know a mad scientist or two, with endless designs, inventions and patents, none of which are ever going to be a market success.

The Utility Patent protects the novel features and benefits that the application describes in great detail. The patent attorney will narrate the unique aspects of your invention. They will also mention other patents near your space but painstakingly note the differences inherent to your invention. In addition, a great deal of effort will be devoted to creating 3-D Computer Assisted Design art that portrays your product from every possible angle and graphically depicts the uniqueness of your product.

Utility Patent filings rarely sail though the USPTO without being challenged. A competent patent attorney often anticipates the weakness in a filing and has a sheath of retorts ready to address the examiners concerns and questions. This re-directs the file back into the bureaucracy at USPTO. I tell my clients that they can expect up to an 18-month wait before receiving notice of the USPTO decision. However, on several complex filings, I have seen the process take up to six years.

Believe me, it is worth the work, the wait and the investment if a successful outcome from the USPTO is achieved. A Utility Patent conveys gravitas. The invention has stood up to the most stringent scrutiny and been accorded the most highly desired verdict: this invention has import.

Geoff Ficke has been a serial entrepreneur for almost 50 years. As a small boy, earning his spending money doing odd jobs in the neighborhood, he learned the value of selling himself, offering service and value for money.

After putting himself through the University of Kentucky (B.A. Broadcast Journalism, 1969) and serving in the United States Marine Corp, Mr. Ficke commenced a career in the cosmetic industry. After rising to National Sales Manager for Vidal Sassoon Hair Care at age 28, he then launched a number of ventures, including Rubigo Cosmetics, Parfums Pierre Wulff Paris, Le Bain Couture and Fashion Fragrance.

Mr. Ficke and his consulting firm, Duquesa Marketing, Inc. (http://www.duquesamarketing.com) has assisted businesses large and small, domestic and international, entrepreneurs, inventors and students in new product development, capital formation, licensing, marketing, sales and business plans and successful implementation of his customized strategies. He is a Senior Fellow at the Page Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Business School, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

Rainmaking Secrets Made Simple

Did you ever wonder what your most effective business development tool is? Stand in front of the nearest mirror to find out. No one can sell you or your practice better than you.

Today, many law practices are reaping the benefits of developing active speaker programs and expanding their public relations objectives through speaking engagements. Whether you realize it or not, you're already "presenting" yourself and your practice on a daily basis by speaking at meetings, client presentations, community groups, bar functions and seminars. Presentations are a sophisticated form of marketing and they are particularly suited to marketing legal services. They often result in generating new clients while providing increased awareness of the firm and its specialty areas. Here are the top four reasons to use presentations as a marketing tool.

1. Giving a presentation positions you as the expert on a particular topic. Just as writing a book or article lends credibility to the author, speaking helps you build your status as an expert. There is a viral marketing effect at work--the more you speak, the more people see your name. The more people see your name, the more positioned as an expert you become. The more positioned as an expert you become, the more you are invited to speak and so on. In addition to increased visibility, your credibility is also established by the sponsoring organization that has invited you to speak to their group.

Bob Nabors is a partner with Nabors, Giblin and Nickerson, P.A., a statewide firm of 23 attorneys, with offices in Tampa, Orlando and Tallahassee, Florida. His firm represents predominantly local governments and state agencies in finance and tax matters. "We do what is called traditional bond counsel or tax exempt debt work and then we represent governments on a variety of local issues related to generating revenues and solving local problems."

Although he's been giving presentations and seminars for 35 years, he did not initially set out to use them as a marketing tool. He says, "It was really just to be involved in bar organizations and other groups. We would put on seminars. I served as special counsel to the Florida Association of Counties, and they put on seminars periodically as an educational tool for new commissioners, staff and county and city attorneys."

However, now his firm actively utilizes speaking engagements as a subtle form of marketing, with many of the attorneys making in-house presentations and teaching educational classes around the state.

Nabors' audience is generally county and city attorneys that have an interest in local government, elected officials, government staff, or a combination of all three. He has definitely obtained new clients out of these presentations. He says "By speaking at events, if people have a problem of a similar nature, it puts your name in front of them and they will maybe remember to ask for your help."

2. Presentations differentiate you from your competition. The person who can clearly express her ideas is seen as more intelligent and more self-confident than the person who stumbles through a disorganized presentation. When you're competing for business, a well-crafted presentation can give you the advantage. An attorney once told me that he was sure his firm was more successful in getting business because the people they chose to make their presentations were highly trained in presentation skills.

David W. Henry, a shareholder with Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A. of Orlando, Florida, has been doing speaking engagements for ten years. Approximately twelve times a year, he speaks to audiences that consist primarily of other lawyers and insurance industry personnel about insurance coverage, litigation topics, the role of insurance agents, and corporate culture building in the insurance industry.

He purposefully started making presentations as a marketing tool for his own practice in intellectual property and business litigation, and acquired one of the firm's largest clients through a speaking presentation he made in Texas several years ago. As a marketing strategy, Henry recommends that attorneys explore the possibilities for in-house presentations for companies that show up at association sponsored programs and events.

These days, Henry thoroughly enjoys speaking engagements because as he says "It gives me face time with people who are potential clients. I'm speaking to them for long periods of time and I connect with them in a way that I would not be able to do otherwise."

3. Presentations provide unique opportunities for interaction. Presentations provide you with an environment to capture and maintain audience attention for an extended period of time. Advertisements compete with other advertisements for mindshare, but when you can demonstrate benefits and make the material relevant to the audience in a presentation, you'll enjoy an unparalleled opportunity to make your singular message heard.

Ed Wright is a name partner with Stradley & Wright in Dallas, Texas, where he practices civil and personal injury litigation in a firm consisting of 11 attorneys. He was first encouraged to start making presentations about 20 years ago by one of his former law partners. Wright says that he has definitely brought clients to his practice through speaking engagements, either by someone who attended a presentation or referred him to another individual after the presentation.

Wright believes speaking presentations generate excellent publicity. Having your firm's name and logo on handouts that people can take back to their office will have a strong impact and is a great form of "free" advertising. He feels that an attorney who is just starting out securing speaking engagements would benefit from specialized training. He said that if he were just now starting this process, that would be the number one thing that he would do differently.

When asked what advice he would give to someone who was considering using speaking engagements as a marketing tool for his or her practice, he replied he would encourage them to contact the State Bar and local Bar Associations. For example, where he lives, the Dallas Bar Association has luncheon programs. "Try to get on the list and make a presentation. With the State Bar, or continuing legal education, just try to get on one of the committees and become a speaker."

4. Presentations are the most cost-effective marketing tool that you can use. They connect your key messages to your key audiences. Your audiences are often highly-qualified prospects. Because they already want to be there, you can focus on moving them further along the client-development process.

Joy Butler, a sole practitioner whose office is in Washington, DC, agrees. She initially began doing speaking engagements as a cost-effective marketing tool to promote a product called, "The Guide Through the Legal Jungle Audiobook Series." Presentations have played a key role in the development of her law practice as she speaks on topics related to her practice areas of entertainment, intellectual property and business law. Her audience generally consists of attorneys, musicians, artists, writers, film and television producers, small business owners, entrepreneurs and entertainment business professionals.

Joy said that when she was a junior associate practicing with a firm, she observed that many of the partners used speaking engagements as a way of generating business." She says, "Presentations make a more permanent impact than direct mail or media advertising. Someone who sits and listens to you talk for an hour will remember you more readily when seeking legal counsel than someone who saw your advertisement in a trade magazine."

The evidence is clear: Presentations are one of the most effective, economical and image-enhancing ways to market your services. To implement this strategy and begin using presentations as part of your business development process, keep the following in mind:

First, Make certain you have the requisite skills as a presenter

Experience doesn't necessarily translate into proficiency. We've been driving for most of our adult lives. Does that qualify us to race in the Indianapolis 500? We'd be taking our life in our own hands when we got behind the wheel. Yet many take their professional lives in their own hands when they get behind the lectern to speak without the appropriate skills.

The only thing worse than not speaking is speaking poorly. Don't equate knowledge of the law with proficiency in communicating it. Organization of the content, the way the speaker adapts it to a particular audience, defining a strategic goal in presenting the content and how it is delivered all play equally important roles. The principle of synergy is at work in presentations--the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Some presenters may exhibit excellent delivery. Others may have the latest in visual aids. Some may possess such expertise in their field that their knowledge of the topic is superior to all others. However, without the integration of these various parts into a coherent whole, the presentation will always fall short of optimal performance.

Henry, the Florida attorney mentioned earlier, feels that everyone should receive specialized training to make good presentations because, "It's not a naturally occurring act to get up in front of 500 people with a microphone and start talking."

Second, Don't substitute technology for strategy

Although sophisticated software presentation programs are becoming the norm in many professional presentations, remember that your visual aids should be support for the message, not a substitute. Forget the bells and whistles, and focus on your message. Don't use your slide show as a teleprompter by reading lines of text. Quotations and long text passages are meant to be read, not viewed. Too much emphasis on the visuals will steal audience attention away from you. You should be able to give your presentation effectively even if all the technology fails. Invest time in learning the principles of effective visuals and apply them to your presentations.

Third, Actively market your presentations.

Develop a strategic plan for how you'll get in front of audiences. Offer to make presentations or be a panelist for non-profit organizations, local or regional chapters of associations, professional and industry trade groups, and academic institutions. Search for groups that have an interest in your specialty and can benefit from your expertise. You can also find speaking opportunities through national or international conferences and workshops. Keep in mind that your audience will include members of other organizations and associations, who may want to refer you as a presenter to their own group.

When you've booked a presentation, be sure the event organizer or your firm sends a press release to the local newspaper or radio talk show. This is free publicity that puts your name and the firm's name in front of people, and will bring in other people who share an interest in your topic.

More and more attorneys and law firms are recognizing the importance of making presentations for business development. As the competition increases, it's important to learn how to effectively present yourself and/or your firm. You can begin by reading articles and books on effective communication. The next step would be to find groups where you can practice your message. Toastmasters provides a supportive environment that can also help you overcome any communication anxiety. Their highly structured format provides limited opportunities for speeches over ten minutes in length, but you'll gain confidence and experience. The greatest level of involvement, and the one that will produce the quickest results, is working with a presentation coach. The right coach can help to refine your key messages, suggest techniques to better connect with target audiences, and polish your presentation skills. Wherever you decide to start, you'll be on your way to implementing a powerful new marketing tool.

Dr. Joseph Sommerville (Sommerville@PeakCP.com) is the Principal of Peak Communication Performance, a Houston-based firm that shows attorneys how to use presentations as productive business development tools. Contact him at 1.800.420.5443

Special Report - Secrets of Asset Protection

Section 1: The Current Landscape (Battlefield)

- Out of control lawsuits
- Bloated government with an ever-increasing appetite.
- Advancing Socialism
- Insane over-regulation

Section 2: Economic Slavery

- The Middle Class Treadmill
- Hidden inflation guarantees failure
- "Debt is good" - another lie
- Anesthetized Society

Section 3: Solutions

- Asset Protection for Current and Future Wealth
- Why a Bank may be the Worst Place For Your Money
- Set Up Your Own Virtual Bank Account
- Take Action

Introduction

We live in a dangerous world. What you do not know can hurt you. The purpose of this report is to help you to better understand and protect yourself from the many dangers that threaten your economic survival.

Section 1

The Current Landscape (Battlefield)

"America has degenerated into the most litigious society in the history of the World."

There are now well over one million attorneys in our country - that's 70% of the world's attorney population, and Americans only comprise 5% of the world's people! Our law schools are presently graduating over 40,000 attorneys a year.

For every 20 engineers, Japan only has one attorney. For every 2.5 attorneys, we have just one engineer. Is it any wonder we can't find justice?

In 1993, the American Bar Association estimated there to be a 37% probability of the average American becoming involved in some form of legal action in any given year. This, of course, is very good news to the trial attorney who will charge you an average of $100/hr and up: and whether he wins or loses your case, he still gets paid!

What would you do if you were to be sued today?

Hire an attorney?

In many cases, having an attorney is worse than not having an attorney at all!

At an American Bar Association dinner in New York in 1978, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger, as the guest speaker, stated:

"Ninety percent of all trial attorneys in this country are incompetent."

If you believe that an attorney can always better represent you than you can represent yourself, you have bought the attorney's lie that, "The man that represents himself has a fool for a client."

Did you believe that an attorney will always represent your best interests first?

"The Attorney is an Officer of the Court. His first duty is to the courts and the public, not to his client" 7 Corpus Juris Secundum, §4, pg. 802

Source: Economic Solutions, by Peter Kershaw, 1997

The American landscape today is filled with many dangers - any of which can spell financial disaster for you. Here are just a few of them:

a. Out of control lawsuits
b. Bloated government with an ever-increasing appetite
c. Advancing Socialism
d. Insane "over-regulation"

Out of Control Lawsuits

As noted in the opening quotation, lawsuits have now become so prevalent that you can no longer believe that you will not be affected. It is now a matter of "when" not "if" a lawsuit enters your life.

Bloated Government

Bloated governments are expanding at an incredible pace and they never seem to have enough money. Their growing appetite and inefficiency causes them to need more and more tax revenue.

When they can't tax any more, they begin "licensing" and "permitting" those things that are supposed to be our "rights" and they tack on another fee. When they get desperate they resort to outright confiscation of the people's private property!

Advancing Socialist Philosophy

Another dangerous trend is the Advancing Socialist Philosophy. This is the philosophy of "government knows best". This Advancing Socialist Philosophy punishes innovation and industry and rewards
laziness and non-productivity.

In 1848, Karl Heinrich Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto, which has since become the most widely read political pamphlet in the history of the world.

These are Nine Planks of the Manifesto [author's comments in
brackets]:

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. [Property taxes are "rent".]

2. A heavy progressive or graduating income tax. [Internal Revenue Code]

3. Abolition of all right of inheritance. [Estate and inheritance taxes]

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. [Ashcroft's Patriot Act: If you are designated a rebel "Enemy Combatant" you lose all constitutional rights.]

5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly. [Federal Reserve]

6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State. [FCC, TSA, controlled media]

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State, the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

9. Free education for all children in public schools. [Our public schools no longer teach the Constitution and have virtually eliminated God from the classrooms.]

Source: Economic Solutions, Peter Kershaw, 1997

Many people will argue that most of these Planks are already in place!

What do you think?

Insane "Over-Regulation"

Do you believe we live in a "free" country? Try and do something without a permit, license, or Social Security Number (read: Socialist Security Number).

"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:17

The immense explosion of laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations have created one the greatest threats to one's assets and private property. The following quote from Ayn Rand's novel says it well:

"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We WANT them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then you'll know that this is not the age of beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were piker's, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one 'makes' them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens?

But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system,
Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."
(Page 406 of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand).

Consider another quote concerning the voluminous 6000 plus pages of the Internal Revenue Code that no one understands:

"Is it possible to ever learn the truth about income taxes, especially in light of all the confusion, if not blatant misinformation? Yes, you can, but not by trusting attorneys and accountants. These, after all, are highly compromised individuals - taxes are their very livelihood! Higher taxation and more tax
laws with ever-increasing complexity are to their advantage. Yet, even these tax "professionals" seldom have a clue as to how to properly interpret the tax laws. The results of a 1989 Money Magazine survey of 50 top "Professional Tax Preparers," unequivocally demonstrates the utter ncomprehensibility of the income tax laws.

The fifty preparers were given the assignment of preparing tax returns for a fictitious American family. None of them arrived at even close to the same bottom line figure. In fact, discrepancies ranged anywhere from $12,539 to $35,813! Imagine the absurdity of trying to figure your own taxes correctly,
when even the "professionals" are incapable of doing so!" - Economic Solutions, Peter Kershaw, 1997

In fact a survey in 2003 showed that the IRS "help line" gave wrong answers to taxpayers questions 47% of the time!

In summary, we live in a dangerous world and the American landscape is fraught with land mines that are direct threats to your financial well being.

Section 2

Economic Slavery

Americans, living in what is called the richest nation on earth, seem always to be short of money. Wives are working in unprecedented numbers, husbands hope for overtime hours to earn more, or take part-time jobs evenings and weekends, children look for odd jobs for spending money, the family debt climbs higher, and psychologists say one of the biggest causes of family quarrels and breakups is "arguments over money." - Billions for the Bankers, Debt for the People, Pastor Sheldon Emry

What they don't tell you is that, after inflation, taxes and debt payments...most people are worse off than when they started! They are simply taking one step forward and two steps back and they wonder why they never get ahead!

Consider this statistic from a recent government report:

At age 65, ninety-five out of one hundred people will be dependent in some way upon their family, their church, or the government. Four of them will be comfortable and only one will be rich.

Society has been so "anesthetized" by television and recreation that we don't see our money being taken from us from right under our noses. Most people in America can tell you what episode of "Survivor" they saw last night but they can't tell you the last time they read the united states Constitution or the Declaration of Independence! Did you know that our Founding Fathers revolted
over a 5% tax by the King of England? Yet today Americans pay as much as 50% in local, state and federal taxes!

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their
fathers conquered." Thomas Jefferson

Because the Federal Reserve is privately owned by international banking families, and 'creates' our money by loaning it to our nation, it is mathematically impossible to ever repay the national debt. We are slowly and methodically progressing towards the day our nation goes bankrupt.

When this happens we will see the rapid drop in the value of the dollar. This will shatter our current economic condition and create the "mother of all depressions".

For a sneak peak into our future do an Internet search on Argentina's recent default on their national debt in 2002. When this happened the Argentine Peso lost over 60% of its value in less than six months! Unemployment soared to over 25% percent and the country went from being a thriving economy to a third world country.

"No currency has suffered a smaller loss from inflation since World War II than the German Mark. Yet even so, 71 percent of it's value vanished between January 1, 1949, and the end of June 1995. The world reserve currency during this period, the U.S. Dollar, lost 84 percent of its value. This is a measure of the wealth that governments expropriated by exploiting their territorial monopolies
on legal tender." From The Sovereign Individual, by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg

The Federal Reserve, by attempting to regulate the economy with the expansion and contraction of credit, has created an economic environment that greatly magnifies our boom and bust cycle. The "boom" times are signified by greatly exaggerated prices like the stock market "bubble" of the nineties and the housing bubble of the years 2003 - 2005.

Combine these two major forces and it doesn't take much to recognize that we are in for some very rough seas over the next 10 to 15 years. The place to be during these tumultuous times will be in precious metals. In times of economic uncertainty people will flock to gold and silver.

Gold and Silver have been real money since biblical times - long before "paper" money was created - and they will be here long after "paper money" returns to its intrinsic value which is nothing.

Here are some interesting quotes on gold:

"For more than two thousand years gold's natural qualities made it man's universal medium of exchange. In contrast to political money, gold is honest money that survived the ages and will live on long after the political fiats of today have gone the way of all paper." Hans F. Sennholz

"If you don't trust gold, do you trust the logic of taking a beautiful pine tree, worth about $4,000 - $5,000, cutting it up, turning it into pulp and then paper, putting some ink on it and then calling it one billion dollars?" Kenneth J. Gerbino

"Gold is not less but more rational than paper money. Money holds value so long as it is in limited supply; gold will always be in limited supply, and would require real resources to produce even from the sea; paper and printing ink are not in limited supply. The gold system is much closer to a modern automatic scientific control system than the crude and relatively unstable system of paper." William Rees-Mogg

"Of all the contrivances for cheating the laboring classes of mankind, none has been more effective than that which deludes them with paper money." Daniel Webster

"Betting against gold is the same as betting on governments. He who bets on governments and government money bets against 6,000 years of recorded human history." Gary North

"Gold is worshiped in all climates, without a single temple, and by all classes, without a single hypocrite.
Caleb C. Colton

Section 3

Solutions

How do you protect yourself and your assets in these treacherous times?

We believe that there are two critical steps that you must take to protect your financial future.

The first thing you must do is protect your current assets so they are insulated from these financial threats.

The second thing you must do is create additional sources of income that will help you weather the storms that comes your way.

Asset Protection for Current and Future Wealth Asset Protection is the act of positioning your assets in such a way that they are out of reach of predators, lawsuits and even government agencies. The key is to "control" your assets without actually "owning" them.

A good Asset Protection Plan is designed to make your assets difficult to discover or too expensive to pursue.

A good Asset Protection Plan is put into place before it is needed. In a sense, it is a type of insurance that will enable you to sleep well at night knowing that you are protected.

How do you "control" your assets without actually "owning" them?

First, let us define "asset". An asset is anything of value that you want to preserve or protect against hostile third parties.

To protect your valued assets against these predators you must own your assets in an entity other than in your own name. There are many types of entities that you can choose from and here are just a few:

Corporations
Partnerships
Trusts
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

When you "control" the company you also control the checkbook. As the President or Manager of your company you make all the decisions on behalf of the company and benefit from all the assets of the company.

Corporations work well but are often difficult to maintain and, If you do not keep proper records, you can lose your personal liability protection.

General Partnerships are generally not effective in asset protection although Limited Partnerships offer some liability protection.

Limited Liability Companies are quickly replacing Limited Partnerships as Asset Protection vehicles.

Limited Liability Companies have become the premiere Asset Protection vehicle because of their superior asset protection features, their ease of operation, their low maintenance, and their relatively low cost.

A Trust is an effective Asset Protection vehicle but only if it is an irrevocable trust. This simply means that you give up control of the trust to an independent trustee.

An Unicorporated Business Trust Organization takes the limited liability features of a corporation and combines them with the "pass through" tax benefits of a partnership. It is literally the best of both worlds.

U.B.T.O.'s are flexible and simple to form and are much easier to maintain than other entities.

Internationally, the U.B.T.O. is the most common form of business entity in use.

The Unincorporated Business Trust Organization is now the entity of choice for individuals and businesses seeking the ultimate in privacy and asset protection.

You also have a much lower profile.

The Unicorporated Business Trust Organization is one of the ultimate asset protection and privacy tools!

With an Unincorporated Business Trust Organization Protecting Real Estate, Rental Property, Business Assets, and Financial Accounts with Multiple U.B.T.O.'s

The basic idea when using U.B.T.O.'s as an Asset Protection Strategy is to separate High Risk Assets (cars, businesses, rentals) from Low Risk Assets (bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds).

You can buy just about any kind of personal and real property in separate U.B.T.O. to maintain maximum privacy and asset protection.

You can also have your business assets, real estate, and equipment owned by a separate M.T. (or multiple U.B.T.O.'s) and then lease them back to your business.

Owning a Vehicle With An U.B.T.O.:

U.B.T.O.'s are a great privacy tool and are great for owning cars, heavy equipment, and recreational vehicles.

Imagine you are in an auto accident and you are sued. When the hostile party discovers that the owner of the vehicle is an U.B.T.O. (which has no other assets) and that you don't own anything either (your assets are owned by other U.B.T.O.s) they give up or settle at a greatly reduced amount.

The more assets you have, the more U.B.T.O.s you may want to set up.

Why a Bank may be the worst place for Your Money:

Did you know that banks may be the worst place to keep your money?

Try this little experiment:

Pick up your Account Holder Agreement (if you don't have one go pick one up from the bank) and read it. Here is what one from Wells Fargo states:

"The Bank may accept and act on any legal process that it believes is valid, whether served in person, by mail or by facsimile transmission, at any Bank location. Legal process includes, without limitation,
a levy, garnishment or attachment, tax levy or withholding order, injunction, restraining order, subpoena, search warrant, government agency request for information or forfeiture relating to your account."

Does that make you sleep well at night? With the new, so-called "Patriot Laws" if you "look" suspicious you are at risk! (What does a suspicious person look like?)

It gets worse. You must first understand the monster called "fractional reserve banking" (which is the way our banks operate). *Fractional Reserve Banking means what it says. The banks only keep a fraction of the deposits on hand as reserves to cover any withdrawals.

Sounds innocent enough but let's examine it further:

Banks only keep about $1 in reserves for every $10 in deposits. This means that if more than one out of every ten account holders were to appear at the same time at the bank to make a withdrawal,
THE MONEY WOULDN'T BE THERE!

Another way of looking at this is the fact that the banks have the ability to loan out $10 for every $1 they take in!

If you think Enron and WorldCom had crooked books, this makes them pale in comparison! Banks have the ability to create money out of thin air. If we tried that we would be thrown in prison for
counterfeiting!

What about the FDIC?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation only has about 1/2 of 1% in reserves to cover insurance claims. The FDIC is nothing more than a "confidence" game.

What's the solution?

One solution is to keep as little money as possible in your bank. Only use banks to cash your checks.

Take Action

Never before in history has there been such a threat to your personal financial security than right now. Like the story of Noah's Ark in the Old Testament, you must build your financial lifeboat before you need it. When the rains come it will already be too late.

Contact us for a Complimentary Consultation 312-298-9075 or by e-mail at fa2z@aol.com!

Evident, LLC

Chicago,
Illinois Republic

20+ years in the fields of Mortgage Financing.....Real Estate Acquisition.....and Asset Protection for Business as well as Personal

Scam Alert - Cosmetic Dentistry Secrets The Dental Industry Doesn't Want You To Know

Are you considering getting some cosmetic dental work done? Before you plunk down the big money, there are certain things you should know about this type of dentistry that will not only benefit your health but also save you a lot of money.

Although there are dentists and dental offices that specialize in performing cosmetic dentistry, it should be noted that there is no such thing as a "Cosmetic Dentist" as the American Dental Association (ADA.org) only recognizes 11 areas of dental specialties ; Dental Public Health, Pediatric, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.

Because of the growing market of people who want "cosmetic" (or restorative as it's properly called) dentistry done on them such as bleeching, contouring, esthetic partials, veneers, porcelain crowns, teeth reshaping, caps, etc., there are those dentists who are trying (and succeeding!) in exploiting their patients by getting them to pay more money than they have to for procedures which, in many cases, can be done by a regular dentist (crowns, bridges, caps) for a lot less money.

The bottom line is don't just assume you need to see a "cosmetic dentist"; have a regular DDS or DMD dentist examine you first and if they can't help you, have them recommend a dentist who specializes in restorative dentistry.

Four Most Popular Types Of Cosmetic Dental Work

Porcelain Veneers - It is a known fact that veneers (porcelain laminate veneers, technically) are gaining in popularity, especially among wealthier folks. Veneers are very thin porcelain 'false fronts' for your teeth. They are custom-made from a meticulous mold of your teeth, which are then applied directly to the fronts of your teeth to produce instant perfect whiteness. They are most often used to cover stains that cannot be removed through other methods, to fill in gaps, and to cover surface damage. In the world of cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers are just about the most expensive solution. Prices vary considerably, depending on the renown of the dentist you use and where you live. Expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1,000 per tooth. While some people have all their teeth done, the vast majority who choose this option have just their front six teeth done (top and bottom). This translates to a total price tag of $4,800 to $12,000.

Professional Tooth Whitening - These days tooth whitening is the most popular form of cosmetic dentistry, by far. Millions of Americans have this procedure done every year. The process involves applying a gel mixture containing about 35% hydrogen peroxide directly to the teeth via a mouth tray (similar to mouth guards worn by football players). Your dentist then uses a plasma arc light or laser to quickly heat the hydrogen peroxide, which then oxidizes the stains on your teeth. You usually have a choice between having the teeth whitening done in the dentist's office, or using an at-home system that he or she devises and manages. The in-office procedure is more expensive, but is also quicker and often produces more whitening. At-home systems are slower and may not produce as much whitening, but they are less costly. In-office whitening will run you $450 to $1,200, while at-home systems generally add up to $300 to $750.

Tooth Shaping - This type of procedure is becoming popular as a way for people who have generally good teeth to fine-tune their smiles. Some people have long teeth or maybe their canines are too sharp for their liking. A very simple and relatively inexpensive procedure in the pantheon of cosmetic dentistry at just $30 to $70 per tooth, the entire process is painless and can be finished in as little as thirty minutes and one office visit. The dentist uses an instrument to essentially file or sculpt the teeth in question to the agreed upon shape. Only bits of enamel are removed, and the tooth's nerve is not disturbed, so no pain is involved.

Gum Lifting - Gum lifting is another increasingly popular form of cosmetic dentistry. A small portion of the gum line (usually the upper gum) is removed in an effort to make the gum line appear uniform. You've probably seen people with 'gummy' smiles, where the upper lip exposes most (or at least too much) of the upper gums. This procedure reduces the amount of gum showing when a person smiles, as well as making the gum line even across the teeth. Gum lifts are done tooth-by-tooth, and involve a mild local anesthetic to deaden the nerves in the gums. Patients generally report only very mild discomfort for a day or two after the procedure. This can be a fairly expensive procedure, depending on the number of teeth that need to have the gums above reduced. A gum lift will set you back $70 to $200 per tooth.

Making Cosmetic Dental Care More Affordable

Most people who get cosmetic dentristry done these days pay out-of-pocket for this service. This is because very few dental insurance policies cover so-called "elective procedures", even though some of these procedures (ie. braces, dentures, root canals) would be considered anything but "elective" by most people. However, there are a couple of steps you can take to reduce how much you will pay for cosmetic-related dental procedures, especially if these procedures are not covered by your existing dental insurance coverage;

(1) By far the best way to reduce what you pay for cosmetic dentistry is to shop around. Don't be taken in by fancy newspaper advertisements of glowing testimonials about how much better a person feels about themselves after they've went to this dentist or that dental office, do some old-fashioned comparison shopping. Start by going to a dentist that you trust and after explaining to them the type treatment you're looking for, ask them what your options are and how much they will cost. Then if you need to go somewhere else for treatment, ask your dentist for a referral.

(2) Another easy way to save money on cosmetic dentistry is to enroll in a discount or reduced fee dental plan. These plans allow members to save 15%, 20% and in some cases as much as 25% on any cosmetic procedure done by a dental specialist (Periodontist, Orthodontist, Oral Surgeon, etc). The problem with these type of plans is that unless you live in or near a large-size city, the chances are that you'll find few if any specialists in your area who will accept a discount dental plan, so before you join any plan, make sure that plan has at least one orthodontist, periodontist and oral surgeon within a reasonable driving distance from where you live.

Choosing A "Cosmetic Dentistry Friendly" Plan

But how do you know which discount dental plan is best for you and your specific cosmetic dental needs? There can literally be dozens of plans to choose from, each one with their own participating dentists, monthly premiums and dental fee schedules, so it can be easy to pay too much for a plan. The National Association of Dental Plans (NADP.org) reports that 68% of all buyers pay too much for their dental coverage which is why its a good idea to shop around for the plan that's best for you.

Murray Glick is a webmaster with DiscountDental4u.net and frequently writes about issues dealing with dental coverage. He insists that the time to buy a dental plan is not when you get a toothache, but well before you need any type of emergency dental insurance. With the current choices in discount dental plans, the cost of going to the dentist is more affordable for everyone so before you this for delay getting dental work done because you're afraid of the bill, visit http://www.discountdental4u.net to learn what your options are.

If you want help finding a "cosmetic dentistry friendly" discount dental plan in your area, send an email to webmaster@discountdental4u.net

Powerful Anti Aging Secrets Revealed by National Geographic - The Resveratrol Effect

If you are looking for powerful anti-aging secrets, looking for the fountain of youth may be a little far fetched but as the National Geographic have revealed after an extensive 7 year study, there are places know as the "Blue Zones" or hot zones where being a centenarian is not at all rare.

So what makes the body tick?

The heart.

What does the heart do?

It pumps blood through your body.

What does the blood travel through?

The arteries.

Therefore, keeping your arteries in optimum condition is crucial if you want to live a much longer and healthier life. So, how do we keep our arteries clean and smooth so to as optimize the hearts engine?

Well, there are a number of ways. Exercise obviously attributes to healthy clean arteries and a diet high in Omega 3 acids such as sardines is also effective. What the national Geographic discovered on the island of Sardinia which is home to the worlds largest male centenarian population is that there red wine contains three times the level of resveratrol a normal bottle of wine from your local store contains.

Why is this important?

Because Resveratrol, a fungi found in the grape skin which grows naturally to help fight bacteria is also discovered to be a natural artery scrubber.

You may get some resveratrol from your locally bought bottle of wine, but the chances are it has been farmed using pesticides which stop the grape from producing resveratrol. Therefore don't expect that drinking one or two glasses of wine has the same effect as it does in Sardinia.

One way round this though is by taking resveratrol in a juice or capsule form. Each bottle is the equivalent to 1000 bottles of Sardinian red wine so the concentration is obviously high! This the National Geographic claim is the anti aging secret to the Sardinians longevity and accompanied with a healthy out door lifestyle as well as a strong family bond is one of the ways to beat the aging process.

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