There are many types of boats for many types of people. If you prefer to be in contact with nature, a sailboat may be right for you. If you like to kick back and cast a line, a fishing boat may be your fantasy. But if you like thrills, chills, and euphoria, a speedboat may be your calling. A commercial speedboat can be quite expensive, but if you can get your hands on the right materials, building your own speedboat can cost much less and be very rewarding. Even more rewarding is creating your own speedboat design.

Most people never consider building their own boat, but it really makes a lot more sense than buying one. You’ll save a ton of money by doing the work yourself. Then you can show off to all your friends how you built this awesome boat that completely blows your store-bought boat out of the water. Not to mention, you’ll learn a lot of boat building knowledge that you can apply to projects in the future.

The first thing to consider when building your speedboat is to have a plan to follow. You can’t just start building; you have to have a plan of attack on how you go about the project. When I built my first boat I didn’t know what to do. Fortunately, I found this amazing 3D CAD software that helped me design an amazing ship just the way I wanted it. It took me a few tries to figure it out, but once I understood the possibilities this program possessed, I was blown away. He could build any kind of ship he wanted! So I spent some time and developed the perfect model for my dream boat. Once I had my blueprint, it was time to get my hands dirty.

Speedboats will require length to allow you to travel at fast speeds. With that in mind, you want to make sure you have a nice, open workspace for a long time. I’ve always used my garage, but for those larger boats, you may have to park your cars in the driveway for a few months to make room.

Once you’ve laid out your work area and purchased your materials, you can start putting everything together. Just follow your blueprint and double check each measurement before you do the finishing touch. If you have a 9 to 5 job like me, finding time to care for your baby can be difficult. I tend to use the weekend for my boat building time. You’d be surprised what you can accomplish in the span of 2 days.

When it’s finally done, I’m sure you won’t be able to stop smiling. You will never forget the first time you threw it into the water. Having your own speedboat is an amazing feeling. This is not your average boat, it’s about speed and lots of it! Best of all, you did it yourself.

A question is a statement that requests an answer or response. On a daily basis, you can ask to be asked questions. Some questions are open-ended and require explanation, elaboration, etc., while other questions are closed-ended and require only a Yes or No. In some cases, others ask questions that do not necessarily require an answer, but only that someone listen to them (questions rhetorical). Depending on the structure of the question, the answer that follows should address what the question is looking for. Many people fail exams not because they are boring but because they do not understand what is being asked of them. The lack of correct articulation of the question leads to an incorrect action or answer. After a presentation, you should feel good if people ask you questions. It can be a sign that people participated in the presentation and that the presentation generated interest in others. How you answer those questions will improve your audience’s opinion of you or increase their trust in your product or service. As a professional, you will need to master the art of asking relevant questions, but more importantly how to answer questions effectively.

1. Understand the question – Before you dive into answering a question, make sure you are clear about what the question is about. There is nothing wrong with seeking clarity on what is being asked. Politely ask “Sorry, I don’t seem to understand what you’re asking, would you mind rephrasing it?” You will communicate better in such a case than just blathering without clarity or understanding. Remember that the essence of answering questions is that you make a positive contribution to someone who is looking for an answer. Do not waste your time. Seek understanding first.

2. Listen carefully to the entire question – One way you can improve your effectiveness in answering a question in a relevant and objective way is when you give the person asking the question time to finish asking the question. Some people take the time to specify exactly what they are looking for. Answering a question before it is fully asked can come across as disrespectful. Don’t assume you know the direction the question is going, so you want to help the person get to the point. If you have time, let the person “ramble” while you take down the key points. It also gives you time to synthesize and think about the best answer to the question. The ability to listen gives you a high rate of success in answering your questions.

3. Pause and think carefully – You have to determine if you are qualified to answer the question or someone else is. Are you authorized to speak on that topic (journalists can go after you even if you’re not supposed to be a company spokesperson)? How deep does the answer need to be? The pauses and moments of silence show that you are not simply producing whatever raw material you have in mind, but a clearly thought-out response is coming through. In fact, you can prepare the person who is expecting an answer by saying “Let me think… let me see…”. That way, the person doesn’t sit around thinking they haven’t heard, they’re just ignoring, etc. Thinking carefully also helps you come up with affirmations that you won’t regret later. You can assess how best to respond wisely without leaving the person with fresh scars or wounds.

4. Answer the question and stop – Having understood what the question means, your role is to answer as best you can and stop. The tendency to volunteer information that has not been requested does not add value. If anything, you take the power away from yourself. I have come across people who after being asked a simple question like “Where are you going?” they’ll stop and think you have all day to hear the name drop, long explanations giving all the background leaving you to just say “Oh really, aha, Oh I see”. Get to the point and stop. When you’re always spouting tidbits of information, lies are inevitable. You can easily start to get confused or make contradictory statements without realizing it. I have seen people lose cases in court because they keep saying statements that are then used against them later in the process.

5. Relax and feel safe – It is interesting to note that sometimes the same question can be difficult to answer depending on who is asking the question and in what configuration. If on a bus the person sitting next to you asks you; “Would you mind telling me about yourself?” can be a lot easier to frame than when you have a panel of four or five people in an interview room looking for a job. The same question can bring different answers. In the first scenario you can relax and talk about social issues, while in the second you almost feel like every answer should point out how hardworking you are and all the positive things in life. The important key to response flow and effective response to a question is to relax and be as natural as possible in your response. You don’t want it to sound like you have a rehearsed speech somewhere that you’re trying to remember. Relax and let your creativity flow. Breathe normally and feel comfortable.

6. Master the general nature of questions – The most common questions focus on What? (search for details), Where? (seeks to know the place or place or setting) Why? (seeks to understand the reasons behind) Who? (you are applying for the people involved) When? (finds the date and time it happened) How? (wants to know the process or step-by-step breakdown of an event) From whom? (identifies the owner). Other questions are like statements asking for details. They give you the indication in statements such as Illustrate, explain, clarify, enunciate, describe, investigate, enumerate, etc. Be careful with such words to give an answer that is relevant to what is being searched for.

7. You may not know the answers to all the questions – It is a noble thing to let some questions pass. You are not the encyclopedia of all the questions you come across. Admitting that you don’t know the answer is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you know yourself and you would not like to participate in a guessing game. I have a lot of respect for people who, even in interviews, will tell you “I haven’t come across that concept yet, but it sounds really exciting” than for people who agonize over the fact that all questions need to be answered and still thus they waste the next five minutes giving a lecture that is innocent of the truth. Sometimes in a group setting, admitting that you don’t know the answer to a question will give you so much wisdom that might be hidden in the person you’re sitting next to; the kind of wisdom you can’t even find in books.

8. Always avoid answering a question with a question – There are people who will never try to answer in any other way than asking a question. One instance where this is acceptable is in a classroom where a student asks a question and the teacher has no idea what the answer is. He/she can creatively ask “Is there anyone who can help with the question?”. She does not immediately admit ignorance of the question, but gives the teacher time to synthesize the response of other participants. I have always been a victim in terms of answering a direct question with a question. What started this topic is a question my wife asked me, which was simple and direct: “Are you going to the office later today?” My immediate response was not about the office but “Why?” My response would have been “Yes, I’m coming, is there anything you need, do you want to come with me?” instead of a resounding “Why” before giving the answer. She immediately told me, “You’d better do an article on how to answer questions.

9. If you are the expert, then prove it – Sometimes people ask questions because they know that you are the best placed to know the best solution. In cases where you know what you are doing, please provide the full answer required. Support your answer with relevant examples, where necessary. Just avoid giving lengthy explanations where a simple answer would have worked. In a science class, if the students ask you to explain about the process of photosynthesis; won’t answer this in a one line statement, but bring your expertise, go out there and get different types of sheets to illustrate for students to understand. Similarly, in a boardroom, if you are the head of Operations, then you need to show yourself. You cannot make other people appear to be the experts in your area when you are there. Be the authority in your field.

10. Avoid judging the person asking. – It is easy to think that the person who asked a question has no knowledge in a specific area. When you are quick to judge, you run the risk of being embarrassed one day. Some people ask questions about areas in which they have doctorates. They steer discussions in the direction of their areas of expertise. When a question is asked, avoid attacking the person for asking it, but stand your ground and answer whatever is asked. Avoid such critical-sounding statements. When judgment signals enter an argument, this becomes a barrier to effective communication. No one will objectively listen to what you are saying. Say what you know and quote what you have heard others say.

For my part, I can make a very good breakfast with nothing but French fries. I know I’ve heard that fried foods aren’t good for me, but I still enjoy a bowl of those “greasy” potatoes whenever I can.

I would like to pass on this dehydration recipe to site visitors as they easily get into the survival food topic. You can pack them with your food saver and store a few packets in your vehicle’s emergency food supply next to your bottled water. I’ve personally bought some of the commercial dehydrated versions and they really don’t taste too bad.

Depending on how you cut and dry your potatoes, you could use them for anything from frying to making scalloped potatoes. Here is the procedure I would recommend using.

Start by selecting firm potatoes, not overripe. He proceeds to peel them and wash them well. Take and slice your potatoes 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick. My wife’s food processor works great on this step. With it, I am guaranteed to get consistent cuts every time on every piece. If you like, you can also cut them as the 3/8-inch-thick cord type. Another one of my favorite slices are the shredded or diced cuts. It all comes down to how the dried potatoes will actually be used.

As a pretreatment for your potatoes, you’ll want to steam blanch them over hot water containing about 1 tsp. of sodium bisulfate for each cup of water used. Blanch them for about 4-6 minutes or until they turn translucent but still firm.

After this step, rinse them very well with a little cold water to remove any remaining starch. Their drying temperature should be around 160 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 to 2 hours or until they are completely set.

You can grate the slices to rehydrate later and use as hash browns. Now, as an added bonus, here’s a quick recipe to make one of my favorite dishes: Scalloped Potatoes.

Required Ingredients:

3 cups diced dehydrated potatoes (See above)
6 tablespoons of butter
3 tablespoons of flour
1 1/2 cups of milk
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe preparation:

1. Place potatoes in a shallow baking dish.
2. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt 6 tablespoons of butter.
3. Take the butter and add the flour to it. Stir well to mix together.
4. Gradually add the milk.
5. Continue cooking and stirring continuously until a thick sauce forms.
6. Add cheese and stir until cheese melts.
7. Pour the sauce over the potatoes in the baking dish and mix gently.
8. Bake potatoes at 400° for 30 to 40 minutes. The final product should be golden brown in color.

There you have a perfect meal of potatoes au gratin. I could eat this myself as a main meal!

Copyright @ 2009 Joseph Parish
January 6, 2009

Do you remember that square-shaped box that rests on the table in your living room? When you turn it on, it will show you some of the most interesting news or any other monotonous video clips. That’s what this idiot box was all about in the early days.

Fortunately, the idiot box isn’t that idiotic anymore and neither are the TV shows it airs today. Thanks to Mr. Philo Farnsworth for the invention of modern television, who certainly brought a sigh of relief to all those people who would otherwise be bored doing just about anything and everything they have been doing to kill their so-called boredom.

Without a doubt, the invention of modern television and TV shows is clever. The nightly practice of curling up in your diapers and sticking to your favorite TV shows is the greatest leisure activity you would find for yourself in the current times.

A worthy evolution of the idiot box.

From your body structure to the shows you broadcast, everything about television has gotten bigger and better. The beautiful plasma or flat screen TV not only allows you to watch your programs in better quality, but also looks good in your living room (trivial, in fact). Gone are the days of a cable connection failure situation where he would want to connect his TV to a cable operator to enjoy his TV shows even more. The digitization of television and more, apps such as Netflix and Amazon Prime video have evolved the whole way in which anyone would like to be entertained in front of the television.

TV shows worth watching:

The idiot box has not only evolved in terms of its structure and technical update, but it has also evolved in the context of its television shows. Today, there are a variety of shows that you can watch and be entertained to the core. The categories like news, movies, music, knowledge and infotainment, etc. they are bringing new dynamics to this whole idea with each passing day. Also, the quality of the shows has drastically improved. Needless to say, shows like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Big Bang Theory, Friends, Narcos, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, etc. have gathered an immense following among the global audience. The craze of these shows has increased so much that the audience not only watches them, but lives them for eternity.

Learn some surprising facts about the idiot box

Did you know that the inventor of modern television, Philo Farnsworth, did not let his children watch television? Do you know that the most expensive ad ever made was for the show and it starred none other than Nicole Kidman? This ad was priced at $33 million. The average person in the United States spends 15 years of their life watching television. Although most people dream in color, people who grew up watching black and white television tend to dream in black and white.

Now that you know a lot about idiot box, enjoy watching your favorite show now!

FOR ME, EXPLORATION HAS ALWAYS STARTED AT THE END OF CIVILIZATION. In most places, one must retreat from the neon signs and golden arches and step out of the concrete jungle altogether to find nature. Generally, if I have even a bar of reception on my cell phone, I haven’t gotten far enough away. Most of America’s populated places try to integrate wildlife into civilization in the form of “green spaces” – manicured patches of grass and picnic benches that are supposed to convey a sense of nature and openness. In the Deep South, it’s the other way around. Here, small towns carve a sense of civilization into the vast and untamed wilderness. Even the largest suburbs seem to struggle to keep a creeping wilderness at bay.

Slidell is a suburb of New Orleans that sits under a canopy of loblolly pine on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It’s an area saturated with rivers and swamps, where little gravel roads lead to neighborhoods of stilt houses deep in the swamps where you wouldn’t think neighborhoods could exist. It’s such low-lying lowland (3 feet, to be exact) that the term “mainland” doesn’t really apply. And unlike most places in the country, here one can be deep in nature and a stone’s throw from a Waffle House at the same time.

Slidell is bordered on the east by the West Pearl River, which flows from its headwaters in the Nanih Waiya Indian Mounds area of ​​central Mississippi and empties into the Rigolets and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The Pearl is home to the Honey Island Swamp, one of the most beautiful and least disturbed river swamps in the United States. It takes its name from tales of abundant wild honey made by rogue bees that had escaped their beekeepers.

DRIVEN THROUGH THE SWAMP

We had not made hotel reservations. There was nothing on the itinerary. We had no other plan than to drive along lonely roads and explore forgotten corners of this subtropical wonderland. We drove slowly down Highway 190, trying to take it all in. I soon realized that graves were not the only objects stolen by Katrina’s flood waters. A large tugboat appeared just off the road, miles from any open sea. I went outside to take some photos and was instantly attacked by swarms of what looked like large flying ants. These little monsters came in mating pairs, and I was surprised that they took time out of their rite of procreation to sink their teeth (or fangs, or pokers, or whatever) into my forearms. My only option was to run until I was close enough to take a couple of photos and then go back to the car. It’s amazing how fast an out-of-shape thirty-year-old can run when he’s chased by hordes of two-headed devilish insects.

A few miles and several more beached boats later, we stopped at a clam lot across from a swamp museum on the shores of the Pearl. A wooden walkway led to the bank where we met two swamp tour captains, both with thick Cajun accents. It was early afternoon and both captains had finished their runs for the day. The swamp tour business was good before Katrina, I was told. Honey Island Swamp guides are now lucky enough to have a full boat a day, and it would have been a waste of gas and time to take just us on a tour after hours. As we turned to walk back to our car, another tour boat floated by and offered to take us aboard.

Oh the swamp. Something I have seen in many movies but never experienced for myself. It was incredibly quiet for an area so rich in wildlife. The setting was taken directly from the boat launch scene on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, except that particular ride scene was probably taken directly from here. Dilapidated old boathouses lined the shore in front of the launch, and she almost expected to walk past a fisherman playing ‘O Susanna’ on his banjo before plunging down a waterfall into the world of swashbuckling pirates. But this was the real deal. It was obvious that Katrina had been here. Rows of abandoned boathouses floated along the shore. In front of the launch, a medium-sized boathouse rested on a much smaller outhouse. A smaller boathouse floated next to the first, apparently untouched by the storm.

DEAD RIVER

“I’m going to turn on some air conditioning,” said Capt. Neil Benson, owner of Pearl River Eco-tours. Oh good, I thought. “I’m dying here!” Turns out he just meant that he was going to drive the boat real fast. However, he felt fine. After speeding along the main waterway for about a mile, Captain Neil stopped to turn into a narrow channel that led to a swamp he named Dead River. A swamp is a shallow, backwater lake system that parallels the main waterway of the swamp. The Honey Island Swamp is a 70,000-acre maze of these mudflats.

“Watch out for giant grass clippings as we go,” Neil warned as he pointed out the thick patches of tall, broad-leaved grass that brushed the sides of the boat as we drifted by. “That’ll cut your fingers pretty good.”

Neil Benson grew up in the bayou. He started out alone in a dugout canoe for the first time at age 10 and owned his first motorized flatboat at 12. “I know some people here who are pretty weird. Everyone who lives in the swamp is running from something, whether it’s of the law or of the voices”. in their heads.”

This caught my interest. Later I asked him to explain.

“The swamp is a place to lose yourself, sometimes on purpose, sometimes accidentally. If you are running from life, the swamp will easily accommodate your request and take whatever past you have had and hide it in its waters and under its canopy of trees. .”

We had gone a mile into the maze of Dead River when I realized I hadn’t been bitten by a bug since we got out of the car. Not even a mosquito, which surprised me, given that we were in an open boat deep in the swamp. In fact, other than our toddler’s repeated attempts to jump off the boat, this was the most peaceful boat ride I’ve ever been on. The swamp is a hauntingly beautiful place. Gnarled knees of bald cypress trees seem to float on the murky surface. Calm, dark waters combine with impenetrable wildlife and mossy tupelos to cast a haunting yet enchanting spell. Wikipedia defines a swamp as “a wetland that features temporary or permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water.” Neil defines it as an “underwater forest”.

bugs

Neil turned off the engine as the quagmire opened up into a billabong-shaped lake, created when a wide bend in the river is cut. I noticed a small green tree frog perched on the handrail by my elbow. Although the swamp is densely populated with wildlife, it takes a trained eye to spot most of it. Once I saw that frog, I started noticing them everywhere. The swamp is like a three-dimensional book of Where’s Wally? The best way to spot wildlife is to think of one type of animal and scan the shoreline until you see it.

We don’t have many critters in Utah. I sleep on the forest floor and dive into lakes and rivers without a second thought. My Texas-raised wife nearly went into cardiac arrest the first time she saw me swim in the Provo River. In Utah there is a noticeable lack of animals that can hurt, maim or kill you compared to the Deep South. The most dangerous creature for hikers in Utah is the rattlesnake, and even they will give you fair warning before they strike.

What makes me uneasy in this swamp is the wildlife you can’t see: the critters that lurk beneath the rusty surface of the water. Neil says that swimming in the swamp is no more dangerous than swimming in any other river. “Yes, we have alligators, snakes and the occasional bull shark in the river. However, like most animals in their natural ecosystem, the animals are more afraid of humans than humans are of them.”

Well I guess if it’s just an occasional bull shark mixed with alligators and snakes. I feel so calm!

SWAMP RATS AND CROCODILE

Something of a political anomaly, Neil is a serious environmentalist who drives a pickup truck with an NRA bumper sticker. His love of exploration and adventure blossomed into a passion for this delicate ecosystem, and he has been leading tours of the swamps for over a decade. A few days after Hurricane Katrina nearly killed the swamp by ripping off the canopy and flooding it with saltwater, Neil ventured out to survey the damage with reporter Ben Montgomery of the Tampa Tribune.

“This is amazing,” he told Montgomery. “For the life of me, I never would have guessed. He’s gone. Everything.”

“It was the first time I was back in the swamp after the storm,” Neil tells me over the phone two years later, on the second anniversary of Katrina’s arrival. “It was heartbreaking. I’m not an emotional person, but I have to tell you I was crying.” A couple of hours on a boat with Captain Neil reveals his enthusiasm for this place.

Back in open water, we saw our first alligator. Once we saw one, we started seeing them everywhere. As we passed, alligators swam toward the boat in search of the marshmallows Neil tossed at them. He even reached out to pet the one he calls Big Al.

In the swamp, you see a lot of things out of the corner of your eye. A frog or a snake here, an alligator or a boar there. Stories abound about an elusive creature affectionately called “The Thing.” Of the numerous reported sightings, no intelligible photo of the beast has ever been taken. But there are many believers. The Honey Island Swamp Monster is more than a myth to fishermen and swamp dwellers. Over the years, various researchers have made plaster casts of the monster’s supposed footprints. Neil owns one of these molds. He preferred not to talk about it during the tour, “because I would like to have some credibility.” Your official position on him? “I believe in the Honey Island Swamp Monster, and therefore it exists. If God didn’t exist, he would have to be invented.”

We did not witness this mythical creature that day. But then again, maybe we were just taken to the “tourist-friendly” areas of the swamp where the beast is less likely to hide. Looking at a satellite image of the swamp, I am amazed at how little we saw. The next time I’m there I plan to convince Neil to introduce me to the most secret caves in this mysterious and wonderful place.

Neil tells me he takes people on extended private tours, but requires clients to sign a “sign your life” waiver.

“Because when you get that far out in the middle of nowhere, no one can predict what’s going to happen.”

Sign me up, Neil!

I am endlessly interested in some things and completely uninterested in others, which includes anything mechanical; You’ll find a little middle ground with me.

When I put the key in the ignition of my car, something happens that causes it to start and that I don’t have to understand. I love watching good TV shows, but I don’t care how the picture gets on my TV. However, if you show me a customer service champion, I’ll get over it. I am very curious about the people who make a difference.

This brings me to Captain Dennis J. Flanagan of United Airlines. This is what happened that piqued my interest in this man of character.

My wife and I were traveling to Arizona for a week in Sedona. Our flight to Denver would leave Baltimore on United Airlines. About 30 minutes before our scheduled departure, we sat at the gate waiting to board when the gate to the Jetway opened. The United captain walked out, walked to the ticket counter and took the microphone. Based on my substantial flying experience, a variety of possible scenarios bombarded my brain, none of them good!

Then this captain began to speak. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain, Denny Flanagan.” He went on to describe the weather we anticipated and our route. He then said, “We’re flying a Boeing 757 this morning. If you have any questions during our flight about the plane or the flight, I’d be happy to answer them. Our plane this morning is in excellent shape.” He followed a long pause, then, “And I’m in good shape.” The passengers laughed. “By the way,” he continued, “this is my first flight.” Silence… “Today!” he added he with a smile.

Great. He makes schtick! He is a pilot with whom I identify.

Among the waiting passengers, I could see their moods changing rapidly like a wave. Previously they didn’t seem anxious or worried, just indifferent or tired. After that announcement, they seemed cheerful and eager to board.

We wondered what would happen next. Jimmy Buffet with a parrot? A conga line?

As we began to board, Captain Flanagan stood at the door of the plane handing out cards with a photographed 757 on one side and a description of the plane on the other. Greeting him, I mentioned that he was an executive coach and consultant who published a monthly newsletter. I said that I would like to write something about his friendliness and gave him my business card. He replied that he would love to talk sometime.

An hour into our flight, Anne, the flight attendant, spoke into the intercom and said, “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Here at United we believe traveling should be fun. That’s why Captain Flanagan is giving away discount tickets on United.” “.

Wait a minute, now we’re going to have a raffle? Whats Next? karaoke?

She continued, “On your cocktail napkin, write the reason you chose United for your air travel. Then I’ll draw four napkins and read the answers. Each of those people will receive a coupon for a discount on a future United flight.” “. “

The raffle ended and I did not win. But a few minutes later, Anne came down the hall with one of Captain Flanagan’s business cards. On the back was this note: “Mr. Golletz, you are a valued customer and your business is greatly appreciated. Please let me know how we can exceed your expectations. Also, could you wait for me after the flight?” Signed, “Captain Denny”.

I couldn’t meet him due to a close connection in Denver, so I asked Anne to tell him I’d call him after my vacation in Sedona, saying I couldn’t wait to find out more about him. Before taking my reply to Denny in the booth, he told me what he knew about this unusual and extraordinary fellow:

• He institutes the raffle on every flight and posts responses on cocktail napkins where United employees can read them.
• He has a large number of copies of a coffee table-sized book on United’s history and presents them to United associates who are exceptionally responsive to customers.
• Handwrite personal notes of thanks on the back of your business cards for each first-class passenger on each of your flights.
• Provide your personal credit card to unaccompanied minors on your flights so they can use the in-flight phone to call home.
• One of Denny’s co-pilots, Buck Wyndham (what’s that a pilot’s name?), was so impressed that he asked Denny if he could record it for several days after the boss approved of the idea. The video recording was later used for in-company training.

When I got home from that vacation, I talked to Denny and several people close to him. My main question was, “What created this dedication to customers?” Denny said, “I do it because it’s my job.” He is not a type prone to self-indulgent behavior. His wife, Terri, told me that he has a deep sense of duty and loyalty that endures despite adverse circumstances. His partner Bud Potts, another United pilot, couldn’t explain this quality in Denny. He expressed his admiration for both who Denny is and what he does.

Keep learning from Captain Denny

What have I learned (or reaffirmed) from my experience with Captain Denny? Here are three conclusions:

1. Over the years, United Airlines has experienced many well-documented challenges. Providing a bright spot in the midst of the fray is a leader who demonstrates resilience, persistence, tenacity, love of people, loyalty, and dedication. Where you got it isn’t as important as that you got it. Character counts!

2. People follow examples instead of orders. Denny frequently spreads the word of customer service to other United associates. They listen to him because his actions reflect his words. It is consistent and authentic. He reinforces what he says with what he does.

3. When we are faced with difficult times and circumstances, we have options. We can focus on the good with a positive attitude or complain about the way things are and harbor resentment. You’ve probably heard it before and I’ll say it again: Resentment is the equivalent of drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. I know people at United who want the company to fail out of deep-seated animosity and their need to prove themselves right. At the risk of sounding simplistic, I say, “Find something else to do with your life!”

When times get tough, people throw in the towel and leave out of frustration. To those at United and other companies who have faced similar challenges and left, I say, “Sometimes leaving is the right response, both for the organization and for the individual. It’s better to leave than to be angry.”

To people everywhere who decide to plant their feet and work for productive change: Bravo! Find other like-minded people who give you the courage to continue the fight. Incubate ideas; start an independent action; take risks; build the business you want.

For everyone, but more particularly United’s executive managers, what can they learn from this story and how can they build on that lesson? Will you have the courage and intelligence to bet on the likes of Denny Flanagan?

PS: I first wrote about Denny in my monthly newsletter in 2005. Since then others have noticed his amazing qualities as well. For example, he has appeared on the network television shows “This Morning” and “Good Morning America” ​​and has been featured in a front-page story on the Wall Street Journal. In an industry that desperately needs heroes, Denny teams up with pilot Sully Sullenberger (of “dropping the plane in the Hudson River” fame) as a guy to emulate. I am proud that Denny and I have become good friends. When he’s in DC or Baltimore, we still have dinner together. (Come to think of it, Denny, you owe me a meal.)

Copyright 2010 Rand Golletz. All rights reserved.

Huge amount of REO homes still held by lenders; Foreclosure actions rise sharply in other US cities

Fitch Ratings, a global credit rating agency, now estimates that the huge “shadow inventory” of REO properties still held by lenders will take at least 40 months to process and sell.

With an estimated 7.5 million REO homes still to be listed, it will take some time for major banks to liquidate these properties. Of all the family home loans JPMorgan Chase has, for example, one in thirteen is in foreclosure today for a total value of $20 billion. Currently, it takes approximately 18 months to process and resell an REO home, starting from the date of the last mortgage payment.

These numbers guarantee that REO listings will continue to account for a large portion of all real estate sales for at least the next three to four years.

A further spike in foreclosures will also add considerably to the overall REO inventory. Ongoing foreclosure actions are starting to see big jumps in other areas of the United States. While most of the attention has been directed at Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona, the “big four” that have seen the largest increase in REO properties in recent years, other cities and states are suddenly seeing dramatic increases. .

In the third quarter of 2010, foreclosure actions (which include everything from default notices to actual bank repossessions) increased in 65 percent of the top 200 housing markets in the country. Seattle saw a 71 percent increase, Chicago a 35 percent increase, and other cities like Houston and Atlanta also saw double-digit increases. When it comes to actual bank foreclosures, Boise, Idaho saw a 71 percent increase and Philadelphia saw a 38 percent increase.

Unemployment seems to be driving these new numbers, and it’s also affecting the number of prime mortgage delinquencies in recent months, which also rose sharply. Managing director of Lender Processing Services’ applied analytics division, Kyle Lundstedt, said current mortgage delinquencies exceed 7 million.

Loan modifications aren’t helping struggling homeowners either. It was recently reported that of the approximately 16,000 mortgage modifications made on Freddie Mac loans in the second quarter of 2009, 42% had returned to delinquency 12 months after the restructuring. Which explains why Freddie Mac suffered a $2.5 billion loss in the third quarter and requested another $100 million from the US Treasury.

REO agents, brokers, and other professionals trained in this specialized field will continue to be desperately needed as this segment of the real estate market continues to dominate in the coming months.

Intel Core i5 laptops are a great buy as they provide high performance and enhance the user experience. You can multitask and operate smoothly and lag-free, which means you can get your work done faster without having to deal with the computer crashing and hanging all the time. The latest i5 laptops also have superior multimedia systems, enhancing your overall computing experience.

If you are looking to buy i5 laptops, check out the best brands below.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

If budget is not an issue for you, you will fall in love with this high-end laptop. The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 2-in-1 is one of the latest i5 laptops to hit the market. Practical, yet powerful, this beautiful piece of machinery stands out from the crowd with its 6th generation Intel Core i5 processor.

Features and specifications include 4GB of RAM, Windows 10 64-bit operating system, 128GB SSD, and a 12.5-inch touchscreen. With a sleek, portable design and amazing product features, this device truly brings you an exceptional experience.

Apple MacBook Air Ultrabook

If you’re an avid Apple or Mac fan, you won’t be disappointed with this sleek, high-performing laptop. The Apple MacBook Air MMGF2HN/A Ultrabook comes with a 5th generation Intel Core i5 type of processor. Features and specifications include 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage space, Mac OS, and a 13.3-inch screen.

This powerful setup enables amazingly fast and smooth performance with no lag. If you factor in the high resolution gaming, camera, and sound quality, you’ll love having this i5 laptop.

Lenovo IdeaPad 310

The Lenovo 310 Core i5 6th Gen is one of the few affordable i5 laptops with amazing features. The features and specifications consist of DOS operating system for convenience though it is also compatible with Windows 10. The processor type is 6th generation Intel Core i5 with 8GB DDR4 RAM and massive 1TB storage space.

It also features a 15.6-inch display with 180-degree rotation and a 2GB graphics card that gamers love to get their hands on. Stylish looks coupled with excellent battery backup make this i5 laptop perfect for everyone.

HP Pavilion

The HP Pavillion i5 Laptop offers ease and efficiency with 4 GB of RAM and 1 TB of hard drive space. It has a 15.6-inch screen that produces wonderful images. Features and specifications include a Windows 10 64-bit operating system with an Intel Core i5 (6th Gen) processor.

The standout feature of the HP Pavillion is the backlit keyboard for low-light environments that lets you multitask seamlessly. With the prismatic battery that reduces overall weight and dedicated graphics card, this notebook is a beauty backed by great performance and design.

Dell Inspiron 7000

This 14-inch i5 laptop features 8 GB of RAM and a 1 TB hard drive. While the Dell Inspiron 7000 comes with Windows 10OS and 2GB graphics, the real bonus is MS Office Home & Student 2016 preloaded.

With the 7th generation Intel Core i5 type of processor, this i5 laptop packs a punch. Although it has a sleek and compact design, the Dell Inspiron 7000 is known for its two tuned speakers that provide a great audio experience.

Whether you’re a student, professional, or gamer, be sure to buy i5 laptops designed to meet your needs.

ONE: STOP PLAYING EVERY RACE!

It doesn’t matter what your skill level is. It doesn’t matter which method you use. Whether you use software or scratch off the program with a pencil, this tip will instantly help you start losing LESS and start earning MORE!

When you play all the races, your advantage (or disadvantage) changes with each race. You are dividing your game budget between races where you can have a huge advantage with races where you can have ZERO advantage. HAVING!

Let’s say, for example, that you have a game budget of $100. On an average race card of 15 that gives you $6.66 per race. In my experience you will rarely be able to get a lead on more than 2 or 3 runs per card. That’s my average and I’m VERY GOOD at what I do. So let’s assume you have a near ZERO chance in 12 of those races (it can be even more, but I’ll be generous in this example and assume you have a 3-race lead). So you have 3 races where you have a real advantage. These are races where you have a huge advantage over a winner. And you also have great prospects in some secondary corridors that will allow you to play the exact or the trifecta for a reasonable price. Let’s compare a possible outcome.

Estimated advantage 25%. This is a fictional advantage, but I think it’s reasonable and we need something to work with.

12 races played at $6.66 per race with NO advantage means you lose $79.92

3 races played at $6.66 total $19.98 played. With a 25% advantage it means a profit of $4.99.

$19.98
+4.99
———
$24.97 winnings + original bet

-79.92
——–
-$54.95 for a losing day

Now let’s play MY way. Choose your BEST 3 races and play them. It doesn’t matter if you win 1.2 or all 3 races. You know you have a 25% advantage in your best races if you ONLY play them

3 races played for a total of $100.

25% advantage means $25 profit.

$125 for a winning day

As you can see… the math doesn’t lie. PLAY LESS RACES!!! EARN MORE MONEY!!!

TWO: HAVE A PLAN

Do you have a plan? A plan based on your budget, ability, goals? Even people who play casino games where the house ALWAYS wins can often “stay in the game” for a long time just by having a plan. In greyhound racing, the house does not always win. The players do. So having a plan will put you light years ahead of the other players. What kinds of things should be in your plan? here are some

To finance

How much can you afford to play per month? Break that down by week, day and race. So go ahead with this plan. ONLY play that amount per run and don’t switch. At the beginning of the next month, if your budget has increased, evaluate again by month, week, day, race and follow that plan again.

method

Find out what you do best. The stick with it. If you don’t get very good with exacts, you suddenly decide to play a superfecta one day. You haven’t tried your grand strategy yet. Work on it. And meanwhile keep playing what you know best.

The better your plan, the better your results. Guaranteed.

THREE: PLAY ON PAPER

I am a professional. Playing greyhounds is what I do. I still play on paper. I mostly play trifecta, but I’m always looking for ways to increase my winnings. I am currently investigating the profitability of playing exact. So while I play for real money for a living, I also keep track of the exact ones on paper. When and if I find it profitable, I will start playing for real money. One thing I’ve learned over the years… someone who doesn’t have the discipline to play on paper doesn’t have the discipline to be a profitable player. What type of player do you want to be?

FOURTH: ONLY PLAY RACES WITH COMPLETE INFORMATION

So you come across a race with a monster key dog. You really want to play a trifecta and pocket a ton of cash! There is a problem in this breed. It is a road race and 4 of the other greyhounds in this race have never run the road distance. So try every possible way to find out how these 4 greyhounds will run the race at this new distance. You make your move and your key wins by a mile! Great! But you didn’t have the trifecta. Not even close. Why? You played a race where you didn’t have enough information to make a good decision. STOP DOING THIS!

FIVE: ONLY PLAY RACES WHEN YOU KNOW THE WINNER

Every time I say this to a player, they laugh at me. “If I knew who the winners were going to be without a doubt, I’d be rich!” Obviously, you cannot know with 100% certainty that a greyhound will win. But you CAN know if you have a likely winner. And you should play that winner.

Some players watch a race and their logic goes something like this…

IF the 1 breaks he could win. If the 8 hits the rail, he could win. If the 5 gets behind the 1 before the turn it will pass on the leg and win. So I should play a 185 on top with blah blah blah. THEY DO NOT know which dog will win in this scenario! They SHOULD not be playing this race.

SIX: KEEP RECORDS…ALWAYS

How much money did you lose playing greyhounds last year? How much did you earn? You do not know?

DO.

And every winning player knows EXACTLY how much they won or lost last week, last month, last year and 5 years ago.

Without records you CANNOT know if you are getting better, worse or the same.

Document every race you play in a spreadsheet. Document how you played it, for how long, and what the outcome was. Do this every time you play.

The ONLY way you will know what works for you and what doesn’t is by having records.

KEEP RECORDS!

SEVEN: PLAY WHERE YOU GET A REFUND

There are several places to play greyhounds online. Some of them give you a refund for every dollar you wager. Some of them don’t. In fact, the largest online ADW site gives you nothing for your business.

I get 14% of every dollar I wager! They deposit it directly into my account the next day…every day.

If I have a month where I have a 60% ROI on my bets… it’s actually a 74% ROI because of the cashback.

If you’re a balance player… you could actually be a winning player. Just by breaking even on your bets, you could actually be earning 14% of your action. That’s better than any CD rate you’ll get by putting your money in a bank.

PLAY WHERE YOU WILL GET A REFUND!

EIGHT: DON’T CHASE LOSSES

So you lost all your money on race 12. But if you deposit another $50 or go to the ATM at the track and get another $40, you could bet it on race 14 and WIN!

WRONG!

You lost today. You played the races where you had the best advantage because you had a plan (remember tip #2?)

If you have a plan and it messes up today, stop. Your day is over. The only thing you will do when chasing losses is dig a deeper hole to get out. Keep the hole shallow. That’s your best chance to win.

NINE: STOP LYING TO YOURSELF

Every player (including me) has said this: “I went out tied.” When I first started gambling, it seemed like I broke even every week, every year for about 5 years. The truth is that when I look back and try to add up my actual results, I lost tens of thousands of dollars.

If you are a winning player but have a spouse who doesn’t understand variance and swings, then it may be okay to tell them that you broke expenses just to keep the peace. But when you convince yourself that you are always breaking even, then you are cheating yourself out of reality. This reality will drive you to improve, learn more, study, try harder, and be determined to win.

I attribute my success to nothing but determination. Over the years I have worked with many people to help them become winners. The main thing to understand is that you cannot become a winning player in a week. I’m sorry! It’s not going to happen.

The “best” of anything takes work. And becoming a winning player takes a lot more than most professions. Not only do you have to acquire the necessary skill to win, but you also have a series of psychological problems to overcome. After nearly two decades of being a winning player, I still have to wrestle with the psychological aspect of the game. The stripes occur in both directions. Win and lose. I’m not some kind of god of the game when I’m on an unrealistic winning streak and I’m not a losing player on a long losing streak.

What I am… always… is honest with myself. I keep records and review my game. Am I the reason I’m losing more than expected or is it just a variation? These things I must always know as a player.

Be honest with yourself about how well you’re playing. Strive to improve.

TEN: LEARN FROM THE WINNERS

One of the biggest steps I took on my way to becoming a winning player was meeting someone who was already a winner. LJ was his name. He taught me a lot about the game. I will always remember it. LJ got the reward from him in 2006, but the impact he had on my life continues.

If you go to the track, everyone there is a winner. Just ask them. It’s weird how everyone can win when it’s a zero sum game. In a mutual system like greyhound racing, someone must lose for someone else to win. So I’m not telling you to look to the flashy, loud braggarts on the track for guidance. I’m telling you to find a real winning player to help mentor you. It will save you a lot of money, time, and hassle in the long run.

We help people become winning players on Greyhound Track Tips. If I can help you please don’t hesitate to ask!

When you are designing or expanding your church, one of the most important factors to consider is seating for your congregation. An uncomfortable or distracted congregation won’t want to stick around to hear God’s word, and who can blame them? To keep your congregants comfortable and focused, you need to make sure your seating fits their physical needs and aesthetic expectations.

Generally speaking, churches have two options for seating in their sanctuaries: chairs or pews. Each has its pros and cons, so choose what’s right for your congregation.

Comfort

If you’ve ever sat in a church with children and pews, you know: pews can be uncomfortable to sit on! Pews are often simple wooden seats that offer little or no comfort to your parishioners. Even if you have splurged and gotten pews with some kind of padding, it may not be enough for older members of your congregation or young children. Chairs, on the other hand, can offer better padding than benches and can be much more comfortable than traditional benches.

Appearance

There is no denying it: a church with rows of pews is a beautiful sight to behold. Everyone is perfectly lined up, everyone leaning towards the altar, it’s picturesque. However, chairs can also be a beautiful addition to a church, especially if you match your décor with the padding on your chairs. Chairs these days come in a wide variety of colors and patterns to complement the aesthetics of almost any church.

Traditional or modern?

If your church is going for a specific feel, you’ll want to choose a specific style of seating that matches that. The pews echo a more traditional, or even rustic, feel of a church. Aesthetically, they are generally considered the best option for cathedrals and other classical spaces. Chairs give a church a more modern feel than this, and can be considered distracting if used in the wrong space.

flexibility

Pews are generally immobile once they have been installed in your church sanctuary. They are huge and heavy, and no one wants to go to the effort of moving them. This is wonderful if your congregation uses the worship space solely for traditional worship. No need to worry that something is not in the right place for Sunday services! However, this may be less than ideal if you use the sanctuary for a variety of activities. Chairs offer your church the ability to be very flexible in seating arrangements, moving and adding (or subtracting) seating as needed. This can be very convenient for smaller churches that need flexibility or more modern churches that have a variety of services.