I am always happy to learn about people like Steve Stevanovich and the places and people he supports, such as the Stevanovich Center and the work they do. The Stevanovich Center holds workshops and conferences, they publishes papers and have presentations on the internet. Just this year, the center has refurbished their buildings to provide physical space for University of Chicago researchers, and also visitors from academia and the marketplace, can hold meetings to discuss, share and debate ideas intended to advance our understanding of the mathematical basis of financial markets. Steve Stevanovich and others like him help make centers such as this one possible, and never before have we needed the support of Steve Stevanovich and the work of the Stevanovich Center more.

Knowledge is power, and the more we know and understand about mathematics and finance, the better off we as a country will be.  Steve Stevanovich and the other sponsors and backers of centers such as this one make the future look very bright indeed.

When I find interesting people online I love to share their stories with you. One such amazing and very interesting person I have come across is Harley Swiftdeer.  From Cherokee Indian and Irish stock, Harley is a distant relative of former president Ronald Reagan, but that is just the beginning of things Harley Swiftdeer is and has accomplished.

Harley Swiftdeer is, to the say the least, a diverse man. He is a decorated Marine Corps veteran who was discharged from the armed services for opposing the Vietnam War;  a man with Ph.D’s in Humanistic Psychology and Comparative Religions; an internationally recognized spokesman for American Indian customs and causes; a national jujitsu champion, and a man who spent a year in Yuma State prison for killing a man in self-defense.

But one of the coolest things I discovered is that the “Billy Jack” films were inspired by and depicted some of experiences of Harley Swiftdeer. Is that not awesome? Love it.

I challenge you to bring me a more interesting and amazing person.

I remember when I first learned in sixth grade that I needed eyeglasses. It was during our regular school eye exam and I was told that I was near-sighted. I knew something was wrong with my eyes because I had to squint to see the board no matter how close I sat to the front of the class.

I was really upset that I was being condemned to that terrible place that only true geeks belong, the land of four-eyes. Back then eyeglasses were not cool like they are today. Wearing glasses guaranteed that you would be considered very uncool. It was a curse, almost as bad as having acne, which I also did, and being skinny, which I also was, and smart, which, yes, I was that too. The true nerd.

Things have changed tremendously since those days. Now wearing glasses is the ultimate in cool. I never thought I’d see this day, but I love it.

I was checking out the great variety and reasonable prices of the glasses they have at eyeglasses.com when all of the above occurred to me. Funny how these kind of memories appear full-blown as if you traveled back in time and experienced all of the emotions you did back then.

I believe that the true key to happiness is found in passion. No, I’m not talking about the kind of passion that heats up the bedroom. I mean passion in the larger sense, like the passion I discovered in Sak Narwal for fishing. Passion of this nature offers life with boundless joy. Just think about it. As the world goes round, as wars rage and we worry so much about our future, a fisherman like Sak Narwal finds relief from stress and worry in his passion.

Having such a passion by no means signals that a person doesn’t care about the rest of the world. In fact, the opposite is often true. Great leaders have often been great fisherman, great golfers, great hunters, etc. Why is this? The way I see it is that participating in something bigger than themselves offers a person the ability to leave rumination and reflection on troubles to the subconscious. While Sak Narwal is fishing he could very well solve a problem he would otherwise feel stumped over.

Once we get out of our own way we often find the way, in other words.

What is your passion?

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It is not often that a company comes along with the kind of great reputation and commitment that you find at K-Designers. What began as the dream of two men with four employees has blossomed into one of the largest home remodeling contractors in the United States, with over 900 employees. K-Designers should also be noted for their firm commitment to charities. On their website you can view the numerous charities and helping organizations that this company promotes and gives to.

But another thing about K-Designers that I would like to point out is what a great place it is to work. With several offices around the country, K-Designers is right now in need of sales representatives. If you are on the job hunt, you would do well to check out the great opportunities offered by this top notch organization.

It occurred to me, while cruising the internet trying to decide on my next vacation spot, that after looking at pictures of Nevis and St. Kitts, two islands in the Caribbean where SGS Asset Management is located, that it would be smarter to take a vacation to a small island like one of those than to a big tourist attraction.

The pictures alone make you want to go! Nevis and St. Kitts and SGS Asset Management sit in the center of the beautiful Caribbean sea, with lush greener surrounding the islands like a prayer.  And the people of the islands are known to be kind, friendly and welcoming. SGS Asset Management can be found on the islands of Nevis and St. Kitts, a great place to retire if you are tired of all the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

I just love stories of people who started out humbly and created or produced great things. It truly is the American dream, to become whatever you desire. One person who did that and more is Amos Tamam. Trained as an electrical engineer at Tel Aviv University in Israel, Amos Tamam came to the United States in the early 80s and began servicing taxicabs for a fleet operation in New York City.  Now, thirty years later, this great man is the CEO of Verifone Transportation Systems, Inc.

The story of what led to Amos’s meteoric is nothing short of amazing. Thanks to the ingenuity of this brilliant person, taxi drivers in NY now have the ability to accept credit cards. What a wonderful way of preventing crime! Taxi drivers no longer have to carry large sums of money, therefore their chances of being robbed are lessened considerably. Also, what a great convenience for those riding in the cab!

There is much more to the story of Amos Tamam. If you want to be inspired, just read the information in these links. It does the heart good to remember what our country was founded on.

Every now and then I run across sites online that fill me such joy, and also with hope for our future as a species. One of those I wanted to share with you is RENEW International. This Catholic organization was founded to foster faith and empowerment in individuals and communities. They also have the goal of renewing long-held and important Catholic traditions.

I remember the first time I went to a Catholic church.  I can’t forget it, actually, because I was in awe of the beauty, the sacredness and the splendor of the church and of the rituals. RENEW International wants to make sure those rituals and traditions are never lost. Their mission is definitely being accomplished. To date they have helped 150 dioceses and 25 million people in America and around the world.

Take the time today to check out RENEW International. It is a cause you very well  may want to become involved in or pass along to a friend or family member.

I spend a lot of time checking out the sites of webmasters and SEO experts who claim that they can improve search engine rankings, and in turn, sales and leads. After being online for five years and reading all of the spiels by so-called ‘SEO experts” I have to admit that I have become a bit jaded. Anyone can SAY they are an expert, but the proof is in the pudding.

One such expert who has proved himself repeatedly is Carl Sgro. To have taken Name Engine, Inc. from a six-month startup through a multimillion-dollar acquisition by VeriSign Inc. (VRSN) in only 18 months time is no small feat, but Carl Sgro did it. If you are looking for a true expert to send you to the top of your game online, check out Carl Sgro.

Something else I really like about Carl Sgro is that he is well-rounded. You get to know personal things about him, and that helps provide a level of comfort many professionals online fail to do. For instance, as a tournament bass fisherman, Carl founded a program in his community called “Take a Kid Fishing.” We all know that our kids need something positive to do in their lives, and I can’t think of a better hobby. Thanks Carl for having such a big heart. I am glad I found your website and I hope my readers will take your advice when they need search engine optimization help.