How to Avoid Credit Card Debt and What You Need to Know if You Have Credit Card Debt

The world has gone haywire with banks and other companies constantly chasing people offering loans, credit cards, and credit. It is easy to fall prey to temptation and soon you will be juggling money from a to b to c. Despair from unpaid bills can lead to suicide and more. Financial crises can be overwhelming and shaming.

What you need to do is get financial planning. And make up your mind to:

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or "Say" NO "to what seem to be exciting offers.

or Stop spending in advance of your earning.

or Do not apply or avail of loans or EMI payment plans.

Take serious stock of your financial condition and sit down with your life partner to do a realistic budgeting, take credit counseling, consider applying for bankruptcy or opting for debt consolidation. The actionplan would depend on the level of debt, level of discipline, and your earning capacity.

or Size up practically the soup you are in. Write down what your family income is, the expenditure each month, extent of fixed payment to be made each month like mortgages, car loans, education loans, and insurance premiums. Budget carefully for household and daily needs. See if your earning meets expenses.

or Read all about money management techniques. Look at free counseling programs.

or When facing problems contact the creditors and explain that you will not default but are working out solutions.

or Study your credit report and cancel all except the oldest and most useful car.

There are facilities like CareOne Debt Counseling which adhere to AICCCA standards.

They areavailable online.

Avoid Credit Card Debt by:

or Paying in cash. In the long run you will pay almost 50% more for goods if you do not pay credit card bills in full.

or Transfer credit balance to a card with lower interest rate.

or Consolidate debt. Think about a home equity loan or unsecured consolidation loan.

or Desist from cash advance.

or Do not buy what you don't need.

or Lock up your credit cards so that you can't use them when you are out shopping or strolling down a street.

or Check your statement regularly to catch any errors.

Know your rights. While credit card companies are sweet and helpful while issuing cards they can turn nasty when playing the role of debt collector. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act states:

or todebt collector can not chase a debtor between and 8:0 am 9:0 pm

or They must not call at work.

or They cannot use strong arm tactics on you.

or If you submit a written request "to stop harassment" they must oblige.

Sometimes a creditor will offer to settle your debt. This will hurt or credit score, but if you are already behind in payments your credit score is already damaged.

Money and a consumerist society are both hard to understand and handle. It is important to be disciplined and known how to prepare and stick to a budget. Money handled wisely will last otherwise you will have to face the dilemma of what to do and how to get out of drowning in debt.

How to Avoid Credit Card Debt and What You Need to Know if You Have Credit Card Debt

Guide to Financial Success

Maintaining a healthy mind, body & soul is important when it comes to having stability in all aspects of one's life. This includes financial decisions we make on a daily basis. The better choices you make the less stress you will have.

I. Think Positive & Feel-The less stress we have on a daily basis the more we are able to make decisions that lead to successful results. One has the start with the way we think and feel about things we deal with in our lives. Remember to always take care of your mental health so that your mind is clear and free of negative thinking that will lead to bad decisions making. Maintaining a healthy mind set will also lead to better physical health.

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A. Starting your day with a positive attitude-It is important to always be positivebefore getting into anything you plan or not for the day. Being positive always helps you maintain focused, motivated and full of energy towards carrying out your goals. Staring your day with a positive attitude will also help you maintain calm if and when things get stressful.

B. Be realistic with yourself-Know that part of planning something is also expecting things not to go as planned. Learn from your mistakes and move on. This skill is useful when managing one's finances, as you will learn to better handle the situation.

C. Learn to relax-always make time to relax your mind & body as much as possible. 5-30 minutes 3-5 times per week engaging in to whatever activity you find relaxing will help you maintain good mental health. Being able to maintain calm when makingfinancial decisions will always be a benefit for you!

D. Have confidence in yourself-If you do not believe you can do something there is no point in doing it at all. So make sure you have enough confidence to trust your decisions especially with your finances as this will help you reach the financial success you desire.

II. Feel Good, Look Good-It is also important to remember that image isn't everything, but it is also true that working on your physical appearance is a positive first step in working on to have a successful financial life.

A. Eating & Drinking Right-We're not saying that you need to be a health nut, but it is important for you to be involve in a healthy eating program that will help Inca your life. After all, the longer you live, the longeryou can enjoy your financial success.

B. Activities & Exercise-Once again we're saying that you need to be in on some extreme exercise program, but you should involve yourself in activities that will help

C. Skin, Hair & Nails-You don't need any big budget makeovers or it doesn't matter if you like to experiment with different styles and colors, but keeping yourself well groomed is a basic organizational skill that will help you get use to having your financial life organized.

D. Clothes, Shoes & Accessories-Try to be a smart shopper & spend your money wisely. There are always sales throughout the year that one can benefit from. Always have a budget and limit of what you can afford to avoid overspending. Shopping at big department stores always helpsto find good prices.

III. Inform, Protect & Invest in Yourself

A. Inform Yourself-Knowing and understanding what you are getting into always makes it easier for you to do. Your level of stress will also be under control.

1. You must want financial success-No one can force you into wanting to be financially successful. You have to want it and you have to work to be financially successful. Having a clear picture of what you are setting out for always makes it easier to accomplish.

a. Be in control-If YOU want to be financially successful, YOU must do the research and only you can make the best decision for YOURSELF.

b. don't be afraid of money-You are in charge. You make the money. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Before you make adecision make sure it is the best decision.

c. Be a hustler, not a customer-don't believe anything until you see it. Don't believe everything you see. If your going to do business with a company or a person you should try to know as much as that company or person in the business your getting into.

2. Knowledge is Power-Know what you owe and where you can make some money. The more you know the better prepared you are, you will have less questions about whatever information you need.

a. It's OK to say, "I don't know, but I'm going to try to find out."

b. Try to get as much detail as you can before making a decision

c. Try to carefully review and fully understand your details before making a decision

3. Assets = Liabilities + Owners ' Equity-Assetsare the value of "equity" plus "liabilities." The term "equity" describes the value of the things you own and the term "liability" describes the value of a present obligation you owe.

a. Acquire as many assets as possible-It is important to remember to in order to be financially successful you have to acquire as many assets as possible. You must keep liabilities at a minimum because many times the interest rates on your liabilities can eat away at the value of your equity.

b. Liabilities acting as assets-It is also very important to be aware of the liabilities that act as assets. Many times people see buying a new home, increasing their asset value. But the reality is that your asset value can still be somewhat the same since your home is an increase in equity and themortgage loan you used to get the home is an increase in your liability. So be aware that acquiring thing is not always an increase in your asset value.

c. Assets as Income-Many times you can find assets that can be a great source of income. It is very important to remember that some liabilities act as assets when you are looking for an asset that can make you income.

B. Protect Yourself-Remember it is very important that you are financially protected. Always consider how you are benefiting & protecting your from the results of the decision you are making. Take your time to think things through and select the best services based mostly on the benefits it will provide you.

1. Will & Testament-A Will gives you full control over such issues as who gets yourproperty, who will be the guardian of your children, who will manage your estate upon your death, who will inherit assets that you haven't left to anyone else and other issues relating to the management and distribution of your estate. The importance of a Will cannot be understated. A Will is perhaps the most important legal document the average person will ever have.

2. Savings/Checking Accounts & CDs-If you need a safe place to keep money in bank account is often the best choice. Banks offer different kinds of accounts for different purposes. With a Savings and Checking account you can put your money in a safe place and still have easy access to it in case you need it. With a Checking Account at your even giving checks so you can pay other people with the money you put in yourbank account. A CD or Cash Deposit is the same but with a CD you actually let the bank hold a certain amount of your money for a certain period of time.

3. Life & Health Insurance-Life insurance or life assurance is a contract between the policy owner and the insurer, where the insurer agrees to pay a sum of money upon the occurrence of the policy owner's death. In return, the policy owner (or policy payer) agrees to pay a stipulated amount called a premium at regular intervals. Health insurance is a type of insurance whereby the insurer pays the medical costs of the insured if the insured becomes sick due to covered causes, or due to accidents. The insurer may be a private organization or a government agency. Market-based health care systems such as that in the United Statesrely primarily on private health insurance.

4. Auto & Home Insurance-Vehicle insurance (or auto insurance, car insurance, motor insurance) is insurance people can purchase for cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Its primary use is to provide protection against losses incurred as a result of traffic accidents. An insurance company may declare a vehicle totally destroyed (' totaled ' or ' write-off ') if it appears replacement would be cheaper than repair. Home insurance, also commonly called hazard insurance or homeowners insurance (often abbreviated in the real estate industry as HOI), is the type of property insurance that covers private homes. It is an insurance policy that combines various personal insurance protections, which can include losses occurring to one's home, itscontents, loss of its use (additional living expenses), or loss of other personal possessions of the homeowner, as well as liability insurance for accidents that may happen at the home.

C. Invest Yourself-Looking to invest your money properly is knowing how to protect you and your family. Use your knowledge and act now so that you can enjoy now and in the future. Find out what services are best for you. Take time to know what you can and are getting yourself into. Don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how stupid you think they may be and take time to get those questions you have answered.

Guide to Financial Success

Steps To Take – How You Can Survive A Layoff?

What you do immediately after receiving word that your current job is gone can make a big difference in how you will be able to support yourself and your family. Making the wrong decisions can have dire consequences over the long term. Employees leaving their employers, either on their own terms or on the terms handed to them, can greatly benefit from professional help to sort out the options they have available. A financial advisor can help you to both take control of your financial life and define your goals so that you achieve the security you need.

Contact your state unemployment insurance agency as soon as possible after losing your job.

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UNDERSTAND THE COMPONENTS OF YOUR SEVERANCE PACKAGE

You will likely get a package of information when you leave youremployer. Included will be an explanation of what you will receive financially and what options you have to keep in force your health, life, disability and long-term care insurance. To the extent that any of the following plans apply, you will also receive a final accounting of your deferred compensation, stock options, pension plans, retirement accounts, amount of severance pay and terms for collecting, and unused vacation time. Other benefits and sources of income also may be pertinent to your situation.

Make sure you study the documents in the package before signing anything and then ask as many questions as necessary to fully understand what is being presented. Check your employee handbook to make sure your severance matched or exceeded the standard formula and that allyour benefits were accounted for. Negotiating better terms may or may not be possible. However, it's reasonable to ask for time to review all the documents before signing anything that may result in a permanent decision. Depending on the contents and terms of your severance package and the reasons given for your layoff, you may want to consult with your tax advisor, attorney and/or a financial professional.

ASSESS YOUR FINANCES-Obtain a Cash Flow Analysis

Your first step is to take stock of where you stand financially. Where will your income come from and what are your daily, short-term and long-term expenses? The budget and cash flow that served you well while you were working and collecting a regular paycheck will have to be redone to reflect your new situation. Yourfinancial advisor may offer a complementary cash flow analysis that will help you to:
or Piece together your sources of income;
or "Prioritize your expenditures as essential or discretionary and re-categorize each according to your need to pay daily, monthly and longer term;
or Examine the full range of your investments, including the cushion of cash you have for emergencies;
or Determine your insurance needs with options available to you for securing coverage;
or Make sure you are aware of your long-term health care needs and those of close family members;
or Pull together information about your liabilities, including your mortgage, credit card debt, personal loans and others so you can get a complete picture of what and when items need to be paid; and
or Take intoconsideration any other information that might affect your ability to live comfortably today while planning for tomorrow.

APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

The number of layoffs continues to trend upward with exceeding 10 million unemployed persons and the unemployment rate nearing 7% in November 2008, according to the Department of Labor. The Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers. You shouldn't hesitate to take advantage of this benefit if you meet the criteria for collecting. Contact your state unemployment insurance agency as soon as possible after losing your job. It generally takes two to three weeks after you file your claim to receive your first check. Some states impose a waiting period before your first checkarrives, and if you received severance pay, it may be considered as part of your compensation, which could further delay your beginning date. Currently, benefit checks average about half your weekly pay, up to approximately $ 300 per week nationwide. Regular benefits extend for 26 weeks and are controlled on the state level within federal guidelines. During times of high unemployment, the federal government may pass legislation to extend the length of time benefits can be collected. You will have to show proof that you are actively looking for work to remain eligible for continued benefits. Your state employment office has a wealth of resources to help you find new employment, to obtain training for you or to refer you to the information you may find useful.

DETERMINE IF APPLYING FORSOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS MAKES SENSE FOR YOU

If you are eligible, the Social Security Administration may provide a regular source of income starting at age 62. However, beginning Social Security payments early will mean that your monthly check is permanently lower than if you waited until your Normal Retirement Age (age 65 to 67, depending on your year of birth). Also, if you collect Social Security Normal Retirement Age beforeyour payments and begin to work again, your Social Security benefits could be reduced further and may be subject to taxes, depending on your adjusted gross income. Typically, it would pay to begin early collection of Social Security benefits only if you have no other sources of adequate income or if you anticipate a shorter-than-average life expectancy due topoor health.

Your Social Security benefits are a key piece of your retirement plan. Before making any decision, talk to your financial advisor about when to begin receiving your payments. Your financial advisor will offer suggestions on how you can prepare for your future retirement security and can run a complimentary Retirement Analysis that incorporates your potential benefits into a comprehensive plan. Such a plan would help you determine if the loss of your job might adversely affect your retirement security and offer options for mitigating the financial shock.

PULL TOGETHER YOUR INVESTMENT STATEMENTS AND RETHINK YOUR PORTFOLIO

Today's economic environment may have changed the makeup of your investment portfolio so that your financial holdings have become out ofbalance or no longer match your current needs. A financial advisor has the expertise and resources to help you determine how your investments might provide much-needed current income, while still remaining positioned to work toward achieving your long-term goals. An asset-allocation analysis will give you the big picture of your holdings and will help you make sure that your current investment mix is appropriate for the changes you have recently experienced.

GET ADVICE BEFORE YOU MAKE RETIREMENT PLAN DECISIONS

Today, most employers offer departing employees the choice of a "lump-sum distribution from their retirement plans when they separate from service. This single payment represents years of hard work and carries with it the hope of a long-awaited, well-financedretirement. You may be tempted to use your retirement plan assets as a source of current income during your period of unemployment. This move could cause dire consequences to your long-term security. For example, consider that most of the funds distributed directly to you will be subject to taxes and will incur a possible penalty. Before you make any irrevocable decisions regarding your company retirement fund distributions, you should speak to a financial advisor to review your available options for managing these funds. There are four common options for receiving your retirement plan assets. Each is summarized below.

Roll over the funds into an IRA. By rolling your company retirement funds into your own IRA, your funds will retain their tax-deferred status. An IRA gives you accessto a wide range of investment choices and the ability to tailor a portfolio that is most appropriate for you. An IRA will allow you flexibility in customizing your beneficiary designations. You could also structure a payout plan, to begin at any age, which avoids the usual early withdrawal penalties. To help you decide what works best in your circumstances, your financial institution will have the services of a financial advisor who will work with you to design a retirement investment portfolio that is most appropriate.

Leave your account with your former employer. If the balance in your employer's plan is above $ 5,000, you will have the option of leaving your retirement assets into that plan. Each employer has different rules for the management of funds left behind by former employees.You may find that your employer may not offer the same range of services that you had while you were employed. Be sure to get a copy of your former employer's retirement plan document so that you can review the terms that impact the management of your investments.

Take the money out of the plan by having it sent to you. If you receive the proceeds from your company retirement plan directly, it is considered if(taxable) and 20 percent will be withheld for anticipated taxes. You have 60 days to add back the 20 percent withheld from your own funds and roll over the entire amount into an IRA or other tax-deferred retirement plan. The 20 percent that your company withheld will be refunded to you when you file your income taxes for that year. If you are planning to roll over your companyretirement plan, the easier course of action is to have your company transfer the funds directly to your new plan.

Roll the money over to a new employer's plan. Do you have another job that offers an attractive retirement plan? Will your employer allow outside retirement funds to be transferred into this plan? As with your former employer's plan, any subsequent employer's plan will lack the flexibility you could gain with your own IRA. Therefore, consider rolling your former employer's funds into an IRA. By doing so, your funds remain tax-deferred and are positioned for future growth potential. If your future employer accepts rollovers into the company retirement plan, this option would still remain open for you to exercise in the future.

KEEP UP YOUR INSURANCECOVERAGE

If you were covered by your employer's insurance plans, you need to determine whether your employer is continuing to pay for these benefits or if you will have to pick up coverage on your own. Most likely, it will be up to you to provide coverage for yourself and your family. You will have to act quickly to prevent a lapse in coverage.

Construct a safety net for you and your family with life and disability insurance. You may be able to convert your employer's group life insurance or disability policy to individual coverage. If so, you'll have to pay the premiums on your own. Explore other options for insurance available to you, but you may find it difficult, if not possible, to get insurance coverage if you are not working. You may also find that your formeremployer's coverage is more reasonably priced than anything you can find on your own.

Information about your insurance plans should be included in the severance package you received. You should carefully study these documents to determine the options available to you.

Don't let health insurance lapse.
or If your employer is providing insurance benefits, determine if the coverage is the same as you had while you were employed. You may find that you are now being offered a basic policy, which may not fit your needs.
or If your company employs more than 20 people, you have the right, under a government law known as COBRA, to continue employer group coverage. You have up to 60 days to make arrangements to accept the terms of your employer's health coverage plan.Responsibility for paying the full health insurance premium, not just the employee portion, will fall to you-but at a group rate, which may be lower than what you can get on your own. A 2 percent administrative fee also may be added. Carefully compare the terms of COBRA coverage with other alternatives to determine which option is less expensive and/or best fits your needs.
o Switching to your spouse's plan may be your most economical choice. Losing a job is considered a "qualifying event" for a change in coverage under a company insurance plan that is outside the open enrollment period. You usually have 30 days to make changes in coverage under another company's plan that is available to a spouse or domestic partner.
or Explore your options for private coverage through fraternalor industry organizations. If you are a veteran, consider those benefits as well. Medicare is the federal medical insurance program for those who are age 65 or older. Still, you may need supplemental insurance to cover costs, such as prescriptions, that are not covered by Medicare. Finally, Medicare will not cover family members under age 65 or domestic partners.

REVIEW EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS, STOCK OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK

If you have an employee stock plan, stock options or restricted stock from your former employer, you will need to determine the following things:
or Do any unvested stock options become fully vested and exercisable or do they expire? Is there an extension time frame for exercising vested options?
or Will you continue to have direct access to sharespurchased in your Employee Stock Purchase Plan? Do you have Internet access to this account?
or Are any restrictions lifted on your restricted stock once your employment ended? What shares, if any, are forfeited?
A financial advisor can help you sort through your former employer's plan specifics and advise you on a course of action.

START WITH THE FOLLOWING HELPFUL RESOURCES

Government Organizations-The u.s. Department of Labor and your state and local governments offer many services to help you deal with the effects of layoffs, especially those that result from increased competition from imports, or from natural disasters and other events. Check your local public offices for more information on your benefits and for other services that might be available toyou.

Outplacement Services-Many employers offer displaced workers a limited amount of counseling and other services provided through an outplacement firm. You should be sure to make use of this service, since you will have access to office equipment and knowledgeable professionals who can help you find a job. You will also benefit from sharing knowledge with others in your same situation and from having somewhere to go every day. If outplacement services were not part of your severance package, this benefit is often negotiable, so be sure to ask for it outright.

Professional Organizations-Professional organizations can be a great way to network with those in the same line of work as you. They may assist you in finding out which companies are hiring and providing othervaluable information that could lead to employment. If you don't belong to a professional organization, now is the time to join. Professional organizations may also offer attractive group rates for insurance and discounts on necessary services.

Top Financial Assistance-Losing a job can have a severe impact on your current and future well-being. Most financial advisors have access to numerous resources to help you get back on your feet and move forward. Ask your financial advisor for a complimentary analysis of your financial accounts and for help in making these important decisions regarding your severance package and benefits.

The number of layoffs continues to trend upward with exceeding 10 million unemployed persons and the unemployment rate nearing 7% in November 2008,according to the Department of Labor.

Graeme h. Patey is a Financial Advisor located in Cleveland, Ohio and may be reached at 216-523-3015 or http://fa.smithbarney.com/graemepatey.

Smith Barney does not provide tax or legal advice, and it is important to consult with a tax or legal advisor before investing.

© 2009 Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Member SIPC. Securities are offered through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Smith Barney is a division and service mark of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and its affiliates and is used and registered throughout the world. Citi and Citi with Arc Design are trademarks and service marks of Citigroup Inc. and its affiliates, and are used and registered throughout the world. Working WealthSM is a service mark of Citigroup GlobalMarkets Inc. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Citibank are affiliated companies under the common control of Citigroup Inc.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED or NOT GUARANTEED and MAY LOSE VALUE

Steps To Take – How You Can Survive A Layoff?

Disneyland Memories

"The thing will get more beautiful year after year. And it will get better as I find out what the public likes; I can't do that with a picture it's finished and Olio before I find out whether the public likes it or not. "-Walt Disney on Disneyland.

Walt Disney found different reasons to build his seventeen million dollar Magic Kingdom in Anaheim in 1955. The idea had originally stemmed from his dissatisfaction with Los Angeles amusement parks in the late 1930s. While his two young daughters would ride the merry-go-round Walt would look at the tawdry surroundings and wonder why the place couldn't be better. Also he was receiving letters from people who wished to take tours of the Disney Studio-what would they see, guys bent over drawing boards? Walt had flirted withthe idea of a small park across the street from the studio, and then put it aside, bowing to opposition from the city of Burbank, plus financial setbacks largely due to the initial failures of Pinocchio, Fantasia and Bambi. On a personal note in 1948 Walt built his own personal miniature railroad in his backyard. The one-eighth scale Carolwood Pacific was a fun hobby that allowed Walt to escape business pressures, but his wife Lillian wasn't thrilled with her grown husband spending long days riding on a choo choo train through her begonias. Disneyland would eventually provide him with a bigger train to ride in without the spousal disapproval. But perhaps most important to Walt, Disney gave him a unique opportunity for a never-ending project.

For a perfectionist like Walt Disneyfilmmaking was often a frustrating experience. Even when one Walt's pictures did well he sometimes lamented that they could have been better if he hadn't faced a deadline or had a chance for a do over. After the short cartoon The Three Little Pigs (1933) became an enormous hit Walt had been pressured by bankers and distributers into making sequels, which had not been nearly as successful. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) had made eight million dollars at a time when movies cost 25 cents for adults and a dime for kids, yet Walt fretted about a scene where the prince seemed to shimmy and years later complained about not being able to improve on it. Other features that Walt personally loved such as "So Dear to My Heart" (1946) and Pollyanna (1960) did not do well at the box office. Walthad taken a shot at an ongoing task with Fantasia in 1940, the multi-segmented classical music cartoon could have theoretically, if Disney had his way, played forever with new sequences replacing others every few months. But Fantasy "bombed at the box office in it's first release and Walt plunged into debt. As Walt's enthusiasm for pictures diminished, the idea of Disneyland took on a greater allure.

Walt spent many sleepless nights trying to figure out how to raise the money for Disneyland. His wife and business partner brother Roy were against the idea from the start. Lillian wondered why did he want to build an amusement park when they were so dirty, Walt's reply that his would not be did not curb her unease. She stressed even more when he mortgaged their house, borrowed againsthis life insurance policy and was still way short of what he needed. Roy Disney had no initial liking for the carnival business; the Walt Disney Company was still struggling to get out of debt after losing the European market during World War II. Hits such as Cinderella (1950) were offset by flops like Alice in Wonderland a year later. But the always-innovative Walt turned his fortunes around with the decision to get into television, a medium that most of the moguls on Hollywood hated and feared. ABC, who in the early 1950s was a distant third to CBS and NBC was anxious for Disney to develop original programming. In return the ' fledging network provided the loan guarantees to build the park, Roy and Lillian changed their minds and got on board, and "Uncle Walt" overcame them his initial camerashyness to become a beloved TV star when he hosted the hit show Disneyland, later known as The Wonderful World of Disney.

For twenty years Walt employed two writers of whom it was said had never come up with a good idea. When asked why, Walt explained that every time they made a suggestion then he knew what not to do. He used a similar line of thinking towards Disneyland. Unlike other parks, Disneyland would only have one entrance so everyone would have the shared experience of walking through Main Street U.S.A, representing an idealized version of Walt's often-hard childhood in Marceline, Missouri. Rather than have the traditional all-the-rides-on-one-side design which Walt felt led to unnecessary human traffic jams, Disneyland had a central hub surrounded by four distinct themedlands allowing the paying guests to move from scene to scene like they themselves were in a movie. Located in car-dominated Southern California, Disneyland would provide boats, trains, horse drawn carriages, rafts, and later rockets and flying saucers. Instead of the usual bumper car ride kids could simulate freeway driving with Autopia. During construction one of the Disney Imaginers told Walt that what he asked was too difficult. Walt replied. " We set our sights high. That is why we accomplish so many things. Now go back and try again. "

Despite the deadline pressures and alarming costs Walt had a ball designing Disneyland. Constantly the fifty-three-year-old heavy smoker would crouch down so he could look at the buildings through the eyes of a child. He decided Sleeping Beauty'sCastle would look friendly, unlike like some of the intimidating structures he'd seen in Europe where he had driven an ambulance for the Red Cross during World War i. Walt personally drew out the sketches for Tom Sawyer's Island and was Quartier that Disneyland have no visible power lines, water towers or administration buildings. Disdainful of other Coney Island style amusement parks Walt pooh-poohed the idea of hiring people with experience, choosing instead to go younger with an enthusiastic staff that would learn from their mistakes. Walt loved testing out the dark storytelling rides of Fantasyland: Snow White's Scary Adventures, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and the gravity defying Peter Pan's Flight, the latter by most accounts was his personal favorite attraction (Conversely Peter Pan(1953) was not a Disney movie particularly cared for; Walt felt that the title character was hard to root for and almost as mean as his adversary Captain Hook).

Disneyland Had been a movie, it may have been pulled out of theaters after a short run. On opening day, July 17, 1955, ten thousand invitation-only tickets were sent out. They were easy to forge and over three times as many people showed up. A man stood on the side of the park with a ladder and charged five dollars to climb over the fence until the police caught him. Just a few days before, there had been a plumbers ' strike. Walt chose to sacrifice the drinking fountains so that the bathrooms worked; several of his guests passed out due to the heat, which went up at one point to 101 degrees. Pepsi Cola sponsored the event;many of the enraged thirsty patrons assumed the water shortage was a cynical attempt to sell soda. The asphalt on Main Street was not dry; women who walked on it wearing high-heeled shoes got stuck and sunk. The restaurants and concession stands ran out of food early. Gas leak shut down Fantasyland. Tomorrowland, which Walt originally had a difficult time conceptualizing, was covered with balloons and display cases and could not absorb any of the crowd. Nearly half the rides broke down. As the afternoon wore on, fights broke out between the ride operators and customers. Disney himself had been busy running around his 160-acre Magic Kingdom filming a TV show and wasn't aware of all the mishaps until he read about them in the newspaper the next day. He immediately returned to Disneyland to fixthings.

Over time Walt found out what worked and what didn't. Mule rides were discontinued because of several biting incidents. A circus was aborted after a trapeze artist lost her top in midair while performing, camels kept spitting into the crowd, the blade got loose and ran down Main Street customers scattering, and nearly every performance was poorly attended. (Before the park opened zookeepers had warned a very disappointed Walt that he couldn't have live animals on The African Queen inspired Jungle Cruise ride because they'd never behave consistently.) Tomorrowland came together by 1959 with the Monorail and Submarine Voyage. And there were endless opportunities for Walt to exploit his interests. He was fascinated reading about the Columbia, the first American ship tocircumnavigate Antigua the globe and built a near perfect replica for the already busy park waterway The Rivers of America. Walt and Lillian were world travelers; on a trip to Switzerland they had been impressed by the breathtaking beauty of the most famous mountain in the Alps which leading to the development of the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride in 1959. The couple enjoyed buying antiques in the French Quarter, which inspired the 1966 creation of New Orleans Square (Walt had many great qualities but tact was not one of them. When the mayor of New Orleans came to visit the cartoon maker at Disneyland, he remarked that New Orleans Square looked just like the real thing. "Actually, it's cleaner," Disney said.) In the late 1950s, the Disneys heard a story from a tour guide on a boat cruise aboutbuccaneers hiding treasure near Cuba, which may have sparked the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in 1967, an attraction that took so long to create Walt sadly didn't live to see it completed.

Disney never tired of walking through Disneyland trying to fix things. Often in a hurry, the TV icon would occasionally disappoint to fans by not taking the time to sign an autograph. But whether adding a few minutes on a ride, lavishing extra money on a parade, or putting fancy furniture in a medium priced restaurant, Walt always tried to put himself in the mind of his patrons when he made changes to the park. The crowds kept coming, he was finally able to pay off his debts by 1961 and Walt's attempts to improve Disneyland continued for the rest of his life.

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Disneyland Memories

"I Am Not My Brother's Keeper

Maybe three percent of the adult population become addicted gamblers. Yet private gambling is illegal in most cities and states, except for government gambling schemes called lotteries. Less than ten percent of the adult population has a drug-addiction problem they can't control. Yet all drugs are illegal for all adults in this country. Only a small number of men are sex addicts who can't stop themselves from going to prostitutes. Yet prostitution, the combination of sex and free enterprise between consenting adults, is illegal in most parts of the country. The vast majority of adults who own guns use them responsibly and keep them away from children, yet gun-control laws are proliferating like weeds. Soon the 2nd Amendment will be shredded, and the right to possess guns, theright of self defense, will be taken from us.

This is government by and for the stupid. This is a tyrannical government punishing 95 percent of the American people for the actions of the other 5 percent who can't control their addictions.

What corruption of justice allows the rights of the vast majority of decent, law abiding citizens to be violated because a small number of people can't handle their sex, drugs, or gambling addictions? Why do politicians we elect assumes they can destroy our rights because some people are idiots who can't control themselves? What right do they have to punish you and violated your rights because of the stupidity or illegal acts of others? They have no such right.

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Mankind fought for over a thousand years in England, starting with MagnaPaper, to create and defend fundamental legal principles that protect liberty against government tyranny. The English achieved two crucial legal principles that were enshrined in English common law, and later American law. These principles are "mens rea"-no crime without intent, and "actus rea"-no crime without evidence of a criminal act.

Law-abiding gun owners are just that, law-abiding. They use their guns for sport and self-defense. When anti-gun laws control and restrict our right to bear arms, such laws are unlawful punishment against law abiding citizens who have no intent to commit any crime, and where there is no evidence of any crime committed.

Also, gun-control laws violate another fundamental legal principle fought for over the centuries-no one should bepunished for the actions of another. A man should be held responsible only for his own actions. Yet gun-control laws directly breached this self-evident rule of justice. They punish and violated the rights of the vast majority of law abiding gun owners for the acts of gun-owning criminals or a few mentally unbalanced teen-agers who shoot their fellow students in school den exklusivsten.

Extend this outrageous principle and see where it leads. Suppose ten percent of us are hamburgers, fatty-food addicts. We can't allow that, of course. Therefore, all Burger King restaurants must be shut down. Because some people are too "weak" self-willed "to eat the" right "foods, government must" protect "all of us from our own stupidity. These hamburgers addicts must be protected from fatty foods that could leadto heart attacks. We should not have the right to decide for ourselves what food we want to eat. The ninety percent of us who eat hamburgers without getting heart attacks must be punished for the acts of the ten percent who do get heart attacks. Having a heart attack becomes a crime by this principle.

Suppose fifteen percent of young males are irresponsible and get their teenage girlfriends pregnant, which government prosecutors consider an outrage not to be tolerated. We must therefore pass a law that forbids all teenagers under the age of 21 from having sex. We will have sex-police SWAT teams roaming college campuses and breaking down dormitory doors. We must also forbid sex before marriage. The vast majority of teenagers who practice safe sex will be punished for the actions ofthe irresponsible minority, and punished without any evidence of any crime committed.

Thousands of people are killed by drunk drivers each year. To prevent this, we must bring back alcohol Prohibition. More than 100 million adults in this country should be prohibited from drinking wine or beer from this day forth because a few thousand people are stupid enough to drink and drive. The vast majority of Americans who drink responsibly and moderately must be punished for the small minority who can't hold their liquor and drink while driving.

A small minority of parents beat and abuse their children. To prevent this, all parents should be forced to go through a parent-training course before being allowed to continue being parents. If they don't, their children will be taken fromthem and put under the "benevolent" care of government social-service workers, who will, of course, care for your children better than you do. The vast majority of parents who love and care for their children will have their rights violated and children ripped from their homes because of the irresponsible actions of a few parents.

If there were no compulsory education laws and no public schools, a small minority of parents might not "educate" their children, either because of stupidity, indifference, lack of money, or other reasons. Because of this, the vast majority of parents who would educate their children must be punished by being forced to send their children to government public-schools that waste twelve years of their children's life and turn them intoilliterates.

These examples show the moral obscenity and consequences of laws that contravened the precious legal principles of "mens rea and actus rea". Today we are awash with such laws, written by politicians who have not the foggiest notion they even exist, or who have utter contempt for fundamental legal principles that protect our liberty against their power-lusting overkill?.

We are awash because, to their utter shame, the Supreme Court has repeatedly let Congress get away with ByRef these fundamental legal principles of common law and legal decency. The Supreme Court, over the last 70 years, has become a chief villain in this matter because they should have been protecting us against government tyranny. Yet, many of their decisions have ripped-away the sanctity of"mens rea and actus rea", along with other fundamental legal principles that protect our liberty.

It is understandable, and common throughout history, for a powerful majority to become tyrants who punish minorities for "aberrant" behavior. History is full of horror stories of stealing from majorities, murdering, torturing and minorities they don't like or agree with. It is the story of human nature at it's worst.

But what are we to make of a society where a small minority, backed by Big Brother's guns, now has the right to rip away the rights of the vast majority? "What kind of society allows the small number of stupid or careless people that have existed in every society, to destroy the sacred legal rights of the vast majority? It is a society based on the vicious moralnotion that "man is his brother's keeper." It is a society where this principle has been elevated to the overriding rule of government and the controlling mechanism over our lives. How I know?

Every social program, every entitlement program, including Medicare and Social Security, is justified today by this evil notion that men are their brother's keepers. The vulture-swarms of lobbyists descending on Washington asking for new programs, new handouts, new subsidies for their constituents, all tell their Senator or Congressmen that their constituents "need" the help, "deserve" the help, that they have a "right" to this help.

What are their demands based on? Group whining. If some group is suffering from some temporary economic problem, "it is not their fault," spout the power-hungryliberals. The group's problems are not caused by their apathy, laziness, incompetence, poor decisions, lack of foresight, or lack of perseverance. No, it is bad luck, Nature's fault, or past injustices by other groups. It is everyone and everything else's fault but their own. Whining is in, personal self-responsibility is out.

If a man didn't have the common sense to save for his retirement, we need heavy taxes for a Social Security system to "support" him in old age. If farmers had bad weather this year, we need food price supports. If young teenage girls can't control themselves and get pregnant, we need aid-to-dependent-family programs. If government regulations "strangle the health care industry know health insurance is too expensive for millions, then we need Medicaid to pay forpoor people's health care.

If anyone is having a problem in life, why, it is everyone else's moral responsibility to fix the problem. Our lives, our precious time, our hard-earned money is now mortgaged to any special-interest group who whines loud enough that everyone else owes them a living. That is what our liberal anti-Fascists in government say-"we're all our brother's keeper, and brother, if you don't want to" contribute "voluntarily," why, government will make you. " How? Through strangling taxes and regulations.

Our politicians say if most Americans are not moral enough to help their fellow man voluntarily, then government must step in and see that this alleged "moral law is obeyed. Government is the highest judge of what is right or wrong, the highest judge of how weshould behave, isn't it? If we leave these decisions to weak or selfish men and women, why, the poor suffering special-interest groups would never get help. I know government has to impose the "moral law" on all of us.

To do so, they violate our fundamental legal rights must. They strip away our property rights and our right to resist government orders. Through "creative" lawmaking and "creative" Supreme Court decisions that uphold the "public interest," government has stripped us of fundamental legal principles mankind fought for over a thousand years to protect us against government tyranny.

Hence, we have the "cannibal" entitlement-state "America has turned into. Compassion turned into compulsion. Government agents point legal guns at our heads and say, "be compassionate or goto prison for tax evasion. " Compassion at the point of a government gun. "Man is his brother's keeper," enforced by prisons, SWAT teams, taxes that loot forty percent of our paychecks, bureaucrats who strangle us with regulations-by turning America into a police state.

When the immoral notion that "man is his brother's keeper" is forced on us by a tyrannical government, a country and its people lose their most precious possession-liberty. When we exchange our liberty for a mess of potage from government handouts, when we expect government and our "brothers" to protect us from every ill-wind life throws at us, we end up degenerating as human beings.

"I Am Not My Brother's Keeper

Top 10 Financial Resolutions for the New Year

With the new year just around the corner, most of us are thinking about the holidays and spending time with loved ones. And while Christmas and New Year's Eve are a time to eat, drink and be merry, reality usually sets in on New Year's Day, which leads to the traditional round of resolution-making.

So for the new year (in addition to eating better and exercising more), you might want to consider these 10 resolutions for putting your financial house in order.

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1. Think Strategically About Your Money

When it comes to vacations, most people plan months ahead, carefully selecting a destination and the best way to get there. Financial decisions should involve the same type of strategic thinking. You should choose a financial "destination" and then map investment,savings, insurance and household needs to arrive as planned. People who think strategically will know if they're on track to reach their goals and when they need to adjust their plan to match their financial situations.

2. Develop Financial Relationships

It's never a good idea to make major decisions in a vacuum. Ideally, you should try to develop relationships with people who can help guide your financial well-being. Get to know them, and let them get to know you. That way, they're more likely to go the extra mile to provide the kind of personalized service that can keep your goals on track. A good accountant can help you save money. A banker can help with loans when you really need them, and a lawyer can make sure your personal affairs are in order.

3. Boost Savings,Cut Debt

Limiting debt is critical to reaching your financial goals. Therefore, it's important to keep nondeductible interest to a minimum. As you liquidated debt, you may want to direct those dollars to savings. You can also maximize your savings by contributing to company-sponsored tax-deductible savings programs such as a 401 (k), a health savings account or a 529 college savings plan. You should also consider making major household purchases on a "pay-as-you-go" basis. Anytime you reduce debt, you are, in effect, giving yourself a raise.

4. Review Household Expenses and Set a Budget

Cash flow management is fundamental to financial planning. Basically, this means spending less than you earn. To do this, you should decide how much you want to save and then adjust yourbudget accordingly. Try tracking your expenses for three months so you know where your money is going. This way, it's easier to start making intelligent decisions about spending habits.

5. Plan Ahead for Marriage and Family

You may not have tied the knot yet, but if you do plan to marry someday, you should start planning now. For example, do you and your partner see eye-to-eye on financial matters? Do you know whether you'll use a joint checking account or separate accounts? How many children, if any, do you plan to have? How will a family change your insurance and housing needs? Financial arguments can frequently lead to divorce. By planning ahead, you can help minimize stress on your relationship.

6. Review Employment and Education Options

Too many people fail totake advantage of employee benefits, especially when it comes to retirement plans. Most companies match a portion of an employee's 401 (k) contribution. Consider it "free money" or a guaranteed return on your investment. An increasing number of companies also match contributions to college savings accounts and health and provide tuition reimbursement. An advanced degree can enhance your earning potential, so find out if your company can help finance higher education.

7. Develop a Crisis Management Plan

A financial emergency usually strikes when you least expect it. The loss of a job, a change in your personal situation such as a divorce or a health crisis can quickly drain your financial reserves. The best hedge is an emergency savings account equal to at least three-andideally, six-months of living expenses. Repay the account promptly, even if it means cutting back on other things. The goal is to avoid piling up debt-or worse, bankruptcy. A crisis management plan can provide some peace of mind and keep you moving toward your financial goals.

8. Review Insurance Needs

You can use insurance to protect your assets. Life insurance can provide a decent financial cushion in the event of a spouse's or partner's death. Therefore, it's important to regularly review your policies.

9. Leverage Your Assets

You can leverage assets to take advantage of financial opportunities. For example, if you have a low-interest mortgage, think about directing any extra cash to higher-paying investments rather than paying down the loan. A home equity loanis usually cheaper than a consumer loan, and interest is tax-deductible. If you have a brokerage account, you may want to consider using it as collateral for a loan. The interest may be lower than your investment return and conventional loan rates.

10. Manage Your Taxes

Taxes can take a huge bite out of income and capital gains, so you may want to consider the following steps:

--Maximize your and/or your spouse's 401 (k) and IRA contributions.

--Consider opening a health savings account, even if you don ' t plan to use the money.

--If you own stock, consider selling it before the end of the year if it's generating losses.

--Think about increasing charitable contributions or setting up a trust.

Top 10 Financial Resolutions for the New Year