The American Civil Liberties Union, based in New York, NY, reported that the US government claims the right to read personal data online without court authorization. This trend is not unique to the United States government. Many governments around the world also request these service providers.

According to the statistics published by Google, it received more than 16,000 information requests affecting more than 31,000 users in 2012. The same Google statistics indicate that it provided information in more than 85% of the requests.

In 2012, Microsoft received more than 70,000 requests that affected more than 120,000 accounts. While this is a much higher number, Microsoft only produced information about these requests about 2% of the time. Nearly 80% of the requests asked Microsoft to disclose only subscriber and transaction information.

Blocking thieves:

Businesses and individuals can take simple steps to prevent thieves, businesses, and the government from gaining access to online storage that contains private information.

Here are some basic ways to protect or encrypt data to prevent teary eyes from viewing sensitive and/or personal information:

1) Data can be encrypted before being stored in the cloud. Products like TrueCrypt, Privacy Drive, and MyInfoSafe allow the user to encrypt their data. This type of encryption can be done for both files and folders before they are stored in the cloud.

2) Use an “on the fly” encryption product that encrypts data as stored by almost any online storage provider. Products like BoxCryptor, Cloudfogger, SafeMonk, and Viivo integrate with the cloud storage providers of your choice and encrypt data locally, but seamlessly before it’s stored in the cloud. These services provide encryption completely independent of the storage provider, ensuring that even the storage provider’s employees cannot access your company’s cloud-stored data.

3) Choose a provider that encrypts data as part of their service. Storage-as-a-Service companies like SpiderOak, iDrive, and Comodo not only transfer your data via an encrypted protocol, these companies also store the data in an encrypted format, preventing those without an access key from easily viewing your data. It is unknown if there is a back door that they can use to access the data stored on their servers.

Businesses are highly sensitive to government requests for information because of their legal responsibilities under privacy laws such as HIPAA and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Therefore, in highly regulated industries such as financial services and healthcare, companies must strike a balance between government oversight and consumer privacy.

The US Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 was enacted in the early days of the Internet. The law did not require government investigators to obtain a search warrant to request access to emails and messages stored in online repositories. In 2001, the PATRIOT Act further added the federal government’s authority to search records under its “Library Records” provision, offering a wide range of personal material you could delve into.

We are not suggesting that people try to circumvent the PATRIOT Act. But companies and individuals must do everything they can to comply with data privacy concerns. It should be up to the organization or individual to establish a policy regarding exactly what, when and to whom they disclose information from their cloud service provider.

Who are these guys? Never before in my forty years of voting for starters in the All-Star Game had I asked that question, especially for American League first baseman. We’ve always had a wide variety of candidates to choose from, stars like Boog Powell or Norm Cash and Eddie Murray or Mark McGuire.

Even as little as ten years ago, the American League ballot recorded numerous stars at first base. MVPs like Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera and the Twins’ Justin Morneau were listed with players like Paul Konerko of the White Sox and Mark Teixiera of the Yankees as options to start in the 2008 Summer Classic.

First basemen used to almost universally serve as the most feared hitters, usually in the cleanup or somewhere in the heart of the batting order. They now have lower collective batting averages than any other infield position, and their home run totals are among the worst.

This decline is exemplified by the 2018 All Star ballot, which lists half of the candidates with batting averages below .230. Even more surprising, given the tradition of power associated with first base, nearly a third of them have yet to hit double figures in home runs.

Sure, three former MVPs are listed there, but that trio of guys is past the best. Cabrera still represents the Tigers, but he’s out for the season. Minnesota’s Joe Mauer is hitting thirty points below his career average, and the Angels’ Albert Pujols is exactly at league average in home runs and batting percentage.

Since none of those three are serving, fans have justifiably placed their votes elsewhere. However, it hasn’t been easy, as there are currently no standout players at first base in the American League.

José Abreu of the Chicago White Sox is the top vote-getter, even though he has one backup per season. Helping his cause is the fact that he is a former Rookie of the Year, and has been around for five years in a big commercial city.

Most of the other options are relatively unknown, including the player who ranks first among his peers in WAR. Matt Olson leads all first basemen in that category, but because he plays in Oakland and is relatively young, he lags behind in the voting.

The most successful teams have mostly won in spite of their first basemen, not because of them. Houston’s Yuiri Gurriel is hitting .300, but his numbers pale next to other Astros stars like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa.

The Yankees’ Greg Bird is arguably the seventh best hitter in a New York lineup with Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius. Mitch Moreland is having a good season, but his numbers still can’t match those of his Red Sox teammates like Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, JD Martinez and Xander Bogarts.

A look at the Senior Circuit offers more hope for the fate of first basemen, home to stars like Joey Votto, Anthony Rizzo, Freddie Freeman and Paul Goldschmdit. My nerd would be a lot easier to complete if, for some unfathomable reason, one of those guys got traded to an American League team before All Star voting ended.

Experiencing the havoc that a dangerous storm can wreak on a home or business is traumatic, exhausting, and extremely frustrating. Sometimes a person can try to adequately prepare for extreme weather events, but often their efforts are in vain.

Anyone experiencing such a situation may not be sure how to respond. Managing the aftermath of a significant storm is very important, as those are the times and days that a person can ensure that his or her home or business property is not completely lost.

Below is a short guide explaining how to react after storm damage.

Aftermath of storm damage

The first step when someone sustains storm damage to their home or business is to contact the insurance company. A business or homeowners insurance policy must have protection against disasters like storms, which is why contacting the appropriate Rye NY storm damage agent, or agent in your area, is so vital. They can explain the best way to proceed, in terms of filing a claim with the insurance company.

document everything

Although storm damage restoration is expensive, insurance companies cover almost all expenses when filing a person’s claim. If someone wants to make sure their claim is processed quickly and smoothly, they need to document the damage done to their home or business.

Take photos and videos from every possible angle. Even if an area of ​​damage seems insignificant, having the additional documentation can be very helpful when showing everything to the insurance company. They will make life so much easier for anyone experiencing storm damage in Rye, NY if they can see photos and videos of the damage hours after the storm.

Find a Quality Storm Damage Restoration Company

The challenge for many home and business owners is knowing who they can trust at such times. When there is a major storm, a home or commercial property can sustain a lot of damage.

Areas that are in danger include the basement and other lower areas, as a result of flooding, along with the roof. Siding and windows can also be damaged, especially if trees fell during the storm.

Such repairs and restorations cannot be done by anyone with little construction experience. If a home or business owner wants his property to return to pre-storm condition, he should be willing to find the best restoration service provider in his area.

stay patient

Staying patient throughout this process is a real challenge. Whether a family can’t stay home or a business has to close for a few days, there can be a lot of tension and anxiety.

Instead of calling the insurance agent every ten minutes to get an update on the claim, or requiring the restoration company to work around the clock to finish the repair job within a few days, people in such a situation should keep their cool. .

Provide proper documentation to the insurance company, allow restoration experts to do their work, and make alternate arrangements for several days or a week, until the property is habitable again.

It is no longer a secret that Nigerians attach great importance to quality and are willing to part with cash just to get the same. This growing trend has also found its way into Nollywood, where filmmakers who have made films with such qualitative content boarded the national flight to fame and fortune. Nollywood has currently been ranked as the second largest film industry in the world (based on quantity), but not quality. It’s worth noting that filmmakers in the mid-90s (during the rise of Nollywood) simply produced movies just to make money and not because they were passionate about it.

Tunde kelani, however, stood out from the rest, and his quality regular output effortlessly propelled him into the spotlight. His dexterity with the camera and subsequent productions stems from the knowledge he acquired at the London film school. You can get most of his work in one of my articles “Tunde Kelani: A Legend in Nollywood”. Steve Gucas, who filmed “Keeping in Faith,” is also said to have attended.

Despite the presence of the National Film Institute, Jos, Nigeria, the new generation of filmmakers and those in other spheres of cinema, thirsty for the skills needed to produce international-level films, have found their way to the prestigious Film Institute. from New York. Those who have made the Alumni list include Kunle Afolyan (Irapada, The Figurine, araromire), Stephanie Okereke (Through the Glass), Chineze Anyaene (Ije), Daniel Ademinokan (Omo Iya Kan). Due to its resounding success, others have begun to look to the New York Film Institute (“NYFI”).

“NYFI” offers courses in Filmmaking, Digital Filmmaking, Acting, Cinematography, Broadcast Journalism, Documentary Filmmaking, Production for Film and Television, Digital Film Editing, Photography, 3D Animation, Game Design, Screenwriting, among others. Their practices (practices) from the first day to the last is a very important factor for them, and people from different parts of the world converge there to learn. They are taught by the best and are located in New York, London, Italy, Abuja, China, Japan, Korea, Colombia and other areas.

Some of his former students have gone to make good movies in Hollywood. Notable people and their family members who have attended the institute include Steven Spielberg, Kevin Kline, Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Pierce Brosnan, among others. The use of state-of-the-art equipment is the hallmark of the institute. Flexible courses for various spheres are also available. Although the fees are expensive, however, the knowledge gained at the end of the day and the ability to implement what you have been taught and infused into various projects undertaken, resulting in outstanding work will make up for it.

It’s certainly a great place to study the art and intricacies of filmmaking. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that our filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers are out there in droves.

You’ve started playing recession, and the entire bridal party gives you a frantic “not yet!” aspect. You ask yourself, “Could I have prevented this?”…

Those concert disasters have happened to everyone. Well, except YOU, since you’ve only been playing weddings since last Tuesday. I’ve been playing string quartets at weddings for over two decades and have learned, sometimes the hard way, how NOT to have that awful moment when the focus shifts from the happy couple to the instantly mortified violinist. Let’s do it!

The God’s anger

I was playing an outdoor wedding and the weather was perfect. 70 degrees, sunny blue skies, exactly what the bride was hoping for. We had finished the prelude and the entrance of the bridal procession, and we began the wedding march. It was new to us; love actually had just been released in theaters and it was the first time we played All you need is Love. The bride started walking down the aisle, and a HUGE gust of wind, the first on a previously calm day, blew all our music off the stands. We’d rehearsed it before, thank goodness, but the guests still enjoyed the sight of our violist madly chasing eight pages of sheet music while the rest of us furiously improvised. We made it, but it was close.

Weather can happen very quickly. The pages should always be in folders when playing outdoors, and the pages should be securely attached to the supports. Music stores sell long, spring-loaded clips just for this; I use clothespins from the dollar store. (They’re cheaper, and I don’t care if they get lost or broken.) Either way, USE SOMETHING! It might seem like an eternity between the bridal party and the bride’s entrance as you secure the clips, but unless you’re the cellist in Pachelbel’s Canon, it’s better than having your book closed or off the lectern in between. . Also, make sure you’re sitting somewhere where, if it starts to rain, you won’t have to run undignified. It’s okay in my ceremony contract, “…the quartet requires a sheltered place to play in case of bad weather.” (You have a contract, don’t you?)

We are playing WHAT?

At one of my first wedding concerts, back in college, we had a bunch of music on loan and stuff we got from the college library, including two Handel’s Water Music albums. During the prelude, the best man came over and told us that the bride needs five more minutes for whatever brides need five more minutes, and could we play one more song? I said, “Okay, Handel’s flute!” We quickly pulled it out, found the Hornpipe, started playing…and quickly realized there was a Hornpipe in BOTH books! For about two bars it was pretty raucous as we figured out what was going on, and we got some amused looks from the guests in the front row.

Having good wedding books takes time and effort, not to mention money. First, you need a list of wedding music essentials. There are hundreds of them online; I will not waste time on this essay. Once you figure out what you need and where you’re going to get them, you need to organize them. The best string quartets I’ve ever played with have single-volume books, categorized and numbered. Mine are divided into broad sections; Classical, Wedding, Cafemusik, Tango, Rock/Pop, Ragtime, Jazz and Pop Culture. Each section has a colored tab and the pieces are numbered. Yes I want it Eine Kleine Nachtmusikthat’s “blue token, number 1.5”. By a head is “orange 6”. It makes finding music quick and easy and keeps everyone on the same page. I have probably a dozen Minuets or Menuettos in the books; this ensures that we are all on the same page!

NOT YET!

So what about that premature wedding march I talked about earlier? Well, there was no good way to hide it. I interrupted the foursome, gave the bride an embarrassed “I’m REALLY sorry” shrug, and gave a big comedic cue when the priest gave us an equally comedic “OK, NOW!” wink.

The best defense against this kind of thing is to get to the concert early. Very early. I usually arrive at weddings at least 30 minutes and sometimes up to an hour before the introductory music starts. If it’s a long trip, I give it more time. If it is outdoors or I have never been to the venue, extra time. This ensures that I have time to do several things:

*Please review the physical setup and make sure we have chairs, adequate space, and if outdoors, adequate shade and/or protection from rain.

*Find the wedding planner and ask him for the number of people in the wedding party, are we playing for something we haven’t figured out yet? (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “Oh, we’re doing a sand ceremony, can you play something for that?”) and most importantly, who will give us the signal to start the entrance music. Usually it’s the wedding planner, but if there isn’t one, it could be Aunt Mathilda, who may need a bit of coaching on how to score a string quartet throughout a cathedral church.

* Lastly, find the officiant or celebrant (whoever is celebrating the wedding) and figure out what is the last thing they will say before the new couple walks back down the aisle at the end. It is usually, BUT NOT ALWAYS, the introduction. (“I now have the honor of introducing, for the FIRST TIME, John and Mary Whatchamacallum!)

Awesome! I’m ready to play wedding!

Well maybe. There are always things that appear. In fact, one bride decided, on the day of the packed church, that today was not going to be the day. How do you handle that? (I’ll tell you. You play Mozart until the guests have left, then tactfully ask his father for the balance of your fee.) Preparation only goes so far. At some point, the experience will kick in and then you’ll find out that playing weddings is a really good way to make a living…

…unless you’re the cellist and it’s Pachelbel time.

Newsflash: One particular synthetic pesticide called ‘Fipronil-Plus-C’ is now approved for indoor and outdoor use.

So what? The EPA makes sure everything is safe for us, so what’s the problem?

Let’s do some research on Fipronil and see if it’s good news or bad news.

Fipronil was discovered and developed between 1985 and 1987 by the French chemical and pharmaceutical company Rhone-Poulenc and put on the market in 1993. There is a US patent owned by BASF and it is produced and distributed by Bayer. It is a broad-spectrum insecticide that disrupts the central nervous system of insects by causing hyperexcitation of the nerves and muscles of a contaminated insect. In other words, it is a neuro-toxin.

Fipronil is a common ingredient in pet products from Frontline, Barricade, Easyspot, Effipro, Sentry, Parastar, PetArmor, Pronyl OTC, and Spectra Sure. Pets’ adverse reactions to the treatments included chemical burns, redness, irritation, gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting, and neurological problems such as tremors and seizures.

This pesticide is commonly used on golf courses and on crops. It is highly degradable in sunlight (meaning it breaks down) and becomes up to 10 times more ‘potent’, or in other words, more ‘toxic’. It is highly toxic to bees and, in studies in France, caused “massive bee mortality” as bees were unable to locate their hives after pollen-collecting expeditions. In combination with other factors, the male bees became sterile. Ironically, the pesticide was not actually sprayed in these tests, but was sprayed on the crop seeds before they were planted, and the process of planting the seeds created dust that affected the bees. That seems highly toxic!

Fipronil is also highly toxic to rabbits, crustaceans, reptiles, and fish, as well as bees. It is considered one of the main chemical causes of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) that is wiping out bee populations worldwide. Water contamination issues from runoff have been problematic, so due to environmental concerns, cultured fipronil has been banned from use in AK, CT, IN, MA, NE, NY, SC, and WA. Aerosol products are also banned in New York.

Toxicity studies reveal that the symptoms of acute toxicity of fipronil in humans through ingestion are sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, agitation, weakness, and convulsions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified it as a possible human carcinogen, a suspected endocrine disruptor (affecting fertility and other hormones), and a possible water contaminant. Research is limited to effects of ingestion with no human inhalation or dermal transfer (absorption through the skin) studies.

Back to the breaking news: A Fipronil product has now been nationally approved for use in healthcare and nursing facilities, office buildings, hotels and resorts, commercial kitchens, apartments and condominiums, and many other applications. This is certainly newsworthy, but the blessing of widespread use of a persistent, odorless, colorless, broad-spectrum neurotoxin is certainly BAD news…

Our rifle scopes are most directly related to refracting telescopes, the first practical versions of which were seen around 1608 in the Netherlands. These first refracting telescopes are attributed to Hans Lippershey and Zacharias Janssen, eyeglass makers, and Jacob Metius. We are probably most familiar with the name of Galileo Galilei, who learned of the invention in 1609 and proceeded to make his own version of it. The first experiments in giving shooters a telescopic sight date back to the early 17th century, but all early attempts had practical or performance limitations.

The first documented telescopic rifle sight was invented shortly after 1835 by Morgan James of Utica, New York. John R. Chapman, a civil engineer, worked with James on some of the concepts and design, and they produced the Chapman-James sight. In 1855, William Malcolm of Syracuse, NY, began producing his own view of it. Malcolm incorporated achromatic lenses like those used in telescopes. He also improved windage and elevation settings. Malcolm’s sights and those made by Mr. LM Amidon of Vermont were the standard during the Civil War.

Telescopic sights were used to good effect by both sides during the Civil War. There were a number of noteworthy shots and some rumors of hits from 1000 yards or more. In Spotsylvania, Union General Sedgwick was reportedly killed by a sniper from a range of 1000 yards. The actual distance measured is about 550 yards, which is still very impressive for a black powder rifle in combat conditions (the shooter fired from a tree).

Variable power rifle scopes were not developed until the late 1940s and it was several years before they were reliable products in both performance and longevity. They often would not return to zero after adjusting for elevation or windage and would fog up in wet conditions or simply from altitude changes. Waterproof scopes appeared around 1960.

The introduction of variable power riflescopes also introduced the problem of mounting the reticle in the first or second focal plane. In general, a scope with a first focal plane reticle will cost more than one with a second focal plane reticle. In first focal plane optics, the reticle cell is located at the front of the lenses that control the magnification level, so as the magnification level changes, the reticle will appear to get larger and smaller. from the shooter’s perspective. The reticle actually maintains its size in relation to the target, meaning range estimation, trajectory compensation, and drifts can be performed at any available magnification level.

The most common arrangement for a variable power rifle scope is to have the reticle in the second focal plane. This arrangement is cheaper to design and produce compared to a first focal plane reticle. The second focal plane reticle cell mounts to the end of the erector tube so that as the level of magnification changes, the reticle will appear to stay the same size. This means that precise ranging, holds, and leads can only be done on a rise setup without some sort of conversion.

The basics of scope design have remained much the same since the 1960s with a few added details such as multi-coated lenses in the 1970s and parallax adjustment (only greater than 8x magnification needed), and illuminated reticles that can Extend shooting times in the morning and at night. The basic sight has been improved in a multitude of varieties including adaptations of the military Mil-Dot rangefinder system. Each manufacturer has also created proprietary range-finding reticles.

The most recent and significant change in rifle scope design is the incorporation of laser rangefinders into the scope itself. In 1997, Swarovski Optik introduced the LRS series telescopic sight, the first rifle scope on the civilian market with an integrated laser rangefinder. The LRS could measure ranges up to 600 meters (660 yd). LRS scopes are no longer manufactured, but Burris and Bushnell market scopes with similar but superior features. Scopes are available in all price ranges and with a wide variety of options. Carefully consider your needs and evaluate the available options and you will find a rifle scope that is perfect for you. If you need a laser range finding scope or other rangefinder scope, please visit http://www.rangefinderriflescopes.com

Picture frames hadn’t changed much over the centuries until computers revolutionized the way photographs were displayed. You are no longer restricted to a single photograph per frame; You can even take your digital frame with you wherever you go. Simply take a picture with your cell phone, digital camera, or webcam and connect your device to the digital photo frame. Many frames even feature memory chips that save your images directly to the digital photo frame, freeing up your device for other projects. Other devices invite you to store your images on secure online servers.

Digital photo frames come in a variety of sizes up to 20 inches. You can even clip the smallest digital photo frames to your key chain. Most digital photo frames use the JPG format, although some manufacturers now allow GIFs and other formats. The best digital frames use sophisticated software that allows you to run a slideshow or add special features like bumper stickers and subtitles.

Most seven-inch digital photo frames display images at 480 x 234 pixels. These images may stretch to fit the screen, so expect some issues with aspect ratios. For best results, check the digital photo frame image to make sure the device has not stretched the image to the sides. If so, crop the image so that the digital frame magnifies the subject in a complementary way. Other images may appear pixelated or “boxy” due to resolution issues. Some digital photo frames put a black border around the images or crop them.

The market for digital photo frames has exploded with new and exciting products. Several major companies now offer digital frames, including Kodak, Sony, Polaroid, and Ceiva. The framework is actually a simple, stand-alone computer. Each frame contains a CPU or Central Processing Unit, memory, a modem to connect to the Internet, a screen, and some controls, such as brightness and an on/off switch. These small memory chips or computers use an operating system similar to those used on PDAs and electrical test units.

In 2008, some digital photo frames made in China and Hong Kong were infected with a Trojan virus in the product’s internal memory card storage drives. There have been no notable security threats with digital photo frames since this incident. Digital frames are now safe, secure, and perhaps the easiest way to display all the photographs and stills of your life.

Italy is famous for its excellent pasta, pizza, Ferraris, and fine art. But only a few can know some famous celebrities who were born in Italy. Here are some of the few world-renowned and famous celebrities who shaped entertainment.

Monica Bellucci – In real life, Hollywood actress Monica Anna Maria Bellucci was born in Città di Castello, Umbria, Italy. She started modeling in 1988 and became a featured model a year later. She first appeared on the cinema screen in Vita Coi Figli (Life with the Sons) as “Elda”, followed by numerous Italian films and some Hollywood films such as Tears of the Sun, two from The Matrix series and the acclaimed by Criticism The Passion of the Christ

Tony Bennett – Popular jazz singer Tony Bennett was born in Astoria, Queens, New York. His father emigrated from Podargoni, a rural district of the city of Reggio Calabria, in southern Italy. He began singing at the age of 10 and worked as a singing waiter at numerous Italian restaurants in Queens, New York, where he was discovered by a record executive. His record albums generated worldwide hits such as “Cold, Cold Heart”, “Rags to Riches”, “I Left my heart in San Francisco”, among others.

Robert De Niro – Academy Award Winner for Best Actor Robert De Niro was born in New York City. De Niro’s father was of Italian and Irish descent. Robert de Niro is famous for his role as Vito Corleone in The Godfather II and Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver.

Al Pacino – Born Alfredo James Pacino, Al Pacino was raised in East Harlem, New York by his Italian parents. He worked as a messenger, janitor, and postal worker to finance his acting studies. Al Pacino was discovered by Francis Ford Coppola when he played a heroin addict in 1971’s “The Panic in Needles Park.” He played Michael Corleone in “The Godfather,” which gave him his first Golden Globe Award to the best actor.

Madonna – Madonna Louise Ciccone was born in Bay City, Michigan. Her parents were of French and Italian descent. Madonna once worked as a waitress at Dunkin Donuts while leading a rock band called The Breakfast Club. She later led a band called Emmy that impressed a record producer and signed her as a pop artist.

Other notable famous Italian celebrities are: Sophia Loren, Terence Hill, Bud Spencer, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Asia Argento, Enzo Ferrari, Ruggero Deodato, and Al Capone.

When it comes to building wealth, it seems like everyone is looking for an easy way out. Well, I’m here to tell you that there just isn’t one. There is no such thing as money for nothing, however, there are ways we can work smarter instead of harder. I first came across the term financial intelligence during the stock market boom of the 1980s, when people made large sums of money relatively easily and in a short space of time.

These people were trading property as if it were some kind of hot commodity, like an Ipod is today. Basically, they had come up with a certain formula that allowed them to harness the power of supply and demand and create wealth like never before. It was honestly like selling shovels to gold miners and being the only shovel seller in town. Hence the term financial intelligence.

Today, if you want to create wealth, you have to be a bit smart in terms of being able to spot a lucrative venture. It seems the art of this revolves around finding trading systems that have very low overhead and high profit. It’s an age-old formula, first used by the inventors of the world’s original currency, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people miss it and can’t recognize it, even when looking at their faces.

The Internet is one such example that, if smart enough, offers the business person a great opportunity to manufacture and deliver a product at virtually no cost. Thus, the markup on earnings becomes immeasurable. The example that follows shows why. Take this hypothetical scenario.

The hourly rate is not calculated, but a person goes and spends three days, say Monday through Wednesday, 16 hours each day writing an e-book on disassembling the engine of a BMW 320i car. They then spend another day editing, packaging (obtaining and providing graphics) and providing references, writing copyright and disclaimers, and submitting their book to the various Internet bookstores for sale. The book sells for $20.00 and they charge a 25% commission ($5.00) per sale. they sell 100 copies worldwide in the first week, 200 copies the second week, and 300 copies the third week. After this they stop counting. The formula goes something like this.

5 days @ 16 hours each = 80 hours

production cost = zero

profit week 1 = $500.00

profit week 2 = $1000.00

profit week 3 = $1500.00

Total profit = $3000.00 – for something I did once, and only once, even if it took me 80 hours to do it

Divide by 80 hours = $37.50 per hour of paid earnings.

And it grows exponentially, as sales increase. Now, not at a certain point, because there was no measurable cost factor involved, they can’t accurately measure profit in terms of a percentage. This is financial intelligence at work.

It only becomes an unfeasible model when we start to put ourselves in a measurable hourly rate. That is when, as the saying goes, time is money. But this is an illusion. I say this because how do you go about calculating what volume of time equals a specific volume of money?

Using the eBook production and sales example above, what happens if, 12 months after the date of the first sale, the profit on that BMW book is $25,000.00? So the person goes and says it took 80 hours to get the book out, so now it’s worth $25,000 divided by $80 = $312.50 per hour?

What if they have written another 10 books by then? Each one has started selling. How do you track and calculate your hourly rate?

They don’t, and they can’t, unless they want to get caught up in the illusion that “time is money.” It is much better for the person to know financial intelligence when they see it, stop the impulse to measure his value by how much money he can make per hour, and just relax and go with the flow, and enjoy doing what he does. Life is too short, at least for them, to do otherwise. When it comes to how to build wealth, I believe that financial intelligence is possibly the best resource and perspective one can have. This is what lends itself to creating simple and effective business systems. It’s what it takes to answer the never-ending quest to build wealth easier and faster than ever before.