Sure, Rudy Giuliani would be a great presidential candidate and would very likely make an outstanding President. But he has to weigh his decision to run very carefully with his three wives.

He has not only loved as a man might. He has loved three women enough to marry them. Given the neo-Puritanical ethic that seems to haunt much of our current populace, such a frequent vote for marital bliss can hardly be called prudent preparation for the slanderous rigors of contemporary politics.

While many who read this commentary will look on his marital mania with understanding or indifference, we must also imagine the field day the other candidates could have bestirring the moderate conscience of much of America with a conniving iteration and ceaseless reiteration of his serial proclivity.

No doubt the prospect troubles the good man. Perhaps in the middle of the night visions of his three sugar plums dance before him, and he contemplates with their lovely apparitions if the majority of America might forgive him for loving them, not only as a man well might, but for having the heart to marry all of them.

We can only await the result of his wifely deliberations. Should he decide to run, imagine if all three of them rush to his defense simultaneously!

We can hear both sides now. While much is dismissively predicable, we might enjoy an innovative defense, such as, since people are living longer now, three wives are more understandable.

Let’s hope he decides to give the election a go. Speaking with eager irresponsibility, the unprecedented political muddle might well become the highlight of the election.

What are SEPs? Do I need one?

I have been getting this question a lot lately. What is a SEP? SEP stands for Special Election Period. This is a time frame that Federal and/or State Governments allow individuals and or families to enroll into a Health plan or new health plans based on what’s happening with them.

There over a dozen of different SEPs to work with in the Health and Medicare insurance industry. They could be related to something as simple as moving into a new plan in area, or losing an existing or gaining a job or position, They could be related to attaining or losing a attained age. It could be related to special dates like your birthday or having their plan cancel doing business in an already existing area. These opportunities are there to help members to enroll into major medical coverage without having to wait for open or annual enrollment period.

Working with the correct SEP can help people get themselves and their families the Health and Medicare plans that they need to maintain a quality of life. It can provide the new or disenfranchised a chance to get the major medical health plans that they both want and need. By using the correct SEP correctly, they could save thousands of dollars that may not be available to them.

There are over 15 different and separate SEPs in Medicare Advantage plans, Part D Plans, and Medicare supplements. There are almost as many SEPs available when you’re working with the affordable health care or ACA. This can give you additional options and services that you may have never know about them.

The number most important thing about SEPs is you. Everyone needs a major medical plan for themselves and or their spouse or family. Just one 4 day visit to a hospital for an emergency and put someone’s financial footing on shaky ground with medical bills reaching 6 figures. Medical cost are the number cause of bankruptcy in our nation. Can you imagine working all your life and run into that accident without being prepared, a complete life savings can be completely wiped out in the matter of weeks or days. The end game could be horrible.

There are SEPs in both Medicare and the ACA. If you don’t need one, that’s good. If you might need one, it could even be better. Keep the questions coming.

Not long ago, I talked with a gentleman who’d gone to college here to learn how to become a teacher, he then moved back to India. He was extremely interested in our crazy 2016 Presidential Election. In looking at the elections in his own country and ours in the US, he made some interesting comments, and our think tank took notice because he is not alone in his belief system about US politics as we’ve surveyed many others who feel similar. My acquaintance from India stated;

“All politics can be based down to race, class, or color. Trump is attacking race first of all. All those Mexicans (brown people), all those evil Muslims (brown people), that guy with the fake birth certificate, (Obama the black guy). He is inciting racism, plain and simple. Of course, Hillary has only one card to play, in his mind… “She is a woman”. The real reason NOT to vote for Trump though, is class. He is a spoiled rich boy, who got his money from Daddy. He has never done a real days work in his life.”

Well, I guess if one watches CNN, that’s probably what they’d think, but that is hardly the reality of the situation. My acquaintance went on to say that Donald Trump doesn’t understand the average person and that he will only help the billionaire class. Wow, those are a lot of charges against one’s character, but let’s address these issues.

First I’d like to note that; no, not all politics come down to race, class. Some come down to ideals, economics, religion, and personal needs, wants and desires. Whereas, all politics is local, it comes down to self-interests. Donald Trump is not inciting racism, rather the left says he is, and calls him a racist, if you buy into that CNN Clinton News Network stuff you might believe that, but then you are not thinking, you have surrendered your mind to the media, fine, you have the freedom to do that, but it doesn’t mean what you think is correct or factual – only repeated over-and-over-again until you now believe it.

Yes, Trump was born into a decent family of means, but he and his father and now his kids do possess hard-work-ethic. Usually that skips a generation, not in his case it seems, look how far you can get in the US if don’t play victim for a free government sponsored ham sandwich. I bet Trump has worked hard all is his life and more than 99% of our population, you have to, to get there or stay there. Ever run a company? I have and I worked 17 hours a day, just as Trump did during the election flying around giving speeches.

Personally, I believe that everyone should have their taxes reduced and our bloated government needs a haircut for sure. Wealthy should not have to pay a higher percentage, that’s not incentivizing productivity, it is penalizing it. Hating the 1% is indeed a form of minority hate you know. You hate Trump, okay I get that, so don’t vote for him, I’ll cancel your vote for you. We do not need to continue a political dynasty with the Clinton’s, as they’ve already overstayed their welcome and abused the privilege, not that we shouldn’t have known; “Absolute Power corrupts absolutely”. Think on this.

Barrack Obama became the first African American to become The United States President. Adams Oshiomole became the first Nigerian to become a State Governor in Nigeria after contesting the April 2007 elections, without any rerun of elections. This was after the ruling of the Election Petitions and Appeal Court Rulings that upturned the supposed election of the former Governor.

What lessons can we learn from these two people on their road to success?

Success does not come overnight

They both have come a long way. Barrack Obama came to limelight in the year 2004 after delivering a speech during the period John Kerry was running for Presidency of the US. Adams Oshiomole made his mark when he was the Nigerian Labour Congress President some years back. They both did not achieve success overnight.

Hardwork is rewarding

Barrack Obama, during his campaigns, worked very hard going from place to place and delivering what you might refer to as World-Class speeches. Adams Oshiomole went right into communities during his campaigns as well. They were not lazy people who just sat down and did nothing.

Diligence, doggedness and determination are essentials of success

Barrack Obama was an African American and naturally people were opposed to his candidacy, but he was determined to do and achieve what no other African American had done and achieved before. He faced the challenges before him with doggedness and he was diligent. Adams Oshiomole was not one you will refer to as a natural politician. He was not even a long standing member of the platform he contested in. However, with diligence, doggedness and determination, he scaled through all the challenges to become the Governor of a State in Nigeria.

Tough people last longer than tough times

If you ask these two people some questions about their rise, you will surely hear about some tough times that they went through, but they outlasted the tough times.

Confidence comes before success

Both of them were very confident. Barrack Obama had so much confidence that he had already prepared a place so to speak for the victory celebrations even before his announcement as President-Elect. From the way Adams spoke, you would have noticed the confidence in his voice or speech. He was so confident that he contested the initial results of the elections and eventually won.

Integrity is a necessity

Barrack Obama and Adams Oshiomole never had a period of controversy during their sojourn to success. You never had that any of them was involved in one scandal or the other. You never had that they committed any crime and trust me, if there was any such situation, their opponents would have capitalised on that.

Failure is not an option

If you had asked them what they would do if they failed, they, most likely, would have told you they were not going to fail.

The above lessons can be imbibed in our Internet Business. We should not expect to succeed overnight. I have been on the Internet since 2006 and I never got money from the business until 2008. Of course, with a Mentor, you can achieve success faster, but definitely, not overnight. Hardwork, diligence, doggedness, determination, toughness and confidence are also very essential if we are going to make it. Integrity is also very important. I read a post about somebody who asked for the Google ads on his website, or is it blog? to be clicked. That is not a sign of integrity. We should also not take failure as an option. We may fail one way or the other, but, that does not make us a failure.

Let me borrow a leaf from Barrack Obama’s speech, can we learn from the above lessons and become a force to reckon with in Internet Business? Can we conduct our business with a high level of integrity to the point that we can begin to be trusted? Can we begin to create world-class products and sell at premium and competitive prices? Can we begin to contribute towards the well-being of newbies by taking them through the right track instead of just selling stuffs to them and expecting them to do all the work by themselves? To all these questions, I say a resounding “Yes We Can”. Again, I say “Yes We can”

After, perhaps, the most tumultuous, polarizing four – year period, in recent memory, ending in 2020, a year, which suffered from the impacts of this horrific, deadly pandemic, and one of the most contentious, divisive elections, ever, many looked forward, with a degree of optimism, and hope, with the election of a more – conventional individual, to hopefully, the restoration of some degree of what, we have always, considered, normal, in this country! If, the tone of the inauguration of President Joe Biden, Jr, and Vice President Kamala Harris, is any indication, our hopes, may be fulfilled. It seemed to obvious, both, the actual, as well as desired – tone, of this event, was UNITY, and bringing Americans together, regardless of their politics, seeking a meeting – of – the – minds, for the greater good, making a point, of stating, he hoped to be President of all of us, rather than, only his supporters. What a refreshing change, that may be! With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means and represents, and why this matters.

1. United; unify; urgent; useful: Wouldn’t it be, and feel, nice, if the new President, focused on putting, united, back in the United States? If Biden’s words, are any indication, he seeks to unify us, and prioritize, to address urgent challenges, in a focused, useful way, consistently! From the list of prospective Cabinet members, and advisers, he has, so – far, released, it seems obvious, these choices are well – qualified experts, and as – a – team, might be able to make a difference, for the better!

2. Needs; nice/ niceties: Many feel, we have suffered, through four years, of the administration, of an individual, who seemed to lack any degree of genuine empathy, nor, willing to accept personal responsibility, etc. A return, to a normal situation, requires an individual, ready, willing, and able, to utilize the niceties, which comfort us, and to prioritize, the actual needs, goals, priorities, and perceptions, of our citizens!

3. Integrity; ideals/ ideology; issues: Americans tend to listen, believe, and follow, an individual, with absolute integrity, and whose ideals, align, with the ideology, of this nation! We want issues, we prioritize, to be, those, our elected officials, address, first!

4. Time; timely; today/ tomorrow; together; truth/ trust: Especially, in terms of addressing the challenges, related to Climate Change, and environmental issues (including, protecting clean air and water, and open – spaces), there is little time, to waste! We need to proceed, immediately, with well – considered, timely action, in many areas, better planning, and a vision, which pays keen attention to both, today, and tomorrow! At the inauguration, this new President, emphasized, we must join together, for the common good! If, we believe in him, and feel, he tells the truth, hopefully, he will restore the trust, in government, and our leaders, which seems, to suffer, these past four years!

5. Yes; you; your: We seek someone, who says, yes, to our common needs, rather than his personal/ political agenda, and/ or, self – interest! Wouldn’t you feel better, and, be more optimistic, and willing to do your part, if the tone, was one of hope, and unity, rather than despair, and divisiveness?

If the inauguration, was an indicator, of things – to – come, our necessary, UNITY, may become a greater possibility! After all, we are supposed to be, the United States of America!

After, perhaps, the most tumultuous, polarizing, four years, in America, in recent memory, and, after, an election campaign, which seemed to never – end, it should not have surprised, anyone, the election, itself, including counting the votes, especially, due to the unprecedented number of mail – in, absentee ballots, due to this horrific pandemic, what this nation, and the planet, needs, is far more sanity, and calm! For many reasons, polls indicate, the level of polarization, and bipartisan politics (and extremism), is dangerous, and undesirable, and, if, it continues, for long, poses a threat to the health and well – being, of the country, and our world. Since the United States, is, such a significant influence, on world affairs, we need, to demand, future leaders, do these 7 things, instead of only considering their own, personal/ political agenda, and/ or, self – interest. With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, what is needed, and necessary, sooner, instead of later.

1. Unify, instead of polarize: The politics of blaming, complaining, lying, and adversarial approaches, must not continue! To achieve, what is most needed, and necessary, we must demand, our public officials, prioritize, unifying, for the greater good, instead of polarizing, and continued, partisan politics (as – usual)!

2. Tell the truth: Instead of the same – old, same – old, it is,way, past – time, to demand, elected and public officials, tell the truth, in a clear, transparent way, and focus on the greater good!

3. Meeting – of – minds, for common good: Although, we have often, seen partisan politics, in the past, these last few years, have demonstrated, there is a need, to find common ground, and a meeting – of – the – minds, so the American public is better served, and represented, both, now, and into the future!

4. Realistic, relevant, sustainable planning/ preparation: We’ve witnessed. how the politics – of – denial, does not achieve adequate results, in realistic ways! We need relevant, sustainable planning, and preparation, to protect us, at – present, as well as, into the future. Our planet cannot afford denying, the dangers of Climate Change, and protecting our environment (especially, clean air and water)!

5. Strategic and action planning: We need quality, well – considered, strategic planning, in order to determine, the best path, forward! This must bring – forth, a true, action plan, which has the best chance, to make a change, for the better!

6. Evolve/ adapt/ protect Climate, and Environment: We can’t simply, continue, with the same – old, same – old, approaches, and a closed – mind! Rather, we must evolve to our evolving world, and adapt, how we proceed, especially, when it comes to the essential attention, to pay immediate attention, to Climate, and environmental issues, and protections!

7. Protect all Constitutional guarantees: Instead of selectively, protecting the rights, freedoms, and Constitutional guarantees, we need to enforce, all of them! That means, one can’t pay attention, for example, to the 2nd Amendment, while, trying to abridge 1st Amendment protections, etc.

If we want the United States, to continue, to be respected, both, at – home, and abroad, we need to set the example, for the better, especially, in terms of human rights, freedoms, liberty, and justice – for – all! Will you be part of the solution, or, of the problem?

As the first quarter of 2017 draws to a close, it is clear that 2017 continues to offer opportunities for businesses to expand into the US market, transfer foreign national employees to a US branch, and the opportunity for foreign investors to obtain green cards through a qualified capital investment. However, many people are wondering what changes are on the horizon regarding US business immigration law, as well as if the new presidential administration will affect their ability to travel to the United States for work or pleasure.

Regardless of any potential changes to US immigration law resulting from a Trump presidency, the United States is still a safe place to invest and grown a business. Since the election, interest in visa programs such as the E2 Treaty Investor Visa and EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa continue to rise. This may be in part due to the fact that Trump’s immigration rhetoric did not extend to these visa categories. However, since the election, Trump has even back-pedaled on his hard-line stance regarding the H1B Specialty Occupation visa category.

While the fate of undocumented aliens in the country remains uncertain, US business immigration will likely continue to be popular and contributed to the thriving US economy. Additionally, any significant changes to US immigration policy would need to be approved by Congress. A sitting president can only do so much utilizing executive orders.

Some potential clients have expressed concern that a Trump presidency will lead to the dissolution of popular business immigration categories like the E2 Treaty Investor visa. Fortunately, this is unlikely. Many of the E2 Treaty countries have maintained the relevant treaty with the United States for dozens of years. Some, as in the case with the United Kingdom, have been in place for hundreds. The treaty of commerce and navigation between the United Kingdom and the United States has been in place since the reign of George III, in 1815. The United States can only withdraw from a ratified treaty pursuant to the terms of the agreement. Additionally, for Trump to unilaterally pull out would be highly unpopular with the E2 treaty countries, the American public, and US nationals who enjoy the same advantages of starting a business abroad in a reciprocal E2 treaty country.

Immigrant entrepreneurs and investors were seldom mentioned during the campaign (if at all), and it was even revealed that President-Elect Trump’s son-in-law used EB5 investor funding for one of his real estate development projects. In fact, the EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program’s recent extension has made it even more attractive to foreign investors looking to permanently immigrate to the United States.

The EB5 Regional Center investment was set to expire on 9 December 2016. As in the past, the program was temporarily funded and extended until 28 April 2017 – with no changes to the minimum investment amount or requirements. What makes this extension unique is that it will likely be the last one before Congress raises the minimum capital contribution – something which has been in discussion for the past few years. This temporary extension ‘as is’ allows investors to submit their EB5 petitions during the first four months of 2017 at the reduced investment amount of $500,000 USD for projects located in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA). This is surely a welcomed relief for any investors who may have failed to organize their petitions before the 9 December 2016 deadline.

Along with the extension of the EB5 Program, USCIS will significantly increase their filing fees for the I-526 Petition and I-924 Application for Regional Center Designation, beginning 23 December 2016. Presently the filing fee to submit an EB5 Petition is $1,500 USD. From 23 December that fee rises to $3,675 USD – an increase of $2,175 USD. Perhaps the most significant EB5 fee increase is for business persons looking to establish a USCIS approved Regional Center. That fee, which is current $6,230 USD jumps to $17,795 USD – an increase of 186%.

Regional Centers are also required to file an annual certification to maintain their designation with USCIS. There is currently no fee for this process, but a fee of $3,035 USD will be introduced along with the other USCIS fee changes. The large increase in filing fees for Regional Center Designation is aimed at preventing EB5 fraud by limiting applications to serious businesses with the means to support large EB5 projects. It is likely that 2017 will see a decrease in I-924 Applications given the large fee.

The pending USCIS fee increases will affect other US business immigration categories along with the EB5 visa. Form I-129, used for filing L and H1B visas, among other, will increase to $460 USD. Sponsoring an alien worker for a green card via form I-140 will be raised to $700 USD. These fee increases, while significantly less than the EB5 fee, may deter smaller US companies from sponsoring foreign workers in a non-immigrant or immigrant status.

Notwithstanding fee increases and a new US President, the 2017 prospects for business immigration look bright. Companies are still expanding stateside, and the need for specialised foreign employees remains high. The extension of the EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program will continue to make the United States a cost-effective options for immigrant investors looking to obtain permanent resident status.

LLCs and real estate seem to go hand in hand these days. Anyone to whom you speak that dabbles in real estate investing understands the need for liability protection, but may not understand the proper way to protect themselves. Their insurance broker may have told them that an umbrella policy will do the trick, but I am of a different opinion. Using an entity to hold real estate is a fantastic way to protect yourself from liability, provide some tax benefits and give you peace of mind that your personal assets are protected.

Many clients come to me before they buy a rental property to understand all of the ins and outs of real estate investing and how to protect themselves. Now, there are many different ways to structure a real estate investing empire, but I want to focus on using the LLC to hold property. An LLC, or Limited Liability Company, is a great entity in which to hold property. The ease of formation and limited formalities that need to be adhered to make the LLC a good fit for a real estate investor that wants to focus on finding deals, not handling paperwork. There is no board meetings, annual filings and burdensome minutes that are drafted every month.

Another benefit of an LLC is the tax treatment. As a single member LLC, there are no additional federal tax filings that need to be made unless a corporate tax election is made (outside the scope of this post), so the LLC is essentially taxed as a sole proprietorship on your individual return. If there are 2 or more owners, the LLC is taxed as a partnership (again unless a corporate election is made) and the income and losses pass through to the owners individual tax returns. No double taxation.

Lastly, because of the ease of set up and managing, LLCs can be used to help spread liability risks between entities. Most of my clients put no more than 2-3 properties into 1 LLC, thereby keeping the risk spread between entities. For example, if a client has 6 properties that are owned in 3 separate LLCs and someone gets hurt in property 1, owned by LLC 1, that person will only be able to get at the properties owned by LLC 1, barring special circumstances. If all 6 were owned by the same LLC, all of the equity in those properties would be at risk.

As you can see, LLCs are great vehicles in which to hold real estate from a liability and tax perspective. We have only scratched the surface with this discussion. If you would like to find out more about forming LLCs to hold real estate and the do’s and don’ts, contact our office today at www.cozzalaw.com

Johnny Morrissey started out as a feared bare-knuckles boxer, but later became a gang member and leg breaker for the politicians of Tammany Hall.

Morrissey was born in Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland in 1831. The famed potato famine was in its infancy, but his parents saw the writing on the wall. They immigrated to America in 1833 and settled in Troy, New York. Not being educated, but good with his fists, Morrissey was relegated to working as a collection agent for the local Irish crime bosses. While working as a bouncer in a Troy brothel, Morrissey taught himself how to read and write. Realizing his future was limited in Troy, Morrissey made the short trek to New York City. There he made his name as a rough hooligan fighting often in various bars and piers, just for sport.

One day he engaged in a impromptu fight with Tom McCann, at the indoor pistol gallery under the St. Charles Hotel. McCann was getting the best of Morrissey, when a powerful punch drove Morrissey over the coals from a hot stove, which had been overturned. Morrissey’s clothes and flesh were badly burning, and with smoke comes from his backside, he leaped forward and battered McCann senseless. Hence, the nickname “Old Smoke.”

After winning a few more battles inside and outside the ring, Morrissey challenged world champion Yankee Sullivan for the world title. The fight took place on October 12, 1853, at Boston Corners, on the border of Massachusetts and New York. Morrissey was battered throughout the fight, but won by disqualification in the 37th round, when Sullivan hit him while he was down.

Buoyed by his newfound fistic fame and now a member of the Dead Rabbits, a feared street gang, Morrissey was hired by Tammany Hall to protect the polling places from the Bowery Boy’s gang, led by Butcher Bill Poole. Poole and his pals terrorized the polling places on election days in favor of the Native American, or Know-Nothing political party. On Election Day, 1854, Poole announced that he and thirty of his Bowery Boys were headed to a certain local election place to destroy the ballot boxes. Tammany Hall called on Morrissey to protect their interests, and with John A. Kennedy, who later became New York City’s Superintendent of Police, they assembled a gang of over fifty Dead Rabbits. They and stood in wait at the polling place for Poole’s arrival.

A man of his word, Poole arrived the polling place and he and his gang entered, looking to do as much damage as possible. Immediately Poole realized his group was vastly outnumbered by Morrissey and the Dead Rabbits. Poole met Morrissey in the center of the room, and after staring menacingly at each other for a few moments, without saying a word, Poole abruptly turned and left, taking his gang with him. Tammany Hall was so overjoyed by Morrissey’s heroics, they gave him a free gambling house, under the protection of the police, of course.

In 1855, Morrissey changed Poole to a bare-knuckles fight on a pier near Christopher Street. Poole accepted, but instead of fighting with his fist, Poole tried to crush Morrissey to death, which he almost did. A few months later, Poole was shot and killed by Morrissey’s close friend Lew Baker, at Stanwix Hall, a bar on Broadway near Prince Street. Both Baker and Morrissey were arrested for the murder of Poole, but after three mistrials (rumor had it that Tammany Hall influenced some jurors in Morrissey and Baker’s favor), the charges were finally dropped.

In 1857, after he retired from boxing, Morrissey opened 16 gambling house, including an exceptionally profitable one in Sarasota Springs. With the backing of Tammany Hall, he was elected United States Congressman from New York from 1867-71. In 1873, tired of Tammany Hall’s illegal tactics, which were only surpassed by the illegal tactics Morrissey employed himself in Congress, Morrissey testified against Tammany Hall chief Boss Tweed. Tweed was convicted and sent to prison, where he subsequently died. As a reward for his service to his country, Morrissey was elected to the New York State Senate in 1875. He was still a Senator when he died of pneumonia in 1878, at the age of 47.

In 1999, Morrissey, a.k.a. “Old Smoke,” was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Predicting in the wake of a dispirited economy and a dying Bush Administration may be a rather contentious subject but the majority of our populace wants to know “just where we stand in 2008 here in the United States”. The following has been prepared to give you a few insights and perhaps an advantage on 2008 preparedness.

o The basic energy of 2008 is stability and strength in a weak and unstable U.S. economy. This sort of power will be the hidden instigator of tensions and misunderstandings in all areas of everyday life. Therefore look at the underlying influence of any issue that may come up at work or home.

o It is a turbulent year in natural disasters particularly tidal waves, possibly a tsunami. It is not unusual to see earthquakes and slides here in California but it is rather unusual to see several scattered around the world all in one year. Good grief; the hurricanes are just wild next year.

o Global warming has long been a major concern world wide and finally the United States will become a team player in support of scientific efforts.

o Election years have always been exciting years for Americans. I am expecting to see many twists and turns in the upcoming elections before the Republicans give way to our new Democrat leader. There will be events in the world that leave us wondering if we will even have an election. Back in the year 1999 I had stated in my forecast, “in the first fifteen years of the new millennium a woman will be named President of the United States” Psychic predictions are not fixed and can be altered. We can certainly alter this one! The candidates all look promising and wow check out who Oprah is supporting- how cool is that!

o Inflation is global and very few countries can compete with industrious China but 2008 shows a positive change as industries begin to push sophisticated services, education, and manufacturing into those nations who have been of a disadvantage. Wages will slightly increase.

o The writers strike in Hollywood ends early in the year bringing much needed relief to all those in the industry and those dependent on them. In general the lack of strong investors in 2008 weakens the Entertainment Industry. The literary world, on the other hand, will favor much better.

o It never ceases to amaze me what new discoveries will be unveiled each year in space. A new planet is one of those grand discoveries in 2008 as well as an extraordinary discovery right here on earth as remains of an ancient being are uncovered. “Could this be proof of the existence of ET?”

o We have all suffered the property market in 2007 when thousands of home owners across America were doomed to foreclosures and bankruptcy. It will be a buyers market with fantastic real estate opportunities. Perhaps we can recoup some of our losses.

o The stock market will be slow and cautious but steady. I don’t detect an all time low or high in 2008.

o Another profitable year is ahead for high tech and internet business.

Happy Holidays Everybody. Have a Blessed year.

Barbara Garcia