1 week until ASI Show Orlando

        

Some nice kudos this evening when I found one of my images had been purchased for an article in Forbes and then posted as well on the home page of Yahoo. If you’ve happened to come by my site due to the article … Welcome!

Here’s a lo-res copy of the image - if you’re interested in purchasing a signed/matted version just leave me a note below and I’ll get right back to you. You can also link over to my gallery by clicking on the photography link above.

Warm regards,

Don

Here are some other photos you might enjoy …

        

recommends reading ‘Sway’ by Ori and Rom Brafman

        

After listening to Suze Orman’s latest audio book I feel like an 11 year old that took the blame for a friend’s prank gone awry.

That is I listened to four hours of scolding coupled with a healthy dose of “I told you so” rhetoric. Worse,  like the boy that didn’t do anything wrong, I didn’t learn a lesson; at least nothing of substance outside the normal advice of today’s well intentioned financial pundits.

It seemed that the 4 cd set could be summed up in three bullets:

• Save, save, save - keep 8 months of cash on hand
• Maintain  a high FICO score - or work on getting it higher
• Keep contributing to your 401k plan (invest in no-load index funds or ETFs),  and don’t use it to pay for things like your house, college or other items

Thanks Suz. Didn’t we cover this already - in just about every book you’ve written?

I suppose the audio book is aimed at the financially troubled or Orman uninitiated and it is certainly full of her sound, standard financial advice. Orman also does a nice job of distilling  how the financial crisis came about and covers changes in credit card risks/policies nicely.

Yet it seems that the book was thrown together, rehashing old content to get to market quickly due to the current economic conditions. I would have liked more innovation and strategies that addressed the economy and market on a broader scope.

For example, telling me to save money by not spending $4 on coffee is hardly rocket science. Telling me that put options might protect my investments in a rapidly declining market could peak my interest. Orman also should have considered a chapter or two on how to capitalize on the economy if you’re in good financial shape.

If you haven’t read Suze Ormans’ books before I heartily recommend that you do so and take the actions that she prescribes - they will definitely help you get your house in order. If you’re sweating out 2009 then her Action Plan book is a great place to start. You may also want to consider reading her books “The Laws of Money” and “9 Steps to Financial Freedom”.

However, unless you enjoy shrill verbal lashings - avoid the audio CD.

Book - $$$ out of $$$$$

CD - $$ out of $$$$$

        

finished a really good email metrics report: http://www.mailermailer.com/metrics.rwp

        

I’m not a big coupon clipping person … In fact, I can’t think of the last time I used one in the grocery store. However, when I’m shopping online I’m always able to quickly find coupon codes so if I can save a few bucks … why not?

In the past few weeks I’ve saved $20 on an indoor water park visit, $30 on Amazon purchases and found printable coupons that saved me $75 on clothes. The best deal so far was via Orbitz w/an online Orbitz coupon code. On our outing to see Jamie Cullum we stayed in a suite at a 4-star hotel in mid-town (NYC) for $170 (taxes etc … included). This was a good 65% off the listed room rate on Hotels.com and other travel sites.

The one site I’m always able to depend on for updated deals and printable coupons is www.retailmenot.com.   One of the great features is a rating scale that quickly allows users to say if the code is working and/or what happened when they used it. I definitely prefer the site over couponcabin and the others like it. Happy (online) shopping.

        

2008 Telly Award

ESP Online Product Video

        

1999 Emmy

Outstanding Production Design

America’s TV JobNetwork