Message From jl

Hi Everyone!

Mon Dieu! (... as they say in Louisiana. They always told me I'd use that French, sooner or later. But, I didn't expect it to be Cajun French in back woods Louisiana! Hey - it could be worse. I could be in the swamps and bayous!)

Anyway - Tulip trees and redbud trees have been blooming here since Valentine's Day! We have new growth on all the bushes and trees - including my Hibiscus that's supposed to be “resting.”

The critters on the lake are all confused about whether to start nesting. Adorable Dora was having a hard time figuring out where to lay an egg her consort decided it was time for her lay, because she hadn't yet built a nest.

The different species seem to have all teamed up - for what, I don't know. A young Great White Egret flies in every day and hangs out with the ducks on my little lake. He (or, she) can't swim, of course, but it flies back and forth across the lake, always staying as close to the ducks as he can get.

When he can't find them, he comes up here in my yard, stands around and just waits. He knows that's the feeding ground, and they'll be back, sooner or later. In fact, he's standing out there by the water, as I write this, right in the middle of over 40 turtles that have come up on the bank to sun themselves.

His mom must have been lost before she could teach him where to stay and what to do. He was quite small when he bonded with this bunch of riff-raff ducks and considers them his flock.

They go to meet him when he shows up in the mornings. But, other than that, they pretty much ignore him. Kinda pitiful, actually.

So, all in all, we have quite a motley crew around the lake right now. Those dang turtles, though, are why we can never keep baby ducks.

ET (my male pet cockatiel) is especially ornery this year. The seasons not doing what they're supposed to seem to disturb nature's creatures. Of course, ET and I go 'round and 'round every spring, but he's already spending part of every day in “Time Out.”

Right now, he's staying out of trouble by playing in a big trash basket beside my desk. Which is probably a good place for him!

Last week, I asked readers a couple of questions. They were:

1) What do you complain most about in our world?

2) What could folks do, as a group, to change it?

Due to a truly unbelievable lack of interest, that conversation has been canceled.

To tell you the truth, I think folks mostly feel powerless to affect much change, these days. I sure hope that turns around soon!

The good news is – prices are going down. I read an article regarding businesses on Rodeo Drive, in Hollywood, marking some things down 85%.

I’ve maintained, all along, if folks would stop buying, prices would go down. They can’t get blood out of a turnip, anyway. If high end merchants aren’t willing to take less profit, they WILL have to close. OR, they can make adjustments.

I saw a list of department stores supposedly in trouble ranging from Sears to Neiman Marcus. If they insist on charging “whatever the traffic will bear,” they’ll have to admit that works both ways.

Lower prices may not last, though. I hear inflation will be the outcome, but I don’t know enough about economics to know if that’s true. I pretty much doubt most of what I hear right now.

Economists say we’ll have a slight improvement over the second half of 2009 and a great deal of recovery in 2010. I truly believe we would do better to listen to the economists, rather than the politicians or the moronic and rabble-risin’ media, spewing their “commentary” as if it’s Word from on High.

I found this survey interesting ... 75% of people in the USA say they’re frightened about the economy, but the majority say it hasn’t affected them personally. Go figure.

I DO know one thing - new (and old) online businesses will boom. For new folks, that takes a little time while they learn their way around. I spent nine FULL months – 18 hours a day – learning, before I launched my first web site.

And, if so many stores DO go out of business, where will people be able to buy if not the internet?

Last week, I mentioned Tom Koziol, Jr.’s new “Craig’s List-style” web site to help Military folks when they change stations. I received a lot of GREAT feed-back on that, mostly from veterans who know how much it would have helped them.

Some of them offered to promote this site on their own web sites. TERRIFIC idea! If you are a vet, in the military yourself, now, or have family or friends in the military, please help by letting them know – or add it to your own site or ezine.

www.mymilitaryexchange.com"

I've left The MASTER COURSE on sale for you since the first of the year. I'll continue to leave it until March 15th.

You do NOT have to be pulled down due too a failing economy. You CAN make 2009 your best year ever!

Don't wait until it's too late to get started. Get the basics NOW that will PROTECT you through the current economic crisis!

Be sure to grab your copy while you still have the chance to save $200!

www.i-cop.org/products/master-course.htm

Have a fabulous week and ... keep on keepin' on!

  jl

P.S. Do YOU have the iCop seal on ALL your web sites? Scammers abound in a depressed economy. You will need the credibility of your iCop membership NOW, more than ever!

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Thank You For Reading!  Have a Terrific Week!

Online Business Trade Journal™ is published solely by dr. jl scott, Director of the International Council of Online Professionals (iCop) and may not reflect the opinion of all iCop members.

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