SUCCESS UPDATE: 10 Actions To Take To Turn Your Knowledge Into Power

1. Think about what you are doing that you think is a waste of your time. Then, think about what you would rather be doing with your time instead. LIST at least 3 activities you are passionate about, and then make a list of at least 3 "time-wasters" you could replace with your 3 passionate activities [Ken Dychtwald, "Live Your Purchase", by Sandra Bienkowski, page 30, SUCCESS Magazine, August 2010].

2. Make a list of your excuses for not accomplishing something (example: too old, too tired, not enough education, etc.). Now, write down the reasons you think those excuses are weak [Brian Tracy, Success, page 42, August 2010].

3. Listen to your gut. Follow your instincts. Write down 1 big change your gut (or instinct) is telling you to make, and then write down 3 actions tips you think you can take to make the change happen [Jaclyn Smith, page 60, Success Magazine, August 2010].

4. It is never too late to start a business. This is true regardless of your age, status, education, etc. [page 52, Success Magazine, August 2010]. And, think BIG.

5. Negative feedback can be very important in helping you transition into power. Use negative feedback to help you with your plan of attack [Mel Robbins, page 18, Success Magazine, August 2010]. Do it now.

6. Social Media and Websites can be helpful in providing useful content (information) to followers and communities. They should not be just about you. Brainstorm 5 ways your website and other social media can be helpful to your clients, customers and prospects now [Chris Brogan, page 40, Success Magazine, August 2010].

7. Get involved, and be involved in what you read. Read and listen now to the information that educates and informs you on the subjects and industries that motivate you to achieve [Magic Johnson, page 46, Success Magazine, August 2010].

8. Ask yourself this question twice a year: "What would I do if my main revenue-generator stopped generating revenue for me?" Then, write down 3 new ideas that could fill the void for you [Pamela Mitchell, page 69, Success Magazine, August 2010].

9. Be well-rounded. Zig Ziglar, a master salesperson, has said that success is never about acquiring what you want in one area of life, but in every area of life. List one goal and one actions tip for each area of your life, including your business, wealth, health, relationships and philanthropy [page 76, Success Magazine, August 2010].

10. Exercise regularly. For example, walk 10,000 steps a day and do interval training for your muscles. Physical activity increases brain cell creation and connections. Anything you physically do counts, including walking, bike riding, dancing, etc. Do it now. [Drs. Mehmett Oz & Mike Roizen, Success Magazine, page 22, August 2010].

DONOVAN McNABB UPDATE: Wants to Play

NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, who led the Philadelphia Eagles football team to 4 National Football Conference Championship Games has declared his intention to return to the National Football League in the 2012-2013 season and play at "an elite level". ["The Waddle & Silvy Show", ESPN 1000 Radio, Friday, May 11th, 2012]

McNabb spent the 2010 NFL season with the hapless and ill-coached Washington Redskins, where he was benched twice by mediocre coach Mike Shanahan.

After playing six games in 2011 with the Minnesota Vikings before being released from the team, McNabb, age 35, failed to secure another NFL team to play for.

"I love the game... I have a passion for the game... I sort of have some unfinished business", McNabb said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show", on ESPN Radio, 1000.

[espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/donovanmcnabbwantsplaynfl2012]

PRINCESS CRUISE LINE ALLEGEDLY IGNORES STRANDED FISHERMEN

[Cruise Line Update, Tuesday, May 15, 2012]

Carnival Corporation, owners of the tragic cruise ship "Costa Concordia", as well as subsidiary Princess Cruise Line's "Star Princess", has new problems.

The cruise company is investigating allegations by three of its bird-watching passengers that employees of the "Star Princess" ignored the passengers' pleas to rescue 3 stranded-at-sea Panamanian fishermen adrift in the Pacific Ocean in March of this year.

Two of the 3 young men died of exposure and dehydration on the small boat that started out to sea from Rio Hato, Panama on February 24th, 2012.

The survivor, 18-year-old hotel worker Adrian Vasquez, survived for 28 days aboard his 10-foot boat, named the "Fifty Cents".

Nine days after he had to push his 2 friends' dead bodies overboard, Vasquez was rescued near the Galapagos Islands. While all three men were still alive and saw the "Star Princess" pass them, they thought they were saved. But the cruise ship kept going despite the men's frantic waving at it.

Vasquez was eventually rescued by other fishermen working off another ship, the "Duarte V".

It is expected that a lawsuit has been filed, or will be filed, against the Carnival Corporation in Miami, Florida.

[overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/news/2012/04/18]

BASIC PERSONAL INJURY 101: What to do!

[Columbia, Howard County, Maryland; May 15, 2012]

1. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, get immediate medical attention and then contact an attorney for advice and consultation in making a claim for damages.

2. After you have retained an attorney, make every effort to help him or her help you.

3. Keep copies of all of the information about your accident, including police reports, medical bills, records about lost wages, and information sent to you by insurance companies. If you need to see your attorney, make an appointment, and be sure to keep all of the appointments that you make. If you move, be sure to give your attorney your new address and telephone number.

4. Once you have hired an attorney, inform the adjuster that you have done so, and give the adjuster your attorney’s name and telephone number. After you have given this information to the adjuster, let your attorney handle all discussions with the adjuster.

5. Remember that the adjuster working for the insurance company of the person who caused the accident is not your friend. The adjuster may make it sound like he or she is trying to help you, but the adjuster’s job is to make sure that you receive as little compensation as possible, or even nothing.

6. Get all the medical treatment you need for your injuries caused by the personal injury accident.

Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctors and/or physical therapists. Do everything that they tell you to do, whether it is to take medicine, do exercises, or get some rest. If they ask, tell your doctors or therapists that you have an attorney, but do not feel as though you have to volunteer information about your case or claim. Their focus is your health, and the question of how your legal case is going should not be any concern of theirs.

7. Understandably, family and friends often want to help you out if you have been hurt.

This is great, but if they are giving you advice about your legal case, remember that they are not your attorney. Usually, it is not a good idea to take this inexpert advice—always consult your attorney first.

ELDER ABUSE UPDATE: "Chemical Restraint: Drugging of the Elderly Is on the Rise"

[Howard County, Maryland, May 14, 2012]

As the population continues to grow and to get older, the number of residents in nursing homes is on the rise. Nursing homes are a growth industry, and more and more for‑profit nursing homes are opening.

Although some of these facilities are very good, some of them put profits ahead of patient care. A recent study shows that the average for‑profit nursing home has 30% fewer nurses and 45% more problems than its nonprofit counterpart has.

One of the unfortunate side effects of this lower level of staffing is a rise in the “chemical restraint” of elderly nursing home residents.

Increasingly, nursing homes are using drugs (usually some kind of antipsychotic medication) on their residents. These drugs, which are intended to be prescribed to people suffering from psychoses or other mental illnesses, have many side effects, causing those who take them to become drowsy, docile, inactive, or confused. This allows a larger number of residents to be watched by a smaller number of staff members.

The degree to which chemical restraints are being used is staggering. Research done in one state shows that more than 70% of new nursing home residents were put on some kind of psychoactive drug within three months of moving into the nursing home and that many residents were placed on a cocktail of different drugs.

The overwhelming majority of these patients had not been diagnosed before they moved into a nursing home with a mental illness that required such treatment, and the suspicion is that they were being given these drugs solely to make them easier for the nursing home staff to manage.
In many cases, these drugs are being given to nursing home residents without a doctor’s prescription, and those who refuse to take them have the drugs forced on them. Not only is it unethical to sedate the elderly with drugs that they do not need just to keep them quiet, but the practice can also have serious effects on the physical health of the person taking the pills.

Patients who have been drugged are less active and can lose muscle mass and develop bedsores. The depressive effect that these drugs have on patient behavior may cause other injuries, such as fainting or falls. They may also react with other drugs that the nursing home residents are legitimately taking, such as blood pressure medication. Finally, these drugs have been linked to an increased risk of death when they are given to people suffering from dementia, a common problem among the elderly.

Reaction to the growth of this problem of chemical restraint has been slow in coming. Some laws have been passed that are intended to crack down on the improper use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes, but these laws are so filled with gray areas and loopholes that the use of these medications has actually increased since the laws were passed.

Additionally, nursing homes that are found to violate these laws (and others) are usually given a chance to come into compliance with the rules within a certain period of time. If they do so, they are not fined for the violations found. This leads to sketchy nursing home operators “yo‑yoing” in and out of compliance, fixing problems only when forced to by regulators, to the detriment of the residents.

The best defense against a loved one’s being mistreated in a nursing home is a family that is involved and not afraid to ask questions. Nursing homes are less likely to drug a resident if they know the family might drop in at any time. If you have any questions about whether a loved one is being chemically restrained in a nursing home, don’t be afraid to ask, and don’t be afraid to consult our firm if you don’t like the answer that you receive.

Seven (7) Signs of Elder Abuse and Neglect

LEGAL UPDATE: Maryland High Court Rules PIT BULLS "INHERENTLY DANGEROUS"

Maryland's highest court, the Court of Appeals, has decided that pit bull owners in the state of Maryland are absolutely accountable for the behavior of their dogs.

The Court's newest ruling in the case of Tracey vs. Solesky (No. 53, Sept. Term 2012) declares that pit bulls as a breed are "inherently dangerous", and that the owner of a pit bull or a cross-bred pit dog that attacks humans is strictly liable for damages, as is any landlord in Maryland who rents to a pit bull owner.

The Maryland Court of Appeals decision came out of a case involving a young boy who suffered life-threatening injuries when he was attacked by a pit bull.

In Prince George's County, Maryland, next to Washington, D.C., pit bulls have been banned in the County since 1997.

In Prince George's County, if a person happens to have a pit bull in their company they could be arrested. The maximum penalty for violating this law is 6 months in prison and a $1,000 fine.

In Maryland now, pit bulls are included in the category of "dangerous animals".

[usnews.msnbc.com/news/2012/05/02/Marylandcourtfindpitbulls"inherentlydangerous"; and see Maryland Court of Appeals case, Tracey vs Solesky, No. 53, September Term 2012: Strict Liability Adopted In Respect To Attacks On Humans By Pit Bull Dogs and Cross-Bred Pit Bull Dogs]