10 Things Still Selling-10 That Are Not

“Prosperity is just around the corner!”--Bart Simpson

What’s Still Selling During the Recession?

This is an unscientific cross section of what I see that is still selling well…

1. Entertainment items – RedBox, Netflix and the $2 movie theaters, escapism oriented products including liquor.
2. Electronics – no matter what, the latest Ipods, computer games, cell phones and related goods still sell…don’t know where they get the cash, but the stuff still sells.
3. Bargain food stocks, long term storage foods
4. Guns, ammunition and related items.
5. Gold and silver – coins and bullion
6. High end or unique antiques which are offered for far less than two years ago
7. Green related items including eco-friendly business franchises.
8. Discount coupons have done well on eBay-diapers & baby items, etc.
9. Social networking sites have flourished (a misnomer in my opinion)
10. Alternative energy resources. Energy-saving devices.

Although not in my top ten, I believe more alternative health products are selling as folks lose medical insurance…holistic items often make some dubious, untested claims but still sell because they ‘offer’ a low cost alternative to high-priced traditional treatments. In many cases, prices for alternatives are just as a high or higher!

What not to buy in the coming year…
Ten years ago, most homes relied on dial-up connections to access the Internet and iPods, flat-screen TVs and the Nintendo Wii didn't exist.
More from SmartMoney.com:• 10 Ways to Save Money in 2010• How to Outsmart Retailers in Post-Holiday Sales• Cheap Netbooks: Bad for Business?
In 2010, consumers should expect to see more revolutionary products supplanting old mainstays. In media, DVDs, books, newspapers and magazines will continue to lose ground to services like in-home movie rentals and gadgets like the Amazon (AMZN) Kindle. In big-ticket items, the push for energy efficiency will continue to influence consumer decisions on cars and home upgrades.
As a result, some consumer products appear poised for a dip in sales, which could be a prelude to obsolescence. Here are 10 items not to buy in 2010.
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/108504/10-things-not-to-buy-in-2010
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Interesting Resources

Top Trait an Employer Looks for in an Interview-Can You Guess Which?
--technical know-how
--experience
--advanced degree
--people skills
If you guessed people skills, you were correct. According to a survey by AccountTemps.

Grab a vet visit for $5
Unsure if your pet problem warrants an expensive vet visit? Use board certified vets at:
www.AskaVetQuestion.com
Simply type in your question & a vet will respond within a few hours or less or try:
www.OnlineVetClinic.com for a personalized diagnosis.

Need Cash? The Poor Man has written previously about using gold & silver dealers you can trust and we’ve purchased a lot of gold and silver over the past few years. Use this site for a trustworthy source for selling your gold and silver…The Silver & Gold Exchange.
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1114823

Free Gold Report/buying Course (sign up necessary)
http://web.streetauthority.com/land/iu/gold/gold-dm1000-fool.asp?TP=425

Quick n Easy Drain Cleaner--
Drop 3 denture cleaning tablets down your drain followed by a cup of vinegar (you can use baking soda too). After the bubbling stops, pour some boiling water down the drain.

Use Cola to…--
Unclog a drain; pour 3 cups of warm cola into your drain and let it sit overnight. In the morning, rinse with hot water.
--Clean your car chrome; simply use a scouring pad and cola
--Tenderize a roast in a crock pot and give the meat some flavor – just pour a 12-oz can in with your roast and lit your crock pot do the rest.


ToolzDoToolzDo is similar to Kashless.com but with more of an emphasis on trading in neighborhoods. It is not just a market for free stuff, but lists items and equipment for rent, swap, and sale as well. For example, if you're looking for a digital camera, you can search and see a combined result of rental, swap, and giveaway options to choose from. And if you can't find exactly what you're looking for, you can post a wanted ad. You can also post ads for whatever you wish to sell or give away. ToolzDo doesn't have the community size of other sites, but it is definitely one to keep an eye on. ToolzDo even offers free resources and guides for small-business owners, rental professionals, and nonprofit organizations looking to make a little extra cash on the site.

Top 10 Political Scandals of 2009 (that was all?) Read it here.
http://www.citizensforethics.org/files/20091222%20-%20TopTenScandalsFinal.pdf


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As Americans figure out that jobs aren’t coming back…

The underground economy is growing. As a recent Washington Post article complained, barter among private citizens has become the "new national past-time." It notes that this ancient form of commerce has mushroomed on Internet sites such as Barterquest.com and Craigslist.org, which is reporting an 80% surge in bartering activity. Swaplease.com, LeaseTrader.com, and SwapThing.com are also flourishing as Americans seek refuge in an increasingly lousy business and job environment. (The Obama Administration has already issued decrees regulating neighborhood garage sales - not a joke). Create your own community currency plan as a back-up – see our poor man site for details.

Watch for the strong possibility of “Banking Holidays,” whereby your funds might be ‘frozen’ and no access via ATMs.

There’s a growing concern over the potential for new emergency laws which could rob you of your 401K plan by cash-hungry government…gold purchases and/or ownership might be curtailed – it wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened in our history!


Is Rome Burning?
If you've read the book, "Empire of Debt," (See below to get this book) then you know where the U.S. is headed financially. But most people have no idea about the ultimate financial consequences of decades of borrowing and spending by Washington, and they remain irrationally convinced that the status quo will remain intact for eternity. No one in any position of authority, you see, has yet admitted that the U.S. government is indeed going bankrupt.
Until now, that is.

In a remarkable paper posted by the Federal Reserve of St. Louis, and authored by a Boston University teacher named Prof Kotlikoff, it is revealed in blunt, powerful language that the era of borrowing and spending without consequence may soon come to a close. The paper, entitled, Is the United States Bankrupt?, may not remain posted for very long once the public gets word of what it actually says.

Be sure to get your copy of the Poor Man’s Underground Recession Survival Guide, it contains our “45 Ways to Make a Living-Without a Job” and our site includes links to legitimate barter sites and how-to material.

Order your PDF version of Empire of Debt by Bill Bonner for only $2.95 (no postage) – I will send you the file upon payment – use your PayPal account and my address-bedavid@yahoo.com
For a full description of this & other books we offer, go to:
http://poormansurvival.com/products.aspx



“What improves the circumstances of the greater part can never
be regarded as an inconveniency to the whole. No society can
surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of
the members are poor and miserable.”
--Adam Smith

What useful purpose does the US government serve?
What’s the definition of a traitor?

Outside legal spheres, the word "traitor" may be used to describe a person who betrays (or is accused of betraying) their own political party, nation, family, friends, ethnic group, team, religion, social class, or other group to which they may belong. Often, such accusations are controversial and disputed, as the person may not identify with the group of which they are a member, or may otherwise disagree with the group leaders making the charge.

Article III Section 3 delineates treason as follows:
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
“Whoever is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States."

In my book, several US presidents would make likely candidates for treason. These men are guilty of allowing transfers of massive wealth to our enemies (by not getting us off our oil dependence) or by allowing the transfer of military technology to China or by allowing the law which had been on the books for 80-years which kept Wall Street from becoming a casino with our money and subsequently destroying our economy (not one person from Wall Street is doing any prison time as I write this).

President’s who have not stopped illegal immigration; allowed toxic Chinese goods to be sold in this country (you can’t buy a good Cuban cigar, but we’re allowed to buy tainted children’s goods and pet foods); have duped America into participating into countless undeclared wars (something that is reserved for Congress to declare); have allowed massive, warrantless surveillance on its own people; allowed usury laws to go by the wayside…we’ve been poorly served and solidly tried in this country.

None Dare Call it Reason

Our dysfunctional Congress has been derelict in its duties, especially in regard to keeping Presidential power in check…George Bush, in particular, violated so many areas of the Constitution, he’s at the top of my list for rendering almost useless, the three branches of government and the system of checks and balances our forefathers created.

Congress has passed so many anti-citizen laws, it’s tough to keep track of them. The Patriot Act, in particular defies common sense. Have any of these efforts stopped terrorist acts? Mostly, they injure everyday citizens. Search & Seizure laws, another wasted effort, which has materialized to be another money grab by the government and often, as courts have determined, an excuse to kill innocent citizens and/or to unlawfully grab their property. (See below for one of the worst ideas proposed by our current President concerning our military)

The government has many more citizen-bashing laws forthcoming (40,000 new laws went in effect Jan 1st regulating everything from garage sales to smoking – we are the most heavily regulated society in history). I feel the purpose isn’t to fight crime, but to exert even more control over citizens and to squeeze more money from them.

Citizens learn it's smarter to keep their heads down and keep their mouths shut, lest they attract attention from regulators or other authorities who could ruin them if given the chance.

Other examples include the new Bankruptcy Act signed by Bush – written primarily by greedy credit card companies; the new passport laws, intrusive health laws, and more. After all, our court system, like most federal agencies, which make laws without legislation, have become just another taxation authority.

As I write this, federal bureaucrats are trolling through popular social networking sites on the Internet looking for malcontents (as reported last month by the New York Times).

Ronald Reagan said it best: America's problems are not caused by the people living too well, but because the government is living too well.

So I ask you, what useful purpose does our government have? It certainly doesn’t seem to serve the American people. Instead, it serves corporate masters.

Keep America Safe (From Politicians)!

Recommended Reading

Example of how government no longer serves the people…

Obama mulls making vets foot bill for service injuries

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries. The plan would be an about-face on what veterans believe is a long-standing pledge to pay for health care costs that result from their military service.

“Nobody made these guys go to war. They had to have known and accepted the risks. Now they whine about bearing the costs of their choice?" – Pres. Obama
(the proposal has been dropped…for now)

http://www.buffalonews.com/180/story/610029.html



When the People Are Well Informed
December 31, 2009 by Bob Livingston
I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but at some point—150 years ago or more—the American public went to sleep.
While we (I use this as a collective, all-encompassing ‘we’) slept robbers, thieves and liars invaded our House—that is the White House and Congress. They’ve been there ever since.
They stole our money. They stole many of our freedoms. They lied about their motives. They lied about their goals. And still we slept.
If we happened to awaken for a short time and notice the robbers, thieves and liars, we’d squeak and squawk. We’d throw a hissy fit. Occasionally we’d even vote a few of them out of office. For more, go to:
http://www.personalliberty.com/ageless-wisdom-of-the-founders/when-the-people-are-well-informed/


Lost Rights by James Bovard
Independents Day or War on the Middle Class by Lou Dobbs
Nemesis by Chalmers Johnson

Yours for better living,
Bruce “The Contrarian Poor Man”
http://www.poormansurvival.com