The Red Shirt

This post isn't about critical business information ... This was something that I received in my email and I thought that it was important enough to share.

Red Shirt ...

If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below to see how it went for one man...

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

No, he responded.
Heading out I asked?

No... I'm escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No... He is with me right now... He was killed in Iraq, I'm taking him home to his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut... It was an honor for him... He told me that much, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast major ity of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that ... every red-blooded American who supports our men and women a far, will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is. "We need your support and your prayers.." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

This is something we can all do to support our troops. Your friend ... Dave

Mary Gersten?

This post comes in two parts. The first deals with a warning and the second is an invitation. Just a short note first though. I just looked at the Google ads on the right. Google is in business and they probably don't personally look at every ad that gets posted. There was one that said they make $95,000 a month, and do you want to go from broke to rich fast. What a mountain of slippery bull stuff that is. Just a good example of what bad liars that some people can be.

I really don’t like negatives so I am going to make this short. As the title above suggests, this 'online opportunity' isn't bad, it's ugly … so you need to stay away from this one if only for the protection of your money. If you only want to learn how to place media (send emails, printed advertisements, post cards, etc. - I did all of that) fine, ... then only spend the $250 they charge to learn how to do that. But do not spend the extra thousands that the ‘media coaches’ say that you need to spend in order to make really big money. I spent a total of $3,000 with Mary Gersten only to make a whopping $100. Mary Gersten’s media coaches are only there to talk you out of your money in order to pay for a brand new building full of ‘media coaches’. In short - set your money on fire. At least you will get warm by the fire.

It may be a little disappointing to get two posts in a row that are on the negative side of the coin, but my job here is to save as many people from loosing their money as possible. I have made that a priority on my blogs. If you have got some experience with products or services let me know. I would even let you post a comment with a link back to your website if it is worth wile to someone's pocketbook. What I don't want to do is to check out products that you are just trying to sell (I will personally check it out the story anyway before it is posted). I am doing this because I am sick and tired of people that hide behind a website, lie to people because they are only out to steal as much money that they can get their hands on. I've made a little money and I've lost money, I just want to level the playing field a little. I'm sorry for getting on such a high soapbox, but I feel that the little guy deserves a break

There will be more information to come ... not all bad I promise. Hopefully though this post and the previous one saved you some money.

Sincerely, Dave Carlson
http://Dave-Carlson.Com

PS. There is another good resource to help with decisions about this Online Business thing and that is the IM Report Card. Click the previous link and check them out. It is a favorite place of mine to check out business opportunities.

Google Home Business Kit

There have been mass emailings ( I got one ... and at first thought 'this could be something', that is until I did some checking ). You also might see an ad for this Google Kit on one of many blogs out there. (By the way the word Google is added into their title to add a perceived value and credibility to it). Whatever the case might be, save yourself the time and don't click through, because they will only redirect you to one of the Google Home Business Kit pages such as Google Money Master or Google Speedy Cash.

In this post I have included just a small fraction of what I found regarding the Google Home Business Kit. I hope you read this before you sign up.

Recently there has been a wave of work at home programs all claiming that they can show you how to make money from Google. They all sell a Google Biz Kit for a low shipping and handling fee from $1.99 - $3.88. They change names often but as of now the most popular name is Google Money Master.

These programs consist of a CD, and a membership website that hosts the courses. The lessons teach you how to use Google AdWords to place advertisements for programs that you are an affiliate for.

They also advocate setting up fake blogs and websites to advertise the same Google Kit that you just bought. You may have seen ads like these on Facebook and MySpace. Don't be fooled by these and other sites claiming that you can make money from these programs; any income they're receiving is simply from referring more people to join these sites.

I have searched the internet regarding this "business opportunity" and here are just some of the responses that other people have made about the “Google Home Business Kit”. ( I did have a sentence here about fairness and finding one person that said he was making thousands. Then I thought - who's being fair in all this anyway, so now you have this instead. )

DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER DOING THIS!! this company COMPLETELY screwed me over. They charge 5 bucks for shipping and then every month, CHARGE 50 DOLLARS!!!!!!! they are low lifes trying to screw the american public out of 600 dollars a year! I hate these liars. I am currently trying to cancel my account, but these pathetic people wont return my calls. I am going to have to contact my credit card company and have them deal with it because I am at a dead end. DO NOT, I REPEAT, EVEN CONSIDER DOING THIS OFFER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAVE YOURSELF

DON”T mess with them. Some of these companies say only $1.99 s&h and end up taking $89.99 out and they keep it in “pending” until the 7th day trial is up and bingo…they have their money before you can cancel on the 7th day.

Do NOT touch this so-called “Opportunity” or anything that resembles it!! They are after your Credit Card info….They will slam you with a monthly fee probably in excess of $60.00 a month, on a recurring basis….That’s the SCAM!!!

It’s almost impossible to contact them….You have to become a detective!! This also creates problems with your Credit / Debit card company in trying to get refunds as well!! I REPEAT….DO NOT GET INVOLVED!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

Now for the boring "Terms and Conditions" that seem to go on forever. Here is why you should take the time to read them. I know ... I hate them too, and have to admit that I just click through. This is exactly what these "people" are counting on.

This comes straight from their terms and Conditions …..

Terms and Conditions
By submitting this form I authorize SEO Supervisor (DRI*SEO Supervisor) to immediately charge my credit card $0.00 USD for the setup of the SEO Supervisor Home Business Kit. I hereby request that SEO Supervisor (DRI*SEO Supervisor) activate my account and authorize them to advance funds as indicated. Monthly Service fees will commence seven days from the date of this purchase, and will be billed monthly thereafter. After the seven day trial you will be billed Sixty nine dollars and ninety cents USD monthly for the continued access to the Google Money Making System. No refunds will be given for failure to use the requested and provided services. We reserve the right to transfer your billing to a third party Merchant of Record. This authority will remain in effect until revoked by me. You may cancel at anytime by writing to SEO Supervisor, 4240 West Flamingo Rd. Suite #201, Las Vegas, NV 89103 or calling 1-800-497-4988 (International customers please call 1-866-321-2728). I agree that SEO Supervisor (DRI*SEO Supervisor) shall be fully protected in honoring any electronic transfer or collection. SEO Supervisor shall not be responsible for refunding any Account Set-Up fees. By submitting this information I am agreeing to the terms stated herein. SEO Supervisor (DRI*SEO Supervisor) will not send notification, postal or electronic, when a billing occurs.

If you Read it, it not so clearly says they will Charge you 69.90 per month after the seven days and it says that they don't have to notify you that they are doing this…ALWAYS READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS!!!!!!

If you have already bought into this so-called "opportunity" good luck getting your money back or at least to stop them from continually charging your credit card.

Hope this finds your Home Business in good health, and free from those that want to steel your money.

Your Online Home Business Friend ... Dave Carlson
HTTP://Dave-Carlson.Com