In the 19th century, when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man went to apply for a job as a Morse code operator.
At the job location, he found a busy office filled with noise and bustle and the ever-present clatter of a telegraph in one corner. He joined ten other applicants, all following instructions written on a blackboard that said to sit and wait to be summoned for an interview.
But after five minutes, the young man stood up with a smile and walked confidently into the office without an invitation. The other applicants looked at each other, and smiled. All expected the brash young man to be tossed out the door.
Ten minutes later the manager came out of the office. “Gentlemen, thank you for your time, but the position has been filled.”
“What?” The group jumped up, annoyed. “You haven’t interviewed any of us!” they cried. “Just that one kid who disrespectfully barged through your door.”
The manager nodded. “Exactly. See, here’s the thing. While you were sitting here, that telegraph in the corner has been ticking out a message in Morse code. It has been saying ‘If you understand this message, then ignore the blackboard and come right in.’ None of you apparently paid attention to it, if you even understood it at all. That young man did. The job is his.”
What I take away from this is that when you’re right for a job, it’s obvious to both yourself and others.
Don’t End Home Prices In Zeros
Pricing your home with zeros at the end may generate lower offers. Studies show that buyers perceive a precise price, such as $281,284, as lower than rounded ones, such as $280,000, even when the rounded prices are actually lower.
Real-life sales show that zeros at the end of an asking price lower the final sold price by .73%. That may not sound like much, but .73% of a $280,000 home equals $2,044.
The data suggests that if you price your home at $281,284, chances are better that you’ll get your asking price, while pricing at $280,000 means you’re more likely to get an offer of $277,956.
A Penny Saved…
…is a penny earned. You might be interested to know that this old saying is not true. The saying implies that by keeping the penny, you are being wise. But the idea that you can earn money by saving it is backwards. You need to invest that penny to earn.
Both saving and investing have their places in good financial planning. The trick is to both save some pennies and make others grow through wise investing.
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Mel’s Home News
News To Help You Save Time And Money February 2015
Perhaps the saying should be “A penny saved is a penny kept.” Or perhaps “A penny invested is a penny earned.”
Origin of Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centuries, with origins clouded by other stories that predict the weather based on events happening or animals awakening on specific dates.
February 2nd is the day that in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a groundhog named Phil comes out of his hole after a long winter. If he sees his shadow, he is startled and retreats. People regard that as an omen of more bad weather to come. If the day is cloudy and shadowless, the groundhog stays above ground, and people regard that as an omen that winter will end early because the groundhog is ready to start gathering food.
The groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs by early Christians in Europe around Candlemas Day, when the custom was to have clergy bless candles and distribute them. It marked a mid-winter milestone, and traditions that combined the weather and lighting of the candles sprang up.
Roman legions, during the conquest of the northern country, supposedly brought this tradition to the Teutons, or Germans. They morphed it into the idea that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, a hedgehog would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather.
Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers were Germans, and they found groundhogs in profusion where they resettled. They determined that if the sun appeared on a particular day in mid-winter, the groundhog would “meet” its shadow, be frightened, and hurry back into its underground home for another six weeks of winter. Groundhog Day has since been centered on the location of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in the US, but has spread in popularity to other countries, as well.
Foods That Help Fight Off The Flu
It’s never too late to protect yourself, as well as your friends and family, from the flu. A flu shot may be your best line of defense, but you can also keep the flu virus at bay by eating well. Here are some flu-fighting foods:
Chicken soup. Once again, your mother was right. Chicken soup provides fluids that help fight off viruses and reduce inflammation caused by the flu.
Garlic. Compounds in garlic (also onions) known as allion and allicin have an antiviral impact. For maximum effect, chew a raw clove every four hours, or chop the clove into smaller pieces to swallow like pills. (This will also keep you from spreading the flu, as people will not want to come too close.)
Pumpkin seeds. The zinc in pumpkin seeds is said to help white blood cells fight off disease.
Citrus fruits. The vitamin C found in citrus fruits (as well as red bell peppers, broccoli, and sweet potatoes, among other foods) can reduce flu symptoms by up to 25 percent.
Blueberries. Blueberries contain antioxidants, which can strengthen lung tissue that is damaged during the flu and other respiratory illnesses. Eat half a cup of fresh or frozen blueberries a day during flu season.
