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Today I want to talk about a subject I haven’t really touched on yet – sports betting. I wrote about trading FX a while back, and although people refer to it as trading, I actually see it as gambling. The only difference between trading FX and sports betting, as I see it, is that by being disciplined and installing a logical series of filters in an FX trade, you give yourself more of an edge. That’s my opinion anyway.

The type of gambling I’m talking about here though, is sports betting. That’s the thing the ordinary guy on the street is more likely to try to swell his pocket a little by doing. I really enjoy having a flutter on the horse racing and soccer. I’m sure that goes double for a some of you out there too.

We all love the idea of achieving that big win, of getting one over on the bookies. When you do get a good win, the game then becomes fun, and you want more. Therein lies the danger! If you’re not careful, gambling will suck you in. Many a good person has been led to ruination by gambling, history is littered with them.

Sports betting should be about fun though, about the thrill of the chase, and the hope of the potential reward. It should never be about palpitations, cold sweats or fear. Above all, it should never be a means to an end. When you start getting those bad feelings, or you’re going hungry to chase your losses, you’re in way too deep and you’re in trouble! That my friend, is the time to seek professional help, get out, and stay out of it. Learn right from the off to control yourself, and sports betting can add a little extra to your wallet over time.

I mentioned earlier that the difference between sports betting and trading FX, is that traders will have a set of logical filters that they will apply to a potential trade before they commit any funding to it. If a certain group of conditions don’t get met, then there is no trade on. Most traders I know maintain that cast iron discipline, and as a result they go on to achieve success in that field. So shouldn’t logic apply to sports betting. In my world it does, each time I think about having a bet.

I use a portfolio of systems across my chosen sports that I bet on, namely soccer and horse racing. These are systems that I have developed myself, or purchased online. Those two sports are chosen for a logical reason. I know about them, I know the personalities involved in them, I follow these sports.

Although I know about golf, snooker and tennis, for example, they’re not sports that I follow. I don’t know the personalities, other than what I scan read in the sports section of the tabloids. So would it be logical for me to place money on a bet in them sports. Of course not. Logic dictates you bet on a sport you’re familiar with.

Taking logic a step further, here’s an example: In a soccer game, one of the teams has just appointed a new coach/manager after a poor run of results (teams can quite often get a spike in performance after a new coaching/management appointment). The new coach has a good reputation, the players will be keen to impress the new boss, they are playing on their home ground. The odds on offer from the bookies for this team to win give good value. Logic tells us that this team could begin to turn around their fortunes, and could potentially be included in an accumulator bet. I say potentially because other filters will come into play, such as who is the opposition, and how is their recent away form. If they happen to be playing a team at the top end of the division and who are in great form, logic is going to tell us that maybe we should leave that game alone, right! Let’s just take a look at that team for future reference.

You need to apply logic to all the filters you put into place when studying the form books of the chosen sport you are thinking of having a bet on. Make notes on the day, and keep them to refer back to. Look back on the notes you have previously made. All form, whether it’s a particular team or horse, for example, will change. Very rarely will good form continue throughout a whole season. There often can be a dip in form, this can co-incide with an improvement in form in the opposition.

If you’re serious about trying to make a little extra money from your sports betting, then take the time to apply logic to your selections. Sure, it’s time consuming, but it will make a difference to your betting bank over the long term. Think like a financial trader. If there are any doubts, leave it out! It’s just as satisfying to keep your betting bank intact as it is increasing it.

Finally, just before I close, try never to risk more than 10% of your betting bank at any one time. You will still have losing bets, no matter how careful you have been in making your selections. But by applying logic, you will start to achieve more winning days than losing days. Gradually increase your stakes as your bank increases.

For example; if your initial betting bank is $100, your maximum liability should be no more than $10, or 10%. When you get your bank doubled to $200, increase your stake by 50%. You should now have a maximum liability of $15, which has reduced your liability down to 7.5%. You should be aiming to get your liability reduced to no more than 5% of the betting bank. That way, if you have a bad run, you will still have a bank to continue with.

If you’re unfortunate enough to hit a run of 4 or 5 consecutive losses. Stop!!! take a couple of days break. All you will be doing is putting yourself under increasing pressure to reverse your fortunes, and that will lead to making errors in your judgement. Better to take a break, protect your bank, and get back into the fray with a fresh and rested mind.

That just leaves me to wish you the best of luck, and remember, don’t let yourself get sucked in. Don’t treat gambling as your main source of income. Stick with sports you know and you won’t go far wrong. And have FUN.

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It’s been some time since I wrote anything about my tinnitus affliction, and I thought it was about time I brought you good folks up to date.

I did set up a site specifically for the benefit of tinnitus sufferers in September 2011, and there’s a link to that site, tinnitussendsmemental.com, in the recommended resources box on the left. What I have done on here, is to place the review of Tinnitus Miracle I wrote for that site in November 2011. It’s not me being lazy, well o.k., maybe a little, but the situation remains the same, and the information in the review is as good now as it was back then. Please read on, and maybe visit the site afterwards.

TINNITUS MIRACLE – APPRAISAL.

I wouldn’t describe myself as a skeptic when it comes to searching the Internet for a solution to a problem. However, I am pretty guarded about it, after all, I’ve spent a small fortune buying enough “solutions” to issues over the years. Some have helped, others have failed – miserably! Tinnitus Miracle was different though.

For more years than I care to remember, tinnitus has plagued me. Like so many other sufferers out there, I had accepted the medical profession’s doctrine of – “There’s nothing you can do about it, you’ll have to learn to live with it” However, there was a problem with that. As time wore on, I felt myself slowly but surely being driven ‘nuts’ by my tinnitus. Did I really have to live with this?

A few months ago I decided to conduct some research of my own into the symptom. It was whilst scouring the ‘net for information I came across Tinnitus Miracle. I liked what I read in the sales letter on Thomas Coleman’s site. I liked the fact that relief could be obtained holistically. No medication with potential side effects to take, and no medical procedures with potential complications to undergo. Plus, the testimonials made impressive reading. Besides, I would also be covered by the Clickbank refund guarantee.

Around mid September 2011, I decided to ‘bite the bullet’ and make the purchase. I have to say that so far, it has been the best money I’ve spent in a long time. The relief that I have received from following Thomas Coleman’s advice has been nothing short of excellent.

It has only been around 2 months since I started reading the information inside Tinnitus Miracle, but the effects of the advice contained within has seen a marked improvement in my own tinnitus. Whilst it hasn’t gone completely – yet – its intensity has dropped to a point were I barely notice it most of the time. I feel I have a new lease of life.

This may be as good as it gets for me. I may be cured completely – eventually, but even if I had received just 50% of the relief I have achieved now, it has been money well spent.

What are the positives?

For me, it has been a marked lowering of the intensity of my symptom.
I have hope of a potential complete cure, I have only been following it for 2 months. Other people have already achieved a complete cure from tinnitus.
As a result of following the advice, other aspects of my life have improved. For example, I made changes in my diet. This led to a loss in weight, and consequently, an increase in my energy levels. I feel like someone who’s just turned 40, and not someone in their early 50′s.

Are there any negatives?

Given that I have already gained so much from Tinnitus Miracle, I have to say I find it difficult to be negative. The following are the only things I could find to be sort of negative about.

The biggest obstacle for many I guess would be the cost. It is a large document, not one that I would recommend reading on a computer monitor, which would only serve to wreck your eyes too! So I printed it off – all of it. So as well as the cost of the book, there’s the additional cost of printer ink. It isn’t cheap, but what cost do you place on your wellbeing, mental as well as physical?
At over 250 pages, there’s a lot to take in. The cure or relief will not happen instantly. You really do need to take the time to read through the information in order to improve your understanding of the tinnitus symptom and its causes. Once you gain that understanding, and begin to follow the advice, only then will you begin the work of ridding yourself of tinnitus. So the time factor may be a negative for some people. Again though, if you’ve been suffering for some time, surely another 6-8 weeks (as in my case) isn’t going to be too much of a hardship.

In conclusion then, I can heartily recommend Tinnitus Miracle. As I mentioned earlier, I haven’t achieved a full cure yet, but it’s early days for me. However, even if I remain at the level I’m at now with my tinnitus, I would still consider it money well spent.

If you order today and act immediately, you could literally be tinnitus free in a couple of months.

Note: It is now over 5 months since I implemented the advice in the Tinnitus Miracle program, and I’m still not totally tinnitus free, but I am at a level that I can live with. My tinnitus was particularly severe though. I still work with the program and hopefully, I will eventually obtain complete relief in the fullness of time.

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Hyperacusis is a condition that is linked with tinnitus, and I also included a short article about the condition on the tinnitussendsmemental.com site.

Since I wrote that piece, on October 29 2011, I have discovered a book that is essential reading if you are a sufferer, and would prefer to go down the self help route to understanding, and hopefully combating it.

You can take a look at the book at Amazon.com by clicking the link below.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model

Until the next time, keep your chin up.

Paul

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I recently wrote an article about raising poultry at home. Not as a money making hobby – but as a stress busting hobby (you can read that article here), and that got me thinking a little more about the condition of stress itself.

We are currently living in challenging times, and a great many people are feeling the fear and stress of modern living on a regular basis. Each new day, via the media, you hear of economic uncertainty and instability in your work life. You feel stress in your relationships with loved ones and friends/colleagues, and in your own family life, all as a result of those instabilities and uncertainties. These stressors and fears will have an effect on your mental well being, leaving you feeling unhappy, unhealthy and fatigued. If left to go unchecked, stress can be a killer!

However, stress is actually a natural defensive response that can help to protect you from perceived dangers. It helps you to overcome the issues that are causing the problems in the first place. It is when you are unable to return to a state of normality and calm, that you will feel the damaging effects of stress. The good news is; you can learn how to manage your stress levels. Below are 7 methods that will at least enable you to cope with stress better, if not eliminate it altogether.

• #1 Make a list of the things that trigger your stress or cause you anxiety. Take particular note of when these triggers occur. Is it a time of day, or maybe certain people? Is it a particular place or perhaps a task that you have to perform? You should be monitoring your negative thoughts in order to begin making the changes that will begin to lessen or even eliminate your stress triggers.

• #2 Practice deep breathing relaxation techniques. Deep, slow and even breathing from the diaphragm is a more efficient way for the body to use the oxygen it receives. Find somewhere quiet that you can relax and perform this technique in peace. Listening to some soothing classical music whilst doing this also aids a positive response, and in many cases will speed up the process. I sometimes drift off into a daydream! I picture myself sitting on a yacht, just gazing out across the horizon, or even sitting at my favourite spot on the beach fishing. Which brings me nicely to #3

• #3 Take up a relaxing hobby. Fishing is an excellent example, it works for me. A while ago, I got back into sea fishing from the shore, either at the beach or from a rock mark. Once I’m set up, I can sit there for hours just watching for the rod tip to jerk signalling a bite. I don’t care if I don’t catch anything, as I always feel 100% better, just for the chance to escape for a while.
  

• #4 Change your diet! Too many people out there are eating too much crap! Food processors would have you believe they’re in the business for your benefit, churning out bland product after bland product. Well that’s BS, they’re doing it to make a profit, and not really caring what goes into what you’re eating. Yes, I still use pre-prepared, processed TV dinners – occasionally, maybe 3 or 4 times each week. I admit that they are handy when time is short, but I do make sure I eat well, with plenty of fresh fruit and veg’. Good, fresh food is abundant in the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to function well, thus aiding your body’s defense mechanisms, which in turn, help you to overcome stress.

• #5 Try to create an environment for getting good sleep. Sleep is necessary for both mind and body, and is a great way of reducing the effects of stress. Try keeping a regular schedule, for example; going to bed at 10.00 pm, reading a book for half hour or so, before turning out the light at a regular time. This will induce a habit which will be beneficial over time.

• #6 Exercise. I’m not necessarily talking hitting the gym every day here, but if you can find the time for that, it’s good. Taking regular exercise can mean just walking an extra couple of bus stops on the way into work, or park the car further away from work or the mall, walking briskly for the final part to your destination. Regular exercise is an excellent technique for reducing stress. It releases endorphins, which give you a feeling of wellness. It improves circulation, increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain. Finally, exercise relaxes tense muscles, which is also beneficial for method #5 – getting good sleep.

• #7 Ease off on your alcohol & coffee intake. We all enjoy a glass of wine, or pint of beer, and I’m no exception. It helps us to relax, and is enjoyable when you’re in good company – in moderation! Alcohol actually increases blood pressure, and it dulls the the proper function of your brain and other vital organs. It can also increase the levels of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is the “stress” hormone! Coffee is high in caffeine, and too much caffeinated drink, while giving you an initial energy boost, will disrupt your sleep pattern, leaving you feeling fatigued and depressed. So do enjoy a coffee or a beer or two, but do try to ease right back on your intake. You will feel the benefit in a short time by doing so.

If stress is taking over your life, I hope the above 7 methods, will at the very least scale it down, if not help you to eliminate it altogether. Do remember though, a certain amount of stress is natural – it helps your body and mind to function. Just try not to let it take over your life. If the above methods are not doing it for you, then perhaps you should consider seeking professional guidance. Don’t be too proud to go and see your doctor and seek help, remember – stress can be a killer!

Until the next time – keep your chin up.
Paul

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Recently, I wrote an article about solar panels, which was basically a rant against the UK government slashing grants to home owners, which would allow them to have solar panel arrays fitted to their home, thus begin to reduce or even eliminate their electricity bills. You can see that article here.

I had always known that getting solar panels, or wind turbines installed retail was an expensive business, with the cost far outweighing the benefits. I had heard it could take around 25 years for the savings you made on your bills, just to repay the cost of the installation. On top of that, there would also be the cost of maintenance to factor into the equation over the 25 years.

However, since that article, I have looked into this subject a little further, and what I discovered surprised me, pleasantly! I found out that there is plenty of scope to install solar panels on a DIY basis. If you are prepared to do some research on the internet, you can actually import the panels direct from China, at a fraction of the cost of buying retail locally. The other components can be sourced low cost at your local DIY store or builders merchants.

What you do need to be aware of if DIY is the route you’re looking at taking, is any legislation that exists where you live. Legislation such as:

• Do you need planning permission from your local council/authority?

• Must you get a qualified/certified electrician to do the build/ installation?

• Are you able to build and and install the solar panels/wind turbines yourself, just needing a qualified/certified electrician to test and do the final connection?

The above are just a few points you need to take into consideration if DIY energy is what you want to look into, and the latter 2 points will more than likely come from the company that is controlling the grid. There’s no doubt in my mind, that being able to generate your own energy is going to be the way forward, but installing solar panels, or even your own wind turbine, is potentially a minefield for the unwary.

To help you over any hurdles that may occur, Alan Hopkins can provide the answers to all of your questions. Alan is a mechanical engineer, and an expert in wind and solar power, and he has worked extensively with the US Government in this area. Alan has produced an ebook to guide you through the process of making your own green energy, from start to finish, and from under $200. You can take a look at the Free Energy Options website here, and begin to reduce, or even eliminate, your energy bills, not to mention play your part in preserving the planet for future generations.

Until the next time, keep your chin up.

Paul.

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On last New Years eve, I bumped into a guy I’ve known for quite a while but hadn’t seen for a few years. A successful businessman,  Alan was a part owner of a bar I used to frequent, but he was also the owner of a couple of other bars and a hotel. He also owned and rented out a number of homes.

A few years ago, I used to run my own landscaping and gardening business, and I used to do the maintenance on the garden at his home for him. He used to keep ducks as a hobby, there was around 9 or 10 of them if I remember correctly. Whilst we were talking, I asked Alan how the ducks were faring. His answer totally surprised me. That 9 or 10 ducks was now over 350 strong, and growing! He includes some rare breeds in his flock too.

Just after I had to quit the landscaping business due to injury, Alan was having problems running all of his own businesses. The main stumbling block that kept creating his problems was his bar businesses. Eventually, he sold off those parts of his portfolio, and employed somebody to do the lions share of the work at the hotel. That change eased the stress, as Alan was spending more time at home with less to worry about.

After a short while, he started to feel a little bored. To ease the boredom, he went out and bought another dozen or so ducks to add to his flock, then another dozen or so. It was during a conversation he had with an associate that got him thinking about monetizing his hobby. He told his friend about the ducks, mentioning that he was now getting so many eggs from them, he didn’t know what to do with them. His friend asked him why he didn’t take them and sell them to store owners in the surrounding areas.

Kerching! A new business idea was born. Now he doesn’t make a fortune with this business, but as he says, if it was his only means of living, he would be making enough to pay himself a decent wage. Take the initial expense of building a couple of barns to house the ducks, and the initial purchase of stock (both paid for from proceeds of the sale of the bar businesses), he reckons it pays enough to look after itself financially, including wages for an assistant. Alan’s growing the business still, but, he says he knows when the growth is going to stop. And importantly, it’s still his hobby. The hotel and property portfolio are his pension, and most important of all, he’s stress free.

I got to thinking about this, not as a money earner, but as a stress busting hobby, and why not? We could all do with something to take us away from the stress of modern living, right! Looking in to it further, There’s no reason why a lot of us couldn’t do something similar.

If like me, you live in an apartment, then we’re screwed on this one. However, there are a lot of people out there who do have a house with a garden area or yard. You don’t have to make it ducks either. Raising poultry isn’t confined to ducks. How about chickens, or geese. Makes a change from the usual dog or cats huh! The added benefit is; you get your own free range eggs, and chicken/duck/goose for the freezer. Not to mention getting to escape from your stress for a while.

I’m looking to move out of my current apartment at some point in the future, and I think I’ll be looking for a house with a decent garden area. My 7 year old daughter loves the idea of having pet chickens and ducks to raise, and do you know what, I’m with her on that one.

If this is something that could interest you, then Below are a couple of links to publications you can take a look at.

The first is mainly concerned with raising chickens, and is by Karl Caden, also known as – The Chicken Coop Guy.

Amazon also have a good selection for you to take a look at, but the link here is to my own preference from that selection, and covers poultry in general, it is by Harvey Ussery.

The Small-Scale Poultry Flock: An All-Natural Approach to Raising Chickens and Other Fowl for Home and Market Growers–With information on building … feed, and working with poultry in the garden

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Until the next time, keep your chin up.

Paul.