Put Your Name Up To The Privacy Test

How well are you known? Are you important for the government and its agencies? Does society at large care about you? There is a way to find the answer to these and many other privacy concerns.

Your Social Security Number is only the tip of the iceberg in the arsenal of tools the government has for control.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 exposed our vulnerability to foreign threats and the world as we knew it has completely changed. The USA responded beefing up security in all fronts, public places, borders, and airports. The Patriot Act was enacted to legally allow authorities to tap telephone, e-mail, and social network accounts from persons of interest. There was an immediate outcry from citizens who said this was too intrusive and feared the loss of their freedom.

There is always someone watching behind security cameras almost everywhere in urban areas, so don't be surprised if you get a traffic ticket in your mailbox two weeks after you ran a stop light during rush hour.

Satellites and GPS can pinpoint anyone’s position in the planet with a cell phone on them with perfect accuracy. We have personal profiles with banks, employers, associations, and social networks that are accessible to Uncle Sam at any given time. Shall you be concern? Here are the cold facts:

The last census indicates that a population in excess of 311 million lives in the land of the Dollar Bill. A person has to be a high profile criminal, large corporation executive, or religious leader for the FBI to follow their moves. They don't have time to listen to the irrelevant conversations of average people.

Society pays attention to every move or word from celebrities, professional sports athletes and politicians. Just Like Ms. Jolie, my neighbor is having a baby and except for her small circle of friends and family no-one cares about her.

The average Jane or Joe can post anything scandalous in the social networks and no TV reporters will be waiting outside their residence for an interview. You need to invest a lot of time and effort to produce something very good in order to gain a little notoriety, but don’t expect the paparazzi to follow you anytime soon. Brilliant scientists, writers, architects, or doctors have a decent base of fans and unless we win the Nobel Prize, the amount of our followers pales in comparison to those who are portrayed everyday in the mass media.

Type your name on Google search to find out what the world knows about you. Unless you have a unique name, chances are you will find many others with higher credentials than you. You may also find a message saying "Join Facebook to connect with Jane Doe." Or "Join John Doe professional network in Linkedin." Or no results at all.

Want to find out if you are truly important for society at large? Create your blog, website, or fan page and see how many followers you get and how fast. You will find very soon how ferocious the competition is and how indifferent the world can be unless you excel in your profession or commit a horrible crime.

Most of the privacy concerns are unfounded. Stop living in the shadows and come out to the world, you have a life to live. For the vast majority of people it is a small group of friends, family, and co-workers who's opinion may count in their limited world.

In my experience as an author it took me a lifetime or writing, three books, heavy advertisement, daily updates in social networks, a blog, aggressive marketing campaigns, social events, and much more to be honored with a base of around 1000 readers in my website, professional, and social media. As a writer I am a public person who encourages comments, opinions, questions, and communication. I am an open book to everyone, people know me and greet me in the streets and you can find about my work and persona in Google or Yahoo. I have not lost my privacy, because I have nothing to hide.

You have nothing to fear! Next time you see a camera, don't worry. The righteous people have not lost their freedom, give the observers a smile and keep it till our next communication.

Author Ingrid I. Holm-Garibay

Subscribe to Ingrid News at: http://www.ingridbooks.com  

Around The World In Spring

Spring has arrived at the northern hemisphere of our planet and autumn in the southern. Except from the poles and the equator, the weather is mild and this is the perfect time to travel anywhere on Earth. Here is a look at our world this season to help you make a decision in case you want to travel. Click on the images to see a larger view.

A few minutes away from Amsterdam, the tulip fields with the classic windmills are a pleasure to behold in Holland.

The poor economy in Greece makes Mykonos Island a very accessible paradise.

Before the hot and humid summer, spring is the perfect time to visit Angkor Wat; the largest temple ever constructed in honor of the God Vishnu and the symbol of Cambodia.

Located 40 minutes from Las Vegas, Nevada is the new Hoover Dam Bridge. This is the newest American marvel and it is best to visit before the hot desert summer arrives.

Frigid temperatures have reseeded in Hamburg, Germany and one can now explore on foot the Rathaus and Alster Lake area while enjoying typical German sausages and beer from street vendors every weekend.

The gondoliers are ready to take you all around Venice, Italy the most romantic way of transportation.

If money is no object, I suggest a visit to the Sky Park Marina Bay in Singapore. Considered the newest wonder of the world and constructed over 200 meters high on top of three skyscrapers is the most expensive hotel complex in the world. You can swim in the largest outdoor swimming pool on top of the world with a fantastic view.

The extensive urban art on the walls of city of Brussels, Belgium is the largest outdoor galley in the world. A free pleasure to all its visitors.

A light jacket, comfortable shoes, and a few pesos is all you need to explore the Pyramids of the Sun & Moon at Teotihuacan, "City of the Gods. It is located less than an hour from the crowds of Mexico City.

For a spiritual journey, the colossal statue on top of the Buddhist temple in Hong Kong is the perfect place to learn about Eastern Philosophy.

The fountains around the crystal pyramid at the Louvre in Paris are functioning again in spring after winter hibernation. This is the perfect place to sit and admire the Classic French Architecture of the Palace of Louis XIV before and after the visit of the most famous museum in the world.

For a magical and medieval journey, the castles of Portugal will send you back to the times of legendary royalty.

The great Roman temples in Syria have no tourists due to the political turmoil in that country, hopefully we will be able to visit them next year.

The Taoist Temple and the whole complex of the former Forbidden City in Beijing China is now open for all to learn the history of a culture separated hundreds of centuries and miles from the rest of the world.

Spring is the perfect time to witness the new sound and light show at the Pyramids of Gizeh, before the summer crowds invade the plateau

The shell shape waves are a natural phenomena we can admire during spring in Hawaii, along with an average 80 degree weather in this pacific paradise.

Earth is definitely the planet of the month and we should be proud to live here, enjoy the beauty of spring.

I hope you enjoyed this free spring break trip.

Author Ingrid I. Holm-Garibay

Subscribe to Ingrid News at: http://www.ingridbooks.com 

Pay Yourself First!

The recession has brought not only stress, but frustration, sorrow, and many complications to the lives of millions of people that have been forced to lower their standards of living.

"As soon as I receive my paycheck, it takes off as fast as an F-15 from the USAF."

Those were the words of my friend Susan Johnson, a waitress in Ithaca, NY. “I serve meals to dozens of people every week, but when I want myself to be served I can not afford to go to a restaurant.” She added.

Susie is not alone, the middle class has been squeezed so hard that it has become an endangered specie and those in poverty have been reduced to the misery of bare survival.

Like many of us, during long time Sue anticipated the needs of her loved ones before hers and it seemed that there was never a penny left when she wanted something. There are not many Americans alive who remember the economic tsunami of the 1930′s, but I have the experience from the economic crisis in Mexico and Germany where I lived before I immigrated to the USA and I shared with Susan my knowledge.

"Eliminate your most unnecessary bill and pay yourself first."

 Susie cancelled her telephonic land line and switched her cell to a prepaid plan. Her savings wee substantial and now she is not only able to dine on pay day, but feels rewarded for her daily effort at work. Lack of satisfaction from our occupation produces depression, sadness, even anger in some people and it is imperative to include ourselves in our budget to avoid distress.

Back in 2008, when the price of gasoline started to insanely clime, a big chunk of my money was literally on wheels and I decided that enough was enough. I sold my fuel guzzler truck and bought a fun Kawasaki for my daily commuting.

At least 10% of an individual’s income should be for personal joy, so even those earning minimum wage may go to a movie, buy some desired clothing, or any other object of satisfaction. It is just a matter of the re-structure of our expenses and my fellow American have to understand that the days of waste and excess of bonanza are over.

During our lunch at this fun restaurant my friend ask me how to save money for a vacation with her limited income.

I told her to delete another useless bill and place that money in a savings account. She was paying too much for 180 channels of cable that she hardly ever watched, so she cancelled the account and discovered that the local channels she received in her converter box is all she needs to keep her informed of the daily events in her community. She bought a copy of my book Letters from Frank: An American Terrorist’s Life, rediscovered the joy of reading and does not missed her cable service at all. One year later she treated herself to a weekend in Las Vegas where I had the pleasure to take her around town.

The old idea to put into savings what is left from our paycheck is an outdated concept that does not work in a weak economy, because there will never be any money left.

We have to dedicate another 10% of our income into savings to actually get somewhere with our resources. Before you know, you will have enough funds for what you feel it was impossible to get. There are many other things we can do to combat inflation and high prices and by helping yourself, you help your community and the country.

I was tired of paying huge electric bills to the monopoly of NV Energy, so I switched all the bulbs in my apartment for the new energy efficient ones and at the same time by going green, I helped our planet by reducing my carbon footprint. I can now count my savings.

You don’t have to be an economist to improve your life and the one of your loved ones, just use your common sense and stop giving your money away to others.

Never forget to pay yourself first!

Author Ingrid I. Holm-Garibay

Subscribe to Ingrid News at: http://www.ingridbooks.com  

The Giant's Causeway

On a day like today but in 1988, I celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland.

Ancient Irish legends describe the arrival of the Giant Gods that built the causeway for convenience to be in contact with the elected people of the Eire Island.

My ex-girlfriend Martina Hatton was from Dublin, but she had family in the North where we were welcomed to celebrate St. Patty’s Day at the mystical location of the Giant’s Causeway. Martina translated for me what the friendly locals spoke in the traditional Gaelic Language and the combination of typical Ire delicious food and dark ales in a magical setting made the celebration a totally whimsical and unforgettable experience. The Giant’s Causeway and the whole Irish island is a place I highly recommend to visit.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Author Ingrid I. Holm-Garibay

Subscribe to Ingrid News at: http://www.ingridbooks.com 

DST Does Not Move Our Biological Clock

We lost one hour of sleep due to the yearly Daylight Savings Time clock management and that is one of the main reasons to start it on a Sunday; to give us a little more time for adjustment. During the next two weeks we can expect to see many people with dark circles under their eyes and more tired than usual. They are the majority that work and live on a fixed schedule.

Sin city is a 24 hour town where people adjust their lives anywhere around the clock and is less affected than any other.

Like in everything else in life there are winners and losers, but it is a government mandate to move the clock one hour ahead and we have no choice, except adapt ourselves the best we can. How all this began?

Starting on 30 April 1916, Germany and its World War I allies were the first to use DST (German: Sommerzeit) as a way to conserve coal during wartime. Britain, most of its allies, and many European neutrals soon followed suit. Russia and a few other countries waited until the next year and the United States adopted it in 1918. Since then, the world has seen many enactments, adjustments, and repeals. 

German pioneer concept was: “If you can see, you can work.” Artificially moving the clock ahead keeps productivity going for the industrialized world and the monetary benefits are obvious. Is it any wonder why Germany is nowadays the second economy of the world, even after complete destruction enduring two world wars? To work from sunrise to sunset has never been a popular idea, so let’s see what countries have adopted the German model.

Blue indicates DTS observed. Orange indicates DTS no longer observed. Red indicated DTS never observed.

The map clearly shows most of the developed countries in accordance with DST. The third world nations concept is to work less for more personal time, thinking that not everything in life is money. Interesting to note that in Africa, only Namibia (a former German colony) and Morocco comply with the western world; their prosperity is notable too. In the US the State of Arizona continually has refused to be included.

To complicate matters more, sunrise and sunsets are uneven due to the shift of the Earth's axle and those living in America have to consider four different time zones before communicating with someone at the other end of the country. We may be too early, or too late.

We can play with technology, but we can not fool mother nature and the biological clock inside animals, plants, and humans is ruled from dawn till dusk and it will take an average of a dozen days for your system to get used to this forced change.

The ancients used sun dial clocks and those truly still tell the real time.

Our planet is definitely divided over the issue of DST and the benefits are for large corporations and developed economies, not for individuals. So we have to question, is this effort truly worth it? Don’t forget to have a good, robust pot of coffee thirst thing tomorrow morning. If you don’t have technological advanced devices that automatically compensate for the time change, move your clocks one hour ahead and set your alarms accordingly.

Go to bed with a smile and keep it till our next communication.

Author Ingrid I. Holm-Garibay

Subscribe to Ingrid News at: http://www.ingridbooks.com 

International Women's Day Facts

Calling All Women: Send A Message of Strength We Want Equality - How About You? Dear friends, Today is International Women's Day, but did you know: Among developed nations, the United States ranks 37th in gender equality?  U.S. women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar men earn for similar work? Women's access to health care services in the U.S. is under attack? We can do much better than this, let's keep working together until complete equality. Subscribe to Ingrid News at: http://www.ingridbooks.com

Irrelevant Phrases

Remove from your lexicon phrases like “one of these days,” “If the weather holds,” or  ”new year’s resolution.”

It is early March and no-one talks anymore about their new year's resolutions. Have they been achieved? Only a few exceptional individuals have, for the majority it was ephemeral wishful thinking that vanished as fast as the beautiful fireworks in Lake Las Vegas

Desires fail to cristalize due to a lack of strategy and conviction.

Back in 1985 at the release part of my first book, Country of Dwarfs some friends and acquaintances told me:  ”One of these days I am going to write a book about my life too.”

27 years and two more books later, that "one day" has not come yet for those who spoke and sadly some have even passed away

When I relocated to Germany, I invited everyone to visit me and someone gave me the lamest excuse I have ever heard. “If the weather holds I’ll be there to see you.”

Seasons came and went and the forecast was never good enough for her during my time in Europe.

Those and many other useless phrases people easily utter may be gone, but not forgotten and we better not talk about something we are not ready to do. Any successful enterprise requires true will and commitment. It is not necessary to wait for a new year to start a project we envision. Talk about your goal when you already have a written plan in place that you are currently working on and ask your circle of people for advice and opinion if necessary.

If talk is cheap, dumb excuses are even more and that “one day” surely will never come if you don’t start working on what you truly want now. The day to start the completion of your dreams is today.

Time waits for no-one, no, not even you and it is time you eliminate the aforementioned phrases from your vocabulary once and for all

Take your planner, calendar, and agenda to start writing a detailed plan of action for what you always wanted and act!

Author Ingrid I. Holm-Garibay

Subscribe to Ingrid News at: http://www.ingridbooks.com  

Tip of the Week

Life is a chain of moment of enjoyment, not only about survival.

Every day, every hour, every minute is special and you don't know if it will be your last

Leave hate and resentment in the past, they are a waste of your precious time on Earth. Start living yuor life to the fullest Now!

Author Ingrid I. Holm-Garibay

Subscribe to Ingrid News at: http://www.ingridbooks.com 

Water Dwelling

Is water a possible habitat for people? Our planet’s surface consists of 67% sea and 33% land, with the immense majority of us living inland. How does the aquatic minority live?

In Tahiti and some other South Pacific Islands people immerse in the lukewarm ocean to eat, drink, and share

Water waiters and cooks are available when necessary

A nap in the sea is similar, but very different than a water bed

Within this small minority differences exist, as in the ground life.

Floating restaurants are common in the Philippines where cyclones, typhoons, and hurricanes are a yearly occurrence

After the storm is time to eat and fried bananas with sugar, washed with beer makes a good lunch

The human species are not specifically designed to dwell in the water, but we are capable to adapt to any circumstance. Many of the ancient cultures have documented floods from the beginning of time and humankind has survived.

Human ingenuity has no limits and this example is proof that we can always start again to rebuild our lives

In a planet with so much H2O on its surface and atmosphere any disturbance makes the vital liquid re-accommodate. Major events like earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and tsunamis always leave a sequence of casualties and those living in coastal areas are the most vulnerable.

Regardless our geographical position, no-one is exempt from calamities and we have to do a better job to prepare for possible disasters. It is not a matter of if, but when it will happen again. Even in the safest areas a fire, riot, or “act of God” may occur and an emergency kit at hand will be our best friend. A backpack full and ready to go with a flashlight, lighter, Swiss Army knife, travel size toiletries, battery operated radio, medicines,  jeans, sturdy, comfortable shoes, weatherproof jacket, gloves, hat, water, first aid kit, and a few cans and candy are the minimum requirements for anyone to survive a disaster while we find a suitable situation to settle again. Kits may be customized to individual needs and skills, but it never hurts to have one ready.

Five years ago, an electrical fire destroyed part of the apartment complex where I used to live. When the alarm system went off, I was able to safely get out with my most meaningful belongings, my cat, and back pack emergency kit in less than three minutes. It certainly was not fun to forfeit my insured property, but having my documents, photos, and planner saved in a USB port, along with my lap top, cell phone, and back pack made my return to normalcy much easier than if I was caught off guard.

December 21st, 2012 Marks the end of the Mayan Calendar. A prophetic day also appointed by the Hopi Native Americans, and the I Ching Oracle in China

The scientific truth is that a rare galactic and planetary alignment will occur on the date of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

Every 26,000 years our sun completes a long cycle, when it gets situated in the middle of our galaxy, the Milky Way and the planets in our system align. It also coincides with the completion of the rotation of the Earth's axle, which is not even, it wobbles and produces the phenomenon known as precession

All these events combined have made many people from every corner of the world to come up with different possible scenarios for our planet on that fateful date. Proximity to the gamma and UV sun rays would have a terrible effect on people, animals, and plants, or a change of the Earth’s polarity would certainly bring a disaster  of Biblical proportions. Who will survive a global catastrophe ? Those who are taking precautions NOW have a much better opportunity to live once everything is settled again, than those who live their lives like a candle in the wind.

Whether or not doomsday comes to Earth this December is up to individual interpretation, but if it does the best approach is to look with good eyes a new beginning. Because if the world as we know it drastically changes life will go on and the show must go on even in a water world

The positive outlook of the Mayan philosophy is that the predicted day will kick off the new era of enlightenment for humanity when the return of their Gods is expected. My personal advice is to be not only prepared materially, but spiritually if our time comes up. Tell your loved ones how much you care for them and spend time together. Complete your projects and fulfill your life.

The Maya were the masters of time, they view it in a circular manner with events that will re-occur versus our linear approach. They produced the most accurate calendar ever made by any civilization and were so advanced that predicted their own demise.

We are only nine months away to find out the truth. Will the end of days come this year? Only time will tell, but time, as the Maya knew too well is running out!

Author Ingrid I. Holm-Garibay

Subscribe to Ingrid News at: http://www.ingridbooks.com