`Tis the Season
Posted by Craig Oosterlinck in Home on December 6, 2009
`Tis the Season.
A Personal note for the Christmas Season…
I love the holiday season. But as of late, I seem to have to put more of an effort into getting myself into the “Christmas Spirit” then I used too. I seem to remember a time when everyone was happier and friendlier. Family and friends exchanged greetings and gifts of joy and happiness and shared a meal together with the occasional bottle of festivities. Oh, what a great time that was! …`Tis the season of joy!
But like it was then, today, not so much. Today, in the down economy and unrest in the world, with people struggling to put food on their tables and keep a roof over their heads, clothe themselves and their family, what do people have to be happy for? There is nothing but bad news on the television. People are at odds with each other. In general, people are too busy and solemn in spirit. The “Me Generation” seems to take the majority hold of our youth’s these days. You can see what is happening right before your eyes with today’s young people not believing in God and their country, not all, but it is very noticeable to me from the days of my childhood. It is so easy to become pessimistic and depressed to see what the next generation’s values and morals are consisting of. I would have lost hope if not for my faith and some very wonderful people I know for reassurance. For without them, I would probably have just given up. …`Tis the Season for Hope and Reassurance!
Personally, my grandparents have passed away (which were the glue that held our family together) and my parents are getting up in age with health issues. My siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins are not that close anymore or have drifted apart over time. Also relatives are passing away more readily it seems with us all aging faster and faster. But I stop and think, and make myself see things in a different light, that they who have passed away have also been given the greatest gift of all – God, through the Mercy of his Son, Jesus Christ has given them and the souls who have gone before them the ultimate gift of eternity in Heaven…`Tis the Season of Faith!
Has political correctness killed the holiday season completely? Seems we have surrendered the things in life that we hold dearest… God forbid, don’t say Merry Christmas anymore or bring the name of God or Jesus Christ up any where but your place of worship. Don’t let children pray in school! Someone might become offended! Resentment is replacing goodwill…`Tis the Season for Goodwill towards Man.
Is it so out of the question for people to show some tolerance when it comes to what they believe the holidays are for?
I would not take offense by someone coming up to me, wishing me a Happy Chanukah (Hanukkah), Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, or what ever it may be. I am a Christian (Catholic) and I celebrate the birth of my savior, Jesus Christ on December 25th. So, if I say Merry Christmas to you, I am not attacking your religion so please don’t be offended by my personal beliefs. If you would like to put up a religious symbol to represent your religion in your city, please do, but don’t make me take down my nativity scene, Santa Claus, or Christmas tree! This country was founded on Christian values by the way. If you happen to be atheist…well, that is a story of its own. I would not suggest in any way to judge you, I pray for you! There is a higher authority that will judge in the end, and I don’t mean Bill Maher. Sorry, I will even try and pray for him too… `Tis the Season for Compassion!
What I would really like get across to you good people is to appreciate what you have, the people you love and love you back, and those who give you support when you are in need. Slow down, don’t stress out about your work, and give to those who need. Take some extra time to spend with loved ones; your work can wait. Mentor someone. Say something kind to a stranger. We are all children of God; He blesses us with His gifts through out the year…`Tis the Season for Giving.
I most certainly am not close to being perfect but I will try to keep the “Christmas Spirit” within me during the holiday season and throughout the entire year.
I wish you all God’s blessings for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Why an Internet Business?
Posted by Craig Oosterlinck in Home on October 14, 2009
Why an Internet Business?
There are several good reasons to start an online business based on a person’s wants and desires. Like me, many people embrace the idea of being their own boss. You get the flexibility with your daily schedule. Startup costs are little to none in many cases. You make the choices in the success of your company. You may have tax advantages from working at home. There is no need to commute to your place of work when you have a home business, no more braving extreme weather and bad roads and traffic jams… all this and the ability to make a great income.
There are many choices out there. Be cautious in what you choose. There are countless “Get Rich Quick” businesses, but take heed, like the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t let a few bad apples spoil he barrel. There are good opportunities out there.
Research, Research, Research! Tools like Google are wonderful to find feedback Talk to people; your social sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter gives you access to great people for information and networking. Find a mentor to guide your business in the right direction.
There are also some draw backs to your starting your own online business which include the lack of employer paid benefits. (In these times are now also becoming scarce.) Sick days, vacation time, medical and life insurance are something you are going to have to pay on your own out of your businesses bottom line profits.
So make an informed decision, weigh the pros and cons carefully. I do believe if your desire to succeed is there, a home based internet business is a great choice. If you are happy in what you do in business, it will make your whole life happier.
Identity Theft, Keeping You and Your Business Safe
Posted by Craig Oosterlinck in Home on October 12, 2009
You have worked hard and have been fortunate enough to have 
established your successful online business and have accomplished something a lot of people only dream about. There are people out there who do not want to work as hard as yourself and resort to criminal activity to obtain the things you have, by stealing from you. Not by taking a fax machine, copier or other office equipment but something much more valuable…Your Personal Information! Not just yours personally but private information on your customers, clients, etc. Information you store on a computer or servers is up for the grabbing.
In these times of growing business and personal internet use you are putting your personal information out there in cyber-space, the threat of Identity Theft is far more prevalent now more the ever. You think you may be protected by the safeguards you took by installing your anti-virus, firewall, phishing, spyware and malware programs. These precautions are well and good and you most certainly would want this protection but nothing is 100% secure.
You might say, “I keep my credit cards secure?”, but do all the vendors you use keep it secure? There are many forms of identity theft which include financial but you can also be robbed of your personal identity. People have found that their name has been used in criminal matters. How would you feel if you were pulled over for a minor traffic violation and ended up being arrested for a major criminal charge because someone used your good name? Or you started receiving medical bills for hospital and doctor charges from using your medical information that was taken? It has happened! Not to mention if you have employees and don’t dispose of old records properly and they fall victim of identity theft, you could be held responsible.
I would recommend protecting yourself with all the safeguards available to you to combat identity theft. A professional thief can assume you identity in just a few minutes, but it could take years to restore your credit standing and life. There are many precautions you could take. You have seen the commercials on television of some but I would recommend doing your research before making your final decision. You will want to make sure on the history and reputation of any Identity theft monitoring service you might have seen. I personally subscribe and am involved with a service, Identity Theft Shield ™ that is offered by Kroll Background America through Pre-Paid Legal Services®, Inc. Both companies are reputable and I encourage you to check them out if you are interested in this type of service for the security of your identity.
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