Money is on most everyone’s mind. A couple of years ago, a man cashed in on a large load of options and became a millionaire in one day. He explained how he never realized how much he thought about money every day until he had enough that he would never have to worry about it again. Now he says he gets all kinds of work done and has had a burden lifted that he had never known how much he suffered under!

This story illustrates a common theme for many people because many people are under the yoke of money. Maybe even you worry about it, think about it, ponder over it, avoid it by ignoring the last three month’s of checking account statements and not bringing your balance up to date, or simply hope the problem (overdrawn statements, credit card balances) just go away. And even though you know it’s not the best way to handle finances, you may still do it anyway.

Fortunately, feng shui has ideas and remedies that can help create more energy (read: money) to get your finances flowing again. Try these ideas to see if you can’t stimulate more prosperity!

o What’s in your wallet?

Old scraps of paper, credit cards for accounts you closed two year ago or for accounts you never use? Toss them. And if your wallet is shot, invest in a new one. If you can, select a red wallet to really energize your finances. These are the most auspicious and excellent for generating more money.

Next, be sure your wallet is clean, neat, and organized. If it is close to the start the New Year consider buying a new wallet. Maybe you could request one as a gift every year when the holidays roll around. Make it a part of your standard gift list for holidays or birthdays.

o Clean out old financial files.

Old energy keeps new energy from coming into your life. Do you have old financial information hanging around? If you are hanging on to credit card statements from five years ago, you are probably holding on to too much old financial energy. Usually, items older than 5 years are considered safe to toss. Of course, you shouldn’t get rid of old IRS statements! Use discretion when cleaning out your files and consult your accountant if you have questions.

o Be neat and orderly.

Organize your bills and put them in one place. Make it easy and efficient to pay your bills. It’s just common sense and good feng shui. And don’t just wad money up in your wallet. Treat it with respect and put the bills in there nicely.

o Declutter.

One of the most important things you can do for your finances is simply to clean up. Throwing out junk and getting rid of things like excess paper, empty boxes, and broken items can go a long way toward energizing your home for prosperity. In particular, declutter your SE corner of your home, of your living room, and of your bedroom. This is the wealth sector and if it has piles of junk, then financial chi can’t circulate.

o Enhance your prospects.

What direction is best for inviting more opportunity (read: get a better position and earn more money)? See below.

Kua NumberCareer Direction

1North

2Southwest

3East

4Southeast

5 MenNortheast

5 Women Southwest

6Northwest

7West

8South

Not sure about your Kua number? Go to The Red Lotus Letter Kua Calculator to find out what your KUA number is. Make sure you look at the directions above. If possible, make it so your desk faces the SW, is that’s your direction. Don’t put your back to it, look in this direction.

o Water, water, everywhere.

Well, not everywhere…only in certain places, really. Water equals money. No water, no money. Consider an aquarium in the North sector of your house, provided it isn’t a bathroom or bedroom. Don’t want an aquarium? Fine, put a painting or print of water, a waterfall, an ocean scene, a picture of turtles or fish….

These are all fine representations of water. Or, if the North is out your front door, paint it black. This is incredible feng shui and one of the few western-style feng shui tips that works especially well. If you paint the door black, consider painting the shutters black too!

Another good water option is to display sailing ships. Display the ships, either in paintings, prints, or figures as sailing into the front door. Those that are not in rough seas are best. Sailing ships represented commerce and were often laden with all manner of precious cargo. In the US, you can often find ship figures at craft stores such as Hobby Lobby or décor stores such as Tuesday Morning and Kirklands.

Why go to this trouble in your North sector? The north represents opportunities and career. If your career advances, most of the time, your earning power does, too. This is why you want to make sure your North sector is well cared for. Gold objects (such as brass items) in this area are also extremely auspicious. Even if your kua number says your success direction is Southwest, I would not miss an opportunity to bolster my North sector. Be sure to enhance both sectors.

o Get more green.

In the Southeast (SE) wealth sector, that is. Put a grouping of 4 plants of varying heights together in the SE corner of your home. If this is a bedroom or bathroom, put them in the SE corner of your living room. Try to select a jade plant as one of your grouping.

These plants are excellent feng shui, provided the plants are attractive, healthy, and well-cared for. If not, these are very bad luck, indeed. If you want, you can use silk plants, but real ones are best. Don’t forget to energize the SE corner of your living room with a beautiful plant. Put this plant in a basket or brass planter.

Don’t forget Dragon Power! Display a green dragon in the East and Southeast for improved income. You can usually find these online or in Chinese or Asian emporiums or markets. Wall hangings or figures of dragons are equally good.

Avoid having metal in the SE sector of your home or living room because the SE represents small wood (growing chi) and metal cuts wood. If the SE has a toilet there, put a large rock in the bathroom and tie it with a red ribbon. This will “press” down the negative energy of the toilet.

o Get financial backing.

Just like putting a mountain at your back in the form of a picture on the wall will help you get more management support from bosses or superiors, a picture of a financial institution can give you good “financial backing.”

Get a picture, poster, or painting of a bank, Wall Street, or other financial institution, and hang it so that it is at your back. Even bars of gold or sheets of money would be good here. This is especially good feng shui if you own a business! Put this artwork behind your register or your desk.

o Check your financial thinking.

That’s right, how you think about money is important. There are lots of books that can help here. Some of the best for addressing the mental side of money are Suze Orman’s. Did you know couples fight more about money than they do sex or children? Money is extremely personal and people get very uncomfortable talking about it.

Do you have “poor” thinking?

Do you believe that there is never enough to go around or that you don’t deserve success and financial security? You should really take a close look at your financial mindset. Consider investing in some books that address your “money mind” — because your attitude is often the source of financial difficulty.

Maybe you just need more

Many times people think that to gain more money they have to continue to find ways to cut expenses, rather than find new sources of income. Sometimes that means finding a new job, asking for a raise, getting a rental property, or taking a small part time job to bring in more money. Consider if there is something you can do to earn more rather than cut out more from your budget.

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter Feng Shui E-zine and certified feng shui consultant in classical Chinese feng shui. Kathryn helps her readers improve their lives and generate more wealth with feng shui. For more information visit http://www.redlotusletter.com and learn the fast and fun way how feng shui can make your life more prosperous and abundant

Most people are fans of magic and the tricks of illusion, especially ones that involve reading people’s minds. For example, think of a number between 1 and 10. Write the first number that comes to mind. Let me guess… You picked… (My guess is at the end of this article!)

Let me play the mind reader one more time. In one word how would you describe your life the last few weeks? Let me guess. Busy? Unfortunately this guess doesn’t involve any kind of magic. Nearly everyone feels they are “really busy” or have too much to do. Do an experiment yourself and ask the next ten people the above question and see how they answer. Chances are most of them will also describe their life as busy.

In our face-paced world, it’s simply a fact that most of us have too much on our plate. With so many responsibilities and information to process, it’s often we’re playing catch up from the moment we wake up in the morning.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could snap our fingers and be relieved from all of our mundane duties and obligations? We aren’t magicians, however, there is something can do. In our magical world of daily lives, many people are suffering from illusion-induced stress.

Science has long known that the mind cannot distinguish from what is really happening and that which is vividly imagined. The simplest example is when we dream. Have you ever had a scary dream and woke up sweating with your heart racing? When you woke up you realized it clearly wasn’t happening in reality, but your body was reacting as if it was completely true.

When we are awake, most of us are continually thinking (imagining) all of the things we have to do that day and usually we are worrying about them in one way or another. Whether we are just continually going over them in our mind, which is technically the same as actually doing them over and over… or worrying about whether we’ll get them all done, our bodies are experiencing the stress as if we are actually doing them. The real kicker is that it’s being taxed each time you think about it!

Believe me, your day is filled enough without with your mind adding to it and yet that is exactly what is happening. You are getting the stress of your real day and the illusionary stress of your mind’s continual repetition of what you’ve done, are doing, and still need to do.

This is the problem with an overactive imagination that has gone untrained and unmonitored. The old saying, “The mind is a terrific servant, but a terrible master,” speaks to this. And many of the eastern philosophies focus a great deal of training on simply quieting the mind. This is the whole premise of meditation. It helps keep the your mind in check and let’s you focus on what’s actually in front of you.

Now, no one wants to leave a show empty-handed, so before you go, here is a quick meditation exercise you can do right now to help train your mind.

Close your eyes and take ten long and slow breathes. Simply focus on the flow of air in and out of your lungs.

Could you make it to ten without your mind wondering? Don’t worry most people can’t get past seven the first time. (Which, by the way, was the number you picked at the beginning of this article!)

Learn the nine small steps to make permanent health and wellness changes. Discover these and change your life forever!

Rick Davis will officially file for Mayor of the City of Evansville at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 19 in the Election Office, Room 214 of the Civic Center.

Davis, 41, is the first Democratic candidate to announce that he will run in the Tuesday, May 3 city primary. He will be filing on the first official day of signups which run through noon Feb. 21.

“I picked the first filing date to officially put my name on the ballot because I want people to know I am running for the Office of Mayor and not against any particular person,” Davis said.

“During the campaign I will do my best to educate people on our platform: Job growth, transparency, public safety, and accountability,” he added.

Following the filing Wednesday, Davis will hold a luncheon at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum located at 300 Court St. The public is invited to the filing and luncheon.

Davis, the Vanderburgh County Treasurer, first announced that he would run for Mayor on Nov. 11, 2010. In December, he started his grassroots campaign by going door-to-door, meeting the people of Evansville and listening to their ideas.

He has held two Town Hall meetings in the month of January and two more are planned for Jan. 20 at McCollough Library, 5115 Washington Ave., and Jan. 27 at Oaklyn Library, 3001 Oaklyn Drive. Both will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Davis, a lifelong resident of Vanderburgh County, graduated from F.J. Reitz High School in 1987. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications/Emphasis in Journalism from the University of Southern Indiana in 1993 and earned a Master of Science Degree in Public Service Administration from the University of Evansville in 2006.

Rick has administrative experience in both the public and private sectors. Prior to taking office on Jan. 1, 2009 as Vanderburgh County Treasurer, Davis was the Chief Deputy at the Vanderburgh County Recorder’s Office for more than 6 years. He previously was an Assistant Metro Editor and Southern Indiana Reporter at The Evansville Courier & Press; Managing Editor and Associate Editor at The Boonville Standard and Newburgh Register; and a sports reporter at The Henderson (Ky.) Gleaner.

Rick remains active in the Evansville community. He was the President of the Mount Auburn Neighborhood Association from 2006-2008. He has been a member of the West Sector Police Station’s National Night Out Committee since 2004 and is active in the United Neighborhoods of Evansville (UNOE). Rick is also a charter member of the John F. Kennedy Club of Vanderburgh County, a civic organization founded in 2008.

To view a schedule of events visit www.pickrickdavis.com

For more information please contact Bill Denton, Campaign Chairman at (812) 499-6312.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WIBQ) – It’s been a burning debate for Terre Haute residents, but now the city will have a smoking ban.

The city council unanimously agreed last night to make all Terre Haute workplaces smoke free. All nine City Council members voted to ban smoking in all work places. It’s a decision that was reached after much debate. The ban will go into effect July 1st, 2012, which is the same time a proposed similar county ban would go into place.

This will also be an issue in this year’s state legislature. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has said he’ll support a state-wide ban on smoking in all Indiana workplaces.

What about Evansville? Last year for the first time the Evansville City Council deadlocked 4 to 4 with one member absent on a stronger smokefree workplace ordinance that currently exists. There was still an unrestricted exception for Casino Aztar that sparked much debate over the fairness to other entertainment venues. The Vanderburgh County Council has stated clearly that a comprehensive smokefree workplace resolution will be fast tracked this year. Is it true that we are beginning to wonder if Evansville will be the last city on earth to get around to passing a resolution to provide for comprehensive smokefree workplaces for all of its citizens? It is one thing to be behind California and New York. It is quite another to lag Terre Haute.

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Mitch Daniels has appointed Kari Evans Bennett to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC).

“The nominating committee presented me with a full slate of qualified candidates and I believe that Kari’s vast regulatory experience and legal background make her the best prepared of an excellent group,” said Daniels.

When a vacancy occurs on the IURC, applications are solicited from the public and accepted by a seven member nominating committee. The committee, comprising four legislative and three gubernatorial appointments, screens the applications and conducts interviews that are open to the public. After conducting the public interviews, the nominating committee recommends three candidates to the governor who then names a new member to the commission.

Members of the nominating committee are committee chair William Stephan, Jennifer Messer, Greg Gibson, Mark Pope, Susan Sandberg, Larry Buell and June Lyle.

Although she has never appeared before the IURC, Bennett has practiced environmental law for 12 years, both regulating industry and representing business and municipal interests before environmental regulators. Bennett is an Indianapolis attorney currently serving as chief legal counsel for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Prior to her service with DNR, she was an attorney in the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and a policy director in the governor’s office. Additionally, she practiced law with Barnes & Thornburg LLP. Bennett earned her bachelor’s degree from Miami University, Ohio and her law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Bennett replaces former chairman David Lott Hardy and will serve the remainder of a four-year term that ends on March 31, 2014. Her appointment is effective immediately.

Source: Office of the Governor

The Most Poignant Readers Comments of the Week

“Is it true that some members of the city council have a conflict of interest on the smoking issue? Is it true that at least two council members have a financial interest in restaurants or bars? Is it true that these conflicts of interest should be reason for some city council members to abstain from voting on this issue?”
Johnny Kincaid

“Is it true that if this body (County Commissioners) so boldly proclaims that it represents everyone in the county equally when it comes to consolidation yet fails to protect the health and welfare of those inside the city when it comes to smoking, that this body obviously suffers from an identity crisis and is, at best, acting in a hypocritical manner?

Is it true that in order to clear up this obviously hypocritical stance, the County Commissioners either needs to enact a smoking ordinance that applies to the entire county, city included, or enact threshold rejection in the consolidation voting process?”
Magic Man

“Yukon Cornelius looking for prosperity downtown: BRILLIANT !!”
Beerguy

“Since it’s (snow removal) the merchants responsibility, one good lawsuit should take care of the problem. Anyone want to own a building downtown?”
CJ54

“If I lived in Southern Illinois, I’d be pushing for secession from Chicago right about now.”
Outside_Observer

“Were you the waitperson who got the $499.00 tip from the ECVB holiday party? How many others like that have you gotten while working there?
Did you move into the county after retiring, and is your current monthly Social Security check higher than your average month’s pay + tips from Biaggi’s?
Weinzapfel has been eroding the quality of life of the people of Evansville for SEVEN years, and has gained speed each year since he started. With his push for Consolidation he is even threatening the lifestyle of the people living in the county. Hopefully, each and every act will come back and bite him when he and his ego run for governor.”
From NoMoDoh in response to Retired Biaggi’s Waiter

IS IT TRUE that just yesterday yet another boil advisory was issued in the North Kentucky Avenue area of the City of Evansville?…that this boil advisory is in effect until further notice?…that this is the third boil advisory since Christmas Day in the City of Evansville?…that during a boil advisory citizens are warned to bring all water that will be consumed by humans whether for drinking or cooking to a boil for 5 minutes?…that the citizens of Evansville while appreciating being warned to boil water that may be contaminated, they would appreciate it much more if the payments that they make to the Evansville Waterworks assured that water was delivered to their homes without needing to boil off the contaminants?…that many other cities and towns have public water systems that can go for years without boil advisories yet here it seems to be a weekly event?…that many of us swallow a little water while bathing?…that boiling before bathing, wearing a muzzle in the shower, or bathing in Evian Water are not practical solutions?…that we deserve to know why there are so many boil advisories and what needs to done to assure that the public water supply is fit for consumption?

IS IT TRUE that the last month has been colder than normal for the time around New Years Day?…that the HVAC systems have been pumping warm air into the homes of the Evansville area to keep the residents warm?…that the fans that push that air are run on electricity?…that the price of electricity on this side of the money saving bridge is still 188% more expensive than it is over in Henderson?…that the cell phone bill used to strike fear into the most burly men when it showed up in the mailbox?…that in Evansville, Indiana and certain surrounding counties that the Vectren bill is the one that strikes fear into people’s minds just at the site of it?…that turning the temperature down to a cool comfortable 66 degrees and installing a programmable thermostat will pay for itself quickly and will slightly ease the fear of the Vectren bill?

IS IT TRUE that Vectren actually has a program that will pay you a rebate of $20 to install a programmable thermostat?…that you can see that and other available rebates at the following website? http://www.vectren.com/selectState.do

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Regional Airport recently was notified that they were not chosen to receive a $500,000 grant that was applied for?…that the intended use for the funds if granted was to try to attract another airline to supplement the two that we currently have?…that as airports go the Evansville airport delivers a pleasant experience at the counters both coming and going?…that the Evansville airport struggles with the fact that there are no jetways for boarding and unloading and with the fact that limited competition allows some monopolistic pricing by the two carriers that compete on exactly zero direct routes out of Evansville?…that Owensboro somehow attracted Allegiant Air that has non-stop low cost flights to Orlando and may just be adding service to Las Vegas?…that Evansville had discussions with Allegiant but that they chose Owensboro?…that Mead Johnson cited limited air service as one of the reasons for choosing Chicago over Evansville for their headquarters?…that growing cities need to have many flight options at competitive pricing with other airports?…that for a business travel paying a slight premium to fly in and out of EVV is worth it?…that the City County Observer wishes the Evansville Regional Airport success in attracting new carriers and flights?…that the good jobs of the future depend on having access to the transportation of the future?…that means airports and someday high speed rail?

IS IT TRUE that the word of the week is CIVILITY?…that we seem to promote civility every time someone does something that is violent and senseless?…that the word for life should be CIVILITY?…that today is a good day to practice civility and courtesy and to respect others property?…that the City County Observer encourages all of our readers to be kind but vigilant, to give and to earn respect, and to treat the streets as you would treat your own living room?…that if we all cease to litter and pick up three pieces of litter each day that our litter problem will be gone?…that CIVILITY means many things and that we should practice them all each day?

The City County Observer is showing up in the most unexpected places lately. Last week we chose to do a short article with a link to the New York Times about an Indiana University Professor named William Henderson who has been calling out the “law degree” industry for failure to properly disclose the employment prospects of a JD to prospective students of law. Low and behold checking our referral traffic there is a blog called Shilling Me Softly that is run by Kimber Russell who is somewhat of a watchdog in the world of accurate disclosure as it applies to higher education. She specializes in law schools.

On her site she has a place of honor reserved for publications that have shown the courage to publish the plight of Professor Henderson in calling for proper disclosure from the nations law schools. The list is currently limited to the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, Indiana Public Media, Indiana University, and Evansville’s own City County Observer. When we learn of such movements, we consider it our duty in our drive for good public policy to point things like this out. After all, Evansville is in Indiana, Indiana University is a public institution of higher learning that gets substantial tax money from the people of our state, and good public policy calls for transparency and proper disclosure. What we can’t figure out is why so few media sources have picked up on this.

Here is a link to the story that compares law schools to puppy mills. Of course the same could be said about any other training that is not delivering on the advertised results.

http://shillingmesoftly.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-can-has-law-degree-careerist.html