Traffic Lessons From India
Issue #2209
- WEALTHY: 3 investments that thrive in times of inflation (Andrew Gordon)
- HEALTHY: The worst time to start a diet (Yarixa Ferrao)
- WISE: Winston Churchill on regulations
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- Do we really need rules? (Michael Masterson)
- A spam-free forum for exchanging ideas (Jason Holland)
- It’s Fun to Know… about India’s remarkable bridges
- Add the Indian word "jungle" to your vocabulary
The Early to Rise 2007 “Giving Thanks” Sales Event
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, today I’d like to offer you savings of up to 64% on many of ETR’s top programs… some discounted by as much as $298!
It’s our way of saying "Thank You" as we enter the holiday season… and giving you extra-special incentive to try one of our life-changing programs.
Just think about it… suppose just one of these products helps you…
Start a business that replaces your full time job with a new six or seven figure income stream…
Make an extra $25,000… $50,000… or even $100,000 next year by radically increasing the pay from your current area of expertise….
Improve the sales of your existing business by 50%… 100%… or more…
Wouldn’t it be a mistake to NOT try it today, when it can be in your hands at the best value ever?
And keep in mind, all have a full, no-gimmick 100% money-back guarantee. So if you’ve ever considered trying one of our life changing programs, there’s no better time than now.
Please take a moment to look at the VERY deep discounts we’re offering you, our loyal reader, over this Thanksgiving weekend.
But do act today, because time is running out. The sale ends at 5PM EST tonight!
The Silver Lining of Inflation
It sure does look like inflation is coming on down the road, doesn’t it? When it hits, there’s not much you can do to avoid higher prices. But as an investor, there are three sectors you can turn to that thrive with inflation.
1. Basic Materials
If inflation takes off, the cost of basic materials will be one of the big reasons. Industry will still be buying, though. And industry can cut down on such basic materials as aluminum and steel about as easily as you can on toothpaste. The Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) ETF is a convenient way to invest here.
2. Energy
Another culprit behind inflation. Oil and gas prices are already high. Energy is used to outperforming the market, and with inflation it’ll continue doing so. You can invest in energy through the ETF Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE).
3. Agricultural Products
Inflation will be spurred by higher prices across the board for such staples as corn, wheat, and coffee. The agricultural commodities ETF PowerShares DB Agriculture (DBA) would be the play.
Inflation hurts. But investing in these three sectors will take away some of the sting.
[Ed. Note: ETR’s Investment Director Andrew Gordon is the editor of INCOME, a monthly financial advisory service that uncovers income-generating stocks that promise safety (first and foremost), along with much-higher-than-average profit potential.]
"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law."
Winston Churchill
Traffic Lessons From India
"Oh m’god," Paula shouted. "Watch out for the cow!"
"The man’s a professional," Rob said. "Let him do his job.
Rob was right. Without braking, our driver deftly maneuvered the van around the cow and between a rickshaw and two motorcycles. Our guide continued talking calmly as the driver raced the vehicle through the immensely crowded boulevard from our hotel to the old city of Jaipur.
If you have never driven down a crowded street in India, you can’t really understand the capacity of people to solve problems for themselves.
Take traffic, for instance.
In the U.S., we keep traffic moving and safe with a combination of technology (traffic lights, radar, etc.) and law enforcement. It seems to work reasonably well - except on busy thoroughfares. And when it doesn’t work, we attempt to fix it by adding more technology (computerized traffic scanners) and regulations. (According to a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures, nearly 1,500 new traffic laws were debated by lawmakers in 2006. Almost 200 became law, involving subjects such as aggressive and distracted driving, speed limits, and pedestrian safety.)
In India, they do things very differently. In the two cities I have visited so far, Udaipur and Jaipur, I haven’t seen a single traffic light. Not even a stop sign. If they have rules, there are very few of them. And any rules that may exist are routinely ignored.
For example, this afternoon there were all of the following moving objects on the road we were using: cars, vans, trucks, and buses; rickshaws, bicycles, motorcycles, and oxcarts; plus horses, cows, bulls, camels, elephants, and thousands of pedestrians. All of them moving at their own pace without any regard to the indicated lanes. (Yes, there were very faint lane demarcations on the pavement.) Some were moving lethargically (the cows, in particular). Some were moving with a purpose. And some, like the van we were riding in, were whipping along at what seemed to be a reckless speed. Most were going in one direction, but some were crossing the flow. And some were moving against it.
"This is sheer insanity," Paula said. "But it works!"
The road was a ribbon of madness, to paraphrase Alfred Noyes, yet the traffic kept moving. A thousand near collisions were narrowly avoided as we sped along, yet none occurred. And nobody seemed the least bit flustered.
I have reported on this phenomenon before in ETR - when I was writing from Rome. But the chaos of Italy’s roads pales compared to India’s, if only because there are so few camels, cows, and elephants on them.
What is remarkable is not the chaos but how well traffic works in India. My guidebook says that traffic accidents are a problem in this country. But if that is so, I haven’t seen it. What I see is an amazingly proficient system of getting from here to there - at your own pace and in your own way, without traffic lights or cops or any appearance of regulation.
How can that be?
There is only one possible answer: People (and animals) here are much better at avoiding accidents. Without vehicular permits or driving schools, Indians know how to get around without getting hit. They are adept at cutting in and out of traffic, accelerating quickly, and stopping on a dime. They are much more aware of the danger around them, because they have to be.
In the Western world, we expect others to follow the rules, and this allows us to relax our guard. We crank up the iPod and talk on our cellphone and don’t worry so much about traffic. When other people violate the rules or ignore the technology that is designed to protect us, we are surprised by it. And then we have problems. Fender benders. Chain collisions. Cursing. Shouting. Road rage.
"In India, we don’t get excited if we have an accident," our guide explained. "It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does everyone is polite. We take our bumps and move along."
There is a school of thought that says the best government is that which governs least. In theory, I believe that to be true. In practice, I sometimes have trouble with the concept. When I hear news of some terrible thing that has happened - high school children shooting each other, for example - my first instinct is to pass a law. But my experience here in India demonstrates how unnecessary that may be.
Human life is so complex. Even more complex than city traffic. Believing that we can prescribe order with laws and technology is a sort of arrogance. Sometimes it’s better to let people figure things out on their own.
This idea may seem loony to you, sitting as you are in a modern city. But there is science behind it. Studies have shown that animals as unintelligent as ants can devise enormously complex systems for navigation and commerce by simply doing, on a collective basis, what each particular ant wants to do on its own. As Bill Bonner always says to me when I suggest some new rule to settle some business problem: "Why don’t we do nothing and see if they can figure out a solution on their own?"
And they usually do.
[Ed. Note: Get Michael Masterson’s insights into becoming successful in your business and personal life, achieving financial independence, and accomplishing all your goals on his new website. You’ll find updates on all of Michael’s books, news on upcoming ETR events, Michael’s blog, and room to send in your comments and questions. Check it out today.]
Wanted: Investors Who Want to Grow Rich the "Lazy" Way
It doesn’t take a lot of time. You don’t need a lot of money to get started. It doesn’t require a lot of work. Best of all, the returns you’ll pocket will shock you (how does 724% sound?).
Get all the facts right now here.
ETR Insider Report: The ETR Speak Out Forum Is Officially Free of Spam
Forums are an ideal way to network with people in your industry, learn more about an unfamiliar subject, or just meet someone new. Here at Early to Rise, we have just such a spot for our readers: the ETR Speak Out forum. Unfortunately, until recently, it also played host to some ugly spam.
Now, thanks to a software upgrade, you can return to Speak Out without fear. We’ve blocked automated spam-posting attacks with a CAPTCHA. A CAPTCHA - the acronym for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart" - helps ferret out "robots" that spew spam all over the Web. To get through the CAPTCHA, you read a series of distorted letters and enter them into a designated field. (Easy for humans; not for the robots.) You may have done this when signing up for webmail or buying something online.
Unfortunately, some spammers created software that could trick our old CAPTCHA system. It couldn’t distinguish their robots from real ETR readers signing in to post a comment on Speak Out. And the robots bombarded our forum with ads and other inappropriate material. That problem has been eliminated with our CAPTCHA upgrade.
Before bringing in this new technology, we relied solely on staff to manually search our message boards and delete objectionable posts and useless ad pitches. We still have moderators monitoring Speak Out - but now, thanks to our new CAPTCHA, its purpose as a forum for lively debate and discussion is stronger than ever.
If you dropped off the forum due to the spam problem, or if you haven’t yet had a chance to check it out, sign in here to talk about business, investing, health, and marketing with your fellow ETR readers.
Stave Off Holiday Weight - Without a Diet
A lot of my clients express concern about all the weight they’re likely to gain during the holidays. And this fear creates some bad habits - namely, "starving" themselves between the unavoidable big meals or trying to start a diet now.
This is the worst time to start a diet. With all the family get-togethers and holiday parties, it will be next to impossible to stick to it. Neither should you try to "save room" in your belly before a big meal. Both of these are sure ways to end up overeating.
Instead of eating less, eat several small, high-protein meals about every three hours. This will make you feel satisfied, so you won’t scarf down excess holiday food. Plus, eating small, high-protein meals more often kick-starts your metabolism.
Here’s a sample meal plan to try:
- Breakfast - a bowl of Ezekiel cereal, made with sprouted grains and high-quality protein
- Snack - a whey protein shake
- Lunch - a spinach salad with a sprinkle of feta or goat cheese and a little organic balsamic vinegar dressing, 4 ounces of grilled chicken, and half a cup of blueberries or raspberries
- Snack - half a cup of low-fat cottage cheese and a handful of berries
[Ed. Note: Yarixa Ferrao is the certified personal trainer and founder of "Get Fit in 6" who has been whipping some Early to Rise staffers into shape. Coach Yari’s e-course newsletter series explains the exercise and nutrition secrets that can help you burn fat. Click here to sign up and get two bonus reports that will help you look your best for the holidays.]
It’s Fun to Know: India’s Remarkable Bridges
India is home to two remarkable bridges:
- The Bailey Bridge. Located between the River Dras and the River Suru in the Himalayan Mountains, the Bailey is the world’s highest bridge. It’s only about 100 feet long, but is 18,379 feet above sea level.
- The Howrah Bridge. Spanning Hooghly River in West Bengal, the Howrah Bridge links the city of Howrah to its "twin" city Kolkata. 400,000 pedestrians and 150,000 vehicles cross this landmark every day, giving it the distinction of being the world’s busiest bridge.
(Source: DidYouKnow.org)
An Opportunity To Skyrocket Profits In Your Business
I’m talking about the opportunity for you to profit massively. I’m also talking about a once-in a lifetime chance to learn fortune-building business secrets.
Jay Abraham knows nearly 100 different ways (that you probably don’t know) to more successfully sell your products or service - offline or online. He knows over 50 ways to make more money from the same effort, time and opportunity just by changing the marketing strategy and approach you follow.
Tony Robbins says, "One idea Jay gave me in the first hour increased our company’s marketing effectiveness by more than 100%."
If you want to start making a ton more money and have a clear, direct path to real prosperity and business wealth, you owe it to yourself to look into this program.
- Patrick Coffey
Indian Word to the Wise: Jungle
You know what a "jungle" (JUNG-gul) is - a tract of land densely overgrown with tropical vegetation. But you probably didn’t know that the word is derived from the Sanskrit for "wasteland, uncultivated area." (Sanskrit is the ancient classical language of India.) We use "jungle" metaphorically to refer to a complex, confused jumble.
Example (as used by Duke Ellington): "Roaming through the jungle of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs,’ searching for a more agreeable noise, I live a life of primitivity with the mind of a child and an unquenchable thirst for sharps and flats."
[Ed. Note: Become a more persuasive writer and speaker … build your self-confidence and intellect … increase your attractiveness to others … just by spending 10 VERY enjoyable minutes a day with ETR’s new Words to the Wise CD Library.]
Michael Masterson
Copyright ETR, LLC, 2007