How do we know who to listen to when it comes to Web 2.0?

There is a new internet craze going on now from my perspective. Lately everybody has become an overnight expert about making money online by Wordpress blogging and social bookmarking.

That's funny to me because I remember hearing an interview with Ed Dale on a tele-seminar (around January 2008) speaking to a group of the interviewer's "inner circle" students. The guy interviewing Ed Dale was an "expert at internet marketing" and had no idea about Facebook as a marketing vehicle.

Until very recently, few gurus promoted Web 2.0 and social bookmarking as a viable marketing online mechanism - in fact many of them referred to social media sites like Facebook as a playground for adults like MySpace is for teenagers. Something not to be taken seriously.

Suddenly they are all experts with megaphones touting Web 2.0 as the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Now Will the Real Web 2.0 Please Stand Up?

There are exceptions: the two most notable are Jack Humphrey and Ed Dale in my experience.

Long before it was fashionable to be a Web 2.0 expert, most SEO-Internet Marketing guys looked at Jack Humphrey like he was one of those bus stop evangelists holding a sign that said, "The End Is Near," preaching doom to everyone. Only Jack was really holding a sign that said, "Social bookmarking is cool. Web 2.0 really works and it's the wave of the future."

And the naysayers, would wink at each other implying that Jack should be locked up - wondering when the guys in the white suits were coming to take him where he "really belonged".

I actually hired one of Jack's partners (Peter Lenkefi) to build three adsense sites for me before I had a clue what adsense was all about. After that he contacted me again and said that he and his partner were starting a new program that would revolutionize internet marketing. Fall 2006 the subject came up again in my discussions with Peter about joining the new system and to get involved in an intensive and specialized training program - kind of a insider's club of the new wave - the future of internet marketing. There was a last minute a glitch and I was unable to participate in the training.

Well that was the precursor the current version of Authority Site Center, Jack's baby.

The idea is that if you create an extensive network of social media sites - a "web" - correctly linked and constructed, you will end up with an Authority Site that ranks well, has tons of inbound links and is both "Google-slap" proof as well as recession proof.

One of the BEST FREE Web 2.0 Resources on the Net Jack Humphrey wrote the book on Web 2.0 and Social Bookmarking. Literally…. It's been downloaded over 40,000 times. If you want a blog that gets read, follow the instructions in this book. Get the Authority Black Book free.

Jack gets about 5000-10,000 unique visitors a day to his site. And he does not spend a dime on Google adsense.

How many SEO guys can say that?

A few months back, Jack offered a free 8 week webinar class to 500 people on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The classes were held online at 1:00 p.m. and then the session repeated again at 10:00 p.m. There were participants from all over the world. The moderator did an online presentation and the students could text questions and comments.

What a great course and what excellent teaching. Jack sat in on a few sessions, but the vast majority of the course was taught by Sam Clarke. What a fantastic guy and a what a great class. The camaraderie and the depth of the learning and the bonding was exceptional. It was like Sam created a family.

We liked it so much and liked Sam so much, we've decided that we are going to have a reunion on a cruise ship next year - so all the "text-forum" friends from around the world can meet face to face.

These guys give it their all and they do not hold back.

The emphasis of the training was on extensive and professional market research, prior to ever publishing a blog or a website. The course was based on years of Jack's personal experience - as well as their experience as internet marketers, bloggers, dealing with students and clients for several years.

The best part about this course was that it was laid out in a step-by-step format sequentially in 16 Steps. Accordingly, the name was 16 Steps to Success. What to do and how to execute each step.

My iron clad conclusion was that Jack, Sam and Authority Site Center are the real McCoy.

I was so convinced I joined the membership site for more extensive training.

Ed Dale and The Thirty Day Challenge

Ed has an annual program that he started several years ago called the Thirty Day Challenge. This is the fourth year, I believe. Prior to last year, I don't know the history, but I do know that there are people who came out of the 30 Day Challenge and have gone on to be millionaires. My wife and I took the 30 Day Challenge last year and it was a great experience. We both agree that it is one of the most valuable courses we have taken.

Another Absolutely Amazing Free Web 2.0 Resource Sign up for the Thirty Day Challenge.

The Thirty Day Challenge is chocked full of cutting edge techniques because that's the way Ed Dale does stuff. He is a massively successful internet marketer. I believe he started this tradition because he wants to give back.

Take this class.

And it's free. It doesn't cost anything to take the course.

Here is the concept: In 30 days, even if you have no internet experience, you will learn how to make money online from scratch using Web 2.0 and social bookmarking.

You learn how to make $10 (ten dollars) from a website you build during the 30 day class.

$10 bucks - big deal, right?

The idea is that once you know how to make $10, you know how to make $1,000 or more. Just do more of the same thing that worked.

The 30 Day Challenge is a blast. This year is supposed to be the best one yet because the technology has come so far since last year. And last year was awesome. We're taking it again.

See you there.

Both Jack Humphrey and Ed Dale Share Something in Common.

They care about people. They put people first and making a buck second.

They also encourage you to learn what you can with free tools first, before you spend money on mentoring, software, design and business development.

They teach focus.

And they teach to research your topic completely - identify your niche (or niches) and thoroughly do your market research before you invest in your topic. Make certain there is demand, traffic and a way to monetize the site before you build it.

That's damn good advice guys.

Two excellent marketers, Web 2.0 experts and Teachers

Other related links… Jack Humphrey in Vegas…again - Hey all. Just dropping by to report my where abouts so no one freaks out and I don’t go too long without posting. It is also required by my probation officer, and the CIA likes to keep track of me as well. Wish I had some pictures. …

How many of you Baby Boomer Life blog readers participated in the incredible amazing Thirty Day Challenge??? With Ed Dale and Dan Raine?… That’s it. Time to wake up and touch the internet and I don’t mean check your email either!

Officially, the 2007 Thirty Day Challenge… is over. But, for me it will never end, as I will continue to challenge myself every day to do and learn more. What they have taught me will stay with me forever. …

30 Day Challenge: Can you do without TV? - I do a lot of things differently in an effort to enjoy my life. Sometimes I forget just how abnormal some of them are. This past week I co-instructed the IRA Association of America professional member enrollment course in Denver, CO. …

Thirty Day Challenge - It's called 30DC (Thirty Day Challenge). It starts August 1st. This is a wonderful thing to join because it teaches you allot of wonderful, helpful & and free ways to find your "Niche" or find what kind of online business you would like …

Visual Communication And Video Publishing - Selected Tools And Web … - Web 2.0 Free Logo Generator Web 2.0 Free Logo Generator is a web-based service that lets you create Web 2.0 logos, without knowing anything about photo editing. You can personalize the text, font, background color, size, reflection, …

Web 2.0 a social networking explosion…Web 2.0 - What the hell is this all about then? Most of the folks that I’m trying to get this across to around their early 40’s. Having just mastered the www and now know what a web site is, how email work and how to download all the free music you need for life. …

A couple of weeks back we bumped into a guy named Erik Olson (and his lovely wife, Heather) on Facebook.

Through a series of exchanges and communications, we quickly learned that we share a lot in common and that we could easily talk for hours at a time.

You can Meet Healthy Wealthy Boomer Erik Olson by listening to an 6/9/08 interview I did with Erik.. He's a character, you'll love this guy.

Erik is a classic example of a small business serial entrepreneurial.

However, Erik is a member of a fairly elite group because he has learned how to effectively put his entrepreneurial talent to work and rise above the 'serial stigma' that plagues most small business owners. That stigma includes perpetually spewing forth new ideas and driving everyone around them nuts - business associates, friends, family and particularly spouses.

Through our interaction with the Olson's on Facebook, on the phone and via email, it became obvious quickly how uncanny the similarities are between us.

I downloaded a copy of

Nine Simple Rules, by Erik Olson

and was astounded how much our philosophies correlate as well as our hands on experience in small business. As I read further it was kind of spooky how close his story felt like my own - even his statement that basically says we will never truly succeed as an entrepreneur until we create a business that is built around our life, instead of a life built around our business.

Quoting from Erik's Nine Simple Rules, "When you design a business for the express purpose of giving you more life, several things change. The first thing that changes is your choice of business. You can no longer be held hostage to your own labor. By this I mean that the business must be able to produce revenue for you without your constant involvement. If you are a plumber with no employees, you only produce income when you hold a wrench in your hand. This makes you a slave to your business. On the other hand, if you invent a plumbing gadget, and license the rights to another manufacturer, you get paid every time any plumber around the world buys one. The first business sucks the life from you, but the second has at least the chance of giving you more life…"

And further…

"So why not take what’s behind door number two and create lots of value while generating lots of reward for yourself at the same time? You deserve to have a wonderful life… if you can stand it."

This felt like a commonly shared thought and had a strong ring of familiarity to it but I didn't realize how much so until I was doing some editing on my eBook last night and read the following:

The title of a sub-chapter in Chapter 11 of Healthy Wealthy Boomer is: "The 9 Golden Rules for Online Business Start Up" And rule # 9 is: Plan your business so you laugh, play and relax more than you work. But, it’s essential to plan from the beginning to create a business that will not require your presence to operate, once you get things fully operational and stabilized. Begin with this objective in mind. When you begin to plan how you want to create your business, factor in:

• Lots of vacation time
• Intimate dinners and nights out
• Rewarding your spouse with surprises that are generated from the business so that the subject of having a home based business is positive – create positive reinforcement for yourself as well
• Pay yourself first
• And don’t forget First Fruits…Be grateful – remember the attitude of gratitude that Zig Ziglar talks about.

Spend time enjoying your life and build your business around your life, instead of building your life around your business.

Erik's book has value as a small business owner because it will give you a sense that you belong.

And that somebody really does understand you.

But The Value of Erik Olson's Advice Goes Beyond That…

He explains the cyclic nature of the mind of a serial entrepreneurial in such a way as to explain:

• why we really do the things we do and
• what we need to do to compensate for our true nature
• a simple method for becoming effective business owners

Most small business entrepreneurs frustrate the heck out of consultants because they sit and listen to what the consultant has to say, they nod in agreement and then do exactly what they wanted in the first place - often ignoring the consultant.

Erik describes a method of management - kind of an Erik Olson-entrepreneur-version of Peter Drucker's Management By Objectives. But Erik is smart because he knows if it gets complex, entrepreneurs will not follow instructions - not unlike trying to herd cats.

Instead Erik's presentation - like placing the aromatic 'fish' strategically to attract the cats, rather than trying to herd them - is a appealing to the mind of the entrepreneur in a similar manner.

Erik Talks a Lot About "The Business Wheel" - A Cool Business Tool for Entrepreneurs

Throughout the book, Erik talks about 'The Business Wheel' - a kind of gadget that appeals to the mind of the entrepreneur like a lure for bass or something.

Erik Olson's Business Advice Made So Much Sense, We Joined His Mentoring Program

Erik's insight in the book about a practical and intelligent approach to converting useless, relentless hours of serial working behavior into effective, manageable results made a lot of sense to us.

So much so in fact that we joined his mentoring program. We highly recommend Erik's professional expertise and if it sounds interesting to you, you can check it out at Erik Olson Profit Center

Healthy Wealthy Boomer is a concept based on the thought that man’s greatest achievement in life stems from the pursuit of excellence.

As Boomer adults we have accumulated the practical experience we need to make good decisions. And one of those decisions is a choice to be healthy. We are now at a place in our lives where we can let go of the past mistakes and focus on creating the lifestyle we choose to live and and creating the life we deserve.

And the place to start is physical health.

True wealth is rooted in robust health. What is more costly than the loss of good health permanently? And conversely, what is a more valuable treasure than longevity coupled with vitality?

A great deal of the disease and illness in modern society is a function of toxins accumulated in the body. There has never been a greater biochemical assault on the human body - heavy metals, pcb's, chemicals, pesticides, microwave technology and all types of other pollution are pushing the human body's filtering mechanisms to the absolute limit.

In addition, the levels of stress in modern society are reaching unprecedented levels.As such, coupled with the toxins, our livers are maxed out for the most part and our adrenal systems are on tilt.

Recently, I read an article by Dr Mercola that said 80% of the immune system is located in the digestive tract.

Whoa…

Cleansing the Body Of Toxins Is Really Important

So cleansing the body now becomes a social imperative. We need to cleanse the colon and the liver regularly. Purge the toxins first and get the plumbing cleaned up so we can get the body back into a state where our great grandparents were before all the toxin in the environment. This must be done regularly like changing oil in your car.

This will enable to the immune system to get back on track and get strong again. And what is more fundamental to fighting disease than a strong immune system?

The cool part is that the body is amazingly resilient. It will bounce back quickly and start improving itself as soon as we provide the cleansing and the nutritional building blocks it needs to do the job.

Unexpressed Emotions Accumulate

There is a growing body of information that basically says unexpressed emotions accumulate in the body too and with time they can become toxic as well.

I firmly believe that my dad died of colon cancer primarily from unexpressed emotions that he had "stuffed" for the majority of his life - that combined with a mass of collected fecal material in his digestive tract that accumulated for many years. He was taught not to express his emotions from a very young age. But in terms of health, I am certain that if he had started receiving colonics and good nutrition a couple of years before his surgery, he would still be here today.

So Cleansing Takes on A Whole New Meaning

Once we get the physical body cleansed completely, many of the physical problems will go away naturally. We also require good nutrition for optimum performance.

After the system is running smoothly again, we can focus on purging old emotions and then learn new skills at expressing emotions in a healthy way - so that they do not accumulate again.

Next we start taking control of our thinking - first by becoming aware of what we think about all the time (which is a big step) and then choosing what we think about more carefully.

So cleansing becomes:

• cleansing the colon, the liver and the cells
• cleansing and purging old emotions
• cleansing our minds of the "stinkin thinkin"

So in order to be a healthy wealthy boomer, this is our recommended order of sequence:

Physical Health - feel great first…

Emotional Health - purge old emotions, create great relationships and learn how to express your emotion

Mental Health - learn to take control of the "voice in your head"

Spiritual Health

Financial Health

We have created a book that lays out the plan, it's called "Healthy Wealthy Boomer: The Plan To Make the Second 50 Years Better Than the First". It will be released soon. In the meantime, why not join our Healthy Wealthy Boomers on Facebook Group

Have Healthy Wealthy day…

Healthy Wealthy Boomer: Burning Topics You Want to Discuss

Hoping you are enjoying the beginning of summer and that you are all achieving the success you desire and the lifestyle you have been dreaming of.

We have created a 30 second survey to help us help you…

You can go here to find it:

a 30 second survey to help us help you…

You will be asked to write the most important question you have as a Boomer that you want answered and discussed. And then you can check off as many of the topics that you are interested in.

The results will be posted here when we have compiled the info we need:

Burning Topics Boomers Want to Discuss

Feel free to go to this Facebook Group and join.

We appreciate your feedback and will use act upon your suggestions and requests as quickly as possible.

Have a Healthy Wealthy Day.

What Do You Actually Know about Genetically Modified Foods?

Are GM Foods a long range technical solution and improvement to the world's food supply or a great, big, uncontrollable mistake?

More and more it becomes evident that going organic and switching to raw food recipes as a mainstay of the diet - not just an occasional raw meal - is essential. We are beginning to transition permanently with the goal of achieving a 75-80% raw food ratio in our diet.

There are lots of reasons why and we're going to do a series all about organic foods. And I would like to point out that I am a big fan of technology - it's cool stuff. But ever changing rapid growth is creating a parallel level of unprecedented exponential growth in ethical responsibility.

This is that the magnitude of any potential problem is so much more prevalent because of the technology.

I'm addressing this issue with Boomers because as a group, we have clout and the potential to get something done about this. There are 77+Million of us and collectively we have a lot of buying power. From that perspective - as an organized body - the powers that be will listen to us because we can impact them both economically and politically.

To me, GM Foods are a really good reason to go organic.

If reading a recent Mercola newsletter article "This company may be the biggest threat to your future health" doesn't give you the "willies", either you're in denial or you haven't read the article and watched the video.

It scares me…

Before you classify me as a ranting and raving food whacko, watch the video and decide for yourself.

And if Mercola's article doesn't have you convinced, read this one: My God What Have We Done? When you get to the page, scroll down to: "Have you heard of the nightmare condition called Morgellon’s Disease?

Pictures of Morgellon’s Disease at the foundation website.

The idea that we have created a disease as a result of gene splicing or mutated or cross linked DNA is really a classic theme for a sci-fi flick, but not a good idea in your family or your neighborhood.

The really scary part of this is that there is no known human enzyme that has the potential to process and breakdown these fibers once they are in the body. The human body is incapable of dealing with this unnatural condition and material.

Here is a quote from Mercola.com:

As of February 2007, more than 10,000 reports of the mysterious disease have been reported on the Morgellon Foundation's website - up from 2,000 reports a year earlier. Many of you probably don't understand just how ubiquitous GM foods are in the food chain. The fact is that genetically modified foods are so prevalent in the United States that if you randomly pick an item off your grocery store's shelves, you have a 75 percent chance of picking a food with GM ingredients. This is because at least seven out of every 10 items have been genetically modified.

GM (genetically modified) foods make me nervous. It took thousands of years for man to figure out what DNA was in the first place.

How did we become expert enough on the subject of the double helix - so quickly - to decide that we have enough knowledge and understanding to modify the fundamental components of life on this planet without making a mess out of things?

The fact is that we really don't understand what mutations are - at least not well enough to know what the potential long range implications are if we create unnatural dna combinations or mutations - inadvertently - while we are "creating superior foods".

Superior to what?

Nature? God?

Give me a break…

And what if some of the gene splicing we do in a lab has a long term effect that will not be evident for - say 30 years?

If the clowns in Washington can not:

• manage a budget correctly
• or implement a solution to educating our children
• or create a health care system that actually gets people well
• or develop a fiscally viable transportation system or energy policy

Why should we allow these same people to authorize companies, scientists, or special interest groups to potentially meddle with the balance of nature and the fundamental structure of life?

We can recover from economic mistakes but what happens if something goes wrong with this?

Who is culpable? And who is going to pay for it? Who the hell knows what can happen?

Oh well, sorry. We goofed. Not !!!

This is not a little thing. It has the potential to be an irreversible global catastrophe.

What makes you think that the people interested in promoting this technology are smart enough and focused enough on your well being (and the well being of your grandchildren) to allow them to modify nature without first being very, very clear of the outcomes?

Why are they so qualified?

The burden of proof is on them to prove this - not on the public at large to prove their incompetence after a potential disaster. Who are these "experts" anyway? Are they experts because they say so and do they really have a handle on the implications of their research?

I'm skeptical to put it mildly and I want to know why I should believe what they say.

If science truly understood mutations, we'd have a full blown cure to cancer tomorrow. We don't.

And these people have the audacity to declare their science creates less of an environmental impact on agriculture than prior methods. From what we are beginning to see, how dare they say that?

They dare because nobody is holding them accountable. The fact is that most Americans do not have the facts.

Personally any crop that can withstand a direct application of "Round Up" and survive is not something I want to ingest. And if I did, what kind of nutrition would be left in a food so resistant to that type of chemical assault?

Simple question for my "simple mind":

If that plant can withstand that type of punishment - and survive - how could my body possibly digest it?

I simply do not understand how this can be good for my body?

Or - even more important - for the body of an infant or young child that is still developing muscle tissue, organs and a skeletal system? I'm pretty tough and have a well developed immune system because I have made it my job to do so over the last 35+ years.

They haven't.

I simply do not understand the answer to these questions.

Do you?

The fact is that we all need to know about this stuff and what's going on behind the scenes.

This may be the most important issue of our time and I'm not exaggerating when I say this. It is our duty as as citizens in a free society (the stock holders of our government - so to speak) to hold these guys accountable in every media venue, to shed light on the darkness and put a halt to this madness before it is too late or at least until we know for sure what we are doing.

Get informed and talk to your friends and neighbors about this - and your sphere of influence. Get involved.

• Email, write and call your representatives on a local, state and federal level and let them know you are concerned.
• Email, write and call the local food service and produce distributors that provide foods to your local community and let them know how you feel and that you are not going to buy products where they use GM foods and encourage them to stop selling GM products. They are in the phone book or you can get the names of the suppliers from the local grocery stores and restaurants.
• Email, write and call the regional offices of the grocery stores you patronize and deal directly with regional management - not the PR people or the filters - the management.
• Tell them you want answers and want this entire process halted until we have definitive proof that it is safe.
• At the very least, demand full disclosure - and labeling - of all GM (genetically modified) and irradiated food at the grocery stores and in all packaged foods so you can choose for yourself if you want to buy GM foods or not - and to know if you are already consuming them or not.
• Buy stocks of food companies (producers, processors, distributors, grocery stores and restaurant chains) that do not utilize GM foods in their processing and manufacturing
• Sell stocks that do.
• Stop buying all forms of genetically modified foods - just in case they are not safe
• Read the labels of any packaged food you buy so you know what you are going to put into your body and your children.
• Buy organic produce from local farmers, support organic agriculture and buy from the local farmers markets.
• Tell the manager at all the grocery stores you patronize that you want more organic produce and frozen organic fruits - and then support them when they stock it.
• And last but not least, start growing an organic vegetable garden wherever possible - on a local level - so you know what you are eating. Start a garden with your neighbor, grow organic tomatoes in a pot on your porch or deck.

This is a big deal. It seems like a much more important agenda for Congress than hearings on "steroids in baseball."

What do you think?

If you think this is going to go away on its own, you're kidding yourself. The only way it will go away is if we make it go away. There's money and power at stake.

My final comment:

I'm not militant about very many things. Except two:

1. Don't mess with my kids, my family and the people I care about. If you hurt them or threaten them, you will have to answer to me personally.
2. Don't dare to tell me what I can do with my body. If you think the Boston Tea Party was a big deal, wait until the US population has had enough. This is the real "health care crisis" in this country - and worldwide for that matter, not the price of "generic drugs" and whether insurance will cover Chinese medicine or not.

We need - instead - to focus our science, technology and economic strength on developing methods for becoming the largest producer the most nutritious NATURAL foods in the world. We should set the standard as the world leader for constructive innovation with the largest and most beneficial impact on health and nutrition ever in the history of mankind.

We have the tools, the resources and the technology. Creating synthetic food that looks like real food is a generally bad idea and I don't want to eat it. From here out I'm growing my own. It's pretty clear to me that the government is not going to provide for my health, it's up to me to do that - just like it's up to you.

We have to take responsibility for our own health - and our family's - nobody else will.

It's time for our leadership to wake up and grow spines. If you want to get the attention of politicians and corporate management, use your political and economic vote to support things that make sense to you.

• Believe me, they will follow the money. 1 Million phone calls, email, letters and votes make a big difference. Out of 77 Million, that's only 7.2% of Baby Boomers.

Healthy Wealthy Boomer: What Do You Actually Know about Genetically Modified Foods?

In this case, what you don't know CAN hurt you.

Healthy Wealthy Boomer - Chuck Norris, A Role Model

If there were ever a healthy wealthy boomer role model, it's Chuck Norris.

He's actually a "pre-boomer" born in 1940 which makes him 68 in 2008. This guy is the epitome of success and health. And if fact, for many Boomers, he has been a role model for a long time.

I remember Chuck Norris as a competitive Karate professional in southern California in the late 60's and early 70's. In 1974, Chuck retired after six years as the undefeated World Middleweight Karate Champion at age 34. I was not yet 21 but frequented the East Bay Karate dojo 6 times a week at the time. One of the guys I worked with had studied from Chuck in So Cal and was often relaying tales of accomplishment and prowess as a first hand witness of this amazing fighter.

And of course there was the fight scene with Bruce Lee in the 1973 martial arts classic, Return of the Dragon - filmed and released while Norris was world champ. He would go on to win another championship the following year.

He set a lot of precedents over the years.

While Chuck Norris preceded the Boomer Generation by a few years, he has set a standard both for success and physical fitness that exemplifies an intelligent and applied approach to longevity and prosperity.

Coupled with a profound spiritual awareness, Norris has consistently emulated:

• a sense of fairness
• kindness
• honor
• character

woven through the many characters he has portrayed throughout his career as an actor, a fighter and martial artist, and benefactor to millions of kids and fans. Through it all is a sense of balance and respect for principle and values.

Baby Boomers can look to Norris as a torch bearer demonstrating what the individual can do on their own if they put their mind to it. At 68, in top physical condition, he's got a long life yet to live and many things left to accomplish.

Recently Norris wrote a column for Town Hall talking about his friend Bruce Lee:

Bruce Lee vs Me

I found a number of the comments on the column to be a sad reflection of much of our society today, people speaking what they do not know.

To quote Lao Tzu, "Those who speak know not, and those who know speak not."

In 1989 a friend of mine, Bob Gairing, took up Kick Boxing as a training practice at the age of 53. This guy was a psychotherapist - par excellence - and I guess he needed to relieve some of the weird energy he dealt with on a daily basis through his workouts. He and I became very close that year. I attended a workout with him as an observer one time, and I can tell you, I have never seen tougher training - ever.

He studied from a Martial Arts legend in Missoula, MT named Jim Harrison. You can read about him and what Bruce Lee said about Jim Harrison here.

Bob told me that Harrison and Norris were old friends and that as many times Norris had invited him to appear in movies with him, Harrison always declined and chose to stay out of the limelight and maintain a lower profle. Harrison said Chuck Norris was the real McCoy and really dangerous on the street - which isn't too typical of martial arts actors.

The fact is we need more tough guys teaching the younger generation, accomplished experts in their fields who can help a generation - and a nation - desperately seeking direction. That is - tough guys with a heart and compassion.

For me, when it comes to listening to advice about fitness and health, I always listen to healthy people. When it comes to marital advice, I listen to people with healthy and successful marriages. When it comes to money and wealth, I listen to people who have a lot of it.

Chuck Norris has all of these things.

More Boomers would do well to emulate his behavior, his training self discipline, his health and vitality and his life and financial success - as opposed to many in Congress, in the media , on Wall Street and in professional sports.

On his official website, in the fitness category, there is simply a brief discussion about The Total Gym with a link to a couple of videos with his wife. He's been using it multiple times a week for about 20 years. Enough said about fitness. We love The Total Gym and we have one at home that we use.

Finding Your Passion in Life and Doing What You Love

As we learn more in our lives, it is becoming imminently clear that the real key to success - living a long, healthy life and achieving wealth - is by being passionate about what you do and finding your true purpose. Chuck Norris has found his passion in life and lives it fully.

Chuck Norris is not just a healthy wealthy boomer role model, he is a symbol and an icon of the American dream and success.

Talk about a Healthy Wealthy Boomer - Jay Leno's Garage - 1931 Henderson KJ

You know when I was a kid, my stepfather used to talk about how his dad used to race Indian motorcycles against World War I fighter pilot Eddie Rickenbacker. His name was Jim Lawrence from Longbarn (near Twain Harte, CA). He was apparently quite a machinist and loved to build stuff in his machine shop right there next to his house.

My stepfather told stories about the 32 Model B Ford his dad had sooped up for him with a "shaved head", a custom designed - and machined from scratch  - electric fuel pump (in the trunk) and custom headers. He said it was the fastest thing around Twain Harte and Modesto and policemen would stop him just to look under the hood to see what made it so fast. He never got tickets because they thought the car was so cool and apparently they loved his dad.

Bear in mind my step dad was a teenager in the late 30's and I was a teenager in the mid 60's so the closet thing I ever got to a Henderson 4 cylinder was looking at pictures in a magazine. But my step dad always talked about the old Henderson "Square Fours" and what cool bikes they were.

Doing What You Love Is a Real Secret to Being Successful, Wealthy and Healthy

Work is a joy and it creates tireless energy when you immerse yourself in what you love. The other day I came across something really cool online at nbc.com. It was a video that Jay Leno did about an old 1931 motorcycle. What really stood out to me watching Jay Leno talking - with real admiration for the old scooter - about the super bike of the early 30's was his obvious love for collecting and all things vehicular. I had heard from a collector friend of mine years earlier, that Jay was a serious collector, but I kind of blew it off and threw that bit of info into the "some rich guy with a lot of toys archive".

After watching that video, I really got it that Jay Leno is not a car and motorcycle collector, he is a passionate guy and this is his real love and joy in life. It's appropriate to me that he would be blessed with such success empowering him to get so involved and create such a magnificent collection. He really knows a lot about cars and motorcycles - a whole lot. What could be more fitting as a "caretaker of such quality" than somebody who is so passionate.

Watch the video and see what I mean. First off, you'll learn more about the Henderson than you ever knew before, but see if you can identify what I saw in Jay's voice, his tenor and the shear joy of being able to have such a magnificent motorcycle.

Here is a link to that video (please excuse the 15 - or so - second Pontiac commercial):

Jay Leno's Garage - 1931 Henderson KJ

His passion makes this aspect of his life and his fulfillment have real meaning. To me that is the real secret to being a Healthy Wealthy Boomer. Jay is healthy in a way that may keep him passionate about life for a long time to come.

After all…

"Attention animates," to quote Guy Finley - no wonder Jay has such a great collection and attracts such amazing vehicles into his life. He continues to focus on what he loves.

Now we just have to get him to lay off the pasta a little.

What a cool video and a great motorcycle.

Healthy Wealthy Boomer - Longevity and Life Extension

Read an interesting post today about longevity and life extension written by this guy: Attila Csordas, Budapest born and raised, is a trained molecular biologist and biotechnologist trained in mitochondrial and stem cell biology with a focus on regenerative medicine.

His post politely implies the following question:

What is up with Kurzweil? I particularly like his Chris Patil quote: "You first."

My comments about this post are here at newsvine

Intelligent science has always been appealing - as has longevity and life extension. The human body is the finest example of engineering ever. Developing scientific capability that will empower the system to regenerate itself and "activate" the built in self-repair mechanisms is a noble and sensible goal of medical research. One aspect not mentioned is that aging and physical deterioration begin in the mind. If one plans to upload consciousness into a 'bio-physical' structure that offers life in perpetuity, just remember the old computer adage: Garbage in garbage out.

But taking the discussion further, Kurzweil's focus on his own life extension borders on fanaticism.

Nutrition is absolutely a piece of the puzzle regarding longevity. But ~200 nutritional supplements a day plus intravenus treatments is off the chart and has to be wreaking havoc on the natural flow of his biochemistry. Coupled with his vision of a 2030 Bionic Humanity it brings the following images to mind:

• The Terminator
• The mad scientist in the Spider Man movie

The idea of making scientific errors in judgment that have potentially serious long range impacts is not a subject to be taken lightly.

Ethics, Science and Social Responsibility - Key Factors Impacting Longevity and Life Extension

Because of the nature of such rapidly changing technology, mistakes made now have devastating potential implications regarding life extension: like extinction.

An interesting factoid regarding Csordas, that may equip him better than many scientists to do this type of research. He also has a Masters degree in Philosophy.

Being able to visualize a glimpse into the future at the potential ramifications of your work and the ethics involved may be enhanced significantly by its study if you consider the definition of philosophy.

• Love of wisdom; rational investigation of theories and principles or knowledge, existence, and conduct. ablemedia.com/ctcweb/glossary/glossaryp.html
• concerning possibility, impossibility, necessity or contingency www.rbjones.com/rbjpub/philos/glossary/m.htm

By implication, he is well equipped to consider: contingency, wisdom and conduct.

When you consider the ever growing influence of the federal government on science and medicine, the concept of ethics and the gravity of potential errors magnify our need as a society to really look long and hard at the influences that are driving political decision making within the halls of government.

Frankly, looking at how social security has been handled and almost every other major government program, how could anyone with intelligence want the government to take control of health care or science?

The Increased Need for Watchdogs to Monitor Ethics in Government and in Science and Medicine

A current example of the need for ethics in the decision making process as the application of science in society is genetically engineered sugar beets.

My question is this:

What possible nutritional benefit to the human body can be derived from making the sugar beet root completely resistant to the effects of Roundup? Frankly, I'm not sure how you feel about it, but I don't want to eat the stuff or it's residue.

In fact I already spend an inordinate amount of time concentrating on getting toxins out of my system. Why then would I want to ingest them? There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that accumulated toxins are a primary cause in many modern diseases and a contributor to accelerated aging.

And further, if bioengineered food is going to be used in food processing or sold in the produce stand in my local grocery store, I want to know about it.

Give me the choice to decide if I want to eat it or not.

And if bioengineered food is so good for us and SO SAFE, why don't the producers put big signs up at the produce stands telling everybody?

They should be proud of marketing their success in technology.

But the fact is they know that many people will not buy the produce if they are given a choice. That's why they do not identify produce that has been "irradiated, genetically modified or bioengineered" and they do not identify these processes or ingredients on the labeling of their packages.

If I were you, I'd be pissed off about this and very concerned.

Surely the manufacturer is not sincerely considering:

• the long range implications to the degree that social responsibility would dictate
• nor the actual preferences of the consumer.

Here is a good example of the market place holding the manufacturer accountable:

ICCR is calling Monsanto to task by urging:

63 top U.S. restaurant, food, beverage, candy companies to oppose spring planting of genetically modified sugar beets

With assets in the $100 Billion range, this is a good use of financial leverage to affect change and protect the population; particularly when:

• the lawmakers and
• federal beaurocrats have not done so
• and

have already allowed the situation to progress this far along in the approval process.

That this has happened indicates some type of conflict of interest or at the very least a lack of due diligence by Congress to protect the interests of their constituency.

Not to mention the fact that about 50% of the population does not want genetically engineered foods in the marketplace. It's not just a group of religious fanatics that think this way either. It is widespread opinion on both sides of the political aisle.

Take also the example of the HAARP project in Alaska. It was brought to my attention by Dr. Nick Begich's book, Angel Don't Play That HAARP that I read in the 90's.

Many scientists interviewed in the book said the research was very dangerous and unpredictable. Read it and form your own opinion.

Fast forward about 10 years and the implications of this wave science are now showing up in the form of "microwave and wireless" pollution on a unprecedented level. The human body, in the history of our society, has never before been exposed to this level of microwave technology and new research now shows that it may directly affect certain protein expression in the skin.

Personally, I think a strong defense is intelligent.

But the magnitude of the potentially irreversible global damage from a scientific experiment gone wrong is not an incidental matter. This type of decision making exemplifies the need for ethics and integrity - in the "fox guarding the hen house scenario".

Technology is awesome. It is now achieving unprecedented accomplishments that have the potential to create a totally new global consciousness coupled with the potential for an unparalleled lifestyle for most global citizens. However the more awesome it becomes, the greater the care and handling that is required.

Longevity and life extension should be a mandate for science using the kind of science that Csordas is suggesting - by focusing on enabling the body to repair itself and by also counteracting the negative influences being created as a by product of social expansion and change.

To be a Healthy Wealthy Boomer - Longevity and Life Extension is an important issue. It's a matter of taking responsibility:

for what you put into your mouth everyday

what you think about and

holding your Congressmen and your government accountable to the people regarding science, technology and medicine.

It's not just a personal issue anymore, it is now global.

Healthy Wealthy Boomer Loves the Total Gym

A few weeks ago we relocated and as soon as we got situated in our new place, we hunted down a used Total Gym 1700. I had made a commitment to start working out with a Total Gym again after reading about John Carleo's accomplishments as a competitive weight lifter - at age 60…

The guy's too much…

Imagine lifting 1003 pounds - at age 60 - six times his body weight.  And only using the Total Gym for training 6-8 minutes a day, 6 days a week. Wow.

By the way Chuck Norris - of Total Gym Fame - Walker Texas Ranger, turned 68 this week. I remember him as a tournament fighter in the 70's  - 6 time world champ in Karate in his weight class.  He loves the Total Gym and he looks better than any 59 year old I know personally.

Except maybe for a Chinese Gung fu master I know.

Anyway, we have been getting back into a routine with the Total Gym about 10-15 minutes at a time. What a great machine.

I've been focused on my upper body because it needs attention. A few years back, I broke my wrist after falling from a single story roof, and fracturing it in seven places. Needless to say that took some recuperating at 50+ - not to mention my bruised male ego.

The Total Gym is by far the most effective single machine I have ever used. Sometimes it's a hassle to change it around from exercise to exercise. But overall, I think the results are amazing.

There is already a noticeable difference in my upper body physique. And the strength is coming back into my wrist and the tricep area remarkably fast. Considering the severity of the injury, I am very pleased.

This magnitude of my upper body recovery is compounded by a separated right clavicle that happened in July 2005 .

Kind of creaky all around.

But I can tell you straight up, that the Total Gym is getting the job done and I am really impressed with this machine.

Try one if you have a friend who has one is their house.

John Carleo says that he believes every household in America should have a Total Gym and his Total Gym instruction videos. I agree.

Only I would add one other thing to that list - a Vitamix blender.

Healthy Wealthy Boomer loves the Total Gym, you will too. Check one out if you haven't done so already, and give us your feedback. I'm sure you'll agree. Anybody can handle 6-8 minutes a day.

TOTAL GYM TIP: Hey, fellow healthy wealthy baby boomer, if you do hunt down a used Total Gym, make sure it has all the parts and attachments…