Onyx is a semi-precious stone that is a banded variety of bloodstone or chalcedony. It is also a kind of quartz that is known for having a texture that is finely crystalline - such that its crystalline structure can only be seen in very thin slices using polarized light. Onyx bands range from white to almost any color except purple, blue or black; a variety of onyx called sardonyx has color bands in shades of red (called sard) instead of black.

Onyx Jewelry

Onyx jewelry is usually cut as beads or cabochons, gemstones which are polished and shaped into a smooth, usually dome-like shape with a flat bottom as opposed to being faceted (multi-faced) like diamonds, rubies or emeralds. Onyx has also been used for cameos and intaglios, with the jewelry maker using the stone’s colors against a black or dark background.

Onyx cameos reached their peak during the Victorian era, specifically the period known to jewelry historians as the “Grand Period” (1861 to 1888), or the period of mourning that Queen Victoria of Britain entered into on the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert in 1861. The jewelry of the era was marked by dark, somber themes - onyx was especially preferred because it provided a subtle contrast to a black background (the color of mourning).

In ancient times, Roman soldiers wore sardonyx amulets with likenesses of the God of War or Hercules engraved on them, believing that this would make them as strong or fearless as these heroes. During the Renaissance, many believed that onyx or sardonyx gave the wearer the power of eloquence, and was thus highly valued by orators and public speakers.

Onyx today is still a highly-valued semi-previous stone to this day, used as jewelry, fashion accessory - and for various other purposes. It is considered the birthstone for February, although it is the astrological birthstone for Leo (July 23 to August 22).

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on jewelry, silver and gems and visit our associated site articles for free.

One of the fundamental financial statements of a business is called the balance sheet. In layman’s terms, what are the different components of the balance sheet?

The nature of the balance sheet is that it is similar to a financial picture of the organization at a certain point of time (as opposed to an income statement which is over a period of time). For example, the balance sheet can be as of December 31, 2006, or whatever is the close of the fiscal year. Balance sheets can be determined monthly or at other intervals as well. Balance sheets contain “permanent” information, as opposed to “temporary” information on an income statement. For example, cash is a permanent account, that is, an ongoing part of the business. Revenues (sales) and expenses are temporary accounts, determined for specific fiscal years and then those accounts are closed out to the balance sheet.

The balance sheet equation is assets equal debts plus owner’s equity. An asset is some type of property you need in your business. Cash, real estate, equipment, vehicles, inventory and the like are required to run a business. There are claims on this property: who owns what and that comprises the debt and owner’s equity sections. Debt is how much the bank (and other creditors) owns of your assets and owner’s equity is how much you own. So the grand total of the property (assets) will equal the claims of the bank and the claims of the owner.

Now that we’ve defined the basic components of the balance sheet, let’s look at each section in a little more detail, starting with assets. We’ve given some tangible examples of what assets can be, but they can be intangible (not physical) as well. An example of an intangible asset is accounts receivable, that is, amounts your customers owe you but have not yet paid. That is an asset, because some day that cash will be realized. Another type of intangible is a prepaid expense. It may be required for you to take out a 3-year insurance policy, paid upfront. You’ve already paid for this service but have not yet received the benefit of insurance coverage for the entire three-year period and in the meantime that is considered an asset.

Debts are also known as liabilities. In addition to owing money to banks, your business could own money to suppliers. This is called accounts payable. A more formalized statement of something owed is called notes payable. Money owed on a mortgage is called mortgage payable. Payables that are due within one year are called current payables; payables that are due longer than one year are called long-term payables.

Owner’s equity (or capital) can be explained in terms of your home mortgage. Your house is the asset and how much you owe the bank is the liability. What is left is the owner’s equity. This logic can be applied to your assets in total; subtract what is owed to the bank and the result is owner’s equity. There are different types of owners, depending on business types. A sole proprietorship is a single owner, as contrasted with a partnership where there is more than one owner. If a business is incorporated, this section is referred to as stockholder’s equity and common stock will be involved.

In summary we’ve looked at the balance sheet complete with the goods a business has (the assets). Claims by others on those goods are considered to be liabilities and the net result is owner’s equity. That is why the balance sheet balances. Assets equal liabilities plus owner’s equity.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Accounting

Damn you, Villanova.

That’s right, I had the Wildcats over the…um…Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Villanova over Kentucky, that is. Not only that, but I also picked Villanova to upset everyone’s current chic pick of the moment, Kansas, to get to the Sweet 16. Once the boys from Philly were erased in the first round, the Jayhawks were set loose in my bracket to wreak non-points-gaining devastation. My pick of Southern Illinois to the Elite Eight is suddenly looking pretty shaky, huh?

This week I’ve heard a few pundits wondering aloud about whether it’s more fun to watch the tournament having filled in your own bracket, or whether you get a finer appreciation of the event if you don’t fill one in, and thus don’t have a dog in every single first-round hunt. To this debate, I say: are you serious? The kind of person who sits around and enjoys 20 some-odd hours of basketball the first weekend of March Madness without having filled in a bracket is the same kind of person who breathlessly tunes into the Buick Open, “just to see how great those golfers really are.” Puh-leeze.

You have to fill in a bracket, and you have to live and die with your selections. Normally, I hate Duke. But I picked ‘em in their first-round game against VCU. Too much size for the Rams, I reasoned, and plus too many people were calling that as their upset special. So there I was on Thursday, rooting for the hated Blue Devils. (To no avail, I might add.) Had I not made any bracketology selections this month, I’d simply be watching every game and rooting for the underdog. Anyone’s mom can do that. (And mine does.)

Twelve of my Sweet 16 teams are still alive, and all of my Final Four squads made it through the first week, which is better than I usually do. Of course, I’ve had my share of stinkers, too (et tu, Villanova?), and surely as Kansas progresses further and further, I’ll lose more and more ground in my brackets. But I’ll be loving every minute of it, because if I didn’t have someone picked over someone else, I can honestly tell you I wouldn’t give two poops about North Carolina vs. Georgetown, or Pittsburgh vs. UCLA. As it is? Go Hoyas and Bruins. Make papa proud.

It was an interesting first week of the NCAA Tournament. How’s your bracket? Which results were most surprising to you?

BoDog Bookmakers, BoDog.com: A lot of basketball fans have to be asking, “Where’s the Madness?” A year after a deadly March for favorites, the first weekend of the tournament was a boon for higher seeds. Although underdogs had a decent run, going 20-28 against the spread overall, only three mid-major schools remain. For me, that’s the most surprising result: how poorly the underdogs fared. The lowest remaining seed is No. 7 UNLV. Although they beat Wisconsin, it wasn’t a big shock because the Badgers were considered an overrated No. 2 seed anyway. Butler and USC pulled off greater upsets because they beat teams (Maryland and Texas, respectively) that were streaking heading into the tournament.

Was there a particular game or games that hurt the sportsbooks in Round 1or Round 2?

BDB, BoDog.com: The first day of the NCAA Tournament, which is usually known for its close calls and upsets, was filled with blowouts by double-digit favorites. Favorites were 13-3 against the spread on Thursday, making nearly every game besides Virginia Commonwealth’s 79-77 upset over Duke a significant loss for books. Most notable was No. 3 Pittsburgh’s 79-58 blowout of No. 14 Wright State as an 11-point favorite, No. 2 UCLA’s 70-42 win over No. 15 Weber State as a 20-point favorite, No. 2 Georgetown’s 80-55 win over No. 15 Belmont as a 16.5-point favorite, and Ohio State’s 78-57 win over No. 16 Central Connecticut St. as a 20-point favorite. Although Friday was a lot easier on books, Thursday was definitely a wild day.

Is there a particular team remaining in the Sweet 16 who the books really would like to see lose?

BDB, BoDog.com: As 5/2 favorites, the Florida Gators are by far one of the Sweet 16 teams fans will be backing. Experience, efficiency on offense (they lead the nation with a 52.9 field-goal percentage) and ability to defend the three (they rank second in the nation with a 28.7 three-point percentage against) has made Florida a favorite pick to win it all since the beginning of the ‘06-’07 season. Though they had some lapses late in the season, the Gators’ performance in the SEC Championship solidified their position as title contenders for casual bettors looking to make a last-minute future bet before the tourney tipped off.

Completely unofficially, which four teams do you like to make it to Atlanta?

BDB, BoDog.com: Everybody wants to see if Florida can become the first team to capture back-to-back NCAA titles since Duke did the deed in the early ’90s. With Wisconsin and Maryland both out of the Midwest, that task has been made all the more easier for the Gators. They should capture the region. UCLA has been fantastic all season and appear to be on pace for a mouth-watering Elite Eight showdown with Kansas. UCLA has a lot of tourney experience from last season’s run, while Kansas is now entering unfamiliar territory (the Jayhawks haven’t been to a Final Four since 2003). Look for UCLA to head to Atlanta. In the East, it’s all about two storied programs in No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Georgetown. While the Tar Heels boast superior depth, the Hoyas are a little older, wiser and more experienced when in comes to tournament play. In the later stages of March Madness, it’s usually the team with the best player who wins. In the East Rutherford, that’s Georgetown’s Jeff Green.

Many believe Ohio State had their “Tyus Edney” moment in their thrilling OT victory over Xavier in the round of 32. That game showed how gutsy and determined the Buckeyes are…and that they can win games without Greg Oden (Oden spent the end of regulation and all of the OT on the bench having fouled out vs. Xavier). None of the remaining teams in the South — Tennessee, Texas A&M or Memphis — have the size to bang with Ohio State. The Buckeyes should march on.

Brian Gabrielle is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Brian_Gabrielle.htm

One of my clients is drowning in dozens of reports collectively containing over 100 measures. Where he expects two measures from separate reports to have the same values, they don’t. Where he expects a measure’s value to be accepted by his customer, it is disputed. Where he thinks he’s looking at the right measure to answer his question, someone warns him no. The tangle of reports and measures is unwieldy, but has become the dogma of decision-making. Untangling them all into a streamlined sensible suite of reports is not as simple as setting up a swanky scorecard.

Data quality worries most users of performance measures. There are an obscene number of reported measures that only generate dialogue about how unreliable the underlying data is. But what can you do about the quality of performance data? I’ve heard some performance measure experts proclaim that performance data must have 100% integrity. Hogwash! It never will, and here are some of the reasons why.

Performance data is gathered by people

A vast proportion of our performance measures rely on data that has been touched at least once by human hands. People design data collection forms and processes, people fill out those forms, people enter the data from the forms into computer databases, people extract and manipulate data out of databases, people filter and analyse the data to produce performance measures.

So human error and misunderstanding, ambiguity or absence of clear data definitions, ad hoc data collection and analysis processes, and vague measure definitions (the calculation of measure values) all contribute to the low confidence people have in reported measures.

How many of your performance measures are defined in enough detail to avoid miscalculation or use of the wrong data? How many of your data collection processes are documented consistently and ingrained into work practices? How many of your people that collect data have been trained to do it according to the documented process? Does your organisation have a data dictionary that is available outside of the IT team?

People know that performance data can sting

Unfortunately many of our organisations are still carrying the burden of a blame culture. People can still remember (or are still experiencing) the use of data as a big stick to humiliate, take resources away from, demote or sack the so-called poor performers. We know in this kind of environment people swing into self-preservation mode (it’s only natural) and weigh up their choices: cop another whack with the data stick or sweep that nasty data under the rug?

Managers and decision-makers need to earn the trust of employees again, that data will not be used against anyone. Performance measures and data need to be seen more often being used to honestly assess performance of systems and processes, more often being used to explore root causes and learn from the past, more often being used to stimulate dialogue about how the future can be influenced.

How many of your managers and decision-makers look for root causes of undesirable performance in the systems and processes (as opposed to the people)? How many performance measures are supported by diagnostic measures of causal factors (as opposed to just slice-and-dice the data into smaller fragments)? Have you got an automatic improvement process that kicks in when a performance measure reveals a problem?

Data has no meaning apart from its context

An event must occur before data can be produced. And the data is the product of the event being observed and interpreted and coded. When people are doing the observing (as opposed to a machine such as a temperature gauge), the person unconsciously - and occasionally consciously - applies filters that affect how the event is interpreted and how it is coded.

These filters are influenced by beliefs the person has about the event, their interactions and relationships with others around them, their physical and mental health on the day, what they are thinking about at the time, their values and priorities regarding their work, and the list goes on.

Have you explored the context around the types of performance data you collect? Have you thought about the factors that might influence the way someone interprets and codes what they observe when they are capturing performance data? Do you have guidelines and examples in your data collection instructions to help data collectors capture quality data?

Don’t just rely on technical solutions to data integrity problems

Yes, there’s certainly more to the social life of data than the three parts discussed here. Most of them can be discovered and dealt with through better communication among the people involved in data capture: from designing measures to developing data collection processes, to collecting data, to storing and analysing it. Don’t rely just on the technical solutions - think through what needs to change in the social systems surrounding data. And be concerned more with how much integrity your decisions can survive with, as opposed to 100% integrity.

Stacey Barr is the Performance Measure Specialist, helping people to measure their business strategy, goals and objectives so they actually achieve them.

Sign up for Stacey’s free mezhermnt™ Handy Hints ezine at http://www.staceybarr.com to receive your complimentary copy of her e-book “202 Tips for Performance Measurement”, and make your business goals more achievable.

Fool’s gold can easily fool the untrained eye. That is why it is important to know how to tell when gold is real or not.

Gold is a precious metal that has been used for money and jewelry for the longest time. As jewelries, these were not only used for ornamentation but as status symbols, and many elaborate pieces were made to showcase it.

The popularity of gold has been recognized since time immemorial that it was even mentioned in the Bible. It was one of the gifts the three magi gave Jesus Christ. Stories about gold were also popular like King Midas who turns anything he touches into gold. The clamor for owning vast amounts of gold has lead many people trying to discover how to make gold, thus, the alchemists.

Alchemists tried to produce gold from other substances like lead by allowing the metals to interact with what they believed to be the philosopher’s stone. They may have failed at their attempts, but the process did lead them to the beginnings of chemistry. Thanks to gold!

Telling if Gold Earrings are Fake

Gold has been a favorite material for jewelries, from tiaras to necklaces to anklets to earrings. Earrings are one of the favorite ornaments of women since the olden days, and many elaborate earring designs have been created to attract women of old ages. It is one of the jewelries most frequently bought by women. And because of the metal’s preciousness, fakes also began to circulate. A lot of women have swindled out of their money by buying fake gold earrings, and because of technology, it is becoming more difficult to tell which are real. If you do not want to be fooled into buying fake gold earrings, it is important to know how to tell the difference.

The most common test to see if gold is real is by biting it. If it is real, it should be easily marked by the teeth because gold is considered to be a soft metal. Some can cheat the biting test though by painting gold over the lead. As lead is also a soft metal, it can pass the bite test. This is something you have to be careful of because lead can poison a person.

Some obvious fake gold earrings are those that are magnetic. Keep in mind that gold is not a magnetic metal. Once it sticks to another metal, it is definitely a fake.

A blind man whose senses are too sharp can tell whether the gold earring is real or not. They can tell the difference by touching the surface of the earring. A surface that is much too slippery and much too smooth with sharp edges caused by irregular milling is probably a fake.

Steering Away from Fake Gold Earrings

To protect yourself from buying fake gold earrings, it is best to buy from reputable sellers. Since they have a reputation to protect, they sell only real gold. Avoid purchasing gold earrings from jewelry stores with a no-return policy. And most especially, do not buy antique gold earring when you are not an expert. Ask help from people who are adept in antique gold earrings before you purchase one.

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on jewelry and silver and visit our associated site articles for free.

Statistics show that between 75 and 90 percent of all pregnant women develop pregnancy stretch marks either during or after pregnancy. This article will discuss why pregnancy stretch marks occur and the remedies available to prevent pregnancy stretch marks both during and after pregnancy. Keep reading to get instant access to over 50 home remedies to help prevent pregnancy stretch marks during and after pregnancy.

Pregnancy stretch marks are a very real possibility for every pregnant women. Unfortunately, pregnancy can be unkind to many women. Not only are pregnant women prone to weight gain, fatigue, back aches and morning sickness, but pregnancy also makes women a target for pregnancy stretch marks both during and after pregnancy. Pregnancy stretch marks occur during pregnancy often because of a large increase in weight, thereby stretching the skin. However, stretch marks also occur after pregnancy as a result of losing weight too quickly.

Here are some simple tips to follow to prevent pregnancy stretch marks both during and after pregnancy:

1. Prevent pregnancy stretch marks by drinking a lot of water during pregnancy. By keeping your body hydrated you are also keeping your skin hydrated and thereby helping to prevent pregnancy stretch marks from occurring in the first place.

2. Prevent pregnancy stretch marks by being careful not to gain too much weight during pregnancy. You will have a better chance of preventing pregnancy stretch marks during pregnancy if you have a steady weight gain over the nine month period.

3. Another effective method to prevent pregnancy stretch marks during and after pregnancy is to ensure an increase in circulation to the areas prone to pregnancy stretch marks like the arms, legs, breasts and abdomen, by using a body brush or wash cloth and gently massaging a pregnancy stretch mark cream or lotion into those areas twice daily.

4. Prevent pregnancy stretch marks during and after pregnancy by being extremely careful about the foods that you eat. You may find this a little hard to believe but what you put into your body on a daily basis can have a great impact on whether you will get pregnancy stretch marks during and after pregnancy. While Vitamin A foods should be avoided during pregnancy, vitamins that have a great impact on the overall appearance of your skin are Vitamins C and E and zinc.

5. Prevent pregnancy stretch marks by undertaking some form of mild exercise regime throughout your pregnancy. Be sure to check with your doctor first but staying in shape during and after pregnancy will help you with the overall tone of your body and the appearance of your skin and will help to prevent pregnancy stretch marks during and after pregnancy.

It is important to understand that if pregnancy stretch marks are a concern to you during and after pregnancy that you should follow these simple tips and effective home remedies for pregnancy stretch marks both during pregnancy and, most importantly, after pregnancy.

Stretch marks are a very small price to pay for giving birth to a beautiful baby, however, should you get pregnancy stretch marks remember that you are not alone (around 75 to 90 out of 100 women also suffer from pregnancy stretch marks) and other than the natural lifestyle changes that I have recommended above to prevent pregnancy stretch marks during and after pregnancy there are many effective home remedies for stretch marks to help you reduce the appearance of your pregnancy stretch marks and get rid of pregnancy stretch marks that you can access from the website mentioned below.

Copyright 2007. Wait! You don’t need to live with stretch marks. I have over 50 home remedies for stretch marks which are proven to help get rid of pregnancy stretch marks and to dramatically reduce the appearance of pregnancy stretch marks. Access my powerful home remedies for pregnancy stretch marks now at http://www.home-remedies-for-stretch-marks.com and live your life free from stretch marks today with free access to natural solutions and treatments for stretch marks!

Pea Straw is the by-product from growing peas. Peas grow on vines which, when dry, create an excellent addition to all aspects of Organic Gardening. Ideally, Pea straw should be sought from farmers using organic gardening practices. Peas are from the Leguminaceae family. Legumes (as they are called) have small nodules on the root system which are high in Nitrogen.

Pea Straw is one of the best ingredients an Organic Gardener can use for maintaining strong health plants. It can be used in a variety of ways around your home Garden. Contact your local nursery or garden centre to find out where you can get it near you.

Eric J. Smith is an Organic Gardener and passionate Environmentalist. He is dedicated to promoting the need for an Organic, Natural World. Find out more on Organic Personal Care Products here

We all love to discover something that truly works for us. A career that offers a deep level of fulfillment, a hobby that shifts our perspective, or a spiritual practice that leads us into new aspects of consciousness - all of these offer us a means of expansion and growth. Sometimes we find just exactly what we need in our lives, a new tool through which we create greater balance, health, and happiness.

The problem arises when we allow the solution, the tool that is working for us, to define us. Let’s say we begin a yoga practice, which cures the chronic back pain we’ve been experiencing for years. We go around preaching to anyone who will listen about the joys and benefits of yoga. We go to class regularly, we start chanting kirtan, we buy some cute yoga outfits and our very own yoga props. Which is all well and good. We’ve all been there.

But now we go further. We get bent out of shape if we can’t attend our regular class. Our favorite teacher leaves our studio, and we feel devastated. Everything revolves around yoga, around this practice. And, very quietly and slowly, we’ve elevated a tool to the position of master. The yoga that was meant to serve us has become the altar at which we worship. Instead of a means to an end, it has become an end unto itself.

We do this all the time - we find what works, and make it a part of our identity. We become a healer, a painter, a business owner, a writer, a runner, a musician, a lawyer, a yogi, a meditator. We substitute the tool for its function. Instead of a tool that offers us great joy, our music becomes the joy itself. Instead of offering us a sense of accomplishment, being a lawyer becomes the accomplishment in itself. And so we serve the tool.

Quite frequently, we stop questioning whether the tool even still serves us. Now that we’ve made the career, the hobby, the spiritual practice, an integrated part of our identity, we are reluctant to question whether it still fulfills its original purpose for being in our lives. We keep doing what we’ve been doing, because we think that this is who we are.

All the things we do in our lives, our occupations and hobbies and practices, are simply tools through which we express ourselves, expand ourselves, discover ourselves. They are not who we are. It stands to reason that we should take inventory from time to time: “Is this tool still serving me as the most appropriate expression of who I am today?” Maybe the tool is still working beautifully. Maybe it needs a little tweaking. Maybe it needs to find a permanent home in the back of the tool shed, to be dusted off only occasionally.

Take a truly honest inventory of your toolbox! Acknowledge that everything there once served you beautifully, and should be honored as such. Shedding some of those old tools may leave you feeling lighter, less burdened, and open to new solutions, new tools that may serve you in the perfect expression of who you are right now.

Andrea Hess is an Intuitive Consultant who works with spiritual seekers on discovering their soul’s path and purpose for this lifetime. Visit her website at http://www.andreahess.com for a free sample reading.

Las Vegas bettors correctly went with their hearts over the pointspreads last week, wagering on hometown UNLV to pull off a pair of NCAA Tournament upsets and gain a coveted Sweet 16 berth.

Playing more than 1,500 miles from home in Chicago, the underdog Rebels eliminated 1 1/2-point favorite Georgia Tech and then raced past No. 2 seed and 6-point choice Wisconsin to earn the right to meet Oregon in the Midwest Regional in St. Louis on Friday night.

“Anyone who picked UNLV to beat Wisconsin made a good prediction,” said oddsmaker Ken White, managing partner of Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

“The Rebels had to play their best to win and they did.

“I said at the beginning of the year UNLV would be really good by tournament time.

“Oregon should be easier than Georgia Tech was.

“Georgia Tech’s a better team, so I think UNLV has a real shot to make the Great Eight, Elite Eight or whatever you call it.

“After that, it’s probably over because they’d likely have to play Florida next.”

The Mirage listed the Ducks as 2 1/2-point favorites on Monday night.

The defending national champion and 10 1/2-point favorite Gators meet Butler on Thursday, also in St. Louis.

The winner of that game and survivor of the UNLV-Oregon contest play over the weekend for the right to advance to the March 31-April 2 Final Four in Atlanta.

The tournament began March 15 with 64 teams.

Florida still is White’s personal pick to win it all as well as the tournament favorite at Las Vegas sports books.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which distributes lines to Nevada bet shops along with other clients, have the Gators as 2/1 favorites; the Hilton on Monday had the futures odds a little higher at 5/2.

Futures numbers on the Rebels ranged from LVSC’s 30/1 to 50/1 at the Hilton.

“I guess you’d have to call UNLV the Cinderella now,” White said.

“It’s the highest seed left.”

LVSC’s biggest odds were on Butler at 100/1, while the Bulldogs and Vanderbilt, another surprise team, were 75/1 at the Hilton.

“There are some good numbers out there,” White said.

“We have North Carolina and Kansas both at 4/1 and Georgetown at 5/1.

“My best long shot futures bet right now is Pittsburgh at 25/1.

“That’s a good price.

“It’s going to be tough for them to get by UCLA, but they could win.

“One thing I want to say is this is an outstanding Sweet 16 field.”

The Bruins and Panthers play in the West Regional at San Jose on Thursday, with UCLA a 3-point pick.

The Tar Heels were an 8-point choice over Southern Cal at the Mirage, while the Jayhawks were preferred by 8 1/2 over Southern Illinois and the Hoyas were a 7 1/2-point pick over Vandy.

Other Mirage spreads listed Texas A&M as a 2 1/2-point selection over Memphis and No. 1 Ohio State by 4 over Tennessee.

White says books “didn’t absorb a huge loss” on UNLV as action on the Wisconsin affair was fairly well split.

“The wise guys bet on UNLV early, then, after the public bet, then the pros came back on Wisconsin,” he said.

Bet shops were jammed for both that contest and the Georgia Tech affair.

“Mainly they (gamblers) bet on UNLV,” White said, a statement that was seconded by Hilton oddsmaker Jeff Sherman.

“We lost on UNLV, but won all four days last weekend, with Sunday being the best,” he said.

Early action on Friday’s UNLV-Oregon matchup was fairly evenly divided, Sherman added.

He also noted the Hilton’s biggest win last weekend came on the Winthrop-Oregon game.

“We had a lot of money on Winthrop,” Sherman said.

According to White, favorites were 26-18-4 in first and second-round games.

The tab was 13-2-1 on Thursday, 8-7-1 on Friday, 1-6-1 on Saturday and 4-3-1 on Sunday.

“We did fairly well,” he said.

“One interesting fact is betting was up 40 percent Friday over Thursday, which was bad news for the bettor.”

Brian Gabrielle is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Brian_Gabrielle.htm

The Science of Getting Rich. Wallace D. Wattles. Public Domain. 49 Pages.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for a good while, you’re probably aware of “The Secret,” the feel good movie of the year that has broken the doors down and made the “Law of Attraction” a household term. But, behind “The Secret” lays the work of a man dead almost 100 years - Wallace D. Wattles.

Filmmaker Rhonda Byrne discovered Wallace D. Wattles and his book, “The Science of Getting Rich,” in 2004. And, who knew the small dusty tome in Byrne’s hands would become the phenomenon that is presently sweeping the globe. Initially, Rhonda Byrne didn’t know. It wasn’t until her whole life transformed, as a result of reading the book, that she became determined to bring the knowledge contained in this book to the world.

To be fair, the book, first published in 1910, didn’t, even in 1910, stand alone in the annals of what is now called “new thought.” At the turn of the century, Wattles contemporaries, Judge Thomas Troward, William Walker Atkinson, and many others offered their take on the universal laws that governed the universe and how individuals could create, seemingly, incredible results at will. Countless others, both before and after Wattles generation, have added their voices to this stream of thought.

Where Wattles departed from those that preceded him, his contemporaries, and most current new thought authors, was in focusing squarely on money and, in no uncertain terms, getting rich.

Once you get used to the arcane language, the book is crystal clear in virtually every argument it poses, from everyone’s right to be rich, to the abundance of opportunities available to anyone, and how riches are attracted. The book takes only a few pages to clearly cut straight to the chase. In fact, you’ve almost got to love any book about money that, in it’s first sentence, says that it’s, … “a practical manual, not a treatise upon theories…intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money, who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.”

Throughout the book, Wattles directly encourages us to “Think in The Certain Way,” implores us to connect to the universal source of all things through gratitude, and, most importantly, insists that we take action to create results.

“The Science of Getting Rich” is a true breath of fresh air. Not only does it summarize what wealth seekers need to know to get on the path to riches, it leaves a path to follow and imparts the faith that anyone who gets, and stays, on the path will reach their destination. Any secret that makes those kinds of promises should never remain a secret.

Gary O. Clement, CFP® is President of Clement Asset Management, a financial planning and investment manangement firm.