THE ONE YEAR ILLUSTRATIONS CLUB

When you think of scams, you think of criminals in hiding inventing ways to trick people out of their money. but what about the legal scams that are perpetrated against consumers by corporate America ? Here is another corporate scam that is very deceptive and leaves many consumers buried in debt from unexpected interest charges. "No interest, no payments until 2016!!!" It sounds like you don't have to start making payments until 2016. it also sounds like interest will not begin to accrue until 2016, but that's not how the scam works. The consumer is expected to start making payments right away and the debt has to be paid in full before 2016 (this is hidden in the fine print). otherwise, the consumer is forced to pay a mountain of unexpected interest charges. Let's say that in 2014, you purchase a large screen tv for $1999. You finance it on a "no interest, no payments until 2015" plan. one of two things can happen:   1) you expect to start paying for ...

Thomas Jefferson, with all his accomplishments, fame and success confirmed this when he said, "the happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family." Home is the place to save society. It is the secret to the success of this nation. We must start here. "to put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order, to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order."

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for 30 years. His mind, wit and work earned him the unofficial title of "the greatest justice since John Marshall." At one point in his life, Justice Holmes explained his choice of a career by saying: "I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers."

Winston Churchill stated this when he said, "There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained." No matter what we accomplish outside of our homes and no matter how many challenges we face, our greatest challenges and our greatest rewards will be found within the walls of our own homes. Anthony Brandt put it in perspective when he said, "Other things may change us, but we start and end with family." Wherever our travels take us, whatever success we may attain, home and family will always be our greatest joy and accomplishment. As Anita Baker stated, "You leave home to seek your fortune and, when you get it, you go home and share it with your family." That's what it's all about; sharing with your family.  It is the first society we know. The first place we learn; and the place where we find the most pleasure a...