Trump Tax Forms

I want to see Donald Trump's tax forms. I'm not a liberal, I'm not a Democrat, and I'm definitely not a reporter. I just want to see his income taxes. Is that so wrong?
    Here's the thing: Trump claims he can't show them because he's under audit, which is at odds with what the IRS says regarding the release of his taxes. They say there's no impediment to him releasing his tax forms. Perhaps the problem is that his tax forms are a bit simpler than he's led us to believe:

Shades of Summer Tanning Salon: My Favorite Source of Vitamin D in Scranton

     In Scranton, you need a tanning salon if you want a decent tan. There just isn't a high enough UV index here (compared to the tropics or a temperate location at a high altitude). I spent time this summer in Colorado, north of Denver and south of Boulder, and got a bitchin' tan!
    Upon my return, I figured I'd "go local" and find a place to lay out in the sun and maintain what I had gotten in a place where the UV index was typically 9 or better. No go! The highest UV index reported on a popular weather website was 6. That's just not good enough!

Scranton Tanning Salon, Shades of Summer

    Fortunately, I'm just steps away from a local business that has what I want -- plentiful UV. Shades of Summer, at 1836 North Main Avenue 570-341-1433, has been around for a few years, but until my recent, daily sunbathing ritual out of state, I never considered using them.
    John and Kristen run this place like the small business that it is -- in a friendly, informal fashion, with an eye to pleasing the customer. You can choose between regular 20 minute beds and intense, 15 minute beds with high-pressure quartz lamps for your face. Prices are competitive -- check out the packages for multiple tans. They also supply tanning aids for those who wish to enhance their experience.
     Give 'em a call, drop by and definitely like them on Facebook : www.facebook.com/ShadesofSummer570. I highly recommend this source of concentrated UV in North Scranton: Shades of Summer Tanning Salon.

Buy or Sell a Coin Laundry -- Where to Go Online!

Creating and sustaining a business is a chore, in and of itself. When it comes time to execute the exit strategy for that business, planning makes for a smooth transition.
    The same goes for expanding a business, by buying up other businesses in the same niche. While you might not want to buy out your competition (because it's fatally flawed, with no hope of fixing it), that's one way to go.
    Here's another: check out all the classifieds in your niche, with the hope that you'll find something of interest. The problem is, for most industries, the listings are few, far between and not always the best "buys" on the market. It's usually the smallest, cheapest retail businesses that are the best buy.
    That's because brokers and Real Estate agents have gotten their fingers into the pie. Plus, unless you're scouring Craigslist and other classified sites that offer free listings, all you'll find are those who can afford to pay for the privilege of advertising their business.
    Fortunately, in at least one niche, there's a new game in town. Laundromats, a/k/a coin laundries, have a venue where sellers can put up free, premium classified ads. Those ads appear before motivated buyers of laundromats. They're motivated because they pay a monthly fee for the privilege of seeing consolidated listings of laundromats, including the cheapest, smallest and most distressed sellers of this group.
    Go check out http://buyandsellacoinlaundry.com/ now, if you're buying, selling or just curious about coin laundry businesses for sale. You'll be glad you did!

"Starve The Beast": Cut Revenue To Control Spending and Deficits? Nope!

One of the biggest issues in today's political discourse in the USA is whether or not to raise taxes. Sure, it may seem that if you cut taxes, that's a good thing. The problem is, the method behind the tax cuts is to starve the "beast", the Federal Government's Social Programs and not Defense, law enforcement and other services perceived as necessary.
    Here's the rub: it doesn't work. Instead of reducing government spending, that spending gets put on the government's credit card (deficit spending). Even worse, the actual practice of cutting taxes does the opposite: lower taxes appear to actually increase spending: Wikipedia -- Starve the Beast: Analysis
    Further, it seems that things have gotten so bad, cuts in Defense are now perceived as necessary and are on the table.
    To add insult to injury, most Republicans in Congress have signed a pledge NEVER to increase taxes, no matter what the reason. The idea is to cause a catastrophic failure of the the government's fiscal and monetary system, forcing reforms. Hey, wait a minute: didn't we just go through that because of irresponsible practices by the banking and securities systems? How would irresponsible deficit spending be any better (or different)?
    What this seems to boil down to is that Starve the Beast was a "really cool" idea that doesn't stand up to reality. Hoping that tax cuts would "fix" the problem of too much spending has actually led to way too much spending. That's because the folks who want to cut taxes are actually voting to increase spending themselves, to save their political aspriations (didja catch the sneaky italics there?). "Don't cut my spending! It's necessary (for my political future)!"
    Make no mistake: I am not a Liberal. I'm a reformed Republican who is now an Independent. I am disillusioned by Republican tactics and beliefs that seem to defy the evidence that they do not work in reality. You cannot teach folks to drive responsibly by running them into a ditch yourself. You also cannot cut spending by specious tax cuts that end up ruining our country's credit rating, then vote for more spending yourself.
    Sheesh!

Can You Guess How Long I Had to Wait at the DMV?!

Yesterday was my day to renew my photo id at the local PennDOT office. Based on past experience, anecdotal evidence and tons of jokes about the wait, I assumed it would be long and more or less painful.



Imagine my surprise when I walked into the office -- and was the ONLY customer there! Total wait time: 0, zero, nada, zilch, none.

According to modern physics, "Everything not forbidden is compulsory", on a quantum level. Apparently, that's so on a macro level -- if you live long enough.

Birth and Death

Yesterday was my birthday. Three days before that was my father's deathday. According to my spellchecker, there's no such word as "deathday". I won't correct it, since we don't really have a need for such a word.

We celebrate birthdays far more often and for far better reasons. Even the most entrenched nihilist would have no reason to observe his or her own departure from life -- unless that person had precognition.

RIP Vincent S. Runza, Sr.: born November 7, 1922 -- died January 20, 2011.

This is the way I will remember Pop -- animated, rumpled and engaging. I think he was explaining something to Mom. I won't put up the photo of her, sticking her tongue out at him. Yet.

Snowy Weather = French Toast?!

So, yesterday, I'm at the supermarket for my regular Tuesday morning shopping trip. Imagine my surprise at the crush of people (most with a thousand-yard-stare) clogging the aisles and chatting on cell phones.

I did see the weather report which predicted snow for today -- 3-4 inches. However, east of us, folks will be inundated with up to 2 feet of snow. A change in the wind, and my area could get a lot more than is predicted.

However, this isn't Miami Beach. The Poconos (and the skiing they provide) are very close. Folks should be used to dealing with winter snow.

All righty, then: why was everyone stocking up on eggs, bread and milk? Is French Toast the best comfort food for when you're snowed in?! Or is it just that "panic shopping" doesn't lead to the best decision-making?

Sheesh!

How to Go Viral: Content Is King, Hallelujah!

My dear friend Jackie Dawson passed along this video via Skype. It's a "Flash Mob", sort of. Actually, Chorus Niagara rehearsed this, on site, very early Saturday Morning, November 13, 2010.

Then, around noon, they let loose:



This actually brought tears to my eyes.

Merry Christmas.

ED Spammers Just Love Me! Why?!

While I'm no spring chicken, I have no need of medical help to raise the flagpole over my desires. Yeah, I'm a guy who has sufficient hydraulic competency without outside help of any kind.
So why are spammers (predominantly Russian) sending me a daily spate of ads for medicine from Pfizer and others to "pump me up"? Did I make a mistake in actually mentioning my age when filling out profiles in places like Facebook and the like? It can't be because I asked for that kind of help online. I didn't and probably won't.
In fact, what I ask for online has nothing to do with my health. Money, marketing info, clients, etc., are what I seek. Still, I have to dedicate a portion of my time weeding out the ED spam from my email accounts. I won't go into which accounts -- that might aid and abet these scurrilous snarfs in their evil plot to mess with my junk!
It's the weeding out that annoys me. I have to check my spam folders for possible mistakes in classifying real requests for my services or communications from those needing a specialist (note that the bold, italicized text is also the name of a popular ED remedy).
Listen up, Russkies! I'm just fine without ya! I know it's bad and dumb to ask you directly to unsubscribe me via your websites. You'll just know, for sure, that your spam is getting through to another hapless, "rich" Amerikanskie. So, hopefully, this message will somehow reach the innards of your automated software and give it pause.
Nah, fuhgeddaboudit!

Personalized Party Favors and Gifts | Engraved Favors and Gifts for Events

A special event like a wedding party, prom or holiday get-together is one way we celebrate our connection to those we love. Mementos, keepsakes and other things we save are another way to connect, emotionally, to these people. They remain in our hearts and minds through little trifles we keep that have a powerful emotional impact.
    You may be starving, but I bet you won't eat that piece of wedding cake you have tucked away in the freezer! In the same way, all the favors and gifts you saved to remember special moments in your life will be the last things you give up, even if their monetary value is small.
    Personalized party favors and gifts can be more than just sappy, sentimental items. A bridesmaid's gift like an engraved pink hip flask:

can bring back memories that outshine a hunk of wedding cake – especially if that flask is delivered full!

    CreateAFavor.com specializes in gifts and favors for special occasions that are personalized for you and those you give them to. Whether it's a wedding party, corporate event, holiday feast, or family reunion, the favors and gifts you get from CreateAFavor.com will be an affordable way to give your guests a memento that they'll treasure.
    Best of all, personalization and engraving of these favors and gifts is free! If you have a special logo or design you want to use, there's a modest one-time setup fee.
    Go to: http://createafavor.com/ or call 1-866-FAVORS2 today and get started on creating those memories you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Ghostwriting, Content Creation and Write-for-Hire Work.

The current economic climate is like the proverbial "weather" -- everybody complains about it but nobody does anything to change it. Mind you, I'm not talking about governmental influence (and wads of cash and credit being flung at too-big-to-fail businesses). I'm addressing those of us who are doing business or looking for work.

My own work with promoting local businesses here in Scranton, PA has suffered from a nearly complete lack of faith on the part of business owners. They just don't think they're ready to grab a bigger market share with proven marketing techniques that "cost money".

Never mind that their ad spend isn't giving them proven (or even measurable) results, in most cases. They want to stick with what they know, rather than experiment with something that fear tells them is just confusing. "The confused mind says NO!"

I know from comments and feedback from my colleagues that many areas and locales are not burdened by this narrow view of things. In fact, some local and regional markets are eagerly implementing Direct Response Internet Marketing methods to increase their market share now, before the economy recovers.

Since that's true, I've returned to my roots, offering write-for-hire services. Rather than limit myself to working solely through the Warrior Forum for Internet Marketers, I've chosen oDesk as my platform for freelance work.

I'm actually looking forward to sharpening my skills in Social Media Marketing, SEO and SEM. Perhaps I'll stumble across a like-minded content buyer who actually needs my full array of local business promotion tools. Until that happens (or the economy warms up), I'll be doing what I do best -- creating written content that works hard in the search engines.

McFarlane Sports Picks | Collectible Sports Figures

McFarlane Sports Figures, until recently, meant nothing to me. If you had shown them to me, my immediate reaction would have been, "So, you collect dolls, huh?"

Upon closer inspection, these scale model, articulated and lifelike sculptures are really amazing! The attention to detail and presentation is far beyond what one might expect from mere "action figures".

Todd McFarlane, the creator of SPAWN, launched McFarlane Toys in 1994. In addition to creating meticulous sculptures of movie characters, McFarlane also produces rock stars and video game characters. He has acquired the rights to produce action figures for all four major North American sports — baseball, hockey, football and basketball.

That's where this story picks up a head of steam. Ron Johnson, a fanatical collector of McFarlane sports figures, has his own website for collectors. In addition to specializing in sports picks, he has a service that will create a custom figure for you, based on photos you send. How about immortalizing a family member as a Major League sports figure?!

You can check out the #1 collector of McFarlane Sports Picks in Colorado Springs online at http://www.figurefanatic.com/.

Scranton SEO | From Search Engine Optimization in Scranton to Total Domination

In June of 2008, I had an idea about local Scranton business promotion that looked good. In fact, it looked so good I just had to show it to other Direct Response Internet Marketers. They flipped out! Dozens of them subscribed to a “live” case study of the process I was going through.
    The process itself is deceptively simple: seek out and dominate local search terms with cool backlinks that all point to a single focus. That focus is what I call a Front Door Page. Think of it as the place where a given business can promote the most profitable parts of their business or profession (or any underused capacity thereof).
    Naturally, since the prospective business isn't there yet, the focal page has to be a plain vanilla “placeholder” page, like this one for Scranton Golf Equipment. [Note Well: this is a blog post. By the time you look at that page, it may well have changed to a Front Door Page!]
    The real kicker of this whole approach is how easily one can dominate very profitable niches in Scranton local search, like Chiropractors, Cosmetic Dentists, Fences, Paving Contractors and Plumbers.
    Not every one of these particular niches has the #1 spot in Google every day for a given backlink, placeholder or Front Door Page. They simply dominate the first page of the Search Engine Results Pages (SERP's). Practically all the other links on the page are classified listings of one sort or another. That means they have no content value.
    With a combination of blog posts, Web 2.0 references and high Page Rank classified ads (and the right keyword combinations), just about anybody who knows more about Internet Marketing than a rank beginner can do this, too! I call it Total Search Engine Domination: using local SEO to do local SEM (Search Engine Marketing) for “rich niche” businesses and professionals. Have a look at this Web page for more information: Money-Making Websites, LLC

Are We Excited Yet?

Any time you push yourself out of the "Comfort Zone" into the "Learning Zone," you get at least a little excited. Once that new location becomes a bit familiar, however, the excitement can fade. Only the work remains, for the moment. Ahead lies the reward, tantalizingly out of reach.
    In a way, it's like ripening fruit, which is a bit bitter to eat right now, but will be sweet and juicy in time. Life is like that. The things which are sweet at first often become sour after a while, like cotton candy in the mouth. The things which are sour at first become not only sweet, but nutritious. It's a maturing process.
    Hammering out the kinks for the Scranton Front Door Pages is just such a chore. Each of the "placeholder" listings is bouncing around in the search engines like a superball thrown by an overeager 6-year-old. They are literally changing from moment to moment, which makes promoting them something for the near future, but not right now. The only stable references to the listings themselves are through blog posts from "seasoned" blogs like this one and the Wordpress blog that I left laying fallow for many months (but is now revivified and flourishing).
    The willingness to see past the present and envision the future is one of the measures of maturity. Positive consequences are an example of that kind of maturity. Indeed, those who are up to their rump in alligators (who set out to drain the swamp) have a pasture to look forward to. It's fending off the alligators that can diminish enthusiasm for the moment.
    Nevertheless, having the sure and certain knowledge that Bessie the cow will be thanking you (in her cow-like way) for the sweet grass your nascent pasture will provide is just one of the perks you can enjoy. Think of all those alligator steaks you can put in the freezer!

Broomfield Concrete Contractors: Colorado Vacation Fun!

Check Broomfield Concrete Contractors in Google, and whaddya get? The same thing I'd probably get back in Scranton:

1. Google Local Listings that all look very good -- and fade into the background
2. Google AdWords spots that try to steal attention away from the pins in the Google map
3. A bunch of classified ads in the SERP's.

Every organic search result is for somebody else's copy of a Yellow Pages listing for the keyword phrase.
    As an exercise for the class, guess what happens when this post about Broomfield concrete contractors gets indexed and shows up in the SERP's?
    The real value of this effect is for local search in Scranton. Never mind that there's no real competition in this niche -- yet. A local concrete contractor could really clean up if a Direct Response Internet Marketer were to promote his or her business online. That's because Yellow Pages have been surpassed by search engines, when it comes to services. That's right: more than 50% of folks Google for services, rather than haul out the YP book!
    If you're a concrete contractor in the Scranton area, you'd be well advised to check out http://vincerunza.com/scranton/contractors/concrete/ and see if your competition has snapped up this Front Door Page!

California Artisan Wine from My Cousin Frank Ashton: Downhill Winery

Our grandfather made wine for the family, lo these many years ago. He made "artisan wine" way before the term "artisan" became a buzzword. In fact, I've got an old photograph of "Pop" pressing grapes -- not with his feet, but in an old winepress. Sebastiano Runza made wine a part of everyday life because that was the way things were done in the Old Country. It's nice to know that feeling and tradition continue today, albeit in California, not in Sicily or Queens, NY.
    Frank (or perhaps he should be thought of as Franco) Ashton does not press the grapes with his feet, either. Quite the modern "artisan" wine maker, he marries the old and new in winemaking to craft vintage and blended wines that represent the finest grapes this side of Old Europe. He works closely with growers to ensure delivery of only the best grapes for winemaking.
    I can remember the good old days, when he was at Cal-Poly SLO. He had grown and harvested a field of fine carrots. I volunteered to help him at some fair or other, washing and peeling carrots for him while he pressed them into carrot juice, one glass at a time. I don't know if he hit his goal for sales, but he sure loved serving up the sweet drink to appreciative customers.
    He's come a long way from there. Go to Downhill Winery and you'll see what I mean about some of the finest California artisan winemaking.
Alla famiglia!

Finally! A Scranton Portal Website that Targets Profitable Local Search Traffic

I'd been examining the idea of doing a local business portal, but all the ones I saw didn't fit what I was planning to do in the local market. This was one of those times where it was either do-it-yourself or pay somebody too much for what you really don't want. Most local portal programs are pre-built with all kinds of things in mind, except one: targeting local traffic that's looking for profitable businesses and professions. I have yet to see anyone making portals for professionals, contractors and other local businesses that spend a ton of money on advertising to people with lots of money to spend. Further, these businesses and professionals spend major ad dollars with very little in the way of measurable results to show for it.
    The common lament from most businesses is, "50% of my ad budget is wasted. I just don't know which 50%! That's because Yellow Pages, billboards, radio & TV spots and the like are not trackable. Sure, you can put in a coupon on your YP ad, but how many dentists are willing to do that? Can you imagine a General Contractor offering a coupon? For what? A free ice crusher?
    Enter the Scranton professional and business portal for targeted local traffic. This portal doesn't have what all the others have -- tons of "feature rich" stuff that doesn't enhance the real value to users or the businesses they want to patronize. Instead, this portal has pre-built template pages that are keyword optimized for specific, profitable local niches where the only competition is business directories, YP listings and classified ads. These are laser-targeted niche pages with SEO techniques and methods that are usually reserved for highly competitive broad markets. In English, that means the pages show up near or at the top of the Search Engine Results Pages almost immediately as is, and will rise to the very top with just a bit of tweaking.
    Now comes the cool part. Those that wants to see what it's like to have that SPOT in the SERP's can see their own website show up there with a simple "call forwarding" change of code on my server (302 redirect -- temporary). It's that kind of result that "sells" the service. As soon as the business pays the extravagant rental fee I will charge, their own portal page will occupy that spot in the Search Results. I'll even throw in a free Google Local Listing to go with it!
    There will even be "metrics" for the performance of these landing pages as they are. Each one has a little poll the user can participate in -- which leaves a complete record in the server's stats for the site that SOMEBODY CLICKED A LINK ON THE PAGE -- and it wasn't me! When local businesses see that kind of measurable result, they rejoice -- or they ought to. Try getting that from a Sunday edition newspaper display ad!
    I'll even revamp their existing site (if they have one) so that they keep the good ranking in the search results. If they need a website, I have colleagues who do that sort of thing for me. The important part is my continuing support and maintenance of their sites' SEO -- Search Engine Optimization. I'm from the school of SEO that treats it as a blood sport!
    That whole Kevin Costner "If you build it, they will come" thing is wrong! In this case, "If you rent it, they will keep coming" is more like it!

Local Targeted Traffic for Scranton in the Search Engines

After a year and a half of slugging it out in the Search Engines for affiliate marketing and promoting my info-products, I realized something: dominating local search for targeted traffic is a breeze! In fact, some of the heavy-handed stuff we Direct Marketers do to cover all our bases can actually cover the whole first page of Google. It's like swatting a fly with a house!
    Naturally, there are very competitive niches that don't respond to a nudge or a tickle from a single, well-crafted keyword phrase on a landing page or a Social Networking site. Those broader niches need a bit more push, since they attract a lot of "browsers" who aren't looking to take local action. It's the motivated-to-act search terms that are so easy to get.
    For example, [ Scranton restaurants ] have a lot of good competition, but try going ethnic (see the post before this). Put up a blog post and you get on the first page in less than an hour! That beats Old School 1-hour photo developing and rush dry-cleaning!
    Even better, you can slide in a one-way backlink in your post for your intended target and give that domain a bit more authority. Going all out with classifieds on the "secret list" of Direct Marketing classified sites, Social Networking pages & bookmarking services, "geo location", additional blogs with posts, a press release and an article on ezinearticles.com and you've blown away all the Yellow Pages listings, business directories and local portals in one, fell swoop!
    I swear, I'm going to start giving workshops to the local professionals and show them how to use this stuff to drive motivated seekers of their services through their doors...

A Brazilian Restaurant in Scranton: Ipanema Grille, My Neighbor.

It's usually more than a short hop to a very good restaurant, no matter where you live. In this case, I walk half a block and I'm at Ipanema Grille. This is Scranton's best restaurant to enjoy a novel service: Rodizio. It's roasted meats on skewers that are presented and carved right at the table for you. It's all part of the traditional Brasilian Churrascaria (Steak House) experience.
    For the less adventurous, you can also get great American cuisine and a taste of Northern Italy, too! This is a family owned and run business that takes great pride in good service. The bar is fully stocked -- I recommend you try a Caipirinha or the Sangria. Desserts are sumptuous: try the cheesecake (Pudin de queijo) or Brazilian Chocolate Liquor Cake! I had an out-of-town guest with me when I first tried the place, and that cake was amazing!
    They're open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Call for reservations, especially on the weekends. Take a peek at their website for contact information, the menus, the pictures and full explanation of what Rodizio is all about: Ipanema Grille.

Sincerely, Vince Runza

A Squidoo Lens for Local Business Websites in Scranton and Beyond

Along with blog posts like this one, having as many alternative ways to find your working Web page is a very important part of SEM -- Search Engine Marketing. One very effective way to add to your marketing efforts besides having websites is a Squidoo lens that points to your business. Along with the "social networking" exposure, Google loves Squidoo!
    Local searches for products, services and the like are actually outperforming "Yellow Pages" type publications and other print advertising. Plus, websites for local businesses that are keyword optimized and don't come across as "spammy" to the spiders can outrank major business directories in the SERP's (Search Engine Result Pages). This includes social networking site pages like Squidoo lenses.
    A local business located right across the street from me got a rude shock when he viewed his latest edition of the Yellow Pages. The listing misspelled his company name in the display ad, the alphabetical listing and the White Pages listing, too! A "hat trick" of mistakes that can't be repaired until the next edition, next year. With a Squidoo lens, if you goof it up, fixes are a snap and get published immediately!
    If you're a marketer who uses an online presence to promote your business (just your websites) and you don't know about Squidoo -- shame on you! You're leaving money on the table, dude! If you haven't tried to promote your business online in any fashion and want to try yourself without committing to a website, hosting, fancy content or paid SEO services, try a lens! Click on the title of this post and you'll be whisked away to Squidoo's lens on this subject. You can get more info about your online presence for both local, Scranton business websites and everywhere else here: http://money-making-websites-llc.com/index.html