BUILDING BRIDGES
Supporting businesses by lending good money to good businesses.
April 2010 - Vol 3, Issue 4 |
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| Greetings! |
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Spring has finally sprung, trees are budding, flowers are blooming and the grass is actually turning green after a long winter's rest - with great days coming up!
Easter Sunday on April 4th will be a time for remembrance and celebration of Jesus' resurrection by Christians around the world, and signifies a new beginning and new life. Mazon Associates shares that vision of hope and rebirth with everyone reading this newsletter.
If you have a Facebook account, you can now find Mazon Associates on Facebook! This venue provides yet another opportunity for us to spread the word about our factoring services and how it might help your business. Be sure to look us up and "Become A Fan" and "Share" our link with your "Friends"!
Happy Easter and Happy Spring, Lisa
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$$$ Refer & Earn $$$ |
 Business contacts, friends, family and acquaintances -- you just never know when someone you know might need Mazon's accounts receivable services. See our referral program at the end of this newsletter.
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| Entrepreneur of the Month: Dr. Bradford W. Parkinson |
Dr. Bradford Parkinson
 | While one can indeed say that a system as massive in structure as the Global Positioning System (GPS) has many components and ongoing team members, making it difficult to accredit one single person for its success, we have narrowed the selections to: American scientist, Dr. Roger L. Easton (1921-) who conceived, patented and led the development of critical enabling technologies for the GPS; Dr. Bradford W. Parkinson (1935-) responsible from program start to space operation for both leading the final concept and bringing to practice the satellite-based system (GPS) as we know it today; and Dr. Ivan A. Getting (1912-2003) who earned worldwide recognition for his constant work on the design of GPS, on its operational value, and on planning, negotiation, and reaching agreements critical to its becoming a reality.
The GPS provides reliable positioning, navigation and timing services to worldwide users on a continuous basis in all weather, day and night, anywhere on or near the Earth which has an unobstructed view of four or more GPS satellites. GPS is made up of three segments: Space, Control and User. The Space Segment is composed of 24 to 32 satellites on Medium Earth Orbit and also includes the boosters required to launch them into orbit. The Control Segment is composed of a Master Control Station, an Alternate Master Control Station, and a host of dedicated and shared Ground Antennas and Monitor Stations. The User Segment is composed of hundreds of thousands of U.S. and allied military users of the secure GPS Precise Positioning Service, and tens of millions of  civil, commercial and scientific users of the Standard Positioning Service. GPS satellites broadcast signals from space that GPS receivers use to provide three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude and altitude) plus precise time. GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide and a useful tool for mapmaking, land surveying, commerce, scientific use, tracking and surveillance, and hobbies such as geocaching and waymarking. Also, the precise time reference is used in many applications including the scientific study of earthquakes and as a time synchronization source for cellular network protocols. It has become a mainstay of transportation systems worldwide, providing navigation for aviation, ground, and maritime operations. Disaster relief and emergency services depend upon GPS for location and timing capabilities in their life-saving missions. The accurate timing that GPS provides facilitates everyday activities such as banking, mobile phone operations, and even control of power grids. Farmers, surveyors, geologists and countless others perform their work more efficiently, safely, economically and accurately using the free and open GPS signals. GPS's effects on society are still developing. One application that is currently being developed is earthquake detection and measurement. Given appropriate transmitting equipment, GPS is capable of pinpointing locations to the thickness of a pencil lead, enabling scientists to gather data to complement what is available from seismographs. Additionally, the highly accurate timing systems integral to GPS are beginning to see use in internet and web technologies, enabling more efficient network communications. Altogether, it is hard to overstate the impact that GPS has had on the modern world.
In 2003 Dr. Parkinson and Dr. Getting were awarded the Draper Prize for their developmental contributions to GPS. The award is a $500,000 cash prize, and is commonly considered the Nobel Prize of engineering. In addition, in 2004 Dr. Parkinson was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his GPS contributions. In 2005, President George W. Bush presented Dr. Easton with the National Medal of Technology for his extensive pioneering acievements in spacecraft tracking, navigation and timing technology that led to the development of the GPS.
Dr. Parkinson, best known as "the father of the Global Positioning System," was born on February 16, 1935 in Madison, Wisconsin, He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the only son of architect Herbert Parkinson, who always had a love of math and science, which had an early influence on his future as an engineer and inventor. He attended the United States Naval Academy where he majored in engineering, and graduated in 1957. He then joined the U.S. Air Force to serve his country as well as to further his great interest in control engineering. While in the Air Force, his superiors recommended him for post-graduate education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he studied controls engineering, inertial guidance and electrical engineering. He graduated from MIT with a Master of Science in Aeronautics in 1961. Later, he entered a Ph.D. program at Stanford University in California and graduated in l966. He served a total of 21 years in the Air Force, logging more than 170 hours of combat missions for which he was awarded a number of military honors including the Bronze Star, Legion of Honor, Meritorious Service Medal and a Presidential Unit Citation. He retired in 1978 at the rank of colonel. In 1984, Dr. Parkinson became a professor at Stanford University, where today he is a professor emeritus. He lives in San Luis Obispo, California with his wife Virginia "Ginny" Parkinson, with whom he has one child. He also has five children from a previous marriage, as well as five grandchildren.
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Numbers in the News |
 Shakespeare mentioned the European starling in the third scene of Henry IV, and in the early 1890s, a group dedicated to bringing to America every bird ever mentioned by the bard, let loose 100 European starlings in New York City's Central Park. Now, some 200 million shiny black European starlings crowd North America, from Alaska to Mexico. The enormous flocks endanger air travel, mob cattle operations, chase off native songbirds, roost on city blocks, and cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage each year. They are also responsible for the most deadly bird strikes in aviation: a 1960 civilian crash in Boston that killed 62 and a 1996 military cargo plane crash that killed 34 in the Netherlands. Since then, there have been close calls, including a Boeing 747 that ran into a flock in Rome not long ago. No one was killed but the badly damaged plane had a rough landing.
And getting rid of them is near impossible. Last year, U.S. government agents poisoned, shot and trapped 1.7 million starlings, more than any other nuisance species, according to new figures, only to see them roaring back again. "It's sort of like bailing the ocean with a thimble," said Richard Dolbeer, a retired Wildlife Services researcher in Sandusky, Ohio, who spent years trying to figure out ways to keep starlings from causing problems at airports.
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| How does same-day funding work for my business invoices? |
When you become a client of Mazon, you can get same-day funding via ACH (direct bank deposit, in your bank account the next business day), wire transfer (in your account the same business day), book transfer (like a wire but no fee if your account is with Frost Bank), same-day pick up of a check from our office (local area clients), or by check mailed to your address. All of these funding methods require invoices (with a 2-part signed original Schedule of Accounts form) to be submitted to Mazon by 10:00 a.m. Central Time (via fax, email, FedEx, UPS, USPS or hand-delivery) to be funded the same day. Because Mazon maintains a "small-but-mighty" staff, we stick to a daily processing timetable in order to finish each day's work on the day it is received. However, we also have the unique flexibility to immediately handle a variety of client funding issues as needs occur. Your assigned account manager is your first source for assistance, or any other of our trained staff is ready to help.
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| Census 2010 |
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 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the world at the moment this newsletter is being composed on March 31, 2010 is 6,811,923,780 and the population of the United States is 308,974,856. The World Population Clock is based on the 2000 census and will be adjusted accordingly to the 2010 census figures. Please remember to mail in your census forms!
You can access the U.S. and World Population Clock at http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html.
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| Time for You |
 Why are we always stretching our necks? We are either stretching our necks trying to look into the future or looking back in the past, but rarely in the "now." Why can't we enjoy the day? When it comes to the past, we generally are reminiscing or having regrets thinking about something we did or didn't do. When it comes to the future, we think about preparing for the future - whether it be how to make more money or change the way we live, but never living in the right now moment.
All of this looking backwards and forwards a lot of times brings on added pressure, stress, sometimes ill health and a host of other things. Life was never intended for us to consume ourselves with being busy from sun up to sun down, never enjoying the peace God intended. It seems we always want more, which means we need to work more; so before you realize it, it's a vicious circle of getting and working instead of having enough and enjoying life. We must learn to simply say "there is more than enough in this day for me". If your days are going by so fast they seem to be a blur, all the more reason to just stop and take a moment or two for yourself.
There are a myriad of things that could make our day a little better and a little more calming. Maybe it's just taking five minutes to close your eyes, take a deep breath and don't think on tomorrow. Definitely don't think on yesterday because it's gone, never to be seen again. Ask yourself, "What can I do to enjoy in this day?" because when you blink, the next hour will have come and gone - so savor the moment. Do something today before it's gone that would really make you happy even if it's just thirty minutes or an hour. How about reading a chapter of a good book or stop to the nearest coffee shop and have a coffee or tea. A ten or fifteen minute power nap does a body good! Have kids? Do something fun with them toss a ball, go to the park or play a board game. Maybe just going in the back yard and enjoying the sounds of the birds, closing your eyes and just day dreaming will do the trick. Sometimes it's just a matter of changing our attitude.
(Article contributed by Fern Fooks, a Certified Christian Life Coach, and an account manager with Mazon Associates.)
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| Notary Facts |
Occasionally, a Notary may be called upon to notarize for someone who says, "I have just gotten married. My name on my driver license doesn't match what's printed on the document." The problem is that, by this time, the person who prepared the document for notarization may not be available to correct the document, but a Notary may be able to remedy the situation if there are credible identifying witnesses available who can vouch for the signer's new name in lieu of an ID. The signer's spouse should not be one of the witnesses used as he or she would have a beneficial interest in the signed document. An ideal credible witness should know the signer personally, have no involvement in the transaction, and the witness should be personally known to the Notary or have an acceptable current ID, whichever the state Notary law allows. Sometimes the signer is in the process of obtaining a new ID with the married name printed on it; however, a Notary should never accept a temporary driver's license or ID as satisfactory evidence of identity. If the signer has another acceptable ID with the new name on it (for example, a current passport) this may serve as an acceptable alternative.
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| Rabies: The Silent Killer |
 A young child awakens early one morning to a fluttering sound coming from the blinds covering his bedroom window. He gets out of bed and notices what looks like a small bird flopping around on the floor. The child picks up the bird and realizes that it's not a bird but a bat and releases it out the window. Weeks later, the child develops a fever, headache, and becomes disoriented and is admitted to a hospital. Tragically, he dies two days later from what doctors diagnose as rabies.
This scenario is not uncommon when it comes to humans being infected with rabies. "In recent years, a lot of human cases of rabies have occurred in people who were scratched or bitten by a bat and didn't realize such contact can cause an infection with rabies," said Dr. Charles Rupprecht, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) lead researcher for rabies. "Anyone who is bitten or scratched by an animal needs to immediately wash the wound with soap and water, and then consult their doctor to see if further treatment is needed."
Rabies is a disease caused by a virus which attacks the central nervous system. Early symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, and feeling tired. As the disease progresses, a person may experience difficulty sleeping, anxiety, confusion, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, and a fear of water. Death usually occurs within days of the onset of symptoms. Humans become infected with rabies when they are bitten or scratched by an animal infected with the virus. "Most animals behave oddly when they have rabies," said Dr. Rupprecht. "They may be really aggressive or they may be out and about in the day when they are normally are out at night. Some people may not recognize such behavior as unusual so the bottom line is people need to avoid coming into contact with wild or stray animals, period."
Thankfully there is a highly effective treatment to prevent rabies in persons who have been exposed to an infected animal. A series of shots given over the course of a month is almost 100 percent effective in preventing the disease. However, for the shots to be most effective, they must be administered as soon as possible in someone who has been exposed. There are other steps people can take to prevent rabies too. "In addition to avoiding wild or stray animals, the most important thing people can do is to make sure their own pets are vaccinated against rabies," Dr. Rupprecht said.
(Reprinted with permission of CDC. For more information about rabies, call CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit www.cdc.gov/rabies)
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| Product Recalls |
 The following recent recalls were issued by the U.S. consumer Product Safety Commission. Konrad and Loft Office Chairs (Dist: Cost Plus, Oakland, CA); Mobile Power Packs (Mfg: Tumi, South Plainfield, NJ); Remote Control Kits for Electric Fireplaces and Stoves (Imp: Dimples North America, Ontario, Canada); Coil Nailers (Imp: Hitachi Koki USA, Norcross, GA); Therma Scarf Scarves (Imp: Telebrands, Fairfield, NJ); Outdoor Lighting Fixtures (Mfg: American Electric Lighting, Conyers, GA); DuraTech Anchor Plate with Damper and DuraChimney II Anchor Plate with Damper (Mfg: Simpson Dura-Vent Co., Vacaville CA).
More details on these and other products including product pictures can be found at www.cpsc.gov . To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury call CPSC's hotline at 800-638-2772.
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| April 2010 Holidays, Observances, Celebrations and Events |
April 1: April Fool's Day; April 2: Good Friday, World Autism Awarenes Day; April 4: Easter, United Nations' (Land)Mine Awareness Day; April 7: United Nations' World Health Day; April 15: Income Taxes Due; April 19: Patriot's Day; April 21: Administrative Professional sDay; April 21: San Jacinto Day (Texas); April 22: Earth Day; April 26: Confederate Memorial Day. April is also Cancer Control Month and Alcohol Awareness Month.
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| Thoughtful Thoughts |
You need only three bones to journey successfully through life: a wishbone, to dream on; a backbone, for strength and courage to get through the tough times; and a funny bone, to laugh at life along the way.
Hugh "Duffy" Maugherty (1915-1987)
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| Easter Bunny Time, April 4th! |
 On Easter Sunday, many children will wake up to find that the Easter Bunny has left them baskets of candy. He has also hidden the eggs that they decorated earlier that week. Children hunt for the eggs all around the house. Neighborhoods and organizations hold Easter egg hunts, and the child who finds the most eggs wins a prize. The Easter Bunny is a rabbit-spirit. Long ago, he was called the "Easter Hare", hares and rabbits have frequent multiple births so they became a symbol of fertility. The custom of an Easter egg hunt began because children believed that hares laid eggs in the grass. The Romans believed that "All life comes from an egg." Christians consider eggs to be "the seed of life" and so they are symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Why we dye, or color, and decorate eggs is not certain. In ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia eggs were dyed for spring festivals. In medieval Europe, beautifully decorated eggs were given as gifts.
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| Murphy's Law: If anything can go wrng, it will go wrong. |
 Murphy's Law can be traced back to a Captain Edward A. Murphy (1918-1990), an American engineer at Muroc Air Force Base (later named Edwards Air Force Base). In 1949 he was working on a project to test the effects of sudden braking. Time after time his machinery failed. Exasperated, he said of his technician, "If there is any way to do it wrong, he'll find it." John Paul Stapp picked up on Murphy's phrase and used at a press conference. As with any good idea, Murphy's Law can be adapted and extended:
1st Amendment: If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong.
2nd Amendment: If you realize that there are three possible ways in which something can go wrong, and cover them all, then a fourth, unprepared for way, will miraculously appear out of thin air.
3rd Amendment: When something breaks, the parts damaged are in direct proportion to their value.
4th Amendment: The failure does not appear until the machinery has passed its final inspection.
5th Amendment: When you drop a part, it always rolls into the darkest corner.
Last Amendment: Any attempt to print out this copy of Murphy's law will crash the computer.
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Earn 10% Monthly Referral Fees! |
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No Expiration Date!
  Most of Mazon's clients have come to us through referrals of current and former clients. We rely heavily on word-of-mouth marketing to bring in new clients. Our monthly referral payment to you is 10% of our monthly factoring fee (determined at the time of client sign-up) and continues for as long as the business remains with Mazon Associates.
Potential clients include start-up businesses, high-growth businesses, undercapitalized businesses with historical operating losses, businesses with tax liens, turnaround situations. Other potential clients could be businesses who have been turned down for a bank loan and/or do not currently meet a bank's credit criteria; have delivered a service or product to other businesses and have invoices that can be independently verified; expresses cash flow problems and have a cash flow need; and/or companies expecting rapid growth. The potential client can be located in any of the 50 contiguous United States.
Prospects are usually businesses that are manufacturers, distributors and service companies. Traditionally, Mazon has had businesses in the following areas: advertising; apparel, courier/delivery services, environmental service companies; manufacturing; printing; start-up and early stage/growth companies; staffing companies; telecommunications; and transportation.
We do not accept businesses which have a majority of consumer receivables such as retail businesses, progress billings, third party pay medical receivables and certain construction-related businesses.
For more information on our referral program, please contact Lisa Mazon at 972-554-6967 ext. 238 or 1-800-442-2740, or by email lisa@mazon.com.
(You are not required to be a Mazon client to refer a business and receive a referral fee!) | |
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 If you liked this issue of Building Bridges, please forward it to a friend. We invite you to share your newsletter thoughts with us. If you would like to submit an idea, article or joke for consideration in a future issue of Building Bridges, or just want to tell us how we are doing, please email our creator and editor, Linda Burson, at MazonNewsletter@Mazon.com.
Building Bridges carries no paid advertising. All articles, images and links are for our readers' knowledge and enjoyment only.
Mazon Associates, Inc.
600 W. Airport Fwy., Irving, TX 75062
P.O. Box 166858, Irving, TX 75016
Telephone: 972-554-6967 Toll Free: 800-442-2740
Fax: 972-554-0951
Business Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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