Michigan, USA - Even before it was fashionable in America, Chaldeans were proselytizing about the value of thrift and saving.  “I give all my American friends having financial trouble the book,” says Faith Yono a senior finance major at Wayne State University in Michigan.  “The book is small, but filled with wise financial sense.  This is a reason why Babylonians are some of the wealthiest people even today.”

Yono is referring to the book titled the Richest Man in Babylon written by George Samuel Clason which gives financial advice through a collection of parables set in ancient Babylon.  Through their experiences in business and managing household finance, the characters in the parables learn simple lessons in financial wisdom. By basing these parables in ancient times, but involving situations that modern people can understand and identify with, the author presents these lessons as timeless wisdom that is as relevant today as it was back then.

Chaldeans are known to teach that you should never spend what you borrowed.   “America’s culture of consume on credit is very bad,” says Yono.  “People are taught to buy whatever they like on credit cards and pay the crazy interest later.  The same stupid thinking is now in government.   They just want to borrow and spend and this is very bad.”

California, USA – “You have to know your rights.  Otherwise they may take advantage of you when you rent from them,” says Khaloud “Kelly” Heso, a property manager in Orange Grove Townhouse and Apartments in a small town outside of San Diego, California.  “I once worked with a company that taught us not to share renter rights with the tenants.  I could not work for a company that operated in that way, so I left and came to Orange Grove.” 

Chaldeans should know what their rights are when renting and you don't have to be expert in landlord-tenant law to protect yourself. Chaldeans are reminded to review their rights when renting or leasing and to always read the agreement before signing the dotted line.

Laws that protect both landlord and tenant have become so complex that understanding your rights can be difficult. Since landlord-tenant law varies by state, the key is knowing your rights -- preferably before you even sign your rental agreement. Understanding your state law and the terms of your lease are your best guarantees against future problems.

15 common renters' rights all Chaldeans should know:

Michigan, USA - Federal tobacco taxes are set to go into effect April 1.   The biggest federal tax increase will hit roll-your-own tobacco, rising from $1.10 per pound to $24.78 per pound. Store-bought cigarette taxes will head from 39 cents per pack to $1.01 per pack. The state tax for store-bought cigarettes stands at $2 a pack.

Chaldean retailers that sell tobacco say customers are stocking up and driving demand.  Stores that sell loose tobacco and cigarettes are clamoring to keep their inventory stocked.  Unhappy store owner John Kallabat of Canopy Bottle & Gourmet Shoppe in Brighton wonders how sales will fare starting next month. His store sells cigars and cigarettes, but no roll-your-own tobacco.

"It seems like every time they decide to put a tax increase on something it's always beer, wine or liquor or tobacco, and that's our livelihood," Kallabat said.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget wouldn't touch Michigan's $2-per-pack cigarette tax, it would slam other tobacco smokers, chewers and puffers who've been a favorite tax target for states to balance budgets and, in the name of good health, discourage tobacco use.

Just a few weeks after Salim Bashi was laid off as manager of a taxi cab company in Michigan, he found himself driving through Detroit with his 11-year-old son, Sam. Sam knew that his father was unemployed and that money was a concern in their family. 

Salim says, “We stopped at a red light, and saw a homeless man pushing a shopping cart.  I could see in my son’s eyes he was worried.  I asked him what he was thinking.  First he was scared to answer.  He wanted to know if we would be like that man with the shopping cart."   

www.CHALDEAN.org speaks to several Chaldean fathers about how losing a job can affect family life.

More Chaldean stay-at-home moms are using their creativity, experience and education into starting businesses on the side. No matter if your goals are as simple as adding to the family’s income or as big as building a million dollar company, starting part-time from home is a great way to test the business waters. 

But between helping the kids with complex homework assignments, shuttling them to countless activities and volunteering at their school--all while managing the household and trying to carve out a little time for yourself--where do they find the time to start a business? 

www.CHALDEAN.org interviews Chaldean stay-at-home moms who have been able to successfully juggle their family and business, all from their home headquarters.

Most of what we learn about human behavior is taught by nonverbal signals. Body language is a powerful but subtle form of communication.  Learning to interpret the clues and indicators of body language will help guide you through delicate situations and help you shape better personal relationships.

Like the spoken language different cultures also have their share of unique nonverbal gestures.  In the Chaldean community various body gestures can help better understand what is being said or how someone feels.  These include gestures, body movements, facial expressions, and even vocal tone and pitch. Much of the nonverbal information we get from people comes from their eyes. This explains why it’s often hard to infer meaning from a telephone call or written words.

Since nonverbal communication—or body language—is such a natural part of our communication life and community, learning to interpret it can really improve our relationships and understanding of other people. Still, it’s an art to be treated with a degree of caution. Misinterpretation does occur and it is always best to ask questions, otherwise acting on your perceptions can have ghastly consequences.

Knowing the art of Chaldean body language or body language in general will improve communications.  Here are some interesting Chaldean body language clues that many of us all share.

Chaldean Body Language 101: Understand the Meanings of Chaldean Gestures

Michigan, USA – “When the economy goes down, crime goes up,” says Adel Oraha, spokesperson for a growing group of Chaldean business leaders looking at moving into other states.  “We can’t keep doing business in Michigan if this state continues to beat-up on business with taxes and crime.” 

Chaldean business owners have begun forming collaborative groups to explore creating business parks in different states that are welcoming to Chaldeans.  Oraha says, “As a group we have over 2,000 employees and bring in over ten million in state taxes alone each year.  Crime, corruption, and high taxes make it hard to continue doing business in Michigan.  However, many businesses want to leave because of how unwelcoming the state has become for small business owners.  But we can’t move because of our culture and ties to the church and community.  We are working to change all that.” 

The bold move by Oraha and his fellow group members are researching plans to move an entire community.  “We are looking into which states would be best for Chaldean business families.  The place has to be business friendly, good schools, ability to build or lease a church for Chaldean services and near banquet facilities for family parties, and inexpensive air travel for continued family connections.” says Oraha.  The Chaldean grocery store chain owner was reluctant to say which states the group is leaning towards.

Michigan, USA – "They were buying a $10 bottle. Now they're buying a $6 bottle," said Mike Acho, owner of the Wine Cellar party store in Waterford. "People don't have the money. They're not working, but they still want the alcohol, so they buy the cheaper stuff."

Chaldean business leaders within the Merchants of Michigan association say the state is heading towards the cliff’s edge.  Michigan remains the worst state in country.  It has the highest unemployment rate in the country, a continually slumping economy and one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation; experts say much of the increased drinking may be related to people trying to drown their sorrows. 

State records agree with the opinion sharing that more customers are choosing to drink at home instead of bars and restaurants.    Alcohol purchases nationwide have risen about 2%, total sales in Michigan have nearly doubled that, 3.5%, with residents of the Great Lakes State spending $895 million in 2007. The increase is in spite of a loss in the state's population of more than 46,000 people last year.

California, USA – Chaldeans in California grow worrisome as the state’s debt skyrockets.  “They will tax the people to death in this state,” says Abrahim Bajoka, owner of an Arco Gas Station.  “Tax! Tax! Tax!  The more money they take from us the less we can grow, hire new people, or buy new products to sell.  This is basic business.  What is wrong with this state?”

Bajoka’s aggravation is not rare.  Taxpayer groups in the “Fruit & Nut” state are also fuming and vowing to go to court to initiate a referendum to halt nearly $10 billion in recent tax increases Democrats passed in a secret special session last Thursday. 

Lawmakers across the nation are shocked at the extraordinary parliamentary maneuver.   California Democrats circumvented a constitutional provision requiring a two-thirds vote in the state legislature to raise taxes by using their simple majority. “What they are telling small business owners is that we don’t want you in our state,” says Bajoka.  “The hard workers get taxed and the lazy get fed.  This is all wrong.”

So which are the best low-tax states welcoming new business leaders and encouraging economic growth?  Just follow the trail of Chaldeans….

Michigan, USA - Chaldeans time and again show their prowess to succeed. "Hard work, exceptionally creative, and humble," says Ashley Polus, a guest at the prestigious Southfield Skyline business award ceremony.  "Ron Jona made us all proud. I was pleasantly surprised to learn he was the man being honored. As I said earlier, hard work, exceptionally creative, and humble.  He deserves it," she said.

Southfield is home to over 9,000 businesses including more than 80 "Fortune 500" companies. The City of Southfield is the premier business address in Michigan. With more than 27 million square feet of office space and over seven million square feet of retail and industrial space - Southfield is truly Michigan's undisputed business center. In fact, Southfield boasts more office space than the central business districts of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis or Kansas City.

New York, USA – Chaldeans and Assyrians in American are appalled at Christie’s Auction House of New York.  “They are war profiteers moving the spoils of war,” says Chaldean art collector Enas Namoo from his downtown Chicago office.  The Chaldean art collector, well known for his Mediterranean art collection, was furious for what he saw in the catalog of the ancient art and antiquities auction at Christie's next week.  Among the collection was a pair of neo-Assyrian earrings established as artifacts of Mesopotamia.  “This belongs in the museum, not on an auction block,” said a angered Namoo. 

Along with Namoo, Iraqi authorities have also appealed to have the pair of neo-Assyrian earrings returned.  The 9,000–10,000-year-old earrings are expected to bring in up to $65,000, but Iraqi officials say they are part of the treasures of Nimrud and thus rightfully the property of Iraq.

Chaldean archeologist, art curator, antiquity expert, and former director of the Iraq Museum Donny George says, “I am 100 percent sure they are from the same tombs from Nimrud. I witnessed the excavation."

Michigan, USA – While the automotive giants and industry big houses are off begging for bail-out funds, real business leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation are busy finding new ways to better serve customers.  Ask John Abbo, owner of Mobil station at Clyde Road and U.S. 23 in Hartland Township, who has transformed the gas station into a convenient one-stop-shop. 

"The general trend is consumption of petroleum has gone down; it has affected our industry a lot," Abbo said. "We're fortunate that we were able to do the different type of things that we did, like put in a new grill, and we've now converted the store into a market. Gas stations aren't what they used to be."

Abbo has expanded offerings at his 5,000-square-foot station, which he now refers to as the "Hartland General Store," including adding a full liquor collection, expanding Hartland Express Pizza into a grill and selling Michigan Department of Natural Resources hunting and fishing licenses on site. Frozen foods, a deli and other offerings are also included in the renovations, which are expected to wrap up within the next month or so.

In all, Abbo said, he's poured nearly a quarter of a million dollars in improvements.

Michigan, USA – Another remarkable business light shines through the darkness of Michigan’s economy.  Alpine Marketplace in Linden, Michigan, against all business odds refused to allow Michigan’s economy to get in the way of offering Linden residents the very best. 

“They have expanded and really offer the best of quality foods,” says Gina Shiller, customer of Alpine. “All other business are cutting corners trying to save cost, but not this place.  They spared no expense to take care of their customers.”

The “Alpine” name is the only thing that remains the same.  Marvin and Norm Yono say it is in their blood to give their customers their best, a standard of excellence they deserve.  “That means fresh, local, seasonal and gourmet products — priced affordably at regular ‘grocery store’ prices.” 

Michigan, USA – Obama’s ties to Chaldean business leaders is not limited to Chaldean British billionaire Nadhmi Auchi and Chicago millionaire Antoin “Tony” Rezko.  Auchi’s connection to Saddam Huseein and his loan to Obama of 3.5 million dollars through the Panamanian company Fintrade Services SA for his home on 5050 South Greenwood Avenue in Chicago, caught little media attention in the political campaign.  

Despite the fact that Obama’s appeal to Chaldean business owners isn’t in the small businesses policies he campaigned about, Chaldean business leaders are going to make the best of popularity. 

Take for example, gas station owner Sam Bazzi in Detroit.  Bazzi is capitalizing on the President Obama frenzy hoping to cover the eventual tax hikes his station and small business like his will face once Obama takes office.  The owners of the independent gas station re-branded a few months ago, including the roof, the sign, the pumps and even the awnings. The new Obama Oil on the corner of Wyoming Street and Plymouth Road in Detroit is a brilliant marketing move that has been “pumping” up customers and ringing in profits.

Michigan, USA – Chaldean businesses will soon feel another round of pinches as Michigan continues its economic free fall.  Chrysler LLC, whose owner has been in talks to sell the automaker to General Motors Corp., said Friday it will cut 25 percent of its salaried work force starting next month and warned that it will make more restructuring announcements soon.

Chrysler, which has about 18,500 white-collar workers, said Friday it also will cut a quarter of its contract employees — those who work for other companies under contract with the automaker.  About 5,000 people are likely to lose their jobs, although the company would not say how many contract workers it has.

“This will impact many Chaldean families,” says Joey Markos, owner of a dry cleaner with standing accounts for many Chrysler professionals.  “Many Michigan small businesses will feel the loss.  For every professional job that is lost, three times the impact is felt on small business.  I lose the revenue. I can’t spend, expand, or hire anyone.  I have to layoff two great workers; single mothers who have been with me for over five years.”