Professor Ravindra Gettu

July 13, 2011

Dr. Ravindra Gettu is a Professor of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai since 2004. He has a Ph.D. degree in Structural Engineering from Northwestern University. After his post-graduate studies in the US, he moved, in 1990, to Spain and became the Director of the Structural Technology Laboratory in Barcelona.

His areas of research have been fracture mechanics of concrete and rock, nonlinear behaviour of cement-based materials, high strength concrete, fibre reinforced concrete, self compacting concrete, and the effective use of chemical admixtures. In these and related areas, he has co-authored more than 300 publications. He is the Chairman of the Technical Activities Committee of RILEM, the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Structures and Systems based in France.

Humans like to think we're a clever lot. Yet those magnificent, mighty brains that allow us to split the atom and touch the moon are the same stupid brains that can't start an assignment until the day before it's due.

We evolved from primitive creatures, but we never quite shed ourselves of their legacy. You know the clever, rational part of your brain you think of as your human consciousness? Let's call him Albert. He lives in your brain alongside an impulsive baby reptile called Rex:

(Rex is your basal ganglia, but that's not very catchy so I'm sticking with Rex).

Rex evolved millions of years ago - unsurprisingly enough, in the brains of reptiles - and his instincts guide and motivate you to this day. Hunger. Fear. Love. Lust. Rex's thoughts are primitive and without language.

Here's the bit you're not going to like. Rex makes the final call on all your decisions.Every. Single. One.

We like to think of Albert as "our true self" - the conscious part of your brain. He's the talking, reasoning part. When we decide to go to the gym or write that term paper, Albert made that decision. 

Rex does listen to Albert. Like a child, he will do a lot of what he's told, as long as he wants to. But if Rex prefers to crash on the sofa to watch Survivor and eat Cheetos, that's what you're going to do.

The incredible ascension of mankind that surrounds us is largely possible because we've developed systems to nurture our reptilian brains, to subdue, soothe and subvert them. 

Much of this this system we call "civilisation". Widely available food and shelter take care of a lot. So does a system of law, and justice. Mandatory education. Entertainment. Monogamy. All of it calms Rex down for long enough for Albert to do something useful - like discover penicillin, or invent Cheetos. 

Now let's look at your procrastination.

You're making a decision with your conscious mind and wondering why you're not carrying it out. The truth is the real decision maker - Rex - is not nearly so mature.

Imagine you had to constantly convince a young child to do what you wanted.  For simple actions, asserting your authority might be enough. "It's time for dinner". But if that child doesn't want to do something, it won't listen. You need to cajole it:

• Forget logic. Once you've decided to do something, logic and rationale won't help you. Your inner reptile can be placated, scared and excited. But it doesn't speak with language and cannot be reasoned with.
• Comfort matters. If you're hungry, tired or depressed your baby reptile will rebel. Fail to take care of yourself, and he'll wail and scream and refuse to do a damn thing you say. That's what he's for. Eat, sleep and make time for fun.
• Nurture discipline. Build a routine of positive and negative reinforcement. If you want a child to eat their vegetables, don't give them dessert first. Reward yourself for successes, and set up assured punishments for your failure. Classic examples include committing to a public goal, or working in a team - social pressure can influence Rex.  
• Incite emotion. Your reptile brain responds to emotion. That is its language. So get yourself pumped, or terrified. Motivational talks, movies and articles can work, for a while. I use dramatic music (one of my favourite playlists is calledMusic to conquer worlds by). Picture the bliss associated with getting something done, or the horrors of failing. Make your imagination vivid enough that it shakes you. We use similar tricks on children for a reason: "brush your teeth or they'll fall out".
• Force a start. The most important thing you can do is start. Much of Rex's instincts are to avoid change, and once you begin something those instincts start to tip into your favour. With enough time, you can even convince Rex tolove doing the things he hated. There's a reason we force kids to go to school or to try piano lessons.
• Bias your environment. Rex is short sighted and not terribly bright. If he sees a Facebook icon, he'll want it. It's like showing a child the start of a cool TV program immediately before bedtime. Design your environment to be free from such distractions: sign out of instant messenger, turn off notifications, turn off email. Have separate places for work and fun, and ideally separate computers (or at least accounts).

Once you know what to look for, you'll start to recognise the patterns and control them.

There's an impulsive baby reptile in your brain, and unfortunately he has the steering wheel. If you can be a good parent to him he'll mostly do what you say, and serve you well. Just remember who's in charge.

Recycled Package Topper

Recycled Package Topper

Ever get tired of the same ole bows on top of those presents? Well change it up a bit with this recycled package topper. This topper can be made from the card board rolls that you have left over after you have finished your wrapping paper and they are super simple to make.

Supplies
1-card board roll (or paper towel roll)
White glue
Ribbon (long enough to fit around your package)
Scissors (I used both plain and fancy edged)
X-acto knife
Scraps of colored or scrap book paper
Compass
Ruler

1. Take the card board roll and flatten it. Measure out eight 1.75" wide sections and cut them.
   
   
2. Put white glue on about a half inch of the bottom of one of the card board pieces then glue it to another of the card board pieces.
   
   
3. Continue glueing the card board sections together to form a circular star.
   
   
4. Cut a circle out of your scrap paper that is 2.5" round. (NOTE: I used scissors that had a fancy edge but regular scissors would work fine. I also cut a second 2" circle from another color and printed out a third circle with some holiday artwork but this is not necessary. Play around with different colors, patterns and textures of paper to get a look that appeals to you). Measure the area in the center of the star where the circle will cover and place glue on the edges and glue the paper to the center of the star.
   
   
5. Cut a 2" circle and cut 2 slits the width of your ribbon on each side. Thread the ribbon through the circle.
   
   
6. Measure the area in the center back of the star where the circle will cover and place glue on the edges and glue the backer with the ribbon to the back of the star.

Here is the finished product:


If you like the art I used for the center of my star, here it is an a few more, Happy Holidays!

Global Wind Power Market Guide: Economics, Technologies and Opportunities

 

With wind power leading the renewable industry, most countries are planning or implementing wind power growth strategies. This report details technology development in the global wind power market, outlines individual country programs and policies, and profiles onshore and offshore projects, and major industry players. [...]

Read Full Details Now

Among all renewable power technologies, wind power is established as a relatively mature technology and has tremendous potential for commercialization and mass production. The global wind power market recovered in 2011 setting a record for new wind power capacity of 4 GW, bringing the total to 239GW, with an output accounting for 3 percent of the total generation capacity in the world.

Data from the World Wind Energy Association shows that wind power now has the capacity to generate 430 TWh annually. Over 200 GW of new wind power capacity could come on line by December 2013. And wind power market penetration is predicted to reach 3.35 percent by 2013, and 8 percent by 2018.

In many developing countries, off-grid small wind power is an efficient and cost effective solution to power supply problems in remote regions. Small-scale wind power technologies now have applications including city road lighting, mobile communication base stations, offshore aquaculture and sea water desalination in several countries.

KEY FINDINGS:

- With the federal wind production tax credit due to expire on Dec. 31, 2012, and no clear political motivation for an extension, it looks as though US wind power may stall in early 2013.

- Many countries are planning their entire energy production around wind power. In 2010, Spain became Europe's leading producer of wind energy, achieving 42,976 GWh, and as of March 2011 wind was the Spain’s main energy source. Germany held the top spot in Europe for installed capacity, with a total of 29 GW as of December 2011.

- Together, China and India accounted for more than half of newly installed wind power in 2011. It was the second year in a row in which wind energy capacity growth was dominated by countries outside the OECD, and that trend is expected to continue in the next five years;

- While the market continues to diversify across all continents, it is at the same time plagued by continued slow economic growth and budget crises in the OECD, as well as the continuing credit crunch.

- The world market for wind energy experienced solid growth in the first half of 2011, recovering from weak 2010 growth. Total installed capacity worldwide reached 215 GW by the end of June 2011, and 239 GW by the end of 2011.

- The current analysis of the market suggests that as much as 85 GW of new capacity could come online in the next one to two years based on the project pipeline for wind power projects already in the process of being commissioned, constructed or which have secured financing. The United Kingdom could become a significant player in the European market in the coming years.

- In 2011, offshore wind power capacity in Europe grew by 866 MW, with 348 MW installed in the first half of the year. In 2011 there were 11 offshore wind farms under development in Europe, which, when all completed, will have a capacity of nearly 2.8 GW. This is likely to be just the beginning of the offshore expansion in Europe, as a total of 19 GW of offshore wind power projects have received planning approval, although it remains to be seen how much of this capacity will actually be constructed.

- The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) projects that new capacity additions will increase through 2015. New capacity additions are projected to grow from 41GW in 2011 to 62.5 GW in 2015. If these projections are realized, global installed wind capacity will reach 460 GW by 2015, 2.3 times the total installed capacity in 2010. World Wind Energy Association projections are even higher, anticipating a global capacity of 600 GW by 2015.

- The outlook in North America is uncertain, due to legislative uncertainties and the ongoing impact of weak economic fundamentals, but new capacity additions could increase to 12 GW in 2015.

- In Europe new capacity additions should increase to 14 GW by 2015 and total installed capacity to 146 GW by the end of that year.

- In Latin America new capacity additions are projected to grow strongly from 0.7 GW in 2010 to 5 GW in 2015, increasing cumulative installed capacity from 2 GW to 19GW. This rate of growth is less than the excellent wind resource could support, but encouraging developments in Brazil, Mexico and Chile are offset by a lack of political commitment and supportive policy frameworks elsewhere.

- The outlook for Africa and the Middle East is particularly uncertain, but new capacity additions could increase ten-fold from 0.2 GW in 2010 to 2 GW in 2015. Africa has an excellent wind resource, although it is not evenly distributed, and there is potential for Africa to see much stronger growth rates in the future.



FACTORS AFFECTING THE GLOBAL WIND POWER MARKET:

- The biggest uncertainty is the future of the US Production Tax Credit, and its impact on the world’s second largest wind market. Whatever happens, it seems likely that after a strong 2012, there is going to be a drop in 2013. How big a drop, how long it will last, and what effect it will have on both project and manufacturing investment, is the single largest variable affecting the overall market size in the next few years.

- Uncertainty about the future of carbon markets is a factor. There is little prospect of a revitalization of the CDM markets in the next five years, other than a modest new source of demand from Australia. The European ETS is flooded with credits from too generous allocations in the earlier periods and there is no certainty that it will be ‘fixed’ any time soon. However, new potential markets in South Korea and China may start to have an impact by the end of this period.

TRENDS:

- For the second year running, the majority of new installations were outside of the OECD, and this trend will no doubt continue. Most of the growth markets in the world now are outside the traditional markets in Europe and North America.

- While the Chinese market has now stabilized for a while, the Indian market is growing strongly as are Brazil and Mexico. There are also some bright spots in new ‘emerging’ markets in Eastern Europe, as the EU continues its steady if unspectacular march towards its 2020 targets. Canada and Australia are potentially substantial markets which could add significantly to global growth figures, and South Africa has now entered the market in earnest.

- Outlook for the coming period is a bit somber compared with previous forecasts, but this reflects the market realities from where the market was in late March 2012. Overall, the market should see average annual market growth rates of about 8% for the next five years, but with a strong 2012 and a substantial dip in 2013.

- Total installations for the 2012-2016 period should be about 255 GW, and cumulative market growth averaging just under 16%. This is well below the 28% average for the last 15 years, but substantial growth in difficult times. Overall, a total capacity is anticipated to be just under 500 GW by the end of 2016, with an annual market in that year of just under 60 GW.

- While the industry is expected to continue to grow during the coming five years, it’s not going to be easy. It will be especially tough for manufacturers, with chronic over supply adding to existing downward price pressure from general economic conditions to cut margins dramatically.

- The offshore market is likely to be driven by the United Kingdom and Germany, while France and Sweden also have significant projects in the pipeline. The interest in offshore wind is also increasing in China which already has around 150 MW in the water and has plans to deploy 5 GW by 2015 and 30 GW by 2020, while the United States has also discussed significant deployment.

- Asia, Europe and North America will continue to drive new capacity additions in the near future. China is likely to continue to dominate new capacity additions, as ambitious plans and supportive policies align. Although new capacity additions may not grow as rapidly as they have in recent years, China plans to reach 200 GW of installed capacity by 2020.

- India is likely to emerge as an important new market, with capacity additions of 2 GW to 3 GW per year. Overall, new capacity additions in Asia could increase from 21.5 GW in 2010 to 28 GW in 2015 (GWEC, 2011). This implies that by2015 Asia could have a total of 185 GW of installed wind capacity, displacing Europe as the region with the highest installed capacity.

This research report provides a comprehensive analysis of the World Wind Power Industry including:
- Overview of wind power technologies;
- Analysis of the global market for wind power followed by a country-by-country analyses;
- Analysis of onshore and offshore wind power by country
- Analysis of the Small-wind turbine market
- Profiles of major onshore and offshore wind farms;
- Profiles of major industry players

Top 10 countries for wind-energy production in 2011:
Country, GWs Added in 2011, Total GW
China 17.6 62.4
US 6.8 46.9
Germany 2.1 29
Spain 1 21.7
India 3 16.1
France 0.8 6.8
Italy 1 6.7
Canada 1.3 5.3
Portugal0.4 4.1
Denmark 0.2 3.9

High Rise Construction

Project Name:	Vista Bay Apartments
Location:	Butterworth, Penang
Built up:	115 units of Apartments, 1 Block of 19 Storeys
Number of GLOCS:	270,000 pieces
Developer:	Rikki Development Sdn Bhd
Year of Completion:	2008

Summary:
GLOC has the capacity to be safely used in high rise development including residential and commercial buildings, especially in partit non-load bearing structures and emergencycost that the The major escape routes.developer saves includes the usage of support beams internally that reduces the cost of construction.

Low Rise Development/ Building Modification

Project Name:	Richmont Residences
Location:	Jelutong, Penang
Built up:	94 units of 3-Storey Terrace Houses
Number of GLOCS:	300,000 pieces
Developer:	Richmont Development Sdn Bhd
Year of Completion:	2007

Summary:
GLOC has been proven to reduce the internal heat of residential homes with increased heat insulation and also higher sound absorption of up to 45dB. The Richmont Residences is located about 100 meters from a neighbourhood mosque and the noise level of the prayer chants heard can be low, or at times minimal by the residents from within their homes.

Government Buildings & Projects

Project Name:	Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) Office
Location:	Sungai Petani, Kedah
Number of GLOCS:	130,000 pieces
Developer:	LHDN, Supervised by JKR
Year of Completion:	2011

Summary: GLOC is also proven to be a good solution for government projects and used by JKR as shown here in the Income Tax office in Kedah. The selection of GLOC to be used in this project which includes an auditorium and offices has been key in the following projects received to supply GLOCs to a few government schools in the Norther

Love to help

Ever wonder why some people seem to walk around with a dark cloud hovering over them and others appear to bring their own sunshine wherever they go? While one group tends to be generally unhappy, finds things to complain about, and nothing seems to go their way, the other group can walk the exact same earth finding gratitude in everything around them, keeping up a positive outlook, and easily creating the lives they want. In both cases, these individuals are very much creating their own destiny as the law of attraction is at work with the basic principle: Like attracts like. Simply put: If you focus on positive things, you will get positive results. If you focus on negative things, you're going to attract negative results.

Don't get me wrong. You can't just say, "I want a million dollars," focus all of your attention on that desire and then voila: instant millionaire. There's more to it than that. Actual hard work, for one thing! But, there is a spiritual element to it as well. Sometimes the universe has other plans for us, or we just aren't ready to receive yet. This phenomenon is also well-documented in science with the placebo effect.

I can personally attest to the power of purposefully attracting and manifesting. I have somewhat honed this skill over the years out of pure necessity. Having multiple business and social ventures of my own as well as being a mother to a young child with another one on the way, I have been forced to adopt a very Yoda-like mindset in my daily routine: "Do or do not. There is no try." Having many people rely on you for their livelihood and wanting to be there for them is surefire motivation to find a way to get things done. From scoring national press coverage and columnist spots for my businesses, to generating revenues in a tough economy and competitive marketplace, to just making sure my family gets a healthy dinner at night and mama bear doesn't totally burn out in the process are all major accomplishments that I have purposefully manifested over recent years. Reflecting back on these, I have come to realize there are some basic principles involved and would like to share with the intention of helping others get a little closer to their best potential self!

Tips on Allowing the Law of Attraction to Work for You:

• Is it meant to be? Use your inner light as a guide. The musical key of your life's symphony must be in harmony with the desire you wish to manifest. In other words, there needs to be a strong connection with what you want and what you're destined for. I have had plenty of "pouty" moments in my days after working so hard for something and coming up short in the end. But after the fact, I always came to realize that there was a reason something didn't happen exactly how or when I wanted it to. Don't let this stop you from trying, though, as you miss 100 percent of the shots you never take! You just have to trust your gut and have faith in your instincts, which will become stronger the more you become self-aware. A meditation practice also helps bring more insight. Some good questions to ask: Is this desire in line with my life's passion and purpose? Is my intention positive and for the greater good of many and not just rooted in self-interest? If the answers are "yes" and something in your gut is telling you to go for it, than chances are you on the right path. Just remember to hold ever-so-loosely to your desires, as too strong of an attachment will likely bring disappointment and suffering.
• Hold powerful visions. Now that you've identified your desires and they feel intuitively right: Imagine yourself as actually having achieved your dream already. In this visualization, really see and believe it. Incorporate all of the senses: How does it feel, smell, tastes and sound? Think about all of the important aspects of your life and what they look like when this happens. What were some of details that surrounded getting there? Writing out your vision story is a very productive and powerful tool as it helps to make your dreams seem more real, brings your vision into focus in your present situation and triggers your subconscious into action.
• Identify blocks and fears... and believe! You have to really believe in yourself and your vision. It's not a matter of if you can, but when you can. Self-doubt is a form of negative thinking that will actually prevent your dreams from manifesting. Believing is receiving! The more you resonate with your fears, the more likely you will make them come true instead of allowing your real desires to manifest. For example, if you have a fear of public speaking and focus on all the things that could possibly go wrong before your speech -- don't be surprised if you fall flat on your face when you get on stage for your big moment. Literally! To avoid this, try noticing any internal resistance or self-doubt that comes up when you think about your desire and realize that both fears and desires exist only in the mind. It is best to identify any fears or roadblocks as soon as possible so you can accept them and move forward despite them. If the little voice of self-doubt in your mind is too loud to allow you to move forward or you are not sure what is holding you back, consider working with a business or life coach to help you work through it.
• You've got to work! You've set a positive intention; now focus your energy on its manifestation for the highest good. It's not magic, though. If you want it bad enough, you'll need to roll up your sleeves and put in the time and effort to make it happen. The more systematic you are in the execution stage, the better results you will see. Start setting goals and creating new daily habits to help inch you towards making your vision story a reality. Have an accountability system in place whether to yourself, friends and family, or to a coach. Remember to celebrate all of your small successes along the way. Having a vision is a great start and often referring back to it is very powerful. However, remember, "Vision without execution is hallucination." -- Thomas Edison. Work it!
• Trust and allow. Don't get tripped up in your wants and desires. Have faith and confidence that if/when it is meant to happen, that it will. Keep your eyes and mind open for clues in the universe that will tell you if you are on the right path, or if you might need to tweak your vision slightly (or vastly, even!). Remain living in the now, while you ever-so-loosely and delicately hold onto your dreams and allow them to unfold as they are meant to. If you are totally focused on what you want for your future, than you are focused on manifesting more of what you don't have. Trust and allow that things will play out as they are supposed to while you gently help to guide things along. There is perfection in everything that happens along the way. Enjoy the journey!

10 Common Misconceptions About Money

By Stacy Johnson | Money Talks News – Fri, Sep 7, 2012 4:22 PM

I recently celebrated my 57th birthday, and have arrived at a common
conclusion about getting older: It sucks. But there’s one good thing
that comes with age – the wisdom that can only come from experience.
Experience helps you understand how life actually works, and how
remarkably different life is from the kind you so often see portrayed
in commercials, movies, and daydreams.
Prime example? Money. The myths surrounding money are numerous and
widely held, especially among the young. It’s a shame, because
pursuing myths will lead you astray, waste your time and, taken to
extremes, ruin your life.
Here are 10 popular misconceptions about money that experience has
taught me are more often fiction than fact…

1. The more money I have, the happier I’ll be.
Let’s ask Howard Hughes, Anna Nicole Smith, John Belushi, Chris
Farley, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix,
Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Elvis about this one. OK, guys, show of
hands… did fame and fortune make you happy?
Happiness comes from liking yourself, something completely unrelated
to money. Riches buys recognition, too often confused with validation.
But respect, especially self-respect, isn’t for sale.
When you’re on your death-bed, will you be thinking about money? If
so, your contribution to the gene pool was negligible. Rather than
obsessing about money, think about what really makes you happy. Then
make only enough money to take part in those activities. Making more
is a waste of the only non-renewable resource you have: your time on
the planet.

2. A big income will keep me out of debt.
What’s the difference between someone who makes $50,000 a year with a
$100,000 mortgage and someone who makes $500,000 a year with a $1
million mortgage? Answer: nothing. Unless they have money set aside
for emergencies, they’re both a paycheck away from disaster.
Debt often rises with income. What keeps you out of debt isn’t a high
income or net worth. It’s not borrowing money.

3. Millionaires drive fancy cars, wear fancy clothes, and live in fancy houses.
Not according to the folks who did a bunch of research and wrote The
Millionaire Next Door. According to their studies, the average
American millionaire drives an unexciting American car, lives in the
same nondescript house they’ve owned for years, and avoids designer
labels. That’s how they became millionaires.
So who’s buying all the designer clothes and Porches? Many times it’s
people who will never become wealthy because they’re swapping
tomorrow’s financial freedom for today’s appearance. As I’m fond of
saying, life affords you the opportunity to either look rich or be
rich, but few live long enough to accomplish both. The younger you
decide, the better.

4. The more money I have, the less worries I’ll have.
Balderdash. Money doesn’t end anxiety. It gives you something else to
be anxious about: losing your money. Granted, those without enough
money to eat or keep a roof over their heads have lots to worry about.
But once you have enough money for all your needs and a reasonable
number of your desires, the excess will add to your concerns, not
alleviate them.

5. Money will help me find love.
In my experience with women, they’re not attracted to money. They are,
however, attracted to ambition and intelligence, especially when it
presents as humor. Everyone’s attracted to people who are
self-confident, non-needy, and able to laugh at themselves.
Like a peacock, wealthy people can easily attract attention. But
attention isn’t the same as admiration or affection. And even if it
works, do you really want to spend your life with someone so shallow
and insecure they were attracted to your money?

6. I’ll have more fun if I have more money.
When I was young, I didn’t have two nickels to rub together, but I had
a ton of fun. Today I have lots of nickels – and am happy to report,
still having a riot.
There’s no doubt that money can furnish the elements of a good time.
But if you need money to have fun, you’re boring. And should you
become a billionaire, you’ll still be boring.

7. Money means security.
When you boil it down, a primary purpose of money is to make life more
predictable. It allows you to control your environment by being
prepared for the unexpected.
While that’s partly true, there’s not enough money in the world to
completely control everything. I could have a heart attack and die
before I finish writing this, and you could have one before you finish
reading it. Accept that we’re all bobbing on a sea of uncertainty, no
matter how much money we have.

8. Money will enable me to meet interesting people.
In my experience, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting
interesting people. But if I want to maximize my odds of meeting
someone worth knowing, I won’t be heading to the nearest country club.
I’ve met plenty of fun and interesting rich people – but I’ve also met
rich people who were vain, myopic, pretentious, and judgmental. They
weren’t that way because they were rich. They were that way because
they were born rich and as a result never had to overcome adversity.
Overcoming adversity is what makes people interesting, not how much
money they have. People without at least a few skeletons in the closet
are often shallow as a puddle.

9. I need money to travel, and travel is important.
The world is an interesting place, and being well-traveled makes you
interesting. But travel comes in many forms, including the budget
variety. If you want to see faraway places, you’ll find a way.
In my book Life or Debt, I conclude by describing the first book I
ever read about something I love: sailing. The book was about a couple
who built their own sailboat and traveled around the world, working
when they needed to and never accumulating more than a few thousand
dollars at a time. Their boat had no air conditioning, no refrigerator
– not even a radio.
What most people do in the same situation is wait until they have
enough money to buy what amounts to a floating condo: a boat that’s
luxurious, seaworthy, and far too expensive to ever actually buy. The
result is they spend their lives on the dock. What a waste.

10. Money will buy friends.
This is not only untrue, it’s the opposite of what money actually
does. I’ve got a super-rich friend or two, and what I’ve observed is
that money attracts plenty of hangers-on – but almost no friends.
People with vast wealth or fame can’t trust the motives of those
surrounding them (see No. 5 above). That’s why the people they count
as true friends are normally either people they knew before they were
rich and famous, or people who are equally rich and famous.
There’s the advantage of being judged on your personality versus your
net worth: The friends that result actually like you, not what you can
do for them.