*Tailgate, by the lake
Too much, too young
Every button gonna come undone
Tightrope, no joke
Nothing left, so you go baroque…

A friend of the family once warned me, “Never talk about money. Whether you have it or you don’t, nothing good comes from talking about it.” Wise words for someone who grew up in compromised rural conditions, illiterate and never drove a car until she was in her fifties. And yet managed to immigrate to this country late in life and raise a family and a considerable fortune at the same time. But then again, money is funny like that.

Money is a pervasive element in our lives. We’re consumed with chasing it and yet spend it twice as quickly as we get it. And depending on which way the pendulum is swinging for you (or the Dow, as the case may be), your relationship with money can change 180° degrees from morning to night. I guess that’s why a sense of humor is really your best asset.

Keeping in step with what’s on your mind this time of year, our March issue is sprinkled with gems of fiscal wisdom—ideas for both getting and spending money. Katherine Heaviside’s Bottom Line offers Negotiation Tips to help you ensure that in life, as well as in business, you get the best you can. Our friends at Marcum share their Tax Flash to help you organize a few things before making the annual visit to your CPA. And Economy: Fact or Fiction is our interactive quiz. You probably know a lot about the key influencers on our economy, but are you sure? The segment is also at lipulse.com where you can enter to win some exciting prizes.

Considering this is also about the time when we tend to dream of warmer vistas, a palette of travel ideas await. Maui and Syria are two exotic locales that will stimulate your interests and give you some much deserved R & R. Plus, our Travel Tips and this month’s Pulse Products will keep you from getting bogged down with too much baggage—literally and metaphorically.

Two great interviews come to us from the automotive sector this month. Aileen Jacobson’s Spotlight Q&A features Juliana Terian Gilbert. You may know this dynamic lady as steering Long Island’s famed Rallye Automotive Group, but she’s also recognized as having the largest female owned auto dealership in the country—find out how she does it. Portrait of a Supercar gets you up close and personal with Porsche’s newly released Panamera, the four-door sedan that acts like a roadster.

Spring fashion gives ladies and gentlemen a little guidance in navigating what’s to come. Black Attack profiles some unexpected, and unprecedented, looks for the ladies while Dress Like a Man speaks to the gents who aren’t afraid of livening up their wardrobes, but aren’t ready to plunge into the pool of “urban metrosexual.”

As always, it’s been a thrill a minute putting the issue together. But we’re also very excited about what’s to come: Stay tuned for the Pulse mobile app coming to an iPhone near you!

*Sometimes you break a finger on the upper hand…

—nadA

*“New Fang,” Them Crooked Vultures