Fannie Mae wants to defer strategic default with consequences

Fannie Mae is upping the bet on strategic default of home mortgages Wednesday, saying that borrowers who default despite having ability to pay in good faith won’t be eligible for a new Fannie Mae-backed mortgage for seven years from the date of foreclosure. Along with home foreclosures, strategic defaults are increasing. There have been many offers online to assist in strategic default. Last week the House passed the FHA Reform Act with a provision for penalizing strategic defaulters in the bill.

Article Source: {Fannie Mae wants to defer strategic default with consequences

Strategic default consequences

Fannie Mae, which owns more than 50 percent of mortgages in the U.S., wants more severe strategic default consequences. It is now refusing to back new loans for walk-away borrowers for seven years after they abandon their homes. In a press release, executive vice president for credit portfolio management at Fannie Mae, Terence Edwards, said "Walking away from a mortgage is bad for borrowers and bad for communities, and our approach is meant to deter the disturbing trend toward strategic defaulting. On the flip side, borrowers facing hardship who make a good faith effort to resolve their situation with their servicer will preserve the option to be considered for a future Fannie Mae loan in a shorter period of time."

Fannie Mae to sue strategic defaulters

In the press release, Fannie Mae, said it plans to sue to recoup the outstanding mortgage debt from borrowers that strategically default on their loans in jurisdictions that allow for deficiency judgments. In an announcement next month, the business will be instructing its servicers to monitor delinquent loans facing foreclosure and make recommendations for strategic default cases that warrant the pursuit of deficiency judgments.

Definition of strategic default

The strategic default issue is hard because of the challenge to define what makes a default strategic. The Washington Independent reports that strategic defaulters aren’t really breaching their contracts. Each mortgage contract defines what happens if the borrowers do not pay: the bank evicts them and takes the home. It’s doubtful the government could stipulate that homeowners have to hand over the last of their savings to the bank before they can walk away, or that that they can be made to hand over a certain percentage of their annual income before they get to walk away. The money individuals have left might be used to move to a new apartment or something, pay medical bills or to buy shoes for their kids.

More info on this topic
Fannie Mae

fanniemae.com/newsreleases/2010/5071.jhtml

Washington Independent

washingtonindependent.com/87943/when-underwater-homeowners-walk-away

Val Kilmer and also the possible Pecos River Ranch Bed and Breakfast

The Pecos River Ranch, which is the home of Val Kilmer in New Mexico, is becoming a flashpoint for controversy. The Pecos River Ranch is actually a several-thousand-acre ranch just outside of Santa Fe. Val Kilmer has applied to turn the ranch into a bed and breakfast, and when the application was approved at first, it has been contested by the ranch’s neighbors. At more than $ 200-per-night for each and every person, is the Pecos River Ranch going to be a great place to stay, or the center of controversy?

Source for this article: Val Kilmer – Proposed Pecos River Ranch Bed and Breakfast by Personal Money Store

The history – Pecos River Ranch

Val Kilmer has lived on the Pecos River Ranch for nearly 15 years. In 2009, Kilmer put the Pecos River Ranch on the market for about $ 33 million, but claimed he was not planning to move out. Instead, Val Kilmer said he hoped for “a partner for an off-the-grid community”. The ranch borders seven miles of the Pecos River and has every little thing from wildlife to trail systems.

Pecos River Ranch and Val Kilmer's plan

After living on the Pecos River Ranch, Val Kilmer has plans for the property. In March, Kilmer applied for a bed-and-breakfast permit for the property. The county planning and zoning commission accepted the application 3-2. Neighbor Abran Tapia appealed that decision, nevertheless. Tapia seems to think that Val Kilmer is “not a good neighbor” and for that reason deserves to have his application denied.

Is Val Kilmer really a bad neighbor?

The appeal of Val Kilmer’s application to turn Pecos River Ranch into a bed and breakfast is not depending on the merits of the application. All of his neighbors seem to be uncomfortable with Val Kilmer's comments in the media. Specifically, all of the rumors that Kilmer may be running for governor of New Mexico have been flying for years. In news stories, though, Val Kilmer has been quoted as saying that Vietnam veterans were mostly “poor and criminals.” Kilmer has also said that he lives within the “homicide capital” of the United States. None of this, could have any kind of legal standing when it comes to deciding or blocking the Pecos River Ranch bed and breakfast.

Payday loans no fax alternatives aren't as cheap as advertised

Those who oppose money lender often claim that cheaper paydayloans alternatives exist. Their argument may apply to consumers with sufficient credit to grant the financial flexibility needed to get cheaper short term loans, but for consumers operating under great credit constraints, payday loan companies is a more practical option. USA Today’s recent piece on payday loan alternatives is an additional sad example of the misinformation that poisons the public view. The daily’s suggestions aren’t cheap.

Resource for this article: USA Today pay day alternatives article is misleading by Personal Money Store

Pay day loan alternatives: First try 401(k) loans

Consumers who are serious about payday loan alternatives like 401(k) loans should realize that there could be dire consequences. When it may seem great to be able to take out $ 50,000 or even half your 401(k) plan at low interest with no credit inquiry, there are negatives. For instance, you have to pay it all back before growth can occur, writes The Money Alert. Your retirement savings (a lot more vital today than ever, considering the recessionary economy) can take a big hit. No additional contributions, no employer matching – nothing – unless you repay the borrowed sum first.

Furthermore, your take home pay will shrink during the repayment period, as payroll deductions are commonly used for repayment. Great, but if job loss hits, you are in trouble. Then you’ll only have 60 days to pay every little thing back or the 401(k) loan can be considered an early withdrawal. Think penalties and the possibility of being thrown into a higher tax bracket once you report the amount of the withdrawal penalty as taxable income on your next tax return. Indeed, the sting can be felt. A real option is in fact payday loans, which both the University of Michigan and also the Federal Reserve have shown to be a proven inexpensive option to loan shark use. They’re much a lot more practical for small-scale loans, too.

Credit card cash advances: USA Today’s second bright idea?

USA Today tries again with this pay day loans alternatives idea. While credit card cash til payday can be convenient (credit card companies even send you blank checks in order to use an advance), you will find numerous things that a consumer must keep in mind. To begin with, the cash advance loans APR is multiple percentage points higher than what your credit card company charges for regular purchases. Not only that, but the fee for credit card cash loan at an ATM is even more expensive. This is why reading the terms and conditions of your credit card is a good idea, writes Young Money. Using payday installment loans without pulling out the plastic is a better idea. An short term loans won’t require that you pay back an entire credit card balance before getting to the advance itself.

Banks and credit unions offer small loans

Knowing your credit history is quite significant in this scenario. According to USA Today, bank and credit union small loans are great when you have the credit for them – but numerous people don’t meet the factors. Paycheck loans, on the other hand, are easier to qualify for and enable some consumers to repair credit. USA Today doesn’t tell us this, but payday loans are the real option for credit-constrained consumers.

Citations

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2010-06-15-yourmoney15_ST_N.htm

The Money Alert

themoneyalert.com/401kloan.html

Young Money

youngmoney.com/credit_basics/040216_01/

Is the Digital Electronic license plate the California hacker’s paradise?

The California State Assembly is set to consider a bill in the next few days that would green-light “Digital Electronic License Plate” technology. These digi-plates would turn any license plate into a mobile advertising space, flashing ads if the car sits nevertheless for a lot more than four seconds. With no formal opposition ready to debate these plates, are you visiting the them on the road next year?

Article Resource: Digital Electronic License Plate – California hacker’s paradise

What exactly are digital electronic license plates?

The bill making its way through the California legislature gives the DMV permission to work with companies creating so-called “Smart Plates.” These license plates are small, pre-programmed screens. During normal operation of the automobile, plate displays the license plate number. If you stop for 3 or four seconds, it will display something else. The idea is that these plates will be able to display advertising, a personalized message, or anything else that could be put into pixels.

Reasons for the e-plate to be a good idea

The California Assembly is set on the DELP for one reason: budget. A $ 19 billion spending budget hole has left the state looking for any and every way to bring in extra cash. With more than 32 million registered automobiles in the state, these e-plates would give advertisers millions of new opportunities to pay the state for advertising. These e-plates would also give the chance for residents to pay more money for ultra-personalization on their cars. Budget wins.

Why the Digital Electronic License Plate is a bad idea

Though the state budget of California may benefit from approving DLEP e-plates, it may eventually cost the state even more money. First, these electronic license plates would change your license plate at the press of a button – certainly attractive to those who like to speed, red-light runners and criminals of all types who could hack their plates to make their numbers obstructed or invisible. Would it really be good to have each car be a billboard ad? What business wants to be the one known for causing crashes? Would you would like to see more ads in town? There are also concerns about property rights. Does the state have the rights to sell space on private property for advertisements the drivers wouldn’t even make a cent on?

What do you think about the idea?

Small businesses will be able to qualify for new small loans

With an estimated cost of $ 7 billion over the last 10 years, Congress has passed a package of small business stimulus measures. This should be able to spur lending, increase tax cuts, and provide new equity financing. This bill is in response to the increasing costs that come from starting a business, and will be overseen by the Treasury’s inspector general.

Resource for this article: Small Businesses to qualify for new small loans Personal Money Store

Small business bill cuts taxes

The small business bill is a combined bill that closes a whole bunch of tax loopholes and renews tax cuts for small businesses. There would be $ 3.6 billion in tax breaks for small businesses to be implemented within the next 10 years. The tax breaks can be paid for by increases in tax for large businesses. Those with small businesses can deduct startup costs from their taxes. This provision of the bill began as a separate measure in Congress, but is being combined as it is sent to the Senate.

Additional money to flow to small businesses

The small business lending bill will likely create 3 major avenues for small businesses to get money. First, there would be a $ 30 billion fund of “preferred stock” that banks would be allowed to tap based on their lending to farms and all of the small businesses. There would also be $ 2 billion given to states to help increase state-funded loans to many different small businesses. Third, the Small Business Administration would be allowed to try and match $ 1 billion of private investment in startups.

Small business bill getting paid for

In order to pay for the estimated $ 7 billion cost of the small loan for businesses bill, the government can have to increase some taxes. Specifically, tax breaks for Grantor-Retained Annuity Trusts — trusts set up to stay away from taxes on gifts — can be rescinded. Also, there will be taxes on the sale of some stock that would be increased to the point of standard income taxes as opposed to capital gains taxes.

Vote on the small business bill

On a 241-182 vote, the small business bill passed. The bill is now being combined with the $ 3.6 billion tax-cut bill that is for small businesses and will go to the Senate. The bill is expected to pass the Senate, though not effortlessly. Some Senate Republicans are arguing that this bill is really “another bank bailout” masquerading as a small business stimulus package. Democrats counter that the bill takes an extremely balanced approach to traditional and non-traditional lending for new businesses.

15 million pounds of pre-cooked pasta affected by SpaghettiOs recall

Last night, Campbell Soup Business put out a SpaghettiOs recall that affects approximately 15 million pounds of the canned pasta product. The SpaghettiOs recall is not because of any kind of reported illnesses, but was issued “out of an abundance of caution.” Three types of SpaghettiOs are incorporated in the recall, all because they may contain undercooked meats.

Source for this article: SpaghettiOs recall affects 15 million pounds of pre-cooked pasta by Personal Money Store

Products of the SpaghettiOs recall

The 3 products incorporated in the SpaghettiOs recall are all 14.75-ounce cans, that are stamped with the code EST 4K and a “use by” date between June 2010 and December 2011. The 3 products are:

• SpaghettiOs with Meatballs with the product code U5
• SpaghettiOs A to Z with Meatballs with the product code 4N
• SpaghettiOs “Cars” Fun Shapes with Meatballs with the product code KS.

Department of Agriculture inspection spurs SpaghettiOs recall

The SpaghettiOs recall is being announced in conjunction with Campbell Soup Business and also with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service. The FSIS was completing a routine safety inspection of the Campbell warehouse in Paris, Texas when they discovered that some meats within the SpaghettiOs recall were undercooked. People can get sick off of undercooked canned meats.

SpaghettiOs recall costs

The cost of any kind of food recall can very easily and very easily run to the millions of dollars. A can of SpaghettiOs sells regularly for about 80 cents. Back-of-the-envelope calculations explain that at 15 ounces apiece, the company is recalling about 16 million cans of SpaghettiOs. They are offering to refund or replace any SpaghettiOs recalled – which puts just the product cost at $ 12.8 million, retail. Add onto that the cost of announcing, administering and recovering from the recall. In other words, one malfunctioning cooker that was not repaired in almost 18 months will cost the company $ 13 million or more. The company’s stock has also been steadily losing value today, though until today it was recovering well fr! om the 2009 stock market fall.

What to do if you’re affected by the SpaghettiOs recall

If you were a part of the recall, return the SpaghettiOs to the store where you got them. The store should give you a full replacement or refund. You can also call the Campbell’s hotline at 866-495-3774 for a lot more data.

Overturned by judge with oil business holdings was the drilling moratorium

A federal judge overturned the six-month deep water drilling moratorium within the Gulf of Mexico. The ruling that was issued on Tuesday cited economic hardship as a result of the ban and said the government overreached by suspending all deep-water drilling operations either in progress or prepared in the gulf. Oil companies decided to hail the ruling. The Department of Justice said it would quickly appeal the decision. During that exact same time, as the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010 gushed for the 63rd day, about 106 million gallons of crude and counting have spilled into the sea.

Source for this article: Drilling moratorium overturned by judge with oil company holdings by Personal Money Store

Possibility of drilling moratorium judge being invested in oil

The drilling moratorium was overturned by Judge Martin L.C. Feldman after a group of oil rig service companies filed a complaint. According to ABC News, recent disclosure documents indicate that Feldman, who was appointed to the bench by Ronald Reagan, has had financial holdings in oil companies. Feldman said the Interior Department acted as though it were “arbitrarily and capriciously” when it issued a six-month moratorium on drilling new deep-water wells within the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean. Feldman granted a preliminary injunction to Hornbeck Offshore Services to lift the drilling moratorium, saying that he believed the government “failed to cogently reflect the decision to issue a blanket, generic, indeed punitive, moratorium.”

More deep-water drilling uncertain

The moratorium was imposed to give a presidential panel time to come up with recommendations on how to stay away from a future oil spill disaster. According to the Los Angeles Times, it remains uncertain whether the Interior Department would have to start issuing new permits to drill. With an appeal virtually certain to have come from the Obama administration, some analysts are doubting that oil companies would want to start a major deep-water drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico with the possibility it may have to shut down if the appeal succeeds.

Oil companies want to spin drilling moratorium

On today's ruling, the American Petroleum Institute explained in a written statement, “The moratorium was an initial reaction to concerns about the safety of offshore oil and natural gas operations. However, an extended moratorium would have a tremendous impact on the nation’s energy security – and cause significant harm to the region of the country that was already suffering from the spill – without raising safety or improving industry procedures.”

BP oil spill containment failure

Within the meantime CNN reports that government estimates indicate as much as 60,000 barrels (2.5 million gallons) of oil may be flowing into the Gulf every day, and the gusher has already taken a serious toll on tourism and the fishing industry in Gulf Coast states. BP said Tuesday it had succeeded in collecting less than half of the estimated daily output: 25,830 barrels (1.08 million gallons) of oil over the past 24 hours. The amount is probably the most ever collected; the previous record was set June 18 when 25,290 barrels were collected. BP said it will donate net revenues it receives from the sale of oil recovered from the spill to help the National Fish and Wildlife Federation deal with the oil it won’t be collecting from the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010.

Read a lot more on this topic here
ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Politics/gulf-oil-spill-disaster-judge-overrules-white-house/story?id=10983980&page=2

Los Angeles times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-moratorium-20100623,,7804590.story

CNN

cnn.com/2010/US/06/22/gulf.oil.disaster/index.html?npt=NP1

Keep away from credit card debt relief scams by doing it yourself

During this wrenching, endless period of economic doldrums, debt relief and debt reduction scams have spread like wildfire. The terrible economy has put millions of people in financial trouble and one of the biggest troubles is credit card debt. Predatory debt relief companies promising peace of mind are seeking out individuals drowning in debt. Even so-called legitimate debt reduction services charge hefty fees for something people can do themselves with financial discipline and effort.

Article Resource: Do not fall for credit card debt relief scams, just do it yourself by Personal Money Store

Debt relief dangers

Most companies offering debt reduction services pitch debt reduction services where you pay down existing debts with another loan. Offering to negotiate with your creditors for an amount less than you owe is an additional tactic. In many cases just taking your upfront fee is all that matters, not really reducing your debt. An essential thing to realize is that paying less than you owe is listed on your credit report as failure to pay in full, which damages your credit score.

Debt relief in disguise

It should be no secret that numerous companies promising to help consumers overwhelmed by credit card and other debts are financial predators that charge high fees but deliver little or nothing in return. The Los Angeles Times reports that investigators for the Government Accountability Office posed as distressed consumers seeking help from debt management companies. Sometimes promising debt reduction of up to 50 cents on the dollar, the companies made wild exaggerations of their success rates.

Debt relief deception

Big upfront fees—as much as a number of thousand dollars—collected by debt relief companies often leave their customers worse off than they were before. MSNBC tells the story of a woman in North Carolina who was promised by a debt management business that they would lower her interest rates enough to pay back credit card, mortgage and car loan debt three to five times faster. She was assured that for $ 499 she would save $ 2,500, and savings from lower interest rates within the first 30 days would more than cover the fee. The Federal Trade Commission sued the firm after they refused to refund the $ 499 fee after failing to deliver on those promises.

A common debt relief ruse

A common trick played by debt relief scam artists today is “government approval”. Within the exact same article, the Los Angeles Times reports that statements made by debt management companies to GAO investigators, as well as their ads, show the firms try leading people to believe they are administrators of a government program related to the bank bailout. One of these companies with a prominent Internet presence is called The "Federal Debt Relief Program". "U.S. National Debt Relief Plan" is one more.

Debt relief independence

There are hundreds of debt reduction and debt relief companies infesting the Internet, but there’s no government-backed credit card debt relief program. Desperate people in troubled times are fodder for a huge industry with a predatory business model. The best way to debt reduction is to get on a budget, pay down your debt and pay your bills on time. Individuals don't need a debt management business to negotiate with creditors or refinance loans when they can do it themselves.

The best debt relief advice is free

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling is a good place to start if you need help with debt problems. Free, confidential debt management help for everyone who needs it is available at this non-profit community organization. Advice is accessible either over the phone or in person from the NFCC. The site nfcc.org can connect you with a counselor inside your area.

Read more on this topic here

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com

NFCC

nfcc.org

What the Sony Dash doesn’t and does

Not quite an iPad, not quite a laptop and not quite an alarm clock, the Sony Dash is showing up at the top of a lot of Father’s Day gift lists. The Sony Dash is one of the most expensive and interactive alarm clock you will ever purchase. The Sony Dash can connect you to the web and run applications although it is pricey.

Article Source: What the Sony Dash does and doesn’t By Personal Money Store

Sony Dash features

The tech specs of the Sony Dash first of all. Although a battery version is coming, the device is plug in only. There is a seven-inch touch screen, with power and “snooze” buttons along the top. 800 x 480 pixels are within the display. The processor has 500 MHz and has 256 MB of RAM. There are built-in stereo speakers and WiFi connections. There is a Chumby-based interface with the operating system is Linux.

The Sony Dash and what it does

At first glance, the Sony Dash is basically designed as an alarm clock media center. Along with Youtube videos, the Sony Dash will play Pandora and Netflix.Depending on thedeveloped applications you download, you can also access Twitter, Facebook and other social networking applications.You need wireless internet access in your house to use it. The Sony Dash is just an expensive alarm without wireless internet.

What the Sony Dash doesn’t

The Sony Dash, like all good things, has limitations. You have to stay next to a power outlet since it doesn't have a battery. There is also no programming solution for streaming or downloading your own content; you can only stream things off the internet. Third, the Sony Dash doesn’t necessarily log you into all your preferred applications; you may have to go to your Sony Dash account on a computer to do so.

Getting the Sony Dash for someone

For a hardcore computer user, the Sony Dash would likely be little a lot more than an expensive toy. For others that only use computers occasionally to look at pictures and watch a TV show, though, the Sony Dash may be a great option. The only major limitation is that without a pre-existing wireless internet connection, the Sony Dash is useless.

Unless you can discover a neighbor that is willing to share wifi with you, the device will set you back about $ 250 with connections.

Is suction or gravity better to change your oil?

Changing your oil seems like it should be relatively simple. Empty the engine of oil, then replace the filter and oil. It's becoming more popular to change your oil with a suction or siphon method, though. Is the suction method as good as the traditional oil change?

Article Source: Suction vs. gravity – What is the best way to change your oil? By Car Deal Expert

A standard oil change

Most oil changes, since the earliest autos, have relied on gravity to get the oil out of the engine. There is a drain plug at the bottom of the engine that could be removed. The engine drains oil when the plug is removed. Mechanics will probably use this process to change oil, depending on where you go. In theory, the sludge and gunk that settles within the oil pan is a lot more likely to get drained out with this system.

Using suction oil changes

Within the SkyMall catalog and in some quick-change lube shops, siphoning oil machines are making an appearance. The dipstick tube is used to suck or siphon all the oil out of the engine with these machines. As long as the oil filter is nevertheless changed each and every time, these machines supposedly work also as gravity oil changes. Some claim that these oil changes even get a lot more oil out of the engine and make it cleaner. Others, though, worry that the suction method of changing the oil might miss some of one of the most important parts of an oil change.

Should you use a suction oil change?

As long as you regularly change your oil, suction and gravity will probably work equally well. You should always make certain that an oil change involves a filter change. Check with your mechanic or quick-lube shop to find out what method they use to change the oil – or even ask to look at, if you'd like. Essentially, unless you're looking for incredibly high performance, just make sure to change your oil.

Driving etiquette is a spotlight on safety

Driving etiquette may sound like something every person should already know and doesn't really matter, but the reality is that showing consideration for others who occupy the highway is not only polite, but necessary for safety’s sake. As a Thinkquest entry on driving etiquette says, “Everyone appreciates the good manners of a driver who: Signals his turns, makes his stops smoothly and gradually pulls into the proper lane well before making a turn.” This will keep the lives of the driver and other's out of harm's way.

Source for this article: Driving etiquette – Spotlight on safety By Car Deal Expert

Driver etiquette will show you how to act with other drivers

Not only should drivers be obeying the speed limits, they should not attempt to “shoot the fruit” and barrel through a traffic signal just before it turns red. If drivers are alert to road conditions, they will typically notice a changing traffic light in plenty of time to make a smooth, safe stop utilizing relaxed braking. Too many accidents happen when trying to beat a red light. Proper driving etiquette can help cut down the number of accidents. That means you’ll need to signal correctly to those around you. In bad weather, when high-beam headlights are necessary, dim those when one more driving passes within the opposite direction. High beams make it hard to see causing accidents. If an accident does occur and the drivers are unharmed, be prepared to share insurance info and refrain from name-calling or admission of fault.

Don’t drive while distracted or intoxicated

We all know that driving while intoxicated is irresponsible, dangerous and criminal. Drug and alcohol impair a driver's judgment and response times. About.com notes that, while somewhat controversial, marijuana should also be considered a drug that temporarily damages driving ability. There are many research projects like the recent Hartford Hospital study in Connecticut cited by Click On Detroit indicate that “the results do not imply that it is safe to drive under the influence of marijuana.”

Distracted driving could be equally dangerous, if not more than it is when drunk. A recent Associated Content article regarding road rage explains that multitasking while driving isn’t really a good idea for most people, if not all. Cell phones, makeup, video games, television and a host of other distractions can make good driving etiquette difficult. How can you drive when you’re paying attention to texting?

Be careful while practicing driving etiquette

Read a lot more on this topic here

Thinkquest.org

library.thinkquest.org/2993/drivin.htm

Associated Content

associatedcontent.com/article/355526/driving_etiquette_for_everybody.html?cat=27

About.com

alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjkids_faq13.htm

Click On Detroit

clickondetroit.com/news/23818884/detail.html

Billionaires urged by Gates and Buffet to give away half their money

Billionaires give away money all the time. When Bill Gates and Warren Buffet give away money, it's old new. But when billionaires Gates and Buffett call out their fellow billionaires to pledge 50 percent of their fortunes to charity, people tend to notice. The billionaire philanthropists announced a campaign Wednesday that is here to persuade America’s billionaires to sign a “Giving Pledge” to donate most of their wealth to the causes of their choice.

Source for this article: Gates and Buffett urge billionaires to give away half their money

The charity pledge for Gates and Buffet

The latest Gates Buffett charity drive is called “The Giving Pledge.” The Associated Press reports the two men are asking the super-rich to sign a pledge making a public statement that they’ll donate either during their lifetime or at the time of their death to the charities of their choice. Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said in a letter introducing The Giving Pledge that he could not be happier with the decision he made in 2006, when he gave 99 percent of his roughly $ 47 billion fortune to charity.

Some billionaire philanthropists

Buffett will eventually split most of his shares of his business between five charitable foundations, with the largest sum going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Reuters reports that Bill and Melinda Gates have given more than $ 28 billion of their money to their foundation. Given that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation began in 1994, it has given away a lot more than $ 22 billion for health improvements in poor countries and to improve access to education and career opportunities for many different Americans.

The real billionaire list

On the billionaire list, Bill Gates actually held the title of world’s richest 14 of the past 15 years. He was beat out for number one on the billionaire list in 2010 by Mexican tycoon Slim Helu, whose fortune swelled by $ 18.5 billion in 12 months to an estimated $ 53.5 billion. Gates is now sadly ranked as the second richest man in the world with $ 53 billion, while Buffett came in at No. 3 with $ 47 billion.

Will billionaires give money away?

The U.S. has around 400 billionaires — the most in the world — with a net worth Forbes estimates at $ 1.2 trillion. If Buffett and Gates could convince America’s billionaires to give half their fortunes to charity it would completely transform the nature of philanthropy. Fortune, which broke the story, reports that IRS facts for 2007 show the 400 biggest taxpayers had a total adjusted income of $ 138 billion, and just more than $ 11 billion was taken as a charitable deduction – that is about 8 percent. If all the billionaires give money away, however unlikely, there would be about $ 69 billion to flood the coffers for the common good.

Gates Buffet charity goals

The campaign began just over a year ago, when Gates and Buffett — who represent a combined net worth of $ 90 billion, according to Forbes — invited several billionaires to a secret dinner meeting in New York. MSNBC reports the group settled on a goal of only 50 percent of their net worth. Givinpledge.org is the website they set up to promote the campaign. If the individuals on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans pledged half their net worth to charity, that would amount to $ 600 billion.

Citations

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h23rkKsJ_qiBk01fiixWfsYsj_rgD9GCG4700

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65F5CC20100616

Fortune

features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/06/16/gates-buffett-600-billion-dollar-philanthropy-challenge/

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/37731478/ns/us_news-giving/

BP claims a lack of big spills has hurt oil spill cleanup

Just lately, Tom Costello interviewed BP Exploration and Production Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles on the “Today” show regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, he asked Suttles for what his response was to the rapidly circulating info that oil spill cleanup technology is woefully behind the times, making the oil spill cleanup painfully inefficient. The response was that few oil spills makes technology hard to come by. “There are so few big spills,” he told Costello, “and events haven’t driven the technology change.”

Resource for this article: BP claims a lack of big spills has hurt oil spill cleanup By Personal Money Store

It takes an oil spill to motivate BP to have proper oil spill cleanup technology?

The lack of foresight by BP on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill – or lack of enough motivation to invest in preventative oil spill cleanup technology methods – appears to be really clear. What is also clear is the financial effect the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has had on BP and also the economies of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. According to NBC New York, BP has already spent $1.6 billion on the spill response and related claims. Projections for future costs and liabilities extend into the $60 to $70 billion range, although the final figure will depend upon knowing the full extent of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill damage. BP's loss in share price isn't even considered in this. Their market capitalization, reports NBC New York, has fallen by $90 billion (about 50 percent) . It is easy to imagine BP CEO Tony Hayward barking “I need money now”, but all the local economies need it even more. The cost to local economies which were ve! ry damaged by the oil spill will also reach into the billions of dollars, experts predict.

I get to be the Gulf of Mexico walrus

Clearly, dealing with an oil spill is not high on BP’s list of priorities. Otherwise, they would have been prepared for Deepwater Horizon. According to the Associated Press, the 582-page regional oil spill cleanup plan for the Gulf of Mexico region and a shorter document addressing the specific Deepwater Horizon event are littered with “mistakes and erroneous assumptions.” Among these are incorrect contact info for consulted marine life specialists (one of whom actually died in 2005, four years before the larger document was filed). But not being able to contact sources is perhaps for the best, as BP is claiming the walrus is found there. Walruses tend to live in cold-water areas like Alaska, not within the Gulf of Mexico. In what amounted to a weak defense, Doug Suttles claimed that the document specifically labeled for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill addressed “all impacted species,” instead of ones that really inhabit the region. This is illo! gical on BP's part.

Not enough oil spills to advance technology? Try doing the math, BP

According to Wikipedia (which is hardly a super-secret source of details), there have been 49 oil spills that have been recorded worldwide since the year 2000. About 24 happened within the US. If that amounts to “too few oil spills,” then BP needs to go back to school for a healthy dose of perspective and basic reasoning skills. Take a look at the Rachel Maddow video below if you need any kind of help, BP – she points out some of the major U.S. spills on a map.

Read a lot more on this topic here

NBC New York

nbcnewyork.com/news/breaking/BP_has_plenty_of_money_to_pay_spill_damages-96366344.html

NOLA.com

nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/06/as_bp_promised_the_walruses_ar.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oil_spills

Seattle cop punches woman after jaywalking stop

Seattle police have had a difficult time within the media the past 12 months, and the latest “cop punches woman” incident does not help matters. Back in November 2009, Deputy Paul Schene was videotaped beating then 15-year-old Malika Calhoun when she was in her jail cell. Schene’s actions prompted a civil rights investigation. Now Seattle Police Officer Ian P. Walsh, 39, has become the subject of a “cop punches woman” viral video. What started as a routine jaywalking stop outside Seattle’s Franklin High School easily escalated into a situation that required that Walsh restrain 17-year-old Angel Rosenthal. Rosenthal resisted and Officer Walsh reacted. Yet as numerous media sources indicate, the justification of Walsh’s response – a punch to Rosenthal’s face – has come into question.

Source for this article: Seattle cop punches woman after jaywalking stop

Cop punches woman, Seattle Police get the black eye

The jaywalking stop that preceded the “cop punches woman” event didn’t even involve Angel Rosenthal. Officer Ian Walsh had stopped some 18-year-old male for jaywalking across Martin Luther King Jr. Way South. Rosenthal and her friend, 19-year-old Marilyn Ellen Levias – as well as two other young women – reportedly committed their own act of jaywalking right in from of Officer Walsh while he was addressing the young male. Walsh then clearly instructed the females to step over to his automobile, and at that time, according to police officials, the girls became “verbally antagonistic.”

Once Levias began to walk away, Walsh approached so he could physically escort her back to the scene. Once Levias attempted to escape and started screaming, Walsh attempted to restrain and handcuff her. At this point, Angel Rosenthal interceded, “causing the officer to believe she was attempting to physically affect the first subject’s escape,” reports the New York Daily News. Video footage that came from the scene shows that as Officer Walsh attempted to restrain Rosenthal, she screamed and pushed as tempers flared. "Cop punches woman" started an urgent headline. Both Levias and Rosenthal were taken into custody. They may need cash now for bail and legal representation.

Teens ordered not to struggle

Officer Ian Walsh’s instructions not to struggle failed to defuse the emotional responses of Levias and Rosenthal, who reportedly both have criminal records. Deputy Chief Nick Metz told Seattle’s King 5 News that while there are “concerns about the tactics the officer used,” the full context leading up to the “cop punches woman” incident must be taken into account in any investigation of Walsh’s adherence to police procedure. Currently, Seattle Police are withholding judgment on Ian Walsh’s actions until a full investigation could be completed by the Office of Professional Accountability, as outlined by the Sky Valley Chronicle. Sadly, as the ACLU Washington State branch site suggests, this supposedly independent investigatory committee “lacks teeth” (it is headed by a civilian auditor, but nevertheless a branch of the Seattle Police Department) and really just seems to be a waste of costly man hours for largely! perfunctory investigations, as outlined by the ACLU’s estimation.

Walsh 'did nothing wrong' as outlined by Rich O'Neill

Seattle Police union president Rich O’Neill told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that not only did Officer Ian Walsh not commit wrongdoing, but “he maybe waited just a little too long to engage in force” in his attempts to defuse what video footage proves to be a growing issue. Following the police finish the investigation, a lot more news could be available.

A lot more info on this topic

New York Daily News

nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/06/16/2010-06-16_seattle_cop_punches_woman_in_face_over_routine_jaywalking_stop.html

Sky Valley Chronicle

skyvalleychronicle.com/FEATURE-NEWS/SEATTLE-POLICE-TO-REVIEW-TRAINING-PROCEDURES-IN-LIGHT-OF-RECENT-PUNCH-VIDEO

ACLU Washington

new.aclu-wa.org/news/seattle-report-independent-office-police-accountability

Every T-Mobile phone is free on June 19?

The rumor mill is running high speed about the possibility of a T-Mobile free phone on June 19. The information of the promotion T-Mobile could be running on June 19 have been, until now, kept very quiet. A leaked commercial script and other indications seem to say the sale could be a T-Mobile free phone. The T-Mobile free phone comes with a couple of caveats, however.

Resource for this article: T-Mobile free phone – All phones free on June 19 By Personal Money Store

T-Mobile free phone promotion

The T-Mobile free phone promotion seems to be set to go live on June 19. The T-Mobile gossip site TMONews got and posted the commercial script. The T-Mobile commercial script seems entirely legitimate and highlights the T-Mobile free phone promotion. Reading the script seems to confirm that T-Mobile free phones can be any phone within the store on June 19. One major piece of supporting evidence is that all T-Mobile stores will open at 8 a.m. on July 19.

T-Mobile free phone sale details

The T-Mobile free phone sale will be offering every phone within the T-Mobile store for free. You won't be getting a free T-Mobile phone just for walking to the store, though. A family plan with T-Mobile – as a new contract or as an upgrade – is required to get the T-Mobile free phone.

Cost comparison for the T-Mobile free phone sale

You will find numerous individuals very anxious about the possibility of a free T-Mobile phone on June 19. Currently, with-contract phone prices at T-Mobile run anywhere from free to $ 199.99. If you are already considering switching to a family plan, then the T-Mobile free phone sale could certainly save you a couple of hundred dollars. Keep in mind, nevertheless, that even the least costly family-share plan on T-Mobile is $ 60 a month, and a family-share plan on T-Mobile that has smartphone data can be as expensive as $ 140 a month. Basically, if you were planning on switching plans anyway, June 19 would be a great time to do so.

Read A lot more

TMONews.com

T-Mobile.com

BillShrink.com

Cap and trade definition threatens passage of climate change bill

Cap and trade, by definition, is an anchor of the current climate and energy bill under debate in Congress. The cap and trade definition is elusive to most people not directly involved in utilities, petrochemicals or manufacturing. To understand cap and trade, think of it as a system designed to create and regulate a market for carbon, or Co2, the principal greenhouse gas.

Resource for this article: Cap and trade definition threatens passage of climate change bill

Cap and trade and its definition

The cap and trade definition in the climate and energy bill proposes that the government needs to be setting a limit on the amount of carbon that could be released into the atmosphere. US companies are given permits allowing them to release certain amounts of carbon. If companies use less carbon, they can sell unused carbon on the open market. Companies with carbon emissions that exceed their permits must buy them from cleaner companies offering their leftovers for sale.

Cap and trade and national energy policy

Cap and trade appears to be a very controversial provision that threatens to derail the climate and energy bill in its present form. When Democrats think it is a fair way to regulate pollution, Republicans say cap and trade is a tax on business that will kill jobs. With the advent of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and its impact it will have on national energy policy, cap and trade has become a political hot potato. So much so that President Obama avoided even the slightest mention of the term in his Oval Office speech about national energy policy Tuesday covering the oil spill, energy legislation and also the government’s role in regulating greenhouse gases.

Carbon emissions limit

Carbon emissions targets are nearly identical in both Senate and House versions of the climate and energy bill. PBS reports that regulated industries must reduce their carbon emissions by 17 percent (when it is being in contrast to 2005 levels) by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050. The Senate version has added a “dividend,” or rebate, approach returning some of the revenue generated by trading the pollution permits back to consumers in the form of energy rebates. Those regulated industries are able to contain electric utilities, petrochemical refiners, manufacturing and heavy industry. Each has a very strict deadline for entering the carbon market: utilities start at the beginning of 2013, while natural gas providers and heavy industry enter in 2016.

Cap and trade with various arguments

Cap and trade legislation has generated bitter disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over the climate and energy bill. CBS News reports that cap and trade makes the future of the climate and energy bill uncertain because it will make energy a lot more costly for anybody to ever use. The parties disagree on how expense this could be. The U.S. Department of Treasury says the new taxes would have to be between $100 billion to $200 billion a year.

Costs of cap and trade

At the upper end of the administration’s estimate, the cost of cap and trade per American household would probably be an extra $1,761 a year. John Boehner has estimated the additional tax bill would be at $366 billion a year, or $3,100 a year per family. Personal income tax revenues bring in around $1.37 trillion a year. A $200 billion additional tax would be just like a 15 percent personal tax increase a year.

Benefits of cap and trade

Priorities is what cap and trade boils down to. Some see the issue only in black and white: either reduce the rate of global warming, or protect a fragile economy. Cap and trade won't be that simple as numerous things aren't. Ecomil.com reports that climate and energy legislation can reduce carbon dioxide by a lot more than 80 percent of 2005 emission levels by 2050, and this may also be able to significantly reduce the rate of global warming. The system plans to create billions of dollars for the government to spend on roads, national parks and personal checks to offset household energy costs.

Catch up with China

What numerous fear about cap and trade is that if businesses and corporations are punished for their pollution emissions, consumers will pay the price. Supply and demand isn't something energy responds to. Prices might go up by utility companies to cover production costs. Meanwhile, countries like China are actually investing in clean energy industries of the future, while Americans sit around arguing about things like cap and trade. No solution is going to be perfect, given that any House or Senate bill is full of special-interest goodies and public giveaways to win votes. Well at least it's a good start.

Read more on this topic here

PBS
pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/carbonwatch/2010/06/the-american-power-act-cap-and-trade-20.html
CBS News
cbsnews.com/8301-504383_162-5314040-504383.html
ecomil.com
ecomii.com/ecopedia/cap-and-trade

Cut your food spending budget down to size – Finding a less expensive protein

The average grocery bill for a family of four within the United States is anywhere from $586 to $1,159. Meat makes up for forty percent or more of that budget. With food costs expected to rise quickly within the next five years, cutting your grocery budget is one step many families are investigating. Eating cheaper shouldn't mean eating less healthy.

Resource for this article: Finding a cheaper protein – Cut your grocery spending budget down to size

The math behind an affordable diet

A healthy cheap diet does not necessarily mean a diet that takes a lot more work. While a few $1 burgers at a fast food joint seem like a great option to eat cheaply, they are actually expensive. A family of four eats 360 meals each month. A liberal food budget of $1,159 means each meal should be no a lot more than $3.22. One easy way to cut down on how much you spend is simple: eat less meat.

The idea of 'weekday vegetarian'

Though going vegetarian entirely is cheaper often, it isn't a move individuals want to make. Cutting meat out of even part of your daily diet, though, can cut a lot more than $200 a month out of your food spending budget. You can in addition try making meat a smaller portion of your meal – the USDA recommended serving size for meat is just 3 ounces, not the five to eight that most Americans eat. Your pocketbook will thank you if you eat just a little less meat.

What things to eat then?

If you’re not consuming meat, that does not mean that your vegetables should replace every little thing inside your diet (though more vegetables never hurt everyone). Protein helps you to feel satisfied after a meal though. Protein needs to replace the meat somehow. Replace your meat with:

• Rice and beans – about 20 cents per serving
• Hummus – about 30 cents per serving
• Lentils with a nut sauce – 45 cents per serving
• 25 cents per serving – oatmeal with milk

The basic idea is to blend legumes, grains and nuts or seeds together during the day. Protein isn't made out of these three groups alone. Together, any two do.

Operation Sunset to end money lenders in Arizona

In June of 2000, the Arizona legislature approved a bill that gave personal loan company just about 10 years of authorization to operate within the state. In November of 2008, Arizona voters defeated a ballot proposition that would have extended this authorization . Payday loans direct lender won't be able to legally operate as of June 30, 2010.

Resource for this article: Operation Sunset to end loan company in Arizona

New lending limits in the state of Arizona

Lenders may have new regulations June 30, 2010. All loans, including any of the short term personal loan, will be limited to 36 percent interest plus 5 percent for administrative expenses. Auto title lending is a form of short term credit that will still be available to customers in Arizona. The Arizona attorney general has set up a Facebook page and tip line where they’re encouraging all of the citizens to report any lenders they believe are operating outside the new legal framework.

Arizona payday lender effects

Currently, there are 75 companies in Arizona with licenses to operate pay day loans stores. You will find 650 operating locations out of these 75 companies. Of those storefront locations, about 200 have filed applications to convert their licenses to auto loans for bad credit businesses or pre-paid debit card businesses. Some companies have indicated they intend to stay open and will try to offer short-term credit that comes at the 36 percent interest rate cap. However, most stores will shut down. In the state, about 1,000 jobs can be lost. The Arizona Operation Sunset representatives have stated the Attorney General will be scrutinizing the terms and conditions of all short-term credit transactions.

Reality of payday lending in Arizona

Arizona’s Operation Sunset says that by forcing payday lending out of business in the state of Arizona, it is helping improve the financial stability of state citizens. A recent study by UC-Davis, however, found that short-term credit is apparently too costly and risky for banks and credit unions to offer. Short-term credit markets often provide businesses the money to pay their bills, make payroll and the money they have to operate on a day-to-day basis. Similarly, short term credit and other financial services that numerous payday lenders offer are very useful for numerous individuals, including those who cannot or choose not to have bank accounts.

Read more on this topic here

AZCentral.com
azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2010/06/10/20100610payday0610.html
Arizona Attorney General’s Office
azag.gov/operation_sunset/
Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hd4oR9WzL2f3xLfVj38DYSFLPJkQD9G83P9O0

Google users demand removal of Google background image

Google has started a new program where users can add a background to their search page in addition to their iGoogle. The background of the search page this morning was made semi-permanent. This move has left many users asking how to remove the Google background. Removing the image, though, was not initially as simple as Google tools generally are. Before Google returned the primary page to the white background, but many users chose alternatives instead of seeing the image.

Source for this article: Google background image – Numerous wanted to remove the Google background

How Google announced the background image

The Google background image was officially announced on the Google blog this morning. Google claims the background image will not slow load times at all. This image was put on the Google homepage for a short amount of time, to highlight the new feature.

The steps to remove the Google background image

Not all users are happy about this change, and just how to remove the Google background image is the biggest question of the day on the Google forums. The Google instructions on this matter are, sadly, unclear. Google claims the “remove background image” link within the bottom left hand corner will return things to normal. However, this “remove Google background image” option does not appear unless you first have a Google account, and 2nd set a custom Google background image. The accessible link if you don't change your image is just "change background image.” In other words, there is no way to totally remove the Google background image – at least for today.

Alternative Google homepages see traffic spike

The Google background image might be removed from the homepage only by Google. You are able to work around seeing the Google background image, though. There are two alternate Google homepages you are able to use that do not have the Google background image: http://www.google.com/firefox and also the Google SSL Beta search page. Toolbars and built-in searches account for the majority of Google searches , which is what helps justify the $ 484 stock price.

Strong increase in truck driving and auto industry jobs forecasted

As much as 400,000 truck driving jobs and an upcoming labor shortage in the U.S. auto industry promise to put a small dent in the U.S. unemployment rate. The trucking and auto industries were hit hard by the recession. But jobs in both industries are coming back as the U.S. economy inches toward recovery. The U.S. trucking industry is already seeing driver shortages in some markets. Over the next few years the U.S. auto industry could see a labor shortage also.

Article Resource: Truck driving jobs and auto industry jobs to surge in near future By Personal Money Store

a full load of truck driving jobs

Overall the U.S. trucking industry lost almost 150,000 truck driving jobs given that the start of 2008. But the industry will create about 200,000 new truck driving jobs by the end of this year. Another 200,000 will be added next year, according to the state of logistics report from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The need for more truck drivers is being created for numerous reasons, CNNMoney.com reports, including retirements, tougher safety rules to get rid of bad drivers and replacing laid off truckers.

Auto industry jobs demand new skills

Given that 2008, the U.S. auto industry saw 228,000 jobs lost. But trends point toward an addition of about 15,000 jobs this year and up to 100,000 new auto industry jobs a year from 2011 through 2013 as the industry recovers from the recession, as outlined by the Center for Automotive Research|The Center for Automotive Research sees job numbers trending upward as the industry recovers toward about 15,000 in 2010 and an additional 100,000 new auto industry jobs each year through 2013|In a dramatic reversal, the Center for Automotive research forecasts 15,000 new jobs this year and an additional 100,000 a year through 2013 as the industry recovers from the recession}. USA Today reports the underperforming union workers who lost their jobs as the U.S. auto industry imploded won't be coming back. Auto industry jobs on the factory floor are demanding a higher level of different abilities than within the past, including computer skills and also the ability to take the lead w! ithout supervision. That likely means education beyond high school.

Not easy filling truck driver jobs

Rosalyn Wilson, author of the report featured on CNNMoney.com, said that even with a 9.7 percent U.s. unemployment rate, truck driving jobs could be difficult to fill. It’s not an attractive profession for people who want to be home with their family at the end of the work day. Truck driver salaries were at a $ 37, 730 median as of May 2009. Wages will likely increase because truck drivers are paid by the mile, and more miles and less drivers are expected.

Find a lot more information on this topic

CNNMoney.com

usatoday.com

Stephen Strasburg debut tonight has baseball world buzzing

The first pick within the 2009 MLB Draft, previous San Diego State ace Stephen Strasburg is ready to challenge Major League hitters with his 103 mph fastball, 90 mph slider and off-speed pitches. He’s the kind of pitcher a team can conceivably build around, according to scouts. Now it is time for the building to begin, as Stephen Strasburg makes his debut within the Major Leagues. His first start could be at 7:05 p.m. Eastern tonight against a Pittsburgh Pirates that is no pushover. According to MLB.com, the game has been sold out ever given that the Nationals announced Strasburg’s debut date a month ago.

Source for this article: Stephen Strasburg debut tonight has baseball world buzzing

Stephen Strasburg: Really good, but not reality-altering

A humorous blog post on The Washington Post site suggests that 21-year-old Stephen Strasburg has pitches that defy physical laws. Legend goes that Stephen Strasburg’s pitches can freeze in midair or blink out of existence and instantly appear behind the hitter’s hindquarters. The point of the hilarity is that when Strasburg is good, the hype has gotten out of control. Of the 200 members of the press who will be covering the Stephen Strasburg start this evening, it is conceivable that when many will recognize that Stephen Strasburg is good, the whole menagerie may also gladly add fire to a legend that has barely begun.

The numbers tell a tale of domination

At San Diego State University last year, Stephen Strasburg went 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 starts that involved 195 strikeouts and only 19 walks over 109 innings pitched. The performance merited a Golden Spikes Award. After college, Stephen Strasburg was snatched up by the Nationals and kept on rolling at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse, places that 2010 MLB Draft pick Bryce Harper will see soon.

Innings can be kept low, but expectations stay high

Jim Riggleman and Steve McCatty will limit the number of pitches Stephen Strasburg throws tonight, but that does not equal diminished expectations. A sea of Strasburg merchandise will be out in force at Nationals Park. Fans may go as far as to apply for no fax pay day loans with instant approval in order to finance all of this idol worship. Let’s hope Stephen Strasburg won’t drown in this river of infinite expectation. Strasburg has the stuff in his arm, but give him room to find the stuff in his head. Like Sidd Finch, Strasburg has the fastball; but the Nats right-hander is a real man who can fall prey to moments of ego.

Citations

voices.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/2010/06/stephen_strasburg_debuts_for_n.html

mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100607&content_id=10913962&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Because of credit reform, credit card offers are more deceptive

Consumers can't take it easy with the credit card reform. Now individuals have to be wary more than they ever have before. The credit card reform act of 2009 is cutting into some of the a lot more underhanded credit card scams from financial institutions. So now those institutions are trying much harder to sign individuals up for credit card debt than they ever have. And they’re searching for a lot more interesting and exciting ways to make money with new fees, shorter grace periods and higher late fees. Credit card users have to read the fine print on any and all applications and read statements carefully when they receive them.

Article Source: With credit reform, credit card offers are getting a lot more deceptive By Personal Money Store

Credit card offers exploding

Credit card companies could be extremely hard to control. Even with a terrible economy, the credit card reform act of 2009 has credit card company's trying desperately to sell. According to Synovate Mail Monitor, which tracks direct-mail offers, credit card spiels to U.S. households increased 29 percent during the first quarter of 2010. Some credit card companies a lot more than doubled their efforts. Some of the largest ones are just predatory within the fees they come up with to charge customers more.

Scams for credit cards

There are many creative credit card scams. Numerous say risk is why you will find late fees. But there has come a new report from the Center for Responsible Lending shows that late fees have nothing to do with the credit card company’s potential loss. As outlined by the report, late fees aren’t pegged to the risk a borrower might default on their credit card debt. Instead, nine of the top 10 characteristics of credit card companies who charge high late fees are other unfair or deceptive practices. One tactic is imposing a much higher rate of interest if a customer pays just a day late. The other is to have the deadline be early within the morning the day it is due.

Credit card late fees and even more than that

Just the beginning are credit card late fees. USA Today reports that other tricks to look at out for consist of balance transfer fees, shorter introductory offer periods, and also the fine print about annual fees on rewards cards.

Some of the balance-transfer fees: Credit card companies offer percent introductory rates to transfer balances to a new card. The amount transferred is being charged around 5% with no cap. It could cost $ 1,000 to transfer $ 20,000.

Shorter introductory offers: Some credit card companies offer percent interest for up to 18 months, but a six months is becoming much more common. The credit card reform bill prohibits credit card companies from offering introductory rates for less than six months. Card holders must be realistic about whether they can settle the balance before the offer expires. Any late payments will prompt the business to cancel the introductory rate.

Last you will find annual fees: More rewards cards are coming with annual fees, especially airline credit cards. Calculations are a lot more complicated with these companies. A free airline ticket may seem worth the annual fee, but accumulating enough miles to buy a ticket could take years. Nobody who travels on average terms will want the mileage card. Then there are the rewards cards that withhold rewards because of a late payment and need a reinstatement fee to reclaim the rewards.

Credit cards make anything cost more

Because of the credit card reform act of 2009, credit card offers are exploding. But a poor economy and credit card debt are a bad mix. As outlined by Smartmoney.com, when the economy is struggling, the value of goods and services falls relative to the value of money. A rock and a hard place are where individuals fall with debt. As the price of everything from automobiles to airfare falls, so does their value when they’re purchased with credit cards. When a product is charged on a credit card, the ultimate price paid for it rises as the product loses all of its value, and that does not include interest.

Read a lot more on this topic here

Center for Responsible Lending

responsiblelending.org/credit-cards/research-analysis/a-just-fee-or-just-a-fee.html

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2010-06-01-yourmoney01_ST_N.htm

Smartmoney.com

smartmoney.com/Personal-Finance/Debt/carry-credit-card-debt-watch-the-dollar/

Whenever you get short term cash advances, create a personal budget

You should make a personal spending budget to get the most out of short term credit. Nobody wants to be on a budget. Nevertheless, no matter how much money you make, you still have to be on one. When short term cash advances or paycheck loans become an everyday part of your financial strategy, controlling spending with a spending budget is the best way to make sure the money being borrowed is used within the best way.

Why create a personal budget?

All data accessible about your finances should be incorporated in making a personal budget. It may sound like common sense, but whenever you choose to get a pay day loan, you have to know where your money is coming from, how much you’ve and where it all goes. People don't like seeing where their money is going which is why they avoid budgeting.

Before you borrow money, spending budget

Creating a personal budget isn’t really as bad as it sounds. Most of the work is front-loaded at the beginning. After dialing in your finance, if you stay on top of it, tracking income and expenditures is almost automatic. CNN reports that what may seem like drudgery gets spiced up by facing the reality of foolish spending habits . It’s better to learn what they’re on your own. Most foolish spending is easy to eliminate.

Debt reduction with a personal budget

Get started making a personal spending budget by making a list of all of your regular monthly expenses, including every little thing you spend on fun things like eating out, entertainment and hobbies. It’s very essential to contain minimum payments toward debts, including payment in full of personal pay day loans at the end of their term. As outlined by about.com, you shouldn't forget to build in money for debt reduction. Use software like Quicken or Microsoft Money to make it easier. These personal-finance programs have the built-in budget-making tools that can create your spending budget for you.

With instant online cash loans, settle emergencies

Subtract expenditures from earnings to see how much you can expect to have left at the end of the month. If your personal budget comes out to be negative rather than positive, go back over each expense, look for places to make cuts, and determine where you are willing to make sacrifices to get out of debt. After taking care of emergencies with instant online loans, debt reduction should be your first priority. Then you are able to start saving money to meet your financial goals, like retirement investments or an emergency fund.

Live by your personal spending budget

All the time you spend creating a personal spending budget can be wasted if you do not put your spending budget to work. Try to live within your spending budget. Make an effort to see how it feels. Look over your budget at the end of the month and see if it matches up. If things are nevertheless out of whack, you may want to consider small online payday loans while you figure out how you are able to work harder to control spending. You may need to rework your personal budget to be more realistic as far as how you actually spend your money. Then, crunch the numbers again until you've made it right.

Personal spending budget tips:

Here are some money saving tips for you from freefinancialadvice.net:

• Do not use credit cards. In case you are using them, pay them in full each month
• Consolidate at a better rate credit cards and student loans
• You are able to refinance your mortgage at a lower rate
• try coupons.com so you are able to shop with coupons
• Make an effort to use non brand merchandise or generic
• Don't smoke anymore
• Don’t try to compare yourself to your friends and neighbors

More info on this topic

money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/money101/lesson2/
CNN reports
frugalliving.about.com/od/frugalliving101/ht/Frugal_Budget.htm
About.com
free-financial-advice.net/save-money.html
Freefinancialadvice.net

Nitrogen inflation improves car handling

Instead of airing up with dull old oxygen, try nitrogen inflation next time. By adopting the nitrogen inflation method, you’ll improve your car’s handling, fuel efficiency and tire condition. Nitrogen inflation is based upon in simple science, and studies like those of Consumer Reports have illustrated the benefits.

Source for this article: Nitrogen inflation – Adding life to your tires By Car Deal Expert

Nitrogen inflation stays in tires longer

In addition to being dry and non-flammable, nitrogen gas is said to escape from a tire up to four times a lot more slowly than oxygen. Why Nitrogen? says this happens because nitrogen is a particularly large molecule. Properly inflated automobile tires huge the road as intended. Thus, traction is maintained and also the engine doesn’t have to crank out quite as numerous RPMs to maintain the desired speed. Engines that aren’t overtaxed burn less fuel, which is better for the environment. Proper inflation thanks to nitrogen inflation saves tires and rims by keeping saggy tires from rubbing.

How pure is pure?

Ideas about just how high the nitrogen purity level must be for effective nitrogen inflation are somewhat variable. The consensus seems to be that anything between 93 and 98 percent pure nitrogen for inflation could be effective. That’s what NASCAR does, so consumers looking for auto loan finance for their hybrid sedans should also be satisfied.

NASCAR likes nitrogen inflation for it's Predictability

Imagine what a sudden loss of tire pressure can do to a car in a NASCAR race. Not only does it require a quick pit stop that can cause a car to fall behind in a race, underinflated tires can cause severe accidents on the track. That is why racecar drivers have switched to nitrogen inflation in recent years. Why Nitrogen? indicates that this is partly because nitrogen doesn’t fluctuate under temperature extremes as oxygen does. Proper tire inflation is easier to maintain during a grueling race. Commercial airlines and also the government use nitrogen for comparable reasons.

Citations

Why Nitrogen?

getnitrogen.org/why/index.php

June 14 release of Danielle Staub sextape

One of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” Danielle Staub has gotten some real drama. The Danielle Staub sextape video, subject of multiple lawsuits, is set for release. Hustler has told TMZ that it plans to release the Danielle Staub sextape video on June 14 of this year. Is this a story of a “Real Housewife” needing money, or an ex-boyfriend’s revenge?

Source for this article: Danielle Staub sextape video set for June 14 release By Personal Money Store

Litigation surrounding Danielle Staub sextape video

The Danielle Staub sextape was the subject of protracted litigation in the New Jersey State Superior Court almost a year ago. Danielle Staub sued her ex-boyfriend Stephen Zalewski to try really hard to prevent the release of “sexually explicit videotape and images .” Staub says the sextape video was made without her knowledge. On June 23, 2009, a judge given Danielle Staub’s request to block any kind of release of the sextape video.

The story in the Danielle Staub sextape video

The Danielle Staub sextape video can be releasing was reportedly filmed in September of 2009. This means that the drama on “Real Housewives of New Jersey” was not about this particular tape. The Danielle Staub sex tape supposedly features a “mystery man” that has not been spotted on the “Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

The large release of the Danielle Staub sextape

Hustler, Inc., has said it will release the 75-minute Danielle Staub sextape video on June 14. Officially, representatives for Danielle Staub have not commented on this tape. Nevertheless, if sales of past “celebrity” sextape videos are any indication, the “Real Housewife” could make a large amount of money off this tape. Depending on the details of the contract with Hustler, Danielle Staub’s sextape video could effortlessly net her within the neighborhood of $1 million. Ex-boyfriend Stephen Zalewski has confirmed that he has complied with the injunction blocking him from distributing or selling the video tapes in his possession. This means that only one of two people could have sold the Danielle Staub sextape video – Danielle herself, or a “Mystery Man” partner that she has chosen not to sue. With rumors of financial ruin surrounding Danielle Staub, it would be about right if the previous call girl and con artist offered th! e videotape for sale herself.

Helen Thomas retiring after making many proportions

Helen Thomas is an institution of the White House press corps, and after covering each president given that John F. Kennedy, she has announced her resignation from Hearst and her subsequent retirement. It seemed as if she would be covering the White House until she died, but a recent and very serious slip of the tongue has forced her to resign. She is known as one of the toughest reporters to ever question any president or White House official, and she was known for often asking brutally direct questions.

Article Resource: Helen Thomas retiring after making error of epic proportions

Helen Thomas as a journalism giant

Helen Thomas began her career in journalism in 1942, after graduating from then Wayne University which is now known as Wayne State University, with a B.A. in Journalism. She worked briefly for the Washington Daily News (it doesn’t exist anymore) and started working for United Press International in 1943. She covered women’s issues and Washington D.C. news, interviewing celebrities and politicians and covering various government agencies. Later she was assigned to cover John F. Kennedy as a White House Press Correspondent for U.P.I., switching to Hearst Newspapers in 2000. She is the only person with her own seat within the White House Press Room.

Slip of the tongue kills a long career

Recently, Helen Thomas made a number of comments concerning the state of Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians. In a camcorder interview by rabbilive.com, she was asked if she had anything to say about Israel. She responded with “Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.” CNN reports that she further went on to say that Israelis should return to their countries of origin. (Most Israeli Jews are Ashkenazi, which means they are of European descent, which is what she was referring to.)

The hard fallout

Once her comments hit the internet, especially on YouTube, there were urgent calls for her to be fired. The White House condemned her comments, and her constant collaborator in her books, Craig Crawford, said he wouldn’t work with her ever again. Helen Thomas later announced her resignation. It is a sad end to a great career.

Additional data at these websites

CNN
cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/07/pol.helen.thomas/

Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme locations offer free donuts

June 4, 2010 is National Doughnut Day, and some Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Doughnuts Locations can be celebrating by handing out free doughnuts. Before you try and claim your free doughnut, check if your Krispy Kreme location or Dunkin Donuts location could be participating.

Article Resource: Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts celebrate free doughnut day By Personal Money Store

Free doughnut day Krispy Kreme locations

Claiming your doughnut at Krispy Kreme locations is pretty easy. Krispy Kreme has a list of participating locations on their website. Once you’ve found a participating store, stop in once they open on June 4. Once you stop in and ask for your free doughnut, they should have plenty ready. Don't forget to thank the doughnut shop employees. At Krispy Kreme, the offer is only good when supplies last, so you’ll want to be sure to stop in on your way to work, not on the way home.

Free Dunkin Donuts doughnut

Getting a free doughnut at Dunkin Donuts is mildly a lot more difficult. Dunkin Doughnuts locations are offering a free doughnut, but only with a drink purchase. So stop into the nearest Dunkin Donuts , purchase an iced coffee or other drink, and claim your free doughnut. Just like anything else, thank your Dunkin Donuts shop employees – it is going to be a very long day at work for them.

Celebrate your own National Doughnut Day

Just because a doughnut isn't healthy doesn't mean you can't celebrate National Doughnut Day. Don't worry about visiting Krispy Kreme locations or Dunkin Donuts locations. Try making your own instead. Start by creating a basic sweet dough, then just fry it and top as you wish. Try this recipe if it's your first time:

• Single large egg
• 1/4 cup sugar or sugar substitute
• 1/4 cup agave nectar or honey
• 1/2 cup milk or milk substitute
• 2 tablespoons melted shortening
• 2 cups flour
• two teaspoons baking powder, for rise
• Any toppings you would like – frosting, sprinkles, or cinnamon and sugar

Combine all the wet ingredients, then stir them to the flour and baking powder. Chill the dough until you can effortlessly work it, then roll it to half an inch thick. Heat vegetable oil to 375 degrees while the dough is chilling. Once you've cut out the shapes, fry them for a couple of minutes on each side. Drain the doughnuts on paper towel, and top to your pleasure.

Getting the smell of cigarette smoke out of the car

If you’ve ever purchased a privately owned used car, you probably left wondering how to get the smell of cigarette smoke out of a car. You will find some people go the extra mile to detail their cars before sale, but if you are scoping a spur-of-the-moment deal that is on Craigslist, you may be purchasing an AS-IS vehicle that doubled as a mobile smoking lounge. Not only are the upholstery and instrument panel stained or discolored from cigarette smoke, but the odor has been left behind. It is a really good idea to learn how to get the cigarette smell out of a car if you are a non-smoker who prefers a low-tar automobile interior.

Article Resource: How to get cigarette smoke smell out of a car

How is it you get cigarette smell out of the car? It takes effort

Whatever method you use when you’re following these directions for how to get cigarette smell out of a car, it is going to require elbow grease. Cigarette smell will get into everything. {Assuming that you need to do the job as cheaply and safely as possible – you aren’t a professional auto detailer, but an auto loans-bearing consumer – what follows are some DIY tips that don’t require scary chemicals|Assuming that you want to do the job as cheaply as it is possible – you aren’t a professional auto detailer, but an auto loans-bearing consumer – what follows are some DIY tips that don’t require scary chemicals|Assuming you need to do the job as safely as possible – you aren’t a professional auto detailer, but! an auto loans-bearing consumer – what follows are some DIY tips that do not require scary chemicals. Yes, hydrogen peroxide will do the job well, but why not use a way less costly home method that is much less likely to bleach your skin and cause blisters or irritation? Courtesy of How to Do Things, here are some ideas:

1. Vacuum the car. Some particles of cigarette smell is on the car. Use hose attachments that are intended for cleaning upholstery.
2. Use white vinegar. Leaving a bowl in the car overnight helps.
3. Use some citrus peels. Within the car you can place some peels. It will definitely work although it might take a few days.
4. Use baking soda. Put it in the car and leave it a few hours. Vacuum and see how your car smells. First you need to spot test it to make certain it will react well with your upholstery.
5. You are able to use coffee grounds. Put the grounds directly in filters and secure them so they won’t dump the grounds directly onto the upholstery. Place the filters in the car.
6. Make sure to air it out. Doesn't it sound obvious? Leave the doors open for a couple of hours. If the smell is minor, this should help.
7. Use some charcoal. Similar to the vinegar method, leave a bowl of charcoal within the car overnight.
8. Pay close attention to lights. Interior lights attract smoke. Scrub these areas with one of the most powerful cleaner you’ve. Even bring in a hydrogen peroxide mix here if necessary.

Keep away from driving an ash mobile

Knowing how to get cigarette smell out of a car is severe business. You will find many people who are sickened by continual exposure to the smell, which is something nobody wants to experience when they purchase a new car. Why not try these simple home remedies?

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How to Do Things

Oil heads for Pensacola Beach - BP oil spill still gushing

The BP oil spill hasn’t been shut down, and an oil slick was likely be on Florida’s beaches soon. An oil slick will likely soon be on the Gulf Coast of Florida, as an oil slick was spotted a few miles off the Florida coast. Pensacola, Fla, and especially Pensacola Beach could be hard hit. Tourism is likely to heavily suffer, as the white Pensacola beaches are a popular getaway destination.

Article Source: Oil heads for Pensacola Beach – BP oil spill still gushing By Personal Money Store

White sand Pensacola Beach to turn to black

The sheen of an oil plume in the water a couple of miles off Pensacola, FL, was seen recently, as outlined by MSNBC. The Gulf Coast tourist trade in Florida is likely to suffer heavily, as summer is just around the corner. The spill is already costing a lot of cash until payday. The coasts of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and now Florida are already soaking up crude oil. The full cost to BP and to the taxpayers to clean up this mess won’t be known for some time.

No success with top kill or caps yet

There are various methods already tried to stop the leaking of oil, but none with great success. The last attempt was a top kill method, where mud was pumped into the leaking pipes to plug the leak. A method referred to as cut and cap is being tried, where robotic submersible units are used to cut sections off the pipe, and caps put on. There haven’t been many results, due to a setback involving a stuck blade, according to CNN. Efforts will continue, but there's no report on how long it will take to plug the leaking pipes.

BP reeling

On top of being involved one of the biggest environmental disasters in living memory, a BP criminal investigation has begun over the event. BP has also been in free fall on stock markets. The full extent of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill won't be known for a while.

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CNN

Jane Lynch and Dr. Laura Embry exchange vows

The relationship between Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch was made legal in a small Massachusetts ceremony over Memorial Day. Lynch and Embry are engaged since November. Jane Lynch's marriage comes at the exact same time the show she is most famous for is making a big announcement – so what's new on "Glee.”

Article Source: Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch tie the knot in Massachusetts

Embry and Lynch

In November, Jane Lynch and Dr. Laura Embry made headlines when they got engaged. Jane Lynch is a former “Second City” cast member and is best known for her role in “Glee.” A psychologist who, a couple of years ago, was in a custody battle for her children, Dr. Laura Embry works as a psychologist. The small Massachusetts ceremony did not require a low rate personal loan, as the couple is very successful.

The wedding of Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch

The very private wedding ceremony was held at the Blue Heron Restaurant. The couple had a friend officiate the short ceremony where they exchanged vows. Jane Lynch wore black slacks and a cream wrap top, while Dr. Laura Embry wore a cream-and-black dress. After the quick ceremony, the guests feasted on a dinner and dessert spread prepared by the chef at the Blue Heron.

'Glee' to make changes to Jane Lynch's character

Her marriage to longterm girlfriend Dr. Laura Embry is not the only big change coming for Jane Lynch. Changes are also immanent for Sue Sylvester, played by Jane Lynch on "Glee". During "Glee" season two, a conservative Christian character is going to be introduced to the group. The producers of the show acknowledge that they have “taken some fairly hard shots at the right wing” this season, and they want to introduce a character to balance that. It should be interesting to see how Sue Sylvester reacts.