Personal finance savvy rising, but high credit card debt persists

Americans are more educated about credit than they were before the recession started up; however, their knowledge about personal finance isn’t resulting in better decisions about credit and lending. A survey will tell us that most Americans know the interest rates they are paying on their credit card and they know their credit rating. Even so, they continue to carry high interest credit card debt and many don’t know how to improve their credit scores.

Article Source: Personal finance savvy rising, but high credit card debt persists by Personal Money Store

No good is personal finance know-how

A survey of personal financial knowledge that was done by Harris Interactive on behalf of Lending Club shows that Americans still aren’t making the most of hard-learned instant cash credit lessons learned during the recession. Adults unaware of their credit score came in around 31 percent, compared to the 45 percent who didn’t have a clue in 2007 according to a Bankrate, Inc. survey. Fewer adults (around 22 percent) who use a credit card don’t actually know the interest rate on the credit card they use most often (compared to 29 percent who reported not knowing in 2007, according to a National Foundation for Credit Counseling survey).

Credit card debt seems to prevail

Of those adults who do know the interest rates on their cards, the survey shows 31 percent have an interest rate of 20 percent or more and 64 percent pay 14 percent or more. Although 93 percent of all of the credit card users know it’s possible to negotiate for a better rate, only 29 percent have ever tried to. Although closing a credit card account negatively impacts credit score, 18 percent believe it increases your credit score; 27 percent believed it has no impact. For those with any kind of debt other than a home mortgage, credit card debt is the most common type of debt overall (67 percent) and often the most expensive type of debt to carry.

Advice on personal finances

To gain more knowledge about personal finance, AOL Money Coach Jennifer Openshaw has advice for consumers who want to be smarter when it comes to credit. Find out about your card rates. Find out about all of the lower rates. Somewhere around 68 percent of those who ask for a lower rate are successful and build confidence in their financial savvy as well. Start with a target rate in mind, be assertive and ask for the supervisor if necessary.

Figure out what makes a difference to your credit score

Openshaw makes the suggestion that you learn what affects your credit score. You should know that closing older accounts reduces your balance-to-credit card limit ratio, which may actually lower your score. If you have any kind of trouble controlling your credit card spending, it may be better to take the temporary hit to your score so you have fewer sources of temptation. Finally, you should probably cut your costs on current debt, consider paying off all your debts with one lower interest rate bank loan, but don’t do it on a credit card.

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Bankrate Inc.

bankrate.com/

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

nfcc.org/

Jennifer Openshaw

coaches.aol.com/money/jennifer-openshaw

Get ready for Taste of Chicago 2010!

The annual Taste of Chicago is at it again, bringing out the delectable, tasty flavors of Chicago, Ill., from people across the globe. Held at the city’s front yard, the beautiful Grant Park, Taste of Chicago 2010 will be June 25 through July 4.

Resource for this article: Taste of Chicago 2010 – Tasteful food and entertainment by Personal Money Store

Taste of Chicago 2010 – Bringing yet another year of tasteful cooking

Taste of Chicago 2010 will not require you take out quick cash loans to enjoy its tasteful food festivity. You don’t have to pay to get in, and tickets for food and beverage purchases are offered at a very low cost – 12 tickets for only $8! The food booths will tell you what number of tickets is required for each food and beverage purchase, and there are many sample “tastes” offered for only 2 to 4 tickets. Besides that, you get entertainment – free! – from some of the hottest musical performers like Salt-n-Pepa, the Steve Miller Band, Emily Osment, Bel Biv Devoe, Trey Songz, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, and many more!

Get a small bite into Taste of Chicago 2010

Courtesy of ChicagoTraveler.com, here is a partial list of this year’s Taste of Chicago menu:

• Tuscany Restaurant, located in Little Italy in Chicago, brings you delicious Italian beef sandwiches
• The finest Chicago pizza from Home Run Inn Pizza, Doreen’s Pizza, Bacino’s Pizza, Lou Malnati’s Pizza, Reggio’s Pizza and Connie’s Pizza
• A vast selection of sausages from Bobak Sausage Company
• Delicious Mexican food from Adobo Grill, Carbon and La Justicia
• Seafood galore! Grilled lobster and shrimp from Oak Street Beach Cafe
• Glorious dessert offerings from Abundance Bakery, Eli’s Cheesecake, Churro Factory and JR Dessert Bakery

This is just a sample of what Taste of Chicago has in store for you this year, as it continues to hold the top spot for the largest outdoor food festival – in the world!

Taste of Chicago brings Unity in Diversity

It’s not just about food at Taste of Chicago 2010; it is about gathering people of all walks of life to learn from each other through extraordinary cooking. Food has brought many people together, with unity in diversity, for the fact remains that the world revolves around food. Food at its essence signifies the shared flavors of life, love, and the lifelong bond that unites the two. And through this very bond and shared experiences, relationships thrive, intimacy grows and sweet memories form.

Find more information on this topic:

Chicago Traveler

chicagotraveler.com/attractions/taste-of-chicago.html

Transmission trouble you must know about

Few things cause the average auto owner to cringe like the mention of transmission trouble. The scary thing is that most people only know that it sounds expensive. Yet with some basic knowledge of transmissions and how to care for them, replacing a transmission can be avoided in many cases. While 200,000 on a transmission is possible with good care, variables ensue that make that prediction very fuzzy. Some last 80,000 miles or fewer.

Article Resource: Transmission trouble – What every car owner must know by Car Deal Expert

Reduce transmission trouble with a little understanding

Fighting transmission trouble begins with knowing what a transmission does for a car. The transmission is a key part of the power-giving drivetrain, the system that moves your vehicle. Both automatic and manual transmissions serve to facilitate gear shifts so that the car moves on a variety of surfaces and inclines.

The full schematic of a transmission’s inner workings is detailed, but here are four basic systems:

1. Bell housing: The cone-shaped metal casing. If your car is front-wheel drive, it will be visible under the hood and off to the side of the engine. Rear-wheel drive cars house the transmission under the car and behind the engine.
2. Gears: These are broken down into main and planetary segments. These are essential to an engine’s function.
3. Fluid: The red fluid in an automatic transmission. It lubricates the gears of an automatic transmission so that excessive heat build-up doesn’t cause the parts to break down and cause real transmission trouble.
4. Filter: Eventually, transmission fluid becomes dirty and needs to be changed. The transmission filter catches particles and build-up. Many early transmission trouble issues can be helped by changing the filter

How long should you cling to your transmission?

”As long as possible” is the hope for those who keep up with fluid and filter changes. But the real answer depends upon your driving habits, driving environment, type of fluid used and the physical construction of your transmission (beyond your control). Quality of transmission build is beyond the average car shopper’s influence in most cases, so focus on the other aspects.

How Stuff Works says that transmission fluid should be changed at least twice per year, if not more often. Severe use of your car (more than 50 percent of driving time spent in heavy city traffic in temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit) generally warrants the use of a 15,000-mile transmission fluid and filter change interval. Various grades of transmission fluid exist (more than 50 types), and each is rated at a different level of slipperiness for your car’s specific gear ratio. Thus, consult your car’s owner’s manual for advice on what grade of fluid is appropriate.

Do you notice a fluid leak?

If the transmission shifts in a rough fashion, transmission trouble might be something for which to search. According to How Stuff Works, some places to check for red fluid leaks include:

• Base of the filler tube
• Drain hole underneath the transmission
• Between transmission and engine
• Selector shaft – The rod connecting gear shift to transmission
• Speed sensor mounting point – Either a cable running into the transmission housing or a sensor that’s bolted directly to the transmission housing
• Radiator – Red transmission fluid doesn’t mix with radiator fluid, so it should be easy to spot it floating around in there

Serious transmission trouble? Avoid DIY

If maintaining the proper fluid levels and replacing the filter don’t save you from transmission trouble, consult an ASE-certified mechanic with Blue Seal repair facilities. According to Cost Helper, replacing a transmission can cost anywhere from $ 1,800 to $ 3,500. That will depend on labor costs and vehicle make, it should be known. Try to find a mechanic who will offer at least a limited warranty on the replaced transmission. Just remember that the more your car costs, the more likely it will cost to replace the transmission.

Find more information on this topic

http://www.costhelper.com/cost/cars/transmission.html

http://autorepair.about.com/od/troubleshooting/a/auto_tran_probs.htm

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/car-part-longevity/how-long-transmissions-last.htm

Obama insists upon $ 600 million to beef up border security

Immigration reform and border security are key elements of SB 1070, the controversial new Arizona immigration law that has everyone talking. According to the Los Angeles Times, President Obama was so inspired by the legislation – or underwhelmed, depending upon the source – that he is now demanding that Congress punch through a $ 600 million emergency fund to ramp up Border Patrol numbers by at least 1,000, put two Predator drones on duty and improve overall border security. An unnamed senior White House official told the Times that Obama’s border security spending budget plan would contain 160 additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, plus dog units.

{|Resource for this article: Obama calls for $ 600 million border security fund by Personal Money Store

Border security is vital to national defense, said Obama

President Obama’s message regarding the use of the $ 600 million in taxpayer funds was quite clear in his letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. His letter highlights the “urgent and essential need” of America’s borderlands, embroiled as they’re in a near-constant state of emergency. The United States’ southern border with Mexico is increasingly becoming a killing field. Mexico’s drug war – which they’re easily losing to the cartels – no doubt influenced the president’s $ 600 million move. It may be high time, as the drug cartels are already openly threatening U.S. authorities, says the New York Daily News. Much of the proposed $ 600 million emergency fund would help give overrun Mexican authorities with ballistics and DNA analysis, with the hope the drug war doesn’t spill over to the U.S..

Making border security a more active agenda

”The gateway to The United States for drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and crime” is how Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer describes her beleaguered state. More than any U.S. politician of late – maybe ever – Brewer has mounted probably the most furious argument against the federal government’s relative inaction on border security. Predator drones, better fences and additional manpower are essential to keeping Arizona and other border states safe, argues Brewer. Enforcing Arizona immigration law SB 1070 will not create a “Papers, please!” military state, but will really have a positive effect on border security, according to Brewer. Mexico is suing Arizona for SB 1070, reports CNN, but border security is an issue that concerns all Americans. Violence in border states, whether it be because of a drug war or illegal immigration and slave trade, will not continue in a country that takes border security seriously.

Find a lot more info on this topic

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-border-patrol-20100623,,4691128.story

New York Daily News

nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/06/22/2010-06-22_mexican_drug_cartel_threatens_to_harm_us_police_officers_who_bust_drug_shipments.html

CNN

ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/23/mexico-files-court-brief-against-arizona-immigration-law/

Cash store continues to serve public even through trials

Payday loans direct lender just like the one called Cash Store have faced a great deal of legal opposition in their quest to provide emergency money loans for consumers. Much of the flak has come from consumer interest groups with lobbyist connections to elected officials. They claim to represent the best interests of consumers in their opposition to such outlets as CEO Gordon Reykdal’s Cash Store. Nevertheless, if cash til payday loan loans were so damaging to a consumer’s finances, they’d keep away from the product. Yet a recent The Globe and Mail article says that Reykdal and Cash Store Financial are a popular choice in Canada and abroad.

{|Source for this article: Cash Store weathers trials, continues to serve public by Personal Money Store

34 percent of market share on paycheck loans in Canada are held by Cash Store

For CEOs, usually the connection with day-to-day business decisions at such places as Cash Store would be minimal. Very involved is Gordon Reykdal who is the Cash Store Financial CEO. He doesn't let underlings make all the tough decisions. On the contrary, Reykdal is heavily invested in Cash Store; he owns a quarter of the stock, as reported by The Globe and Mail. Not only has Reykdal ensured that Cash Store Financial would play an extremely active role in the community (see video below), he played an active role in urging the Canadian government to clarify all of the laws regarding instant cash loan loans and how payday loan company can offer them. His efforts helped personal loan company and also the government find a middle ground where consumers and lenders can both nevertheless benefit from reasonably profitable lending transactions without the threat of exploitation. The rules will apply in almost each Canadian province except Quebec, where payday cash loans are r! eally prohibited.

For the underbanked is growth into other services

Cash Store understands that a significant percentage of Canada’s population is effectively “underbanked.” Much like in the United States, many people do not have the credit standing to let them get small bank loans or are outside the traditional banking system for a variety of reasons. That’s why Gordon Reykdal would like to see Cash Store Financial branch out to the field of banking services for its large customer base. Simple services go a long way toward improving a consumer’s financial portfolio in situations where they either do not trust traditional banks or encounter barriers that prevent them from using traditional banks. In the fragmented payday cash loans environment that defines much of Canada, Cash Store has a responsibility to its customer base to serve their financial needs when traditional banks refuse to do so.

Cash Store is a good investment, says The Globe and Mail

Payday cash loans and related laws have become clearer with time. Canada and also the UK have come to workable solutions that have appeased both the industry and lawmakers. The US hasn't found a middle ground yet. One result of this might just be that consumers already harmed by the recession continue to find it difficult to obtain credit when they experience financial need.

Find more data on this topic
The Globe and Mail

theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/features/vox/cash-store-lends-credibility-to-payday-loan-industry/article1612297/

Avoid credit card debt relief scams by helping 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 individuals in financial trouble and one of the biggest troubles is credit card debt. People drowning in debt are easy targets for unscrupulous debt reduction services promising relief from all that stress and anguish. Even so-called legitimate debt reduction services charge hefty fees for something people can do themselves with financial discipline and effort.

Source for this article: Don’t fall for credit card debt relief scams, just do it yourself

A debt relief illusion

Paying off existing debts with more debt is a common tactic of companies hawking debt reduction services. Other debt reduction services will offer to negotiate with your creditors to arrange a payoff for less than you owe. Too often what matters most to them is taking your money, not helping you reduce your debt. An important 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 scammers

Financial predators posing as companies promising to help consumers overwhelmed by debt that take the money and run have been exposed and documented. The Los Angeles Times reports that investigators for the Government Accountability Office posed as distressed consumers seeking help from debt management companies. Making wild exaggerations of their success rates, some companies promised savings of as much as 50 cents on the dollar.

Phantom debt reduction

Often consumers end up deeper in debt than they were before paying big upfront fees to debt management companies—which could be various thousand dollars. An MSNBC report exposed a debt management business that promised a woman in North Carolina that they would lower her interest rates on credit card balances, a mortgage and car loan low enough to pay them off 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.

The latest debt relief trick

Debt relief criminals today often make an effort to exploit the "government approved" angle. The Los Angeles Times article reports that advertisements by debt management companies, as well as statements by business representatives to GAO investigators, provided evidence that the firms lead clients to believe their services are part of a government program comparable to the recent bailout of troubled banks. 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.

Do-it-yourself debt relief

Of all the hundreds of debt reduction and debt relief opportunists spreading across the Internet, not one is part of a government-backed program. Debt relief has become a huge industry designed to kick individuals when they’re down. Getting on a budget that allows you to pay your bills on time and pay down your debt is still the best route to debt relief. If you are struggling to make payments, contact your lenders to see if you can negotiate better terms, lower payments or refinance a car loan or home loan.

Debt management advice is free

For help with debt difficulties, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling is a good place to start. Anyone who needs free and confidential advice about debt relief can get it from this non-profit community group. The NFCC offers consulting in person or by phone. The website nfcc.org can connect you with a counselor as part of your area.

Read a lot more on this topic here

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com

NFCC

nfcc.org

Third Way net neutrality proposed by FCC

Net neutrality is affordable internet access to all Americans. Some broadband providers have proposed to start charging quite a bit more to their customers for higher levels of service, much like cell phone companies. The Federal Communications Commission began an uproar in the net neutrality debate on Thursday when it announced to the world that it will seek public comment on imposing new regulations on Internet service providers to keep them from offering tiered service. In the mean time, Capitol Hill is trying to define the FCC's authority a lot more clearly. But the FCC doesn’t want to have to wait for Congress to get around to it before it regains control of the net neutrality issue.

Resource for this article: FCC proposes net neutrality Third Way

The net neutrality of FCC

Those in favor of net neutrality are consumer groups and free speech advocates like savetheinternet.com. Free market advocates and internet service providers are against it. Until just last week the two versions of net neutrality legislation would prohibit: (1) the “tiering” of broadband through sale of voice- or video-oriented Quality of Service packages; and (2) content- or service-sensitive blocking or censorship on the part of broadband carriers. Last week, the FCC released what is called the “Third Way” plan.

Net neutrality – The 3rd Way

Net neutrality under the third way, according to the Washington Post, seems to be this: Presently, broadband is defined as an data service, which means it doesn’t face much FCC oversight. The new plan could be to shift broadband to the very same classification as all of the telephone service, which would trigger a lot more oversight by the agency. The FCC explains that it would not subject Internet service providers to the full brunt of regulation that would come with the new classification.

Comcast net neutrality case

The FCC’s 3rd Way is some kind of effort to regain control of the net neutrality issue in response to a Federal Court decision in April that overturned a 2008 FCC ruling in the Comcast net neutrality case. In 2007, Comcast was found to be severely delaying BitTorrent uploads on their network, claiming that downloading huge amounts of data was clogging the network. In August 2008, the FCC ruled that Comcast broke the law when it messed with the bandwidth available to certain customers for video files in order to make sure that other customers had adequate bandwidth.

Time Warner net neutrality challenge

In a 2009 test of the net neutrality issue, Time Warner Cable announced its objective to provide broadband packages in 10GB, 20GB, 40GB and 60GB increments. Capped at $75, the plan charges $1 per GB. Time Warner launched the pricing system in a number of markets. The business announced later it would offer larger packages but the public still wasn't amused. They had to abandon the Time Warner net neutrality challenge eventually.

The support network of net neutrality

The FCC voted Thursday to start the controversial process of reclassifying any and all high-speed Internet access to give the agency authority over service providers that would prevent disparate treatment of customers. The Channel Web reports that a week ago, a group of 13 companies including Amazon, Google and Sony sent the FCC a letter in support of the 3rd Way saying that it will ensure that consumers have access to an open Internet, one that would preserve a level playing field for all participants. Those who support net neutrality said the 3rd Way does so without regulating the Internet but by applying basic rules of the road to the transmission services that provide access to the Internet.

Those against net neutrality

Republicans in Congress are adamantly against net neutrality any which way. As outlined by the Los Angeles Times, Republicans offer the familiar argument the Third Way is a lot more government meddling in a free market that will stunt innovation and investment, echoing their Internet-service provider patrons. Texas Republican senator Kay Bailey Hutchison while speaking out against net neutrality explained the agency has created “new burdensome regulations that threaten to stifle the growth of America’s broadband services.”

Google and their net neutrality letter

Google approved of FCC's decision. “As we have said before, broadband infrastructure is too important to be left outside of any oversight,” the company said on The Official Google Blog. Massachusetts Democratic senator Edward J. Markey loved the FCC’s move, calling it a “light-touch regulatory proposal” that would ensure “continued innovation, consumer protection and certainty within the broadband marketplace.”

More information on this topic

savetheinternet.com

savetheinternet.com/

Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/06/fcc_votes_to_seek_comment_on_i.html

Channel web

crn.com/networking/224701332

Los Angeles times

latimes.com/business/la-fi-0618-fcc-broadband-20100618,,5300272.story

Google blog

googleblog.blogspot.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 the manufacturing business. To understand cap and trade, think of it as a system intended 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 By Personal Money Store

Definition of cap and trade

The cap and trade definition in the climate and energy bill proposes that the government sets a limit on the amount of carbon that can be released into the atmosphere by all of the companies. US companies can release certain amounts of carbon with permits that are given. Companies can sell unused carbon on the open market if they use less carbon than their permits allow. Companies with carbon emissions that exceed their permits must purchase them from all of the other companies that are offering their leftovers for sale.

National energy policy and cap and trade

Cap and trade seems to be a very controversial provision that threatens to derail the climate and energy bill in its present form. While Democrats view cap and trade as a fair way to regulate pollution, Republicans say that this cap and trade is just a tax on business that will kill jobs. With the advent of the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico and its impact it can have on national energy policy, cap and trade has become a political hot potato. So much so that President Obama avoided mentioning 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

Seems like that in both versions of the climate bill, carbon emission targets are identical. PBS reports that regulated industries must reduce their carbon emissions by 17 percent (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 that has been generated by trading the pollution permits back to consumers within the form of energy rebates. Those industries consist of 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 more costly. Both parties acknowledge that fact but disagree on just how costly energy will get because of the bill. The U.S. Department of Treasury says the new taxes would have to be between $100 billion to $200 billion a year.

Cap and trade costs

The cost of cap and trade per American household would be an additional $1,761 a year. House Republican Leader 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

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

Trying to catch up with China

What numerous fear about cap and trade is that if businesses and corporations are financially punished for their pollution emissions, consumers are likely to pay the price. Energy just won't respond to supply and demand. To cover production costs, utility companies might drive up prices. Meanwhile, countries like China are getting clean energy industries of the future, while Americans sit around arguing about things like cap and trade. No solution is ever 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

South Carolina House turns down pay day loan bill veto

Last week, Mark Sanford, the governor of South Carolina, exercised his veto power on H.3790, a pay day loan bill that would have made the standard repayment period 120 days instead of the common 14 without increasing the total fees charged by lenders. Furthermore, H.3790 would have eliminated unsecured loans in South Carolina and outlawed the common practice of a customer presenting a lender with a post-dated check. Yet as S.C. Politics Today reports, the state House has overturned Mark Sanford’s payday loan-friendly veto. H.3790 would have also addressed inequity in South Carolina’s mortgage industry regarding licensing fees.

Resource for this article: South Carolina House overturns veto of pay day bill

Mark Sanford was against payday loan-strangling H.3790

In a letter to the state House, Governor Mark Sanford writes concerning his veto of the pay day loan bill that

“Although this type of regulation is intended to protect the public, these kinds of laws ultimately decrease the number and type of available financing options and make it harder for new lenders to enter the market. In other words, consumers have fewer choices and the available options become more expensive. … Some people will benefit from payday–style loans and some will not, and we continue to believe that individual consumers are better equipped than a government bureaucracy to know whether a short-term loan is a wise decision in any given circumstance.”

The public knows what works best for them

A pay day or comparable loans with no credit check – whether they’re unsecured loans or not – are generally a lot more the domain of credit-strapped consumers, rather than state legislators who are paid significantly a lot more, so it follows that the general public should be allowed to determine if the loans work for them. Gov. Mark Sanford can see that, so it’s strange that the South Carolina legislature cannot. Currently, the short term personal loan regulation in South Carolina limits borrowers to $550 at a time, and they can only have a single active loan. This activity is tracked in an electronic database.

Yet an additional South Carolina veto overturned

Another overturned veto ventures into territory of Mark Sanford’s alleged history of impropriety with South Carolina taxpayer funds. The House nixed Gov. Sanford’s veto of a bill that would “allow details to be made public in a state ethics investigation of the governor when it indicates possible cause that a violation may have occurred,” reports S.C. Politics Today. The vote against Sanford’s veto of the governor investigation bill was a landslide, 102-2 in favor of overturning his veto. Sanford has gone on record as saying that he vetoed the bill because he wanted the language of that bill expanded to consist of all state lawmakers, not just the governor.

A lot more information on this topic

thestatecom.typepad.com/ygatoday/2010/06/house-overrides-sanford-on-payday-lending-ethics.html

docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.scgovernor.com/NR/rdonlyres/A0AB7D58-484C-49EC-9DD7-856ED2D5D7C3/35671/H3790MortgageLoanOriginator.pdf

UK Office of Fair Trading votes down idea of pay day loan cap

Paydayloans laws – specifically capping rates – is nothing new to American political theater. However, not all countries that allow loan company to serve consumers in need of easy loans are so eager to institute a rate cap that could stifle the natural price controls present within a free market economy. The Guardian newspaper reports that the UK’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has found that an interest rate cap on payday loan companies is unnecessary, claiming that a lack of competition would harm that sector of the financial marketplace.

Article Source: UK Office of Fair Trading says no to payday loans no fax rate cap

Payday loan system functioning ‘reasonably well’

Credit-constrained consumers should ideally have access to the varieties of short-term credit which they can obtain. The OFT sees this openness as allowing competition to dictate price within the free market. The level of competition between easy cash loans outlets may not be as effective as it might be, but the OFT is confident in their assessment that payday loan lenders markets work “reasonably well”. The OFT has moved forward with their pro-payday loan freedom stance, despite heavy resistance from the Archbishop of Canterbury and a variety of other special interest charity groups. However, the OFT did recommend further investigation into how an industry-wide “code of practice” might be instituted for the UK pay day loans industry.

OFT move sits well with Finance and Lending Association

Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer Finance for the Finance and Lending Association, told The Guardian that a pay day loan rate cap “would have adverse unintended consequences for consumers, including for the cost and availability of credit”. Hoyle sees it as advisable that governments follow the OFT’s lead on rate caps, borrowing some of the logic shown in the recent U.S. Dartmouth University Study on their associated detriments; leave them be and consumers can benefit when pay day loans outlets can garner reasonable profits.

Don’t just throw the payday loan to the financial stocks

The Guardian found that Marie Burton of the group Consumer Focus agrees that healthy competition and low prices aren’t always an easy balance to achieve. It may be the perfect, but the UK payday loan industry nevertheless has some road to travel before arriving at that goal. Banks and credit unions have failed to mount serious competition within the short-term consumer lending market in America, but the OFT believes that finding a way to level the field by introducing them successfully to the UK market will be of great benefit to the consumer.

More info on this topic

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jun/15/doorstep-lenders-interest-rate-cap/

Losses rise as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae stocks delisted from NYSE

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, who was the key source of funding that have kept lending to home buyers from totally drying up, were ordered by the government to cease trading all of their shares on the New York Stock Exchange to abide by NYSE delisting rules. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae stocks, which have already lost nearly all their value within the housing crisis, fell further when the markets got the news. Following the delisting, which was ordered for failing to meet NYSE requirements for sustaining price levels, the stocks of the two companies could be traded in the over-the-counter market.

Article Source: Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae stocks delisted from NYSE, losses grow

Delisting regulations of the NYSE

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were delisted because NYSE delisting rules require that a business pull its stock if it can’t take action to keep shares from dropping below the $ 1 average price level for 30 trading days that is required. The Associated Press reports that following the NYSE delisting announcement Fannie Mae shares decreased 42 cents, or 46 percent to 50 cents, when Freddie Mac slid 55 cents, or 45 percent, to 67 cents. In 2007, shares of both companies traded at a lot more than $ 60. As the housing crisis deepened, the stocks lost almost all of their value, plummeting below $ 1 by September 2008. The government took over Fannie and Freddie.

Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae losses

The companies guarantee 31 million home loans worth $ 5.5 trillion. That’s about 50 % of all mortgages within the United States. CNNMoney.com explains to readers that given that September 2008 the Treasury Department has poured $ 83.6 billion into Fannie Mae and $ 61.3 billion into Freddie Mac to cover losses on the mortgage-backed securities they own or guarantee. During the housing crisis, the money has kept lending to home buyers alive, kept home sales and new home construction from falling further than it has, and kept homes from losing more value than they have. But Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae losses totaled $ 93.6 billion in 2009 and another $ 18.2 billion within the first quarter this year. The Congressional Spending budget Office estimates that nearly $ 400 billion in tax dollars will eventually be needed to cover Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae losses, making it one of the most costly of all the government bailouts that they have done in previous years.

Delisted Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stock by July 8

Fannie and Freddie can have delisted from the NYSE by July 8th. The Wall Street Journal reports the NYSE delisting meets the goals of government conservatorship to preserve and conserve assets. Pulling their stocks off the NYSE will conserve Fannie and Freddie $ 500,000 apiece in annual listing fees. Both companies paid the maximum amount because of the large number of shares outstanding.

Fanny Mae/Freddie Mac OTC stock

Fannie and Freddie stock will be traded over the counter after July 8. Brokers will negotiate directly with one one more for Fannie and Freddie stock over computer networks and by phone. OTC stocks are typically very risky because they are the stocks that are not considered large enough or stable enough to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. It is hard to discover research on these stocks. With the delisting, David Lutz, managing director of equity trading at Stifel Nicolaus and Co. in Baltimore, explained to Business Week that "We lose some transparency into what is basically a large black hole that is eating up a large part of our bailout funds."

Read a lot more on this topic here

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gKpMFnJoJc8QkAW3abF41E4d492QD9GCEEC00

CNN Money.com

money.cnn.com/2010/06/16/news/fannie_freddie_delisting/

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704198004575310443796994402.html?mod=rss_Today’s_Most_Popular

businessweek.com

businessweek.com/news/2010-06-16/fannie-freddie-plunge-after-moving-to-delist-shares-update2-.html

Some tips for creating your own car sharing group

To help cut down on driving, car sharing has been very popular. The reasons individuals choose to participate in car-sharing are varied – anything from cost-savings to reduced environmental impact. Sadly car sharing isn't accessible in all cities. Starting your own car-sharing program can be a legitimate alternative – but there are certainly a couple of things to keep in mind.

Source for this article: Three tips for creating your own car-sharing group

1- Who's going to own the automobile?

The first thing that needs to be decided is who will ultimately be responsible for the automobile. Unless you start a business or LLC that will own the car, someone will have to be ultimately responsible for the money, maintenance and management of the automobile. There should be a basic contract signed by all riders.

2 – Insurance

The insurance needs to cover the car no matter who is driving it. If the driving time is shared 30 to 40 percent of the time, check laws as part of your state to know what to do. If you don't share with your insurance business that the car is regularly used by others, that could end up not getting you your money. The other option is to ask all members of the car-sharing network to get their own “non-owner policy” or “broad form” policy – both of which cover the driver and not necessarily the car.

3- The cost of sharing

One of one of the most difficult things is probably figuring out cost sharing amounts. Monthly payments can be separate from the operating costs. You are able to have a monthly fee added as the monthly payment split. Operating costs need to be taken into consideration as well. You are able to add all the fuel, insurance, and maintenance fees together. Divide that total by either the number of people sharing the car – or by the number of miles you are expecting to drive the car. To cover all operating costs, set a "per mile" rate for the car. 50 cents a mile is what the US government uses. The price will likely be around 50 cents and up to $1.

Although it takes a little work, figuring out the costs of car sharing is worth it. Until ZipCar, Hertz Go, or some other kind of car-sharing network makes it to your city, it could be a great way to reduce your cost and reduce your environmental impact.

Google background image – Numerous wanted to remove the Google background

Last week, Google announced that it was adding the ability for users to add a background image to their search page. The background of the search page this morning was made semi-permanent. Many Google fans, though, did not like this change and wanted to remove the Google background. Removing the image, though, was not initially as simple as Google tools typically are. Instead of dealing with the Google background image, numerous users chose alternatives.

Resource for this article: Google background image – Many wanted to remove the Google background

How Google announced the background image

This morning, the Google blog officially announced the Google background image option. Google claims the background image will not slow load times at all. This new feature was highlighted with the image on the Google homepage, which has since been removed.

Doing your own Google background image removal

Removing the background image on Google was the biggest question of the moment on the Google forums. The Google instructions on removal didn't give the desired effect to most people. The instructions said that clicking the "remove background image" link would remove the image. That button, though, only removed a custom-set image you had put on the page. The accessible link if you don't change your image is just "change background image.” Until Google flipped the switch, there was no way to remove the default background image.

Option Google homepages see traffic spike

Within the end, the Google background image could only be removed by Google. Google users, however, have come up with several workarounds to remove the Google background image. There are two alternate Google homepages you can use that do not have the Google background image: http://www.google.com/firefox and also the Google SSL Beta search page. The majority of Google searches that create traffic worth the $ 484 stock price aren’t done from the home page, though – they’re done from toolbars.

As a result of credit reform, credit card offers are a lot more deceptive

Just because there’s been a credit card reform doesn't mean that consumers can relax. Now people have to be wary a lot 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 many of the financial institutions. So now those institutions are just trying harder to sign individuals up for credit card debt than they ever have. And they’re looking for more ways to make money with new fees and higher late fees. Credit card users need to read the fine print on applications and read statements carefully when they receive them.

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

Credit card offers

Credit card companies could be extremely hard to control. Even with a terrible economy, the credit card reform act of 2009 has credit card business marketing efforts going crazy. 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 of the companies have doubled their efforts. Some of the largest ones are just predatory within the fees they come up with to charge customers a lot more.

Scams for a credit card

You will find numerous creative credit card scams. Many say the late fees are there for risk. But now there is a new report with the Center for Responsible Lending shows that late fees have nothing to do with the credit card company’s potential loss. According to 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 deceptive practices. One is if a customer is late, the interest rate goes up. An additional is to have the payment deadline be for early morning on the due date.

Credit card late fees and even more than that

Credit card late fees are just the beginning. 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.

Balance-transfer fees: Credit card companies offer percent introductory rates to transfer balances to a new card. But increasingly, they’re charging fees of up to 5% on the amount transferred, with no cap. It could cost $ 1,000 to transfer $ 20,000.

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

Some Annual fees: A lot more rewards cards are coming with annual fees, especially airline credit cards. When using these companies, calculations can be a lot more difficult. Unless it takes you years to get it, a fee may be worth the ticket. Nobody who travels on average terms will want the mileage card. Some of these great rewards cards will withhold rewards because of a late payment and demand a reinstatement fee to reclaim the rewards.

Everything costs a lot more with credit cards

Because of the credit card reform act of 2009, credit card offers are exploding. But an unhealthy 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. That situation puts people with a lot of credit card debt between a rock and a hard place. The value of things die when the price of everything falls. When a product is charged on a credit card, the ultimate price paid for it rises as the product loses value, and that does not include interest.

Find more info on this topic

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/

Nitrogen inflation improves car handling

Rather than airing up with uninteresting old oxygen, try nitrogen inflation next time. As outlined by Why Nitrogen?, doing so will make a large difference as part of your car’s handling, fuel efficiency (and hence its carbon footprint), as well as tire life. Nitrogen inflation is depending in simple science, and studies like those of Consumer Reports have illustrated the benefits.

Article Source: Nitrogen inflation – Adding life to your tires By Car Deal Expert

Nitrogen inflation is bigger than oxygen

In addition to being dry and non-flammable, nitrogen gas is said to escape from a tire as much as four times a lot more slowly than oxygen. This is because nitrogen molecules are large, hence less likely to seep through the rubber, claims Why Nitrogen?. Tires that maintain proper inflation longer stay in proper contact with the road longer. Thus, traction is maintained and the engine doesn’t have to crank out quite as numerous RPMs to maintain the desired speed. Happy engines mean better fuel efficiency and a smiley face for the environment. Furthermore, running tires with proper inflation via nitrogen inflation keeps the right surfaces in contact with the road (rather than the sidewall), which in turn extends tire and rim life.

What nitrogen purity is required?

Thoughts on what nitrogen inflation purity level does the job vary by source. The consensus appears to be that anything between 93 and 98 percent pure nitrogen for inflation will be effective. That’s what NASCAR does, so consumers looking for auto loans with bad credit for their hybrid sedans should also be satisfied.

NASCAR favors predictable nitrogen inflation

During a NASCAR race, a sudden loss of tire pressure can be disastrous. It can lead to a pit stop or even cause a chain of accidents. Thus, NASCAR uses nitrogen inflation. Why Nitrogen? reminds us that nitrogen inflation resists temperature change better than oxygen. Proper tire inflation is much easier to maintain during a grueling race. For comparable reasons, the government, airlines and many fleet automobiles receive comparable nitrogen inflation in their tires.

Additional data at these websites

Why Nitrogen?

getnitrogen.org/why/index.php

Sharron Angle wins Nevada GOP primary, wants Prohibition

In the upcoming election for Nevada Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s seat, Republican GOP primary winner Sharron Angle may prove to be more on the fringe than most tea party people. Yet numerous Sharron Angle’s views are attracting the wrong kind of attention. According to the Los Angeles Times, the former teacher and current Scientologist wants to phase out Social Security for younger workers. The level of controversy in this case is relatively low here, in light of the overall state of Social Security. More controversial are her views on education, prohibition and prison inmate treatment.

Resource for this article: Sharron Angle wins Nevada GOP primary, wants Prohibition By Personal Money Store

Sharron Angle says no to federal education control

Sharron Angle proclaims in her campaign website that the Department of Education should disband because she claims it is unconstitutional. She points to failed one-size-fits-all programs like No Child Left behind that have allegedly overburdened classrooms and overburdened teachers with excessive testing and regulations. Option choices for education, whether they be home schooling, instant money vouchers or charter school opportunities, are better for children, teachers and families, suggests Angle.

How dry is prohibition

What Sharron Angle has said about alcohol might be the most troubling thing out there to hamper her Senate bid. A 2006 interview for the now defunct magazine Liberty Watch is most noteworthy, reports Slash Politics, for Angle’s call for alcohol to be treated in much the exact same way as marijuana within the U.S. The result would be that alcohol would become illegal, as it was in the Prohibition era. More than a few individuals are scratching their heads over this, as Sharron Angle comes from Nevada, which features Las Vegas prominently among its tourist destinations. Jerry Stacy, spokesman for Sharron Angle, is nevertheless trying to spin that one away.

There can be hot tubs for the mentally ill

Ever the Scientologist, Sharron Angle has publicly decried the use of psychiatric drugs on prison inmates. She has tried to “gain support for a prison drug rehabilitation program that would involve prisoners quitting drugs cold turkey, with saunas and massages as part of treatment,” reports Talking Points Memo. This comes straight from Church of Scientology beliefs, and Sharron Angle has reportedly supported the notion on multiple occasions.

More data on this topic

sharronangle.com/

slashpolitics.lvcitylife.com/2010/05/prohibition-and-sharron-angle/

latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-nevada-senate,0,1359536.story

tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/sharron-angle-attacked-for-alleged-scientology-ties.php

Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts celebrate free doughnut day

There are free doughnuts accessible on June 4, 2010 at some Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts locations, thanks to National Doughnut Day. Not all Krispy Kreme locations or Dunkin Doughnuts locations are participating in free doughnut day – so check before you go in to claim your confection.

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. First visit the Krispy Kreme locations list to discover a participating location. Once the store has opened on June 4, National Doughnut Day, stop in as soon after they open as you can. Ask – politely – for your free doughnut. Don't forget to thank the doughnut shop employees. The offer is “while supplies last,” so stop in early.

Dunkin Donuts locations participating

It is slightly more difficult to get a free doughnut at Dunkin Donuts. Dunkin Doughnuts locations are offering a free doughnut, but only with a drink purchase. You’ll have to purchase an iced coffee or something else to go with your free doughnut. As always, do not forget to thank the Dunkin Donuts location employees; they will be having a very long day.

Make it the best National Donut Day

Just because a doughnut isn't healthy doesn't mean you can't celebrate National Doughnut Day. Celebrating National Doughnut Day doesn’t have to mean visiting Krispy Kreme locations or Dunkin Doughnuts locations. Instead, you can try making your own doughnuts. Start by creating a basic sweet dough, then just fry it and top as you wish. If it’s your very first time making doughnuts, try this recipe:

• 1 egg
• One quarter-cup sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar replacement like agave nectar
• 1/2 cup milk or almond milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups white or wheat flour
• two teaspoons baking powder, for rise
• Melted butter or frosting or sugar for topping

Mix wet ingredients together, then add dry ingredients. Chill the dough until you can effortlessly work it, then roll it to half an inch thick. When you are chilling the dough, heat vegetable oil in a pan until it is 375 degrees – then fry your shapes until they're toasty on both sides. Drain the fried doughnuts, then sprinkle, glaze, or frost with your favored topping.

Some Florida businesses qualify for zero-interest loans

State sponsored secured loans with zero interest are now being offered to businesses in Florida that are hurt by the oil spill. The loans are a part of Florida’s emergency relief program. These interest-free loans are offered in conjunction with U.S. federal government short term loan programs intended to help companies rebound from the oil spill.

Resource for this article: Short Term Bridge Loans offered to Florida businesses By Personal Money Store

Qualifications for the Florida bridge loans

The short term personal loan available under Florida’s bridge loan system are interest-free. These loans are $ 25,000 and can last for up to one year with no interest. Because these loans are intended for small companies, they could be offered only to businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Finally, these loans are accessible only for companies that are open for one year or more before the April 20 oil spill. The business has to prove, also, that they are "physically or economically damaged by the catastrophe.”

How Florida bridge loans are being funded

The Florida bridge loans that have been made available to businesses are a part of a program activated by Governor Charlie Crist. These short term bridge loans are funded with $ 5 million from the Florida general fund. These short term loans are likely to be administered by the Governor's Office of Economic Development. The Florida First Capital Finance Corporation is also helping provide the administration for these short-term business loans.

Damaged businesses also qualify for federal loans

Companies affected by the oil spill qualify for several types of financial assistance, including federal loans. The federal loans are Small company Association loans, and last for 30 years with low interest. With loan rates as low as four percent, these installment loans are federally-supported. The SBA is recommending that business owners take out these low interest loans rather than waiting to settle with insurance or BP. Getting an SBA loan, though, means promising to use any BP settlement to pay off that loan.

GM burns taxpayers by Armando Galarraga Corvette gift

General Motors presented Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a Corvette soon after his near-perfect game. The 2010 Chevrolet Corvette convertible is worth $ 53,000, but Crain’s Detroit Business reports the media exposure the gesture brought to GM was worth approximately $ 9 million. A non-contracted study by research group Joyce Julius and Associates Inc. tracked the coverage the Galarraga Corvette brought to GM, from 714 TV shots to 151,000 print publications and countless Web entries.

Article Resource: Armando Galarraga Corvette gift from GM burns taxpayers By Car Deal Expert

The Galarraga Corvette windfall makes taxpayers angry

California Rep. Darrell Issa gave a critical voice to what numerous taxpayers are thinking after GM gave Galarraga the very nice Corvette gift. Issa’s spokesman Kurt Bardella told the New York Times that “Until GM has repaid the taxpayers in full for the money they have borrowed, every action they take should advance them in that direction.” The U.S. government owns 61 percent of GM right now, and because GM nevertheless owes taxpayers for its bailout investment decision, the Galarraga Corvette giveaway was quite inappropriate. Such is the case in spite of the fact Armando Galarraga may have earned praise for the manner in which he conducted himself following the blown call by umpire Jim Joyce that cost Galarraga a perfect game. Joyce later admitted that he had made a mistake with the call. Without he blown call, Armando Galarraga’s game was perfect.

GM claims it repaid the loan, but it did that with one more bailout loan

Rep. Issa is not the only one who pointed out that GM aired a TV commercial in May 2010 that claimed it had paid back its government bailout loan. Crain’s reported the fact is that GM was only able to do so because it took out an additional government auto bailout loan. Perhaps the $ 9 million windfall from the Galarraga Corvette can actually help them to take care of that loan on the books? That kind of brand value exposure works just also as any other asset when it comes to trying to pay back debt.

Discover a lot more data on this topic

Crain’s Detroit Business

crainsdetroit.com/article/20100609/FREE/100609856

Personal Money Store

personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/06/03/perfect-game-blown-call-joyce/

Gaza blockade by Free Gaza Flotilla a PR victory for Hamas

The Gaza Blockade, a very significant aspect of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, was began about 3 years ago by Israel and Egypt to contain Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that controls Gaza. The Israeli raid on the Free Gaza Flotilla last week has refocused international attention on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and Gaza’s isolation. International leaders are questioning reasons for continuing the Gaza Blockade in 2010. It is called inhumane oppression by some critics. Those in support say the blockade is essential to prevent rocket attacks by Hamas on Israeli soil.

Source for this article: Gaza blockade 2010 by Free Gaza Flotilla a PR victory for Hamas

Wanted by UN is Israeli rain investigation

The United Nations, European leaders and others harshly criticized Israel after its commandos stormed six ships in international waters. Around 700 activists were trying to break the Gaza Blockade by bringing in about 10,000 tons of aid. According to Voice of The US, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the violence aboard the Turkish ship could are avoided if Israel had heeded earlier calls to lift the Gaza Blockade, which has prevented essential goods from reaching Gaza’s 1.5 million residents. Ban said he is considering an investigation to the Israeli raid that resulted in the deaths of nine pro-Palestinian activists.

Gaza Blockade defended by Israel

Israel says it allows a lot more than enough food, medicine and supplies into Gaza and suggests that there be no independent investigation of the attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. As outlined by the Associated Press, Israel also rejects claims that Gaza is within the midst of a humanitarian crisis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to his nation that the aim of the flotilla was to break the blockade, not to bring aid to Gaza. ”This was not the ‘Love Boat’,” Netanyahu explained, “It was a hate boat.” Israel says its soldiers were acting in self-defense because passengers attacked them when the commandos rappelled onto the ship from helicopters.

Hamas wins just by losing

The attack on the Free Gaza Flotilla is seeming to be the latest public relations coup for militant organizations dedicated to antagonizing Israel. In 2006 Hezbollah scored a huge victory over Israel merely by surviving an onslaught it sought to provoke in southern Lebanon that devastated the countryside. Hamas, which regularly terrorizes Israel with rocket attacks from Gaza, seems to escape international rebuke for that misbehavior. Meantime, Israel finds itself in lose-lose situations when it claims to be defending itself. Netanyahu has warned that if the blockade ends, hundreds of ships will bring in thousands of missiles that come from Iran to be aimed at Israel.

Israel gives enemies gifts

The situation created by the Gaza Blockade and also by the Free Gaza Flotilla creates a geopolitical Rubik’s Cube for the United States. America’s relationships within the Middle East may have to be reset to a shifting balance of power that now sees Turkey — a non-Arab country who gained massive Middle East street cred by sanctioning the blockade — as the linchpin. The clear loser in the game is Israel. Hamas is the only winner. As outlined by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the U.S., Egypt and even the Palestinian Authority had been betting on the weakening and eventual demise of Hamas. But now, it is possible for Hamas to operate from a position of strength, ironically, because of Israel.

Get Apple WWDC 2010 live stream info – New iPhone

Monday, June 7, is the beginning of Apple WWDC – World Wide Developer Conference. There are wide expectations that the WWDC 2010 live stream will contain an announcement of the new iPhone. This new iPhone may be named the iPhone HD or iPhone 4G, but either way they go, the Apple WWDC is sure to garner attention.

Source for this article: New iPhone – Get Apple WWDC 2010 live stream info

Apple WWDC 2010 live stream expected to contain new iPhone

Apple has used the WWDC to introduce a new iPhone in the last few years. With the recent Gizmodo coverage of a new iPhone — iPhone HD or iPhone 4G — that was found in a California bar, expectations are running high. There are a couple of new iPhone features that have been confirmed for sure yet, but Steve Jobs will likely lay out every feature of the new iPhone during the Apple WWDC 2010 keynote speech.

You are able to follow the Apple WWDC 2010 live stream

Steve Jobs’ Apple WWDC keynote speech is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Pacific Time Monday, June 7. There could be legions of tech bloggers and journalists providing an Apple WWDC 2010 live steam. Some of the best places you can find the Apple WWDC 2010 live stream and possibly get details on the new iPhone, if it is announced, contain:

• Engadget WWDC 2010 live stream blog
• engadget.com/2010/06/07/steve-jobs-live-from-wwdc-2010/
• CNet News WWDC 2010 live stream
• news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20006866-260.html
• Mac Rumors Live WWDC 2010 live Twitter
• twitter.com/macrumorslive

What else will WWDC 2010 announce?

The Apple WWDC is supposed to be about much a lot more than the new iPhone. Subtitled “the center of the app universe,” WWDC 2010 is set to have a lot of big announcements. Likely the new iPhone operating system will be announced. There could possibly be an upgrade to the iPad. A new iPhone release date can be given to the masses. To sum it up, , also as tech geeks around the world, can have plenty to be looking forward to. Unsigned applications and other non-Apple-approved applications will continue to be blocked from use on products running the iPhone OS.

Will tradition be broken with the release of the new iPhone?

Normally, the announcement of a new iPhone follows a period of waiting for it to be officially released. However, there are signs that point to the iPhone 4G being released simultaneously with the Apple WWDC announcement. AT and T has pushed upgrade eligibility forward as much as five months, with an iPhone upgrade option.

New iPhone will run on new AT and T data plan

Users of AT and T have no unlimited data plan option any longer. Instead, AT and T has decided to introduce a two-tier data plan. The top tier will let users of the new iPhone download just 2GB of data per month and cost an additional $10 per gigabyte of data. While 2GB would be plenty for most users, any person who streams TV or radio on their new iPhone will easily find themselves bumping up against the limit. The new pricing plan will conserve AT ant T iPhone users money. Unless a Verizon iPhone comes out with some kind of unlimited plan, though (which probably will not happen for a couple of years if at all), then the new applications for the iPhone will quickly end up costing users even more.

Ken Griffey Jr retires from Mariners, baseball

An era comes to a close, as Ken Griffey Jr has announced his retirement on June 2, 2010, right before a game against the Twins. Griffey caught just about everybody off guard with the announcement. The decision seems to are on his mind for some time, and he would rather call it a day early than remain on the team for the sake of nostalgia. He had an accomplished career. As the fifth all time home run hitter, he is in rarefied air as a player.

Article Source: Ken Griffey Jr retires from Mariners, baseball

21 year career brought to a close as Ken Griffey Jr retires

Ken Griffey Jr's retirement ends a legendary career among sportsmen of the Pacific Northwest. It is about as easy to separate Ken Griffey Jr and also the Seattle Mariners as it is to separate Joe Namath and also the Jets. He made his professional debut in 1989, and he and his father are the only father and son to have played on the very same team. He proved worth the investment of instant cash, as he was a prolific player on both sides of the ball. The first ten years he was Seattle, he won the Golden Glove award from the American League 10 times over and hit nearly 400 home runs.

The Emerald City and also the Kid part ways

By the time he was traded, Griffey had been wanting to move closer to his family, which was always his greatest priority. The Cincinnati Reds traded for him, and ironically, it was the Reds who his father played for and won two World Series with. He was plagued by injuries, although he was incredibly productive when fit. Half way through the 2008 season, Griffey was traded to the White Sox. When he entered free agency, there was a public outcry for the Mariners to get him back on the roster.

Return of the prodigal son

Never skipping a beat, he hit 19 home runs over 2009 as a returning Mariner. The 2010 season though, was frustrating as he saw few at bats and had not hit a single home run by May. According to the Seattle Times, he was listed as eligible to play in a Tuesday night game against the Twins. An emergency press conference was called just before the game, where it was disclosed he had pulled the plug. He had promised he would "never allow myself to become a distraction." It seemed that he knew it was time, and called the game.

Citations

Seattle Times

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2012015906_griffey03.html

The week after Google TV demo, Apple TV rumors hit

Apple TV has really been around ever since four years before Google was in the headlines last month with the Google TV demo at Google I/O. It was a wakeup call for an Apple TV update when there was such a huge response to the Google TV demo. Just a week after Google TV was announced, rumors began to fly in Silicon Valley about an Apple TV update. Apple’s renewed initiative for Apple TV sets the scene for a battle between technological superpowers for the future control of a $ 150-billion dollar advertising market.

Resource for this article: Apple TV rumors hit the grapevine the week after Google TV demo

The update on Apple TV

The Apple TV update had been in development long before Google TV made its splash. As outlined by the technology blog engadget.com, it received a tip confirmed by a “source very close to Apple” the Apple TV update could be based directly on the Apple iPhone 4 operating system and be capable of full 1080p HD. The Apple TV device is referred to as an ultra simplified, streamlined Apple iPhone without a screen and with just a power socket and video out. Probably the most compelling feature of the Apple TV update is likely that consumers won’t need any instant cash to jump on the bandwagon: it's rumored price tag is $ 99. $ 230 is the price tag on the current Apple TV that runs on Apple OS.

Google TV vs. Apple TV

Apple TV and Google are playing a high stakes game. The winner will take the lead in a historical transformation of technology reports the Los Angeles Times. Nearly 40 percent of consumers said they wanted to connect their computers to their televisions to watch online video, as outlined by a recent survey by Frank N. Magid Associates. The Times quotes chief executive of Clicker.com, Jim Lanzone, as saying:

“A generation from now, people simply won’t believe how limited the world of linear programming was, the same way people under 30 today can’t relate to 12 channels and a knob.”

Apple TV is now going to the cloud

Apple TV’s new set-top box has much of the functionality found on the Apple iPhone. It's got the A4 processor that powers its computers, along with 16GB of flash storage inside. It is reported by Engadget that there can be a Time Capsule option for external storage, but the main purpose of Apple TV is all about streaming. Apple is trying to focus on more cloud depending storage. As outlined by Engadget, there was no info on whether the new device would support Apple's App Store and apps, but given the runaway success of both, that feature could be assumed.

Apple TV – high expectations

Apple TV today is a little box that lets users buy or rent any HD movies and stream iTunes content through their set top boxes. Nobody really knows that it exists. Crienglish.com reports the integration of the Web and TV has eluded Apple and Microsoft for some time now, but Google TV and the overwhelming power of Google on the internet has gotten everyone’s attention. Google TV plans to enable users to pull up Web content on their TVs, including photos, video and music, using an on-screen search box like the one on Google’s website. The ball seems to be in Apple's court now. The public is eager to see what Apple will come up with.

Read more on this topic here

Engadget.com
Los Angeles Times
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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. Some people go the additional mile to detail their vehicles before sale, but if you are scoping a spur-of-the-moment deal on Craigslist, you may be purchasing an AS-IS automobile that doubled as a mobile smoking lounge. Not only is the upholstery stained or discolored from cigarette smoke, but the unmistakable 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.

Source for this article: How to get cigarette smoke smell out of a car By Car Deal Expert

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

Whatever method you follow, it will require some work. Cigarette smell tends to be pervasive. {Assuming that you want 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 car loans-bearing consumer – what follows are some DIY tips that don’t require scary chemicals|Assuming you want 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 don’t require scary chemicals. Yes, hydrogen peroxide will do the job well, but why not use less costly home methods that a! re less likely to bleach your skin and cause blisters or irritation? Courtesy of How to Do Things, here are some ideas:

1. Make certain you vacuum the car. Some particles of cigarette smell is on the car. Use hose attachments.
2. Use a variety of white vinegar. A bowl left in the car overnight can help the smell a great deal.
3. Use some citrus peels. In the car you can place some peels. This method takes a number of days, but the magic of orange peels in particular can’t be overstated.
4. Get some baking soda. Sprinkle it on the upholstery and carpet and leave it for a couple of hours. See how your car smells after vacuuming that up. First you have to spot test it to make certain it will react well with your upholstery.
5. 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 on one of the most offending areas.
6. You have to air it out. Doesn't it sound obvious? Leave the doors open for a couple of hours. For minor lingering cigarette odors, this may help.
7. Use charcoal. Just like vinegar, leave the charcoal in a bowl overnight within the car.
8. Pay attention to the lights. Interior lights attract smoke, which means they’ll be centers for cigarette smell. Scrub these areas with one of the most powerful cleaner you’ve. Even bring in a hydrogen peroxide mix here if necessary.

Do not drive an ash mobile

Knowing how to get cigarette smell out of a car is serious business. Many individuals are sickened by continual exposure to the smell, which is something nobody wants to experience when they purchase a new car. The above home remedies are easy and inexpensive to apply, so why not give them a try?

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How to Do Things

Lower prices and lower limits - New AT and T data plan

AT and T has announced new data plan pricing for smartphones and tablets that will go into effect on Monday. This new AT and T data plan pricing is intended to help reduce network usage when providing more transparency within the billing process. Many wonder whether other wireless carriers will follow suit.

Article Resource: New AT and T data plan – Lower prices and lower limits By Personal Money Store

AT and T data plans will eliminate ‘unlimited’

When the iPhone was first introduced on the AT and T network, the one-size-fits-all data plan was a $29.99 a month “unlimited” plan. Sometimes the definition of unlimited was confused. Some AT and T customers got huge data-use bills that seemed to indicate there was a limit to network usage that they weren’t aware of. Some customers got faxless paydayloans to pay their bills. Heavy use of the data network led to numerous dropped calls and slow data speeds that have been a tough sticking point between the carrier and customers.

The newest AT and T data plan

There will be three levels of data use on the new data plan released by AT and T. There can be a $15 plan allowing 200 mb of data per month. A $25 plan will allow 2 gb of data per month. It costs an additional $20 per month to connect a laptop to the internet. These new AT and T data plans will send a free text message to all of its users when they are approaching their data limit. These data limits will not apply when the smartphone or tablet is getting used at a WiFi hotspot – only the 3G network. Users that already have a contract with AT and T can keep their “unlimited” plans and pricing, even when renewing their contracts.

AT and T data plan effects

While the new AT and T data plans are very likely to cut back the cost for light data users, heavy data users will feel the strongest effects. Many wireless carriers and app developers have worked to move streaming video and data-intense applications onto smartphones and tablets. AT and T could be limiting the accessible applications on its 3G or 4G network by limiting data so heavily. he chairman of the FCC has expressed many concern over the “bandwidth crisis” that smartphones have created. If other wireless carriers don’t follow the AT and T data plan model and limit their data usage, then heavy users will probably just switch carriers. Though demand for wireless data services has increased in the last few years, capacity is growing at a much slower rate.

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

The relationship between Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch was made legal in a small Massachusetts ceremony over Memorial Day. Lynch and Embry have been engaged since November. Though the marriage is very large news, the story most people are most interested in is what is going to happen on the newest season of "Glee.”

Article Resource: Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch tie the knot in Massachusetts By Personal Money Store

Jane Lynch and Dr. Laura Embry

The relationship between Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch has been in headlines given that November, when the couple got engaged. Jane Lynch is a former “Second City” cast member and is best known for her role in “Glee.” Dr. Laura Embry is a psychologist who was embroiled in a very public custody battle for her two children a few years ago. The small Massachusetts ceremony did not require a low rate personal loans, as the couple is very successful.

The ceremony that married Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch

The small, private wedding between Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch was held at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland, Mass. The couple had a friend officiate the short ceremony where they exchanged vows. Both Jane Lynch and Dr. Laura Embry wore cream and black for the event. The small dinner reception was prepared by the chef at the Blue Heron – including salad, appetizer, dinner, and dessert.

Changes coming for 'Glee' and Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch is going to be seeing a number of changes above and beyond her marriage to Dr. Laura Embry. On "Glee", where Jane Lynch plays Sue Sylvester, changes are certain to be seen in Season 2. On “Glee” season two, a conservative Christian character is going to be introduced. In announcing these changes, the producers of "Glee" said that they had "taken some fairly hard shots" at the right wing during season one, and they want to balance that out. It should be interesting to see how Sue Sylvester reacts.