Gradegov.com Lets You Fail Your Government Officials

Grade Gov creates a stir

If you’re trying to access www.gradegov.com, be warned that it may be a little slow. There are a whole lot of people trying to get in on the action. People are chomping at the bit to share what they think of their government officials.

But with a little patience, you can see which elected officers are making the grade and who is failing. Better yet, you can fail that guy you were ranting about last night or give your favorite member of Congress an A-plus.

An opinionated populace

The recession has hit home with a vast majority of Americans. The more people have to get short term loans, use credit cards or undergo mortgage loan modification to make ends meet, the more angry they become about the economy.

Now people who are angry because of losing their jobs or being buried in their mortgages have an outlet. GradeGov.com lets users write letters explaining their grades.

About GradeGov.com

The most surprising thing, to me, about Grade Gov is that it was created by an ex-elected official. The site’s slogan — “They work for you. Remind them” — does not sound like something a former Congresswoman would come up with. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Gradegov.com Lets You Fail Your Government Officials"

Ken Lewis, Bank of America Board Keeps Their Jobs

Bank CEO was protested

Despite outcry from shareholders and protests at Bank of America’s annual shareholder meeting today, Ken Lewis will retain his position as CEO of Bank of America.

The rest of the board will also remain in their current jobs. For details on protests, read my earlier post.

Thou doth not protest enough

Though shareholders were up in arms because of the purchase of failing Merrill Lynch, Bank of America spokesman James Mahoney says all of the board’s 18 members were re-elected by “a comfortable margin.”

Groups such as the California Public Employees Retirement System fund and companies including Egan- Jones Proxy Services called for Lewis to quit and voted against his re-election in the shareholder’s meeting. Nevertheless, the Bank of American board will remain unchanged, and the bank will continue business as usual, including mortgage loan modification and cash advances.

Root of the controversy

The shareholders were angered by the purchase of Merrill Lynch late last year because of a lack of disclosure on Lewis and the board’s part. The Bank of American board failed to inform shareholders of the dire financial situation Merrill Lynch was facing before it held a vote on the matter. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Ken Lewis, Bank of America Board Keeps Their Jobs"

Portfolio Magazine Closes | Print's Death Rattle Continues

One less business magazine on shelves

By now, you probably know that circulation numbers for newspapers and periodicals are down. Numerous newspapers have either called it quits entirely or abandoned newsprint for the online-only format. Among other luminaries of print journalism, Dan Okrent, Edit0r-at-Large for Time, Inc., has sounded off on the issue. While the container for the information may change - his hint that online is the destination - the information itself will not. Journalism will continue to evolve and entertain.

Declining circulation figures and increased production costs are claiming more than newspapers. Magazines like Blender and Domino recently closed their doors, and not Portfolio Magazine by Condé Nast has followed suit. That means layoffs, with debt relief and debt consolidation to follow for the unfortunate few.

Where are the ads?

David Carr reports for the New York Times that Portfolio, a business magazine that Condé Nast began in April 2007, will cease publishing effective immediately. The decision was announced to the staff by Joanne Lipman, the magazine’s editor-in-chief. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Portfolio Magazine Closes | Print's Death Rattle Continues"

Make Peace with the Sign

Get it off your back

When you need money, the dollar sign is your constant companion. It follows you everywhere. It fills your mail box, calls you on the phone, and makes demands. It even wakes you up in the middle of the night. It cheats you at the gas pump, shocks you at the grocery store, and gets a good laugh when you look at the price tag on a new pair of shoes. Why not get this persistent symbol off your back with a quick payday loan? Then relax for a minute and consider where it may have come from.

The dispute rages on (in limited circles)

Thomas Jefferson

The origin of the dollar sign is a matter of controversy for anyone interested in numismatics, the study of coins and paper money. The first use of $ in an American context is in 1784 in a memorandum from Thomas Jefferson suggesting the dollar as the primary unit of currency. Some have deduced from this that he made it up there and then, either as a monogram based on his own initials or as a kind of doodle.

Ayn Rand

A more widely held notion is that it originated as the letters U and S superimposed on each other and that the U eventually disintegrated into unconnected parallel lines. The problem with this theory (popularized by novelist Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged) is that $ as a symbol for peso far outdates its application to U.S. dollars and is still widely used as a peso sign throughout Latin America. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Make Peace with the Sign"

Repair Your Credit | Reduce the APR Bulge (Pt. 5)

You can cut your dependence on borrowing

Welcome back. CLICK HERE if you missed part four of this five-part article. Let’s close out this chapter of the “Repair Your Credit” E-book by looking at a few more ways that you can cut down on high-interest revolving credit. The fewer credit cards and installment loans who have to depend upon, the better for your financial future.

Retirement funds

If you currently possess a 401(k) retirement account, you may be able to borrow a loan against it if you absolutely need money. Keep in mind that this should be a last resort for debt consolidation, as your 401(k) is intended to be a part of your long-term financial goals.

The nice thing about these types of loans is that you are paying interest to yourself, not the bank. Be aware, however, that if you quit your job that is providing you with the 401(k), you’ll have to pay the debt in full when you leave. Hardly the kind of thing you want to have to worry about during a recession, is it. Perhaps you shouldn’t borrow from your 401(k). Forget I mentioned it, or at least be sure you won’t be creating undue financial stress for yourself.

Your local bank or credit union

Short term loans and installment loans obtained through portals like Personal Money Store Credit unions offer immediacy and interest rates much lower than you would expect for quick payday loans. However, if you don’t need a bad credit cash advance - i.e., your credit is still decent and you have identified your need for help before defaulting on your accounts - you may be able to apply for and be approved for a loan from your bank or credit union. Since most consumer credit card accounts carry interest rates around 20 percent, you may be able to lower your monthly payment and pay your debt off quicker with such a loan, which may only carry a 10 percent rate. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Repair Your Credit | Reduce the APR Bulge (Pt. 5)"

Americans are Using Payday Loans to Manage Debt

Falling behind is not hard in today's economy

The payday loan is an option for paying emergency debt. In today's market, it's easy to fall behind on bills or have an unplanned debt come up. Payday loans are quickly becoming a simple and quick way to handle debt by receiving upfront cash before your pay period. To apply for a payday loan you need to be over 18 years of age, employed and have a bank account. If you are approved, you wi ll typically have the emergency funds within 24-48 hours, usually even less. This is why the loans are so popular today. They are meeting the needs of qualified economy-burdened consumers.

American Debt Increasing

It is estimated that the next American crisis will be dealing with debt. The recession has brought many people to the brink of financial collapse, forcing them to file for unemployment, face foreclosure and rethink their financial plans. Both the mortgage crisis and the job decline have propelled people into serious arrears. Despite the $700 billion banking bailout, consumers are still struggling because the bailout is estimated to bring tangible economic improvement in mid-2010. Until then, people have to be smarter and more frugal than ever. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Americans are Using Payday Loans to Manage Debt"

Repair Your Credit | Debt Consolidation (Pt. 4)

Taking stock of your debts

A key element of how you’ll “Repair Your Credit” is making mountains of debt more manageable. CLICK HERE if you missed the last installment of this article.

***

Let’s face it. Managing debt can be a long, slow and tedious process. If you find yourself juggling numerous revolving credit accounts each month and relying upon online cash advance and installment loans to make ends meet, you need to find a different path through the woods. It could help you to use methods of debt consolidation. By doing so, you can put all your debt under one umbrella. At the very least, it’s likely you’ll save on interest rates each month, which makes a big difference in the long run.

When is it time to seek debt consolidation help?

Seeking help can be humbling for some and many find themselves embarrassed to seek out the appropriate help. But we’re living in a recession, we aren’t getting any younger - no Benjamin Buttons here - and we want to repair credit here. So if there’s any possibility that you could use help, take action and find it. The longer you wait, the more interest accumulates and the larger your debt pile becomes. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Repair Your Credit | Debt Consolidation (Pt. 4)"

Hungry Girl Keeps it Simple, Helps Shoppers and Snackers

Hungry Girl gets it right

Hungry Girl's web site also features a cocktail survival guide.

Lisa Lillien, known to her many fans and followers as Hungry Girl, has built an empire on the rock of reality. In a sea of dieting, nutrition and cooking web sites, she faces the fact that Americans are snackers.

Sure, we’d all love to have the time to steam asparagus for lunch and whip up egg-white omelettes in the  the morning, but as Hungry Girl says, “people can’t live like that forever.”

Waste not

In the past year I’ve seen countless articles on how to save money on groceries. To me, food from the grocery store is one of those things I should be spending money on. It keeps me from eating out and keeps me alive.Food is one of those things that’s worth getting a payday loan for.

I think the best way to save money on groceries is to make sure you only buy stuff that you will definitely eat. I have wasted money before on products that I didn’t like or that went bad before I got around to eating them.

Tasty, healthy, easy

Hungry girl helps shoppers by recommending products that fit two criteria: delicious and low calorie. She also focuses on convenience foods and snack foods. You won’t find complicated, time-consuming recipes at Hungry-Girl.com. Making sure everything you buy tastes great, is convenient and will help you stay healthy is a great way to ensure that none of your groceries will go to waste — or to your waist. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Hungry Girl Keeps it Simple, Helps Shoppers and Snackers"

A Payday Loan for Your Thoughts

The nerve!

"A penny for your thoughts" – it's such an annoying idiom. That anyone might attempt to enter into the sanctity of my thoughts for so little! However, I must admit that I've used the expression myself, despite the obvious insufficiency of the proffered legal tender. Worse yet, I have sometimes asked, "whacha thinkin?" without offering any consideration at all — as though I were entitled to have another’s thoughts for free. In a world that turns on money, how ever did I develop this mindset?

The unloved penny

In 2007 the Rockefeller Center hosted a display of 100 million pennies collected by public school children. These children obviously loved pennies.  But for many years a surging wave of adults has sought to abolish this humble coin. Grown-ups do not like pennies. Children may save pennies in a jar and use them to buy things. But if an adult puts a penny in a jar, it will stay there forever. Busy people simply throw pennies away.

Most overseas military posts and bases have done away with the penny. You can use pennies to pay, but you will not get them back in change. (By the way, did vending machines or pay phones ever accept pennies?)

Where did the saying come from?

Like so many English idioms, we really don't know when this one got started. But we can be certain it was in use back when a penny still had some appreciable value. The saying appears in "Four Last Things" written by English humanist scholar Sir Thomas More in 1522. (More, it should be noted, coined the word "utopia," but wore a hair shirt every day and was beheaded in 1535.) ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "A Payday Loan for Your Thoughts"

Dave Ramsey Holds 'Town Hall for Hope'

Money talks

Dave Ramsey

Well known radio host, author and motivational speaker Dave Ramsey doesn’t want to sit back and watch the recession take over people’s lives anymore. Ramsey is holding a “Town Hall for Hope” tonight to discuss “what's happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we're going.”

His live presentation will be broadcast to several host locations, mostly churches, through live video streaming. You can find a host location near you by visiting www.townhallforhope.com and clicking on “Attend the Event.”

Event details

Dave Ramsey for years has motivated audiences to get out of credit card debt and become proactive about debt reduction and credit repair. The event tonight begins at 8 p.m. ET. Ramsey will be speaking at a church in Oklahoma, and other churches that have already signed up to be hosts will show the presentation live.

Ramsey’s Town Hall for Hope web site says he will talk about foreclosures, recession and whatever audience members ask about. He’ll be taking questions throughout the event.

Ramsey’s wisdom

Ramsey’s well-known and sometimes controversial approach to getting out of debt is called the “debt snowball.” He advocates paying off  bills with the smallest balances first, knocking them out one by one. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Dave Ramsey Holds 'Town Hall for Hope' "

Stephen Hawking Ill, Skeptics Everywhere Fear Worst

The big questions

Many of us go through life without asking big questions. Where do we come from? What is our place in the universe? Merely keeping up with bills - whether you use short term loans and mortgage loan modification or not - and moving through the dooms of life like sheeple is the classic example of “the unexplored life” that “is not worth living,” as Socrates put it.

To the best of human knowledge (which is the only knowledge we have, let’s not kid ourselves), the big questions of purpose generally answer themselves. Even if we fail to discern the answer, we needn’t worry. The answer is the question. In the quest for answers, the application of our logic to the problem is what makes us imminently human.

Stephen Hawking loves these questions

Unfortunately, Stephen Hawking is ill. Robert Barr reports for The Huffington Post that the British mathematician and physicist was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on Monday with a cold and chest infection. Reports indicate that he remains in the hospital at this writing, “resting comfortably.”

Hawking, 67, gained renown for his work on black holes and space-time theory, and has remained active despite being diagnosed at 21 years of age with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), an incurable muscular disease better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He developed the condition at the age of 40 and has been almost entirely paralyzed for some time. He communicates via an electronic voice synthesizer activated via finger. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Stephen Hawking Ill, Skeptics Everywhere Fear Worst"

Another State Hits Double-Digit Unemployment Rate

A new partner in joblessness

Eight states now have now received the dubious honor of having unemployment rates higher than 10 percent. The newest addition to the family is Indiana. The state hit 10 percent in March, up from 9.4 percent in February.

Oregon’s unemployment rate saw the biggest jump, going up 1.4 percent to 12.1 percent, the second-highest unemployment in the United States. Michigan still leads the nation in unemployment with 12.6 percent. Bloomberg.com reports this is the worst employment slump in the post-war era. Luckily for unemployed homeowners, mortgage loan modification can help them keep their homes.

More big jumps

Unemployment in Washington state jumped almost a full percentage point in March to 9.2 percent. West Virginia also saw a 0.9 percent jump in unemployment, putting it at 6.2 percent.

Though West Virginia’s rate took a big jump, its overall unemployment rate is still well below the national average, which went up to 8.5 percent from 8.2 percent. That’s the highest it’s been in 25 years.

More double-digit states

Along with Indiana, Michigan and Oregon, the following states have unemployment rates higher than 10 percent:

• South Carolina, 11.4
• California, 11.2
• North Carolina, 10.8
• Rhode Island, 10.5
• Nevada, 10.4

Forty-six states registered an increase in unemployment in March. Three states held steady, and the District of Columbia and North Dakota posted a drops, according to the labor department. Payroll employment dropped in March in 48 states and D.C. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Another State Hits Double-Digit Unemployment Rate"

Seven Places to Turn in Your Job Application

It’s true; they’re hiring

Yes, joblessness is still going up. A total of eight states now have double-digit unemployment rates. However, there are still jobs out there. Earlier, I covered the cities in the U.S. that have the lowest unemployment rates. But there are some companies that operate nationwide and have openings, so these will be good options if you want to stay put. These seven Fortune 100 companies have at least 150 job openings.

1. Wal-Mart

The recession hasn’t had any negative effects on retail giant Wal-Mart. In fact, this company has only brought in more profits since consumers started aggressively seeking the bargains. Wal-Mart is has thousands of job openings across the country. The company is hiring store managers, human resource managers, pharmacists, customer service associates, cashiers and others. So, if you need some extra cash to pay off installment loans, check out the nearest store.

2. UPS

According to Fortune, UPS has 3,070 openings in the U.S. UPS is seeking part-time package handlers, mechanics, warehouse personnel, sales representatives and information technology professionals. UPS offers a huge variety of shifts, so people can work at night or other odd hours. A lot of the openings are probably graveyard or swing shifts, so if you’re willing to work a nontraditional schedule, or better yet if you are a night owl, check it out.

3. Lowe’s

Lowe’s hardware store is hiring for pretty much every position. The retail chain has 7,900 openings nationwide, and is looking for everything from part-time seasonal employees to executives to work in the corporate office. I’m sure we’ve all needed help from one of those store workers who knows where the light fixtures or the PVC pipes are. And isn’t it nice to be needed? ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Seven Places to Turn in Your Job Application"

Stay Away from Scams | Debt Consolidation Part 8

Con artists everywhere

As is the case with mortgage loan modification, any time there is an increased demand for a financial service, scam artists come out of the woodwork. There is always someone looking to prey on desperation and anxiety if it can help them make a buck.

Debt consolidation is no different. There are plenty of legitimate, reputable debt consolidation companies out there who will act as your counselor, advocate nd stress reliever. However, there are also people who want to take your money and run.

How scammers operate

Generally, debt consolidation scammers represent fake companies, pose as debt counselors, pretend they’ve gotten  your debt reduced and consolidated and ask you to write them a check or wire a certain amount every month.

You can probably see where this is going. The scammer keeps the money, the creditors don’t get paid, and you are left even worse off than where you started.

Here are some ways to avoid debt consolidation scammers:

1. Do your homework

Ask your debt consolidation counselor a lot of questions about the company. If counselors are not willing to give you thorough information about the company, the process and what exactly they do, this is a red flag. If a counselor isn’t upfront about answering your questions, you may want to try another company. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Stay Away from Scams | Debt Consolidation Part 8"

Automobile Down Payment Assistance Loans

Introduction to Vehicle Micro Financing

There is now a unique website that helps people come up cash to buy a car with a down payment assistance program. It appears that there are no credit checks in most cases and anyone can borrow up to $1,500. The application process seems very simple and they claim that you can get the money direct deposited in as little as two hours. Sounds interesting but tell us more you may be asking.

If you have bad or poor credit it does not appear to matter either. One beneficial thing we noticed is the loans do not get reported to credit bureaus. They even help people with bankruptcy’s and military members get this rare type of auto financing.

How this form of auto financing came about

The financial markets have tightened the coffers to an extreme. Credit requirements for motor cycle loans and automobiles have drastically become more difficult for people to qualify for. Financial institutions are not loaning money for vehicles like they have in the past. Credit score requirements have put auto financing for people with bad credit out of reach.

Auto loans for down payments you can afford

Automobile dealerships need to increase sales and the credit restrictions are severely hurting the automotive industries. Slow car sales have put many vehicle dealerships out of business. It is a shame that all the dealerships we contacted had no idea that they can increase their sales by offering this type of down payment assistance to their potential buyers. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Automobile Down Payment Assistance Loans"

Danny Pang Admits to Ponzi Scheme (Pt. 2)

Born a gamblin’ Pang

Now we get to the nitty gritty of Danny Pang‘s Ponzi scheme, mixed in with other shenanigans that could cause honest people to question what they believe. CLICK HERE if you missed the beginning of this mini portrait of a 2009 cheat who has put people in need of instant payday loans and credit repair…

• Early 2000s: Pang founds Private Equity Management Group. Among the organization’s accomplishments is “a fund that would buy life-insurance policies from elderly people and collect when they died,” according to the Wall Street Journal. He gains a reputation at this time as “a gambler”
• 2006: Pang uses money intended for a time-share fund to buy a Gulfstream IV jet for Private Equity
• July 12, 2007: Takes women from the office to Las Vegas on said jet. On the return flight, he opens a briefcase with $10,000 in casino winnings. He throws the money around at women on the plane and makes sure to photograph the display
• 2007: Pang’s life insurance isn’t showing enough profit because “everybody lived a long time,” so he starts a Ponzi scheme. According to one of his employees, Pang said “Nasar, I want you to know we are in a Ponzi scheme.” Reportedly, he added that he’d “fix the problem by doing well on another investment”
• 2009: Pang’s lawyer drafts an agreement promising to pay Nasar $500,000 if he tells The Wall Street Journal that the statement regarding the Ponzi scheme were false. By way of explanation, Pang supposedly made the statements because stress “affected his judgment and mental well-being.” In related events, Private Equity Management Group’s company Web site ceases to function

Danny Pang should have to answer for his Ponzi scheme, once the SEC gets around to it. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Danny Pang Admits to Ponzi Scheme (Pt. 2)"

‘Mainstream’ Support for XP Ends Today

Microsoft will continue to offer limited ‘extended’ support until 2014.

Did you see this announcement in today's papers? Well, I have a few words to say on the subject. My first question to Microsoft is, "what if I'm not Mainstream?"

You could say I’m not Mainstream

The truth is that I am a "Backwater" operation. It's only you and the income tax department that think I am Mainstream and treat me as such. My organization is me, one 2002 computer, one 2005 computer and a 2006 laptop. The fax is steam driven.

I need XP support

My organization works day and night and produces a fair amount of financial, engineering and anti-contamination output. It runs happily on your XP software and this morning coped easily with tests for the presence of Ethanol and Sodium Metasilicate in hospital operating theater environments. I cannot believe that whatever you plan to replace XP with, will do any better.

Please do not force me into talking huge Online Cash Advances from the Personal Money Store to replace my XP.

It's a conspiracy

The whole XP YP ZP thing is a huge conspiracy between Microsoft and Intel. These companies employ loads of people and they have to keep finding work for them. Intel looks at XP and says, we could make that go a lot faster if we added another gizmo to the chip and turned it on its back. In comes R&D, tests all the combinations and says right, it works. So they make the new chips and market them as "faster than the human eye can see". They passed the point of "faster than the human hand can type about 20 years ago". The new computer comes out. It has 'Intel Inside' and 'Made in China' outside. And this baby is fast! My typing speed remains constant at 30 miles an hour. I buy a desktop and a laptop. Yes, Payday Loans. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "'Mainstrea m' Support for XP Ends Today"

The Las Vegas Housing Market - Blackjack or Bust?

Las Vegas Home Sales

Per the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, home sales in the sin city area increased by 30% in March. Sources indicate a large number of sales were to investors who are buying two to three homes at a time. One investor, Arthur Wong, indicated that the current buyers are looking to hold long-term, unlike the speculators who inflated the market in the first place. February, 2009 home sales in Las Vegas were 80% higher than in 2008. Some landlords are even researching foreclosure rolls to find potential renters to ensure their new investments will produce cash flow, per Camden Property Trust.

Ominous Signs Despite Increased Investor Interest

Despite the increase in sales, prices are declining. The Association of Realtors announced that the median price in March, 2008 was $149,000, down 39% from the year before. The Nevada state legislature recently introduced a measure known as AB I39 which would improve accessibility to low income housing. A similar measure was defeated in 2007 as too costly, but the current measure would be funded from an affordable housing trust fund and not general revenues. In addition to the perceived need for government stimulus or cash advance loans to the housing market, personal bankruptcy filings in Nevada went from 10,632 in 2007 to 18,211 in 2008. This indicates fewer individuals will be able to qualify for home loans. T he mixed use CityCenter Las Vegas complex, a $9.1 billion project including both condominium and retail space, is now in jeopardy as Dubai World filed suit against its principal partner in the development, MGM Mirage, last month. MGM recently obtained a $70 million reprieve from creditors which may ease financial strains on the project. However, if completed, the condominium units would add supply to the strained residential market. The potential for further cheap condominium supply weighing on the market is indicated by the sale offering for the mortgage on Vantage Lofts. George Smith Partners recently indicated it is willing to sell the Note at a discount as the developer is in bankruptcy. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "The Las Vegas Housing Market - Blackjack or Bust?"

Repair Your Credit | Payday Loan Truth vs. Fiction (Pt. 1)

Facts and Fallacies of Payday Loans

Last time, we took a look at some of the advantages online payday loans have when you’re on the road to “Repair Your Credit.” Now let’s examine some of the truth and fiction that’s out there about the industry, so that you have more information to use when making decisions about how you’ll manage your short-term finances to rebuild and maximize your credit rating.

Currently, there are more than 11 states that have passed laws which have banned payday loan businesses from operating. The reason for this is largely based upon the fact that banks and credit unions take a rather monopolistic view of free competition.

In this case, payday lenders presented competition in the short-term consumer lending market, so banks managed to convince politicians through campaign contributions (and the promise of more to come) that they should regulate these cash advance lenders out of business. Numerous other states have capped or are considering putting caps on interest rates. Some of this is necessary to ensure that consumers are protected from those lenders who buck industry regulation and charge excessive rates, but for the most part, this damages the ability of honest lenders to operate. That in turn costs people their jobs. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Repair Your Cre dit | Payday Loan Truth vs. Fiction (Pt. 1)"

BYD China's Electric Car in Sales Slump

The revolution is on hold for BYD

Once they get this right, we’ll no longer need personal loans for petroleum-based fuels…

The race to build a mass market electric car has had its ups and downs. Companies like Tesla are pushing at the doors of innovation, but they have yet to break out with a winner. Other companies continue to test out their ideas for new hybrid vehicles, but the question “What happened to the electric car?” remains.

Well, here’s another story to feed the flame. Domenick Yoney reports for Auto Blog Green that Chinese company BYD Auto has a vehicle called the BYD F3DM. That’s the good part. But this Dual Mode (range-extended) electric vehicle hasn’t sold in numbers that would challenge comparable American counterparts like the Chevy Volt. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "BYD China's Electric Car in Sales Slump"

I did it! I quit my job! They can all go, er…, fishing!

The diary of an unplaced worker

Monday

What a relief not to have to clock in this morning, my first morning of freedom in 7 years. I couldn't stand that place any more. 7 years of bowing and kowtowing to my idiot boss, 7 years of drinking that stuff they call coffee, 7 years of doing those stupid insurance calculations over and over again and then fighting over every number. The paper I produced! I can tell them what to do with all that paper!

Ah, it's great to be free of all that, not to put a tie on in the morning, to be able to breathe in fresh uninsured air and to drink a decent cup of coffee. Boy, I sure told those guys what I thought of them. You should have seen the manager's face when he walked into the room in the middle of my speech!

Money? I can always contact that Personal Money Store and call around to pick up the proceeds of a few Short Term Loans until my new job kicks in.

Tuesday

I'll plan my day better today. Yesterday my head was still in a mess from my hysterical outburst on Friday. Guess I'll have to make my own lunch today. Then I'll go buy a newspaper and start looking at the wanted ads.

Wednesday

I wonder how Ben is doing? Think he's moved into my office and sitting in my tilt-back chair? I'm surprised no one from the office has called me. Pretty thin column of want ads in yesterday's paper. I guess Wednesdays are better. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "I did it! I quit my job! They can all go, er…, fishing!"

Credit Card Cash Advances Versus Payday Loans

Know your options

They look so innocent, don't they?

Lately, I have been stewing a bit over the amount of interest I’ll end up paying on some cash advances I got on my credit card. Had I known more about my options beforehand, I would have definitely made a different choice. If I’d taken out a payday loan instead, I could have save a lot of money.

But now, like a motivational speaker who can tell high school students to “stay off drugs” because “I’ve been there,” I present to you my new campaign: Just Say No To Credit Card Cash Advances.

Let’s start at the very beginning

Now, my message isn’t for everyone. But, if you have a credit card that already has a balance on it, listen up. Here is my story.

When I started college, I signed up for a couple of credit cards. When I first got them, I promised myself I’d only use them for emergencies. However, as time went by the definition of “emergency” got a little hazy. Eventually, going out to dinner with friends and attending concerts became major emergencies. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Credit Card Cash Advances Versus Payday Loans"

Brown Fat - Evolution's Warm Blanket (Pt. 2)

Warming up to the good fat

(CLICK HERE for part one of this article from your payday loan source)

“It is, in a sense, the discovery of a new organ,” said Sven Enerback, University of Goteborg researcher and lead author of one of three studies on brown fat.

“This is a tissue whose sole physiological purpose is to expend energy,” said Francesco Celi of the National Institutes of Health. “That makes it an ideal target” for drugs or treatments to make it more active.

What’s the safest way to activate it?

Currently, the only safe way to activate brown fat is to stay cold , however, the only safe way to activate brown fat is to remain cold enough to be on the verge of shivering… for a long period of time. This recreates the scenario that led to the evolution of brown fat: life-threatening cold in creatures that couldn’t put on clothes to stay warm.

It’s important to maintain a proper balance of brown fat in the body. If you’re carrying too much or too little weight, not only are the calorie-burning benefits mostly negated, but you become more vulnerable to diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. Generally, a lean form is most ideal to maintain the body’s energy balance, yet according to Brown, it is unclear whether brown fat is the cause of leanness or its result.

Groundbreaking studies

Researchers at the Netherlands’ Maastricht University Medical Center examined 24 young men, one half lean and the other half overweight. Each stayed in a 61-degree room for a couple of hours and then given a PET scan. After the men had been kept cold, activated brown fat deposits could be seen in 23 of the 24. The heaviest man in the group showed no activation. Lean men had about four times more brown fat activity than the overweight men. Interestingly, when several were tested again later without being subjected to cold first, brown fat activity could not be seen. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Brown Fat - Evolution's Warm Blanket (Pt. 2)"

GM Segway Part 2 | More Opinions on PUMA

‘Today Show’ takes a test drive

GM and Segway have partnered to make a tiny, electric vehicle, the PUMA, that more closely resembles a scooter than a car. I shared my outsider’s opinion in Part 1 of this article, but there are plenty of other people out their sharing their thoughts.

This morning on the “Today Show,” a developer gave show host Meredith Viera a test drive in the passenger seat. Check out the video at Kicking Tires.

Word from the inside

As Viera rode around in the PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), she had a few insights of her own to share. She commented that she wouldn’t feel safe riding in the PUMA in the streets. She also said they’d need to create an enclosed version in order for people to use it in the winter.

The driver of the PUMA, called “Mike the engineer” in the video, said it was a very early prototype and more safety features would be developed. GM executive Larry Burns said the vehicles will be “fully designed and test-driven” by January. It sounds like it will take more than a payday loan to buy one, though. The vehicles will cost up to a third as much as an average car.

Harsh words from Business Pundit

Though Burns sounded enthusiastic about developing the PUMA, some business analysts don’t think this risky venture is best for a company living on a government lifeline. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "GM Segway Part 2 | More Opinions on PUMA"

Daily Tar Heel, Other Newspapers Trumpet Champs

UNC Tar Heels win national title

The 2008-09 NCAA men’s basketball champion is the North Carolina Tar Heels. Newspapers far and wide, from the Daily Tar Heel to the Boston Globe and San Diego Union-Tribune, have sung the praises of the nation’s best men’s college basketball program. At this writing, the women’s champion has not been decided, but I’m going to pick the Connecticut Huskies. For the purposes of this article, however, let’s focus on what has happened.

Bob Ryan reports for the Boston Globe that the Tar Heels have shown staying power. Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, and Danny Green all decided to return to the university for their senior season. They put the lure of NBA contract money on hold, and that turned out to be among the biggest reasons why the 2008-09 college basketball season went as it did.

Turning away from NBA money, even if it is only for another year, must be difficult for players if they come from disadvantaged backgrounds. To be able to help their families with a large signing bonus is hard to wait for. To see them not have to depend upon personal loans when times get tough would be gratifying.

But Williams put it to them straight

Head coach Roy Williams knew he had the players; he just needed to keep them focused on winning over merely “working on their game” for NBA draft positioning. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Daily Tar Heel, Other Newspapers Trumpet Champs"

Has the Economic Spring Sprung?

Just what we need to change the money climate as well

Spring has sprung in this part of the world and the warmer weather, the change to summer time and last week's possible bottoming out of the stock exchange has put a whole new look on the world. Let's use this change to transform our dark and dreary thoughts about money and the world's finances. Enough with the gloom and doom.

Spring is Sprung

I took a walk through town this morning and marveled at nature. She's optimistic – there are new shoots on the trees. The air is filled with the smell of orange blossoms (meaning money next winter), new little flowers on all the olive trees (meaning more money next winter). Nature's not giving up and neither should we.

I may even fulfill a nagging desire and buy myself a digital camera so that I can email pictures of spring around the world. A new camera will mean a new Payday Loan, but that's okay, I'm sure my optimism will keep my job going, although it's not looking good at the moment.

What I do

I work as a sub-contractor for a contractor who works for Intel. It sounds a bit like a daisy-chain affair but the relationships are very professional. In good times this was a great arrangement and I have had constant work since the mid 90's. Some years were frantic and I never got to bed at all at the end of the day, and other years were slack and I had to turn to other means to make money. The last such bad patch was in 2003 when I found myself completely unemployed for some months until work started to trickle again. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Has the Economic Spring Sprung?"

Minnesota Unemployment Benefits Extended

State helps still-unemployed

President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan extended unemployment benefits by five weeks through Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation. Now, Minnesota is taking that extension even further through the state program, allowing up to 13 weeks of additional unemployment benefits after the EUC runs out.

Extra benefits kick in

The change to Minnesota unemployment benefits kicks in this week. So, any Minnesota resident who collected the last of their EUC last week can file again this week. The money will come directly from the state instead of from the feds. They can still collect their unemployment through www.uimn.org.

Many weeks without work

With the 13-week extension to Minnesota unemployment, residents can get up to 72 weeks of unemployment, or almost a year and five months. That’s only for people who were at their jobs long enough to qualify for the maximum amount of unemployment insurance.

A long dry spell

That’s a long time to be on unemployment, but it makes sense. With layoffs continuing to rise and not many companies hiring, there just aren’t enough jobs out there. And with lawmakers trying to legislate payday loan stores out of business there are even fewer jobs out there.

February statistics show Minnesota had an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent, about the same as the national unemployment rate. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Minnesota Unemployment Benefits Extended"

Mike Mayo Says U.S. Banks Are "Underperforming"

How is your bank performing?

American banks are underperforming. In other news, you’re reading a blog about payday loans and financial matters.

Felix Salmon reports for Reuters that veteran banking analyst Mike Mayo of Calyon Securities and CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets brokerage and investment group has given American banks the thumbs down by slapping them with an “underperform” rating. What this means is that the U.S. banking sector still has a ways to go before righting their ship. It also means that government aid may not help as much as was expected.

The seven deadly sins of banking

Unwise risk-taking has run rampant throughout the country’s banking establishment, largely because banks have consistently violated what Mayo calls “the seven deadly sins of banking.”

“The seven deadly sins of banking include greedy loan growth, gluttony of real estate, lust for high yields, sloth-like risk management, pride of low capital, envy of exotic fees, and anger of regulators,” he said.

Mayo was right to point out that the effect of all of this is instant gratification - front-load earnings - but the later cost to the economy is too high to warrant such present action. Since most analysts have been unable to sight an end to the storm yet, the sins of banks will continue to wreak havoc. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Mike Mayo Says U.S. Banks Are "Underperforming""

Happy birthday, Eiffel Tower, on your 120th, and many more

You're getting a new coat for your birthday present

Despite the recession which is affecting every country, a large sum of money is available for this birthday present. The cost of 60 tons of paint is no joke, even in French Francs. I considered taking a couple of Personal Loans so I could buy some brushes and help a little, but I have a poor head for heights and the French will not agree to me painting at ground floor level. What if a tourist asked me a question and I answered in English?

The official birthday was April 1. The tower was designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel and was built for the 1889 universal exhibition in Paris. The 324 foot high tower was initially dismissed as an eyesore by many Parisians but 120 years later remains the official icon of France.

The paint job

This will be the 19th paint job for the landmark, which gets a new coat of lead-free paint every seven years, and as always the color will be "Eiffel Tower Brown" in three shades, with the darkest on the bottom and the lightest at the top. For this particular coat, the paint is coming from Norway and the 25 "mountaineer" painters will be Greeks and Romanians. At the end of the exercise, the icon, which received seven million visitors last year, will remain 100 per cent French.

The birthday party

A host of birthday activities are in store for the 120th anniversary. Paris is staging a special exhibition in May, followed by a fireworks display and night of concerts in July. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Happy birthday, Eiffel Tower, on your 120th, and many more "

IBM and Sun Microsystems Get Closer to Merger

Layoffs inevitable if companies merge

It has been rumored for weeks that IBM is considering buying Silicon Valley computing pioneer Sun Microsystems. Those rumors appear to be valid. Forbes magazine reports that the companies are inching ever closer to joining forces. Forbes also reports that said merger could result in 10,000 layoffs.

Asking price

Sun Microsystems is apparently seeking almost $7 billion for its business, a sum that Big Blue could probably find it its couch cushions. At that price, IBM won’t need short term loans to make the purchase. IT industry watchers say that because of the overlap between the two companies’ operations, as much as a third of the Sun staff could be shown the door.

“This deal is definitely going to lead to a lot of combined layoffs. And it wouldn't be a surprise if most of that bloodletting happened on the Sun side,” said Forrester Research analyst James Staten.

Just last week IBM cut 5,000 U.S. jobs.

Quantity over quality?

Sun has long been known for its innovative technology. However, according to Forbes, IBM’s main motivation for this purchase is Sun’s customers, not its intellectual property.

Peter Falvey, a mergers and acquisition banker with Revolution Partners, says that IBM can easily profit from this deal simply by buying Sun and then eliminating overlap. The companies compete in many of the same markets for servers, storage and software. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "IBM and Sun Microsystems Get Closer to Merger"

Coming Soon: Rod Blagojevich Indictment

Ahead of schedule

The indictment against Rod Blagojevich will reportedly be filed later today. Though federal prosecutors have until Tuesday  to produce and indictment regarding a “significant criminal matter,” they say it will be done today.

Though U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald has not flatly said that the high-profile indictment to be filed today is Blagojevich’s, Chicagoans have widely accepted confirmation from other sources.

Blago’s whereabouts

As federal attorneys plan to file the indictment against the former governor, Blagojevich possibly was riding Space Mountain or eating a $10 hot dog. Blagojevich reportedly in at Disney World now with his family. With all of the fines that he will undoubtedly have to pay, I hope he funded his trip with payday loans.

The pending charges

Blagojevich officially is being charged with political corruption. Prosecutors say that he tried to sell or trade the Illinois Senate seat left vacant when Barack Obama won the presidency.

“An affidavit accompanying the complaint accuses Blagojevich of trying to squeeze companies for campaign money and pressure the Chicago Tribune to fire editorial writers calling for his impeachment.” - From the Associated Press.

Unemployed

Blagojevich has already been impeached from office, and his post has been taken over by Pat Quinn. Blagojevich was impeached Jan. 9 and convicted Jan. 29 by the Senate. He already has had one lawyer quit on him. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Coming Soon: Rod Blagojevich Indictment"

LegiStorm Part 3 | More Fun Facts and Angry Politicians

LegiStorm highlights “gotchas”

Michelle Bachmann

Although it was United States leaders who passed the laws declaring their salaries and expenditures public information, they are none too happy that people are taking advantage of those laws. Many leaders and Congressional staffers have lashed out at Jock Friedly, creator of LegiStorm, a searchable online database that reveals government salaries, foreign gifts and how much  they spend on plane tickets.

Perhaps they are just angry because LegiStorm keeps a running blog of ways it has made them look foolish.

News on top of numbers

Go to LegiStorm.com, and today the top story highlights the fact that during the recession congressional staffers’ bonuses have been among the highest recorded. Another story highlights the completion of the 2008 salary report. Come an’ get it!

Scroll down farther, and you’ll find stories about individual members of Congress and ways LegiStorm has gotten them in trouble. I haven’t seen a story about a payday loan regulation advocate taking out payday loans, but if that ever happens, it’ll be on there.

The proof is on the World Wide Web

A March 17 post on the LegiStorm blog quotes Rep. Michelle Bachmann: “I have not taken earmarks in the last three years that I’ve been in Congress, because the system is so corrupt.” ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "LegiStorm Part 3 | More Fun Facts and Angry Politicians"

"Guiding Light" Snuffed; CBS Announces Cancellation

“Never give in to the darkness, ’til the dawn”

Hold on.

The recession strikes again. According to the New York Times blog “Artsbeat,” CBS announced the cancellation of the longest-running scripted television show in history, the soap opera "Guiding Light.” The final broadcast is scheduled for September 18, 2009. No size of cash advance will save it.

For those of you who don’t know (myself included), it chronicled “the dramatic story of the close-knit Bauer, Lewis and Spaulding families, residents of the town of Springfield, U.S.A.” Would that be the Simpson’s Springfield, by any chance?

Quite a run

Before moving to CBS television in 1952, “Guiding Light”  had a run on NBC radio that began in 1937. It is the only program to transition from radio to TV.

The ratings monster played a huge role in the decision. Five years ago, the soap opera had 5 million viewers. They’ve lost at least a couple million since then. In order to soften the blow, they had switched the production to an all-digital format with hand held cameras, but it wasn’t enough. Neither was the switch to cheaper permanent four-walled sets. Now a 72-year television institution is turning out the lights. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled ""Guiding Light" Snuffed; CBS Announces Cancellation"

Did Fairfield Greenwich Group Commit Fraud For Madoff?

Those marked by Madoff cannot hide…

Noel knows "no thing"

…or hide the stink. If you need payday loans because you lost money to him, I offer my condolences

Associates of Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff are now finding themselves in the crosshairs with no place to hide. Jessica Pressler writes in the “Daily Intel” column of New York Magazine that Madoff feeder fund Fairfield Greenwich Group must face the backhand of justice.

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin filed a complaint against Fairfield Greenwich Group, alleging that their “flagrant and recurring misrepresentations to its investors rises to the level of fraud.” But this is not a criminal complaint. And amazingly, the filed complaint doesn’t indicate that  anyone at Fairfield “knew anything about anything.”

It all checks out!

Even though Fairfield Greenwich fed the Madoff monster $7 billion, they never took the time to know who they were sending it to or why. Perhaps it’s as they say in the Patrick McGoohan TV series “The Prisoner”: “Questions are a burden to others, answers are a burden to oneself.”

According to Pressler, all Madoff’s auditor had to tell Noel and his Fairfield Greenwich Group is that Madoff had “hundreds of clients” and was “well known in the local community.” Then Fairfield CFO Dan Lipton did his due diligence - he looked it up on the Internet! This is a prime example of the significantly “higher level of due diligence work” that’s made Fairfield Greenwich Group an agency worthy of a fraud investigation. They must be proud. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Did Fairfield Greenwich Group Commit Fraud For Madoff?"