Obama to Challenge 22nd Amendment, Become King

It could happen

As most voting Americans who use secured loans and cash loans are aware, a president can currently serve no more than two consecutive four-year terms in office. In extreme circumstances (such as the death or removal of the president), the limit is raised to 10 years for the successor. This is mandated by the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, and was put in place not long after Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s time in office ended. Roosevelt actually died in office. The Amendment was proposed on March 21, 1947 and eventually ratified  on February 26, 1951.

Why was the 22nd Amendment introduced? Congress was concerned that without term limits, the president would have the power to become a dictator. Thomas Jefferson foresaw this problem in 1807, and he warned that presidents not bound by term limits could use their popularity and power to become kings. In his words to the U.S. legislature at the time,

If some termination to the services of the chief magistrate be not fixed by the Constitution or supplied in practice, his office, nominally for years, will in fact become for life; and history shows how easily that degenerates into an inheritance.

Now, we have a new cult of personality in America in the leadership of Barack Obama. And we also have a movement underway in Congress that could seek to repeal the 22nd Amendment and make Obama the king of America.

He claims he isn’t…

World Net Daily (WND) reports that while President Obama supports the idea of term limits. This comes straight from the mouth of his chief spokesman, Robert Gibbs. Les Kinsolving of WND asked this question at a recent White House press briefing: ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Obama to Challenge 22nd Amendment, Become King"

BET Awards 2009 | Only Janet Can Clean Up This Mess

Hip-Hop is dying

When it comes to quality music, who are you going to take: the O’Jays or Ne-Yo? Michael Jackson or Lil’ Wayne? Perhaps the younger performers I use as examples here have the common sense and humility to admit that they could only hope to aspire to the example to the example those greater entertainers have set. But considering how empty-headed the music of Ne-Yo and Lil’ Wayne is (no funk, no soul, doesn’t make me want to move, intellectually offensive, wouldn’t sell me a cash advance if I were a Madoff victim), I have serious doubts as to whether they can see beyond the overblown pigs’ trough of their own hype.

Even Jamie Foxx, who should stick to comedy and biopics, fancies himself worthy of dressing like the departed Michael Jackson and moonwalking as a “tribute” during the 2009 BET Awards. The Jamie Foxx moonwalk is yet another tacky and tasteless testament to the lack of imagination on the part of television networks. I’m curious as to whether he was cajoled into doing that, or whether it was his own idea. Either way, everyone loses. Cash loans for a critical thinking class would be in his future, but I’m sure he thinks he’s too cool (and rich) for school.

And the fans back me up

Check out some of the user comments left on Entertainment Weekly’s live blog of the 2009 BET Awards. Nearly all of them are critical of the entire event. “Boring” and “tacky” are just two of the words used to describe a listless show that was punctuated only by a touching tribute Janet Jackson gave for her departed brother Michael (see video below). ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "BET Awards 2009 | Only Janet Can Clean Up This Mess"

Smart Phones Make Comparison Shopping A Snap

Bargain hunting has never been easier. Several smart phone applications allow users to type in a model or scan the bar code of a product, then search for a cheaper price online. That is forcing some bricks-and-mortar retailers to change the way they do business.

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It Pays To Check Your Financial Statements

Investment advisor Matthew Weitzman has been charged with stealing $6 million from clients. One of his clients was Ron Lieber, who writes a personal finance column for The New York Times. Lieber tells David Greene it pays to read every word of financial statements. Lieber was not a victim of fraud.

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The Bite of Bank Fees

Your bank wants more of your money, and it’s found a way to get it: by jacking up the fees on your account.

Read more about The Bite of Bank Fees…

VanguardAdvantage: All-In-One Checking Account At Vanguard?

I saw that Vanguard has a new account called the VanguardAdvantage account. On the surface, it looks great. In addition to having full brokerage features (buy individual stocks, ETFs, options, and even brokered CDs), you also get full checkwriting abilities, ATM access, and online billpay. Since I have most of my retirement assets there, this would be good tool for added convenience and simplicity.

But then I found the catch. You need to have $500,000 invested at Vanguard to even be eligible for the account. Even at $500,000-$999,999 in assets, you have to pay a $30 annual fee for the privilege of getting what is basically a checking account, and you must pay $4.95 per month for Online Billpay service. No ATM refunds either (free at PNC banks only).

Vanguard seems to have an overall policy of grudgingly offering services that their customers ask for, but only if the less-wealthy are willing to pay a premium. I feel like they don’t want to stray from their basic roots of low-cost mutual funds, or maybe they just don’t want the hassle, but their competitors are leaving them behind.

Checking account features. For example, I can get the brokerage + checkwriting combo for free at Fidelity or Schwab, with no minimum balance requirements and ATM rebates. I don’t know about Chuck, but Fidelity has as-good if not better customer service reps than Vanguard.

Commission costs. The Vanguard Brokerage Services (VBS) account still charges $25 for an online trade + a $30 annual fee if you have less than $100,000 invested. Contrast that with 100+ free trades annually at only $25,000 in assets at both Zecco and Wellstrade.

I guess I’ll have to wait until I have a million dollars to get free checking at Vanguard. Doesn’t that just sound odd?

Read more about VanguardAdvantage: All-In-One Checking Account At Vanguard?…

UPDATE: María Belén Chapur Pictures Found... ?

Must… have… pictures…

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. Or quizás, quizás, quizás, if you prefer. That’s what bloggers out there who think they’ve found the genuine article María Belén Chapur pictures should be thinking, because nobody knows for sure whether images of the mistress of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford are out there. Here are the full E-mails he sent her. This is as close as the paparazzi have been able to come so far. Once verified current photos are located, money is definitely going to change hands somewhere.

Why has it been so difficult to find photos of “Maria,” as she is apparently known in Argentine media? As the Wall Street Journal speculates, it is a difficult undertaking to obtain pictures of political mistresses and love children because politicians in mid-scandal don’t have the facility to negotiate publication deals the way stars like Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie do with the tabloids. The stars can negotiate their own deals (we aren’t talking online loan or payday cash loan money, here), thus maintaining some semblance of control. But scandalous politicians are generally trying to stay away from the limelight and retain their seat of power, so the attempts at secrecy are understandable. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "UPDATE: María Belén Chapur Pictures Found... ?"

Michael Jackson Children Photos | How Will They Live?

Never too late for a happy childhood?

On June 25,2009, the King of Pop died. The outpouring of emotion from Michael Jackson fans everywhere slowed the World Wide Web to a crawl and showed just how much he will be missed. Nobody will miss him more than his own children, Prince,12, Paris, 11, and Blanket, 7. According to Nick Graham of The Huffington Post, the likely caregiver of the children will be Michael’s mother Katherine. However, godfather and osteopath Mark Lester has yet to determine exactly how custody will be handled. By legal agreement, Debbie Rowe (mother of Prince and Paris) is not an option. The mother of Blanket has never been revealed publicly.

At the height of his music career, Michael Jackson was without a doubt the most successful recording star on Earth. Unfortunately, recent years have proven that regular life off the stage and out of the studio has been more than a challenge for him. Medical conditions, personal eccentricities and accusations of child molestation swirled around him, and a large number of people believed that the former Jackson 5 star brought it on himself.

Financial and emotional debt

Whatever the case, Michael Jackson became increasingly reclusive over the years. He became more reclusive as time went by, perhaps as a way of hiding not only from the media, but from his tremendous debt. $500 million is the price tag on Jackson’s debt at the time of his death, while his annual income was $19 million from royalties. All told, Michael Jackson supposedly had been worth $1 billion in total assets. How the debt will be handled and the estate distributed remains to be seen, but one would hope that his children will be taken care of for the rest of their lives. They should never need to rely upon pay day loans or any other form of cash loans, assuming their possible fortune is handled reasonably. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Michael Jackson Children Photos | How Will They Live?"

Farrah and Michael Die, Ark of the Covenant Revealed

Breaking the seventh seal

In a single day, America lost two titanic pop culture icons in Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. For one, release came after a painful, protracted battle with cancer. For the other, death came without warning in the form of cardiac arrest. For both the deceased, friends, family and legions of fans worldwide have taken time to remember the legends - and the private people who lived them. Such ultra-celebrities have scant room for private lives. If they needed unsecured loans for fast cash, everyone would know.

Even bishops in Ethiopia know something is up. That must be why they’ve chosen now of all times to reveal the Ark of the Covenant to the rest of the world.

“…dogs and cats, living together…”

Hillel Fendel reports for Israel National News that an Ethiopian church leader claims the Ark of the Covenant has been concealed within his church in the city of Axum for centuries. Rumors of it being located in the city have circulated for some time, but this is the first time there has been talk of someone revealing it there. Copies of the vessel have been found in many other Ethiopian churches.

Abuna Pauolos, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, paid a recent visit to Rome and Pope Benedict XVI. While in Rome, Pauolos made his announcement to news media. He announced his full intentions at a press conference this morning in Rome. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Farrah and Michael Die, Ark of the Covenant Revealed"

Forgetfulness is the Mother of Invention

Today (and every day now) I'm wearing the best, most functional belt I've ever owned. It's a piece of thin black nylon webbing with a locking gripper buckle. It used to be a tent strap. Now it's a fashion accessory.

A couple of months ago I went to the Sunbanks Rhythm and Blues Festival at Banks Lake near Electric City, Washington. It's a four-day camping and blues event, and it takes me days to pack for it. I have to remember all the camping gear, food for four days, plus everything I need to dance blues and Argentine tango 10 hours a day. That means that even though I'm living in a tent, I need a lot of clothes, and I need exactly the right clothes.

After I unpacked everything and got the tent all set up, I changed into my first set of dance clothes. My heart was racing with excitement, but it just about stopped when I realized I hadn't brought a belt. Not one. Belts that work for dancing are hard to find, and really, I don't have any that are ideal. But I meant to bring the best things I have, which is a cotton web number with a metal slip buckle. Problem is, the slip buckle slips and I'm constantly having to adjust it. But it's the best thing I've ever found for the purpose of dance and as cheesy as it is, it cost $30 at The Gap. And it does keep my pants up, which is pretty important for dancing.

There was no where I could go to buy a belt. I thought about approaching my camper-neighbors to borrow something. I thought about cutting something up to make a belt. In my mind I was sorting through every scrap of stuff in the trunk and under the seats of my car. And then I saw the tail end of one of the black nylon-webbing straps that go around the nylon bag that holds the rolled up tent. I picked it up, slipped it through my belt loops, threaded it through the gripper buckle, and tucked the extra length into the front pocket of my pants. It was perfect. A little long, but perfect. Once I decided it was really going to work, I got out my knife and cut off the extra length and melted the frayed end with a cigarette lighter. I've been wearing it pretty much every day since!

I've spent plenty of money on belts. This is the best one I've ever had. I'm going to REI soon to get utility strap webbing in every available color. They have the buckles there, too. I estimate that each belt will cost about $1.50. It will take me longer to set up the sewing machine, remember how to thread it, and brush up on how to use it, than it will to make the belts.

Eddie Bauer Files For Bankruptcy, Will Continue Operations

Personal Money Store Videos on Youtube

American apparel chains could definitely use more of the former, as bankruptcy cases have been popping up all over. Mervyns, Steve & Barrys, Goodys and Gottschalks have fallen under the axe. Now Eddie Bauer and bankruptcy will be spoken in the same sentence. Its a fact. Cost cuts, management and merchandise changes werent enough to save the outfitter from this legal action.

For more information on this article and others like it, please click on the following link:Personal Money Store: Eddie Bauer Files For Bankruptcy

I went to a new restaurant today that I had never been to before

I ordered a burger which was really good might I add. The poor boy who was taking our orders must have been new or something. He took a very long time taking down our orders and didn't get anything right that we had ordered. It was okay though. I could tell that he was trying and that was all that matters. If I were to go to that restaurant again in a month and then get him and have him treat us the same, then I would say there is a problem. I really hope he was new because otherwise there might be a serious problem.

I love it when people car sing who can’t sing

I was in the car with a family friend the other day. We happened to be going on a road trip together. He was singing this song and was awful. It's okay if you know you're bad but when you think you are good and sing then it's annoying. He even played a song that he had actually recorded of himself singing. I thought that would be a good clue to get him to understand he wasn't a good singer but apparently it just encouraged him a little bit more. I laughed at him the whole time. He thought I was laughing at something else but it was definitely him.

My brother’s girlfriend cheated today

He bought a ring for them to get engaged. He has had it sitting on his dresser for about a month now. She decided she couldn't take it anymore and looked at it. She even put it on. I thought it was pretty funny that she just decided it was time to look at it herself. She said she was sick and tired of waiting for him to propose. I thought it was funny. I'm not supposed to tell anybody but I thought it was funny enough that it would probably be okay. I'm sure he won't find out anytime soon anyway.

The song fever is quite entertaining

I love how he talks about how girls are always supposed to give guys fever. I think it is funny when he starts talking about Romeo and Juliet. He says thou givest me fever which I thought was pretty funny. Then he talks about how Pocahontas saves the life of John because she loved him. Then he talks about how the girl he loves is supposed to give him fever because that just proves that they love each other. I thought it was a funny song. I especially like blues dancing to it. It is a perfect song for that.

Summerfest Turns Milwaukee into One Big Concert

Summerfest: 11 days of music

Tim Armstrong of Rancid

This weekend is the weekend for “world’s biggest” festivals. Spokane, Washington, holds the world’s biggest three-on-three basketball tournament, Spokane Hoopfest, this weekend. Taste of Chicago, the world’s largest outdoor food festival, starts Friday.

Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, starts today, in  Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Summerfest lasts until July 5, with live music every day from noon to midnight.

Summerfest prices

Of course, if you want to attend the world’s largest music festival, it’ll cost you. Prices aren’t too bad. It’s $8 to attend from noon to 4 and $15 after that. Certain concerts, like headliners The Fray on July 4, cost extra. Tickets to The Fray cost $20 to $50, and that includes festival admission.

Between food and concert tickets, this event could get pretty pricey. Budget carefully so you don’t blow all your money and end up needing quick payday loans. If you were to attend Summerfest all day, every day, admission alone could cost you up to $300.

The food

Summerfest has tons of food from local vendors available. Eat Wisconsin recommends these dishes:

• The Saz's Combo, fried cheese curds, mozzarella marinara, and sour cream and chive fries. Hands down the best Summerfest eats. The Saz's BBQ Pork Sandwich is also pretty decent.
• Crawdaddy's– Pretty much anything is good here. I remember when they actually served crawfish. I loved siting down with some beer, crawfish and corn.
• Usingers Sausage – Good but you can get their stuff anywhere.
• Sabor– Lenguica or other kebabs. They are overpriced but I found them pretty tasty.
• Venice Club Fried Eggplant Strips
• Martino's Chicago Dog - Martino's does dogs right. Just don't ask them to put ketchup on it or you'll be ridiculed, and rightfully so. If you add ketchup, its not a Chicago dog.
• The King & I – Spring Rolls and some of their entrees (especially Volcano Chicken)
• Mader's Sampler Platter - Bratwurst, knackwurst, kraut and potato salad.

The music

Summerfest features up-and-coming bands and musical acts as well as well-known, popular artists. Here are Eat Wisonsin’s recommendations, along with a little commentary from the online zine: ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Summerfest Turns Milwaukee into One Big Concert"

Virgin Mobile Free Fest Tickets Available Soon

Virgin Mobile Free Fest is free

The 2009 Virgin Mobile Free Fest tickets will be available on Saturday, and guess what — they’re free! If you pick up your tickets instead of having them delivered to you, they are totally free.

There’s a $5 delivery free if you want your tickets mailed to you, If you pick them up at Merriweather Post Pavillion or the 9:30 Club, there’s no cost at all.

Word from Virgin

The Virgin Mobile Free Fest is Aug. 30, and it features several popular bands — bands that could probably charge $60 to $100 for tickets. The Virgin Mobile Free Fest is at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, Maryland.

Taking care of our loyal customers comes first," said Seth Hurwitz, chairman of I.M.P., promoter and producer of the Virgin Mobile Festival. "And when we say free, we mean it. The tickets are free. The parking is free. Ticketmaster really stepped up on this. Everybody just wants to make this the party of the summer. It's gonna be nuts."

So, there’s no need to take out instant cash payday loans. There’s plenty of time to save up and plan for any travel expenses. Here are some of the big names who will perform at Virgin Mobile Free Fest next month:

Weezer

Weezer has been around for 17 years. It formed in 1992. Weezer’s first album was called “Weezer,” but the band has released 3 self-titled albums, so it’s usually called The Blue Album. Tickets to Weezer concerts nowadays go for more than $60.

Weezer has had several platinum albums. Weezer is the headliner at Virgin Mobile Free Fest. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Virgin Mobile Free Fest Tickets Available Soon"

I wish I was at the lake right now

I really want to go wakeboarding. I used to go all of the time with my brother when he had his boat, but like everyone else during the recession, he had to sell it and I haven't been out at the lake since. Today would be a really nice day to go though because of the weather. Not too hot or humid and just enough clouds to keep your eyes from burning out of their sockets! I miss going a lot, maybe I should just break down and buy boat so that why my board will quit gathering dust in storage.

2010 Census Won't Count Same Sex Marriages

And it will change survey responses

Plans for the 2010 Census are currently underway, and a great deal of controversy surrounds the matter. Since we know that the Obama administration has already taken a distressing, anti-human rights stance against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), is it any surprise that come the 2010 Census, same-sex married couples aren’t going to be counted? Perhaps if they became anti-payday loan, anti-cash advance advocates, then Obama would come forward and say we should recognized them…

As it stands now, the United States Government wants gay and lesbian couples to be invisible. If this is not what they desire, they should speak now.

We live together

Heather Gilligan writes that Iowa, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire all voted in favor of same-sex marriage, despite the colossal failing on the part of Californians. One might say that only liberal-dominant states support these unions, but research indicates that just isn’t true. The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law has conducted studies that indicate that Mississippi, for instance, has “the largest number of same-sex couples with children.” Furthermore, “registered same-sex couples live in just about every county in the U.S.” According to Gilligan, researchers discovered that 99.3 percent of counties in the United States have households head ed by same-sex couples. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "2010 Census Won't Count Same Sex Marriages"

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland | Perez Hilton & Will.i.am Feud

Personal Money Store Videos on Youtube

Tim Burton’s “Alice In Wonderland” is scheduled to be released next year in March. In other news, renowned celebrity blogger Perez Hilton gets assaulted.

For more information on this article and others like it, please click on the following link:Personal Money Store:Tim Burton’s “Alice In Wonderland”

Peaches are so good

I would eat peaches everyday if it were possible. I can't stand going a day without them. I should probably just get a peach tree in my garden. That would make the fruit extremely fresh whenever I decide to eat it. My nieces and nephews could go out there and pick them all for me. I could make jam with it or just eat them plain. I might even be able to make a pie with it. It would be really delicious. My spouse would enjoy it very much too. I think my nieces and nephews would be really happy. They really love peaches as much as I do. I think tomorrow I will see if I can buy a peach tree.

Some information on learning a foreign language

Schools everywhere agree that experience with a foreign language can help children succeed in their academic endeavors throughout life. That is why so many schools have foreign language programs. While most foreign language classes in the United States aren’t offered in schools until the high school level, there is an increasing number of elementary schools that are acquiring foreign language programs. In 1997, 31% of elementary schools had some sort of foreign language program (Branaman & Rhodes, 1998). Marcos says that "children may derive other benefits from early language instruction, including improved overall school performance and superior problem-solving skills" (1997). If children start at an early age they will have more time to study their foreign language before the SAT rolls around and because they would have been studying that other language for a longer time, they will be more likely to receive a higher score.

New Smoking Law Approved

Personal Money Store Videos on Youtube

On Friday, June 12, the House of Representatives approved a bill passed by the Senate giving the federal government sweeping new powers to regulate tobacco. It has now been 50 years since the Surgeon General first warned about the hazards of smoking. In the wave of recent tax hikes, smokers who havent given up the habit are looking for fast cash to buy cigarettes. New government regulation of tobacco will inevitably result in further price increases and more boons for personal loan companies.

For more information on this article and others like it, please click on the following link:Personal Money Store:New Somking Law Approved

Spokane Hoopfest Brings Bling to Washington State

Gearing up for a big weekend

As Illinois kicks off the world’s largest outdoor food festival, Eastern Washington’s claim to fame, Spokane Hoopfest, begins Friday.

Every year at this time, the City of Spokane and basketball fans from all over are thrown into a tizzy. Restaurant owners schedule extra staff to handle the crowds. People travel from all over to compete. Spokane Hoopfest is the world’s largest three-on-three basketball tournament.

They’re in the money

Spokane is commonly referred to as a “mid-size metro” and has a population of about 450,000 in the city and surrounding areas. However, that number grows significantly during Spokane Hoopfest.

Basketball enthusiasts book hotel rooms months in advance. Although some Spokane residents chose to stay home to avoid the crowds, Spokane Hoopfest brings in a huge influx of instant money for hotels, retailers, restaurants and plenty of other businesses.

Downtown gets shut down and riled up

To give you an idea of just how big a deal Spokane Hoopfest is for this not-so-big city, here’s a quote from the Spokane Hoopfest web site:

“Over 6,400 teams, 3,000 volunteers, 200,000 players and fans, 400 courts spanning 40 downtown city blocks, and that’s just on day one! Beyond basketball, though, Hoopfest is an outdoor festival chock full of concerts, shopping, food, interactive entertainment …”

This year, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be present at a Downtown Spokane venue. It promises to be “a great night of basketball, questions from the audience and book signing. ” Tickets are still available through TicketsWest for $48. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Spokane Hoopfest Brings Bling to Washington State"

Textures and taste

Isn't it weird that the textures of things make a huge difference to how they taste. If something has a weird texture it is always hard to eat it. It's like you just don't want to eat something that feels so weird. It is especially gross when you feel the nasty texture in your mouth. The texture of something makes a huge difference when it comes to test tasting for anything. If the texture is crunchy it will have a different taste than something that is soft and has the exact same flavor. It is just the way it works. It is really weird. I don't understand it completely but that's okay.

Bodybuilding Supplements

Those who are athletes and players must build up their bodies so that they can take the overload of the work pressure. To build the healthy body, there is the requirement of the bodybuilding supplement to enrich the muscles and tissues of the body. It is seen that bodybuilders like to take protein in the form of powder. Protein powder is generally taken before and after the regular exercise.

According to the healthcare consultants, the bodybuilding supplements enhance the proper growth of the muscles. In this connection whey protein is considered to be one of the most vital components in the body. It contains high graded amino acids. In addition, the Casein protein is enriched in glutamine. It is a sort of amino acid which is loaded with casomorphin. It is very effective to help the body to collect amino acid. On the other hand, Soy protein is also loaded with important amino acids and this is the alternative protein for those who are vegans or vegetarians. Soybeans are fully laden with isoflavones. In addition, egg has also good quality protein which is free from lactose.

There are many bodybuilding supplements like Creatine, Mega Amino Acids, Calcium, Folic Acid and so on. These produce much impact on the body. However at the same time, people feel it urgent to make proper utilization of the Super Supplements which help guys to appear physically strong. On the other hand, Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil Supplements inclusive of Acai Berry are also much competent to bring the elegance and strength to the body. Frankly speaking, these vital supplements check the speedy muscle wasting. They rebuild the muscle and the tissues.

Athletes must require these nutritional products in adequate quantity. In this regard, a person will be much benefited by consuming Pro-Anabolics supplement to repair the muscles. The importance of the Critical Five Amino Acids like glutamine, Arginine and BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine and valine) is palpable in the matter of re-constructuring body. Finally the qualitative health drinks will be much efficient to make someone healthy and bold. Good nutrients will certainly revitalize every inch of muscles and cellular structure of the body. If someone is interested to search for the various bodybuilding supplements, he must browse the internet to make an online comparison study to opt for the suitable medication to serve the purpose.

Turning On and Off Process of ZBP-1

A team of scientists researching at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have done a lot of experimenting and studying to invent a new mechanism which owns up the responsibility to turn on and off a gene which assists the speedy growth of breast cancer of females. Earlier, researchers have traced a gene in the name of ZBP1 or Zip code Binding Protein-1 which is very active to let cells to grow and move spatially. This ZBP1 helps the improvement of the embryo and it is much silent in the matured tissues as per the report given by Dr Robert H. Singer, a well known researcher at Gruss-Lipper Biophotinics Center at Einstein. This gene also produces adverse impact on the breast and colorectal inclusive of lung cancer. The turning off process of the ZBP1 happens after the attachment of the CH3 to ZBP1's promoter segment. This CH3 debars the promoter from fixing to beta-catenin. ZBP1 can't be active without beta-catenin. Due to the ZBP1 silencing process , the ability of the cancerous cells to speed up the metastasis process increases. Therefore if it is possible to stop the ZBP1 silencing process, there is higher possibility of the prevention of the metastasis.

Popsicles are really good

I remember as a kid we went through popsicles like crazy. Eventually my mom taught us how to make our own popsicles so we didn't spend so much money on buying them. I had so much fun making them in whatever flavors I wanted. It didn't work as well with the Jell-O mix as it did usually with things. I really liked the store bought popsicles better than the ones I made. I couldn't figure out what was different. I think Popsicle is actually a brand name of an ice pop. Does it have to be on a stick in order to be considered an ice pop? That's what I'm curious about.

There are so many different kinds of swing dancing

I just can't keep it all straight. There is lindy hop which is probably the most difficult one to learn. I think it is probably my favorite though. There is two step which is probably the second easiest one to learn. There is triple step which is pretty fun. It's about the same as two step though. There is country swing which is pretty fun. I use country swing whenever I am trying to do to lifts or drops. Lindy hop has a lot of cool things you can do with it but lifts and drops are easiest to do with country swing. I really like all of them though. They are so much fun.

Crooked Houses:Playful Yet Pricey Fun For Kids

TLC show gets Crooked Houses noticed

The Covered Wagon Crooked House costs $6,187 plus shipping.

Thanks to some oft-repeated product placement, playhouse retailer Kids Crooked Houses is about to get slammed with business. That is, of course, if people can afford them.

Kids Crooked Houses are beautiful, fun, imaginative playhouses for kids. However, if you want the type you saw on “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ last night,  you’ll need a lot more money than you can get from a quick payday loan.

Do it yourself

If you are hoping to have the same experience you watched Jon and Kate have last night, I’m sad to inform you that their reality show did not reflect reality. If you buy Crooked Houses, you’ll have to assemble them yourself. There won’t be a big teddy bear of a man playing with your kids while a crew puts together your playhouse for you.

Crooked Houses can be delivered, with a pretty hefty shipping fee. But they come unassembled. The Crooked Houses web site assures customers that assembly is quick and easy, and that all you need is a screwdriver.

The bottom line

Crooked Houses start at $1,249. That price will get you the Original Playhouse, which will arrive unpainted in seven pieces. Shipping costs $239 to $499, so unless you live near a Kids Crooked Houses facility in Utah, Oklahoma, Indiana or Maine, you’re looking at spending at least $1,500 for an unpainted playhouse with a 4-by-6-foot base, some of which is dedicated to the porch. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Crooked Houses:Playful Yet Pricey Fun For Kids"

Ed McMahon Dies | America's Straight Man Escapes Debt

He rode high, lived high

Fans of late night American television over the years have heard of Ed McMahon. He was the perennial straight man, a foil for the jokes of the all-time king of late night, Johnny Carson. Now like his leader in hilarity, Ed McMahon too has died. He was 86 years old.

If you could go through life with someone announcing your entrance in much the same way that Ed McMahon would joyfully exclaim “Heeeeeere’s… Johnny!”, wouldn’t it be fun? Everybody dreams of being somebody, and having someone like Ed prepping the room for you would be a hoot.

You know what else everyone dreams of being? Financially well off. Ed McMahon did well for himself during his career, but the lavish homes and lifestyle caught up to him in his later years. His mansion was foreclosed and his credit rating took a hit. It seems he even took it upon himself to go to the homes of Publishers’ Clearing House in an attempt to reclaim the giant checks he’d delivered. Sidekick’s gotta have money. I wonder if he ever tried payday loans for fast cash?

“HEY-oooh!”

Mark Silva blogs for Swamp Politics that Ed McMahon was “a sounding board for years of good, clean fun.” In addition, his product hawking was always received with good humor. Without McMahon’s endorsement of Publishers’ Clearing House, that would never have become the national name that it did. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Ed McMahon Dies | America's Straight Man Escapes Debt"

Poker is a fun thing to play

I remember the very first time I ever played poker. It was in high school. My friend invited me over to his house with a couple of other guys to play a game of poker. They thought they were going to whip me. I beat them all pretty fast. My friends were so mad. I got to hold that against them for a long time until we lost track of each other. Even now when I happen to see them around I remind them of how I kicked their trash in poker that one time in high school. They get pretty angry every time. I guess it was mostly beginner's luck considering I haven't won a game since.

Bats are really cool

I love watching them fly around. I remember when I was young my family lived in a place that had a lot of bats. They would come out at night to eat all of the small bugs. I was scared that they were going to turn into vampires. I thought they were going to come suck my blood. I remember running into my house scared every time I saw a bat flying around me. I hated it. They were actually not ugly at all. They were kind of cute. They were these little black birds that flew around. Eventually I learned they weren't going to hurt me at all. I haven't seen a bat in a long time sadly.

I have a friend who is so adorable

She finally met a nice guy for her. She has dated quite a bit of jerks in the past. She even had a guy who stalked her for about a year. She has been with this guy for a while and I'm hoping there is a wedding in the near future. She says that she is pretty sure he is going to propose soon. My roomate and I have decided that we need to somehow move it along. Luckily we are smart enough not to actually do anything to move it along. I am glad that she has finally found someone who is worth her time. They make a perfect pair.

I love nature

When I am in nature is when I feel the most at peace. Some people don't feel this way. In fact, some people hate nature. I had a friend who hated to go out into nature. Whenever we would go camping together, she would complain about the sun and the bugs. I love to sit there and view the beauty all around me. Since I am an artist, I will pain all the scenery around me. It makes me feel so calm and relaxed. I love the calm and peaceful feeling I get sitting out there. It is just so beautiful. I hope that my future children can have as much appreciation for nature as I do.

Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' Gambles on Unknown Actress

‘Alice in Wonderland’ out next year

Mia Wasikowska

Though the cast of Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” features many big-money names — including Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter — the woman who will play the main character is a virtual unknown.

Mia Wasikowska, 19, will play the 17-year-old heroine in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” The movie is scheduled to hit theaters in March.

Awaiting box-office blitz

Though Wasikowska has been in several independent Australian films, this will be her first foray into the land of big-budget, big-name films. With Tim Burton’s name on the project, his version of “Alice in Wonderland” is sure to sell tons of tickets.

Pair Tim Burton’s fans with Johnny Depp fans, and you’ve got yourself one big audience. I know plenty of people who’d take out an instant cash loan to be able to see Johnny Depp perform.

Who’s who

Johnny Depp, as you might have guessed, will play the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” This is only the beginning of a list of spot-on casting. Anne Hathaway will play the White Queen, and Helena Bonham Carter will play the Red Queen.

I checked out some of the other actors at IMDB, and this theme of appropriate casting continues. Michael Sheen, to me, does look like a human version of the cartoon White Rabbit. Alan Rickman seems a fully appropriate choice to play the witty, enigmatic caterpillar. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' Gambles on Unknown Actress"

Yesterday I went to the beach with my family

My nephew had never been to the beach yet. He was still very young. He walked out onto the beach and grabbed a handful of sand. As it fell through his finger he yelled that the sand was melting. It is funny how kids just imagine the coolest things in their little heads. I love kids to death. It makes life so much fun. I am so glad I got the chance to take my nephew to the beach and explain to him that sand doesn't melt. I had to tell him that sand falls through your fingers because it is so tiny. He thought that was pretty funny still.

Kodak's Kodachrome Film Retires at 74

Kodachrome fades away

Kodachrome was the world’s first commercially successful color film, hitting the market in 1935. Kodak announced today that it will stop making Kodachrome this year.

The Los Angeles Times says:

Revenue from Kodachrome represents “a fraction of one percent” of Kodak’s total sales of still-picture films, the company said today in a statement. … The Rochester, New York-based company has seen its profitable film business “evaporate” as digital cameras gained dominance, Chief Executive Officer Antonio Perez said earlier this year. The company lost $4.53 billion in market value in 2008 as it struggled to show investors it had a place in the new technology.

Digital age claims another technological victim

Besides the minuscule profits Kodachrome now brings in, the product also has become obsolete to the point that many film labs don’t even process Kodachrome anymore.

Digital photography has taken over as the preferred from of producing still pictures, and Kodachrome just isn’t a relevant or useful product anymore. Just as online payday loans will likely take over as the preferred way of getting a short-term loan, digital photography has proven to be preferred over film.

“The majority of today’s photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology — both film and digital,” said Mary Jane Hellyar, Kodak’s outgoing president of the film, photofinishing and entertainment group. Kodak derives 70 percent of its revenue from commercial and consumer digital businesses, the company said in the statement, says the L.A. Times. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Kodak's Kodachrome Film Retires at 74 "

It sucks being on a diet

I have to count all of my calories all the time. I am on a two thousand calorie diet. I have to make sure I count everything that I eat. I can't have a meal at someone else's home because I don't know what they are putting into their food. I even have to count calories on such things as gum and mints. Granted it is only one or two calories for a piece of gum or a mint. I wish I didn't have to be on this strict diet. I miss being a teenager and being able to eat or drink whatever I want. It was really nice having such a fast metabolism.

Asking Teens to Chip In

Q Is it fair of my husband and me to insist that our teenage children contribute some of their after-school and summer earnings to our family budget? We’re a family of modest means.

Read more about Asking Teens to Chip In…

Insurers Revoke Policies To Avoid Paying High Costs

Rescission, the act of retroactively canceling health insurance, is fairly common, a new congressional report finds. Companies can cancel policies right before a patient is scheduled to have major surgery if the patient failed to tell the company — either deliberately or inadvertently — of a pre-existing condition.

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Could Obama's Aid For 'Little Guy' Hurt Little Banks?

One part of Obama’s plan for regulatory overhaul would create a consumer financial protection agency to toughen consumer protections and identify bad business practices, but many smaller bankers say the new agency would unfairly burden them.

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Reader Story: The Secret Millionaire and the Mathmobile

I keep telling myself I’ll share reader e-mail more often. You folks send me great stuff. For example, here’s Ruth’s story about her own millionaire next door.

I loved reading about J.D.’s “secret millionaire” neighbor. This is a story about my own “secret millionaire” neighbor. He actually lives in the next suburb.

This local middle-school math teacher retired about five years ago, and became a private tutor. Since retirement, he works seven days a week — literally. By choice. He is a widower, with three adult kids.

Anyway, he had an old wreck of a car ever since I’ve known him (about eight years). He tutored my oldest son very occasionally and my daughter and middle son very regularly. One day last year, he warned me that he didn’t know if he could make my daughter’s Tuesday appointment, because he wasn’t sure if his car would make it up the hill. “No problem,” I told him. “If it doesn’t, just call me and I’ll pick you up.” He apologized and told me that he was due to pick up his brand new car that Friday.

His car did make it. (Sorry, can’t remember what it was. A French car, I think a Peugeot. It was my youngest son’s age — 20 years old at the time.) The following Tuesday, this man showed up proud as punch with a brand new Ford Fiesta — in bright purple!

I’m guessing that a retired teacher in his late sixties didn’t actually choose a bright purple car! He must have gotten a great deal on it.

He also has a small house on what has now become a main road, with four- and five-story buildings on either side of him. The developers have been trying to buy him out for many years. He told me that whenever they call, he pretends to be deaf. He’s a hoot. And definitely pretty much the epitome of the “secret millionaire”.

This man stopped tutoring my daughter only about two weeks ago. After so many years, we were both tearful. I still see him around town all the time, and we always wave to each other or honk. In private, my family calls his car “The Mathmobile”. One day I suddenly realized how much I’d probably contributed to that new car over the years. But that’s beside the point! I hope he enjoys his car, and that my community continues to enjoy him for many years to come.

This is a fun story. I know that some readers think it’s crazy to accumulate wealth but still drive a beat-up old car. But I think that as long as Ruth’s neighbor is happy, that’s all that matters.

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Related Articles at Get Rich Slowly:

• links for 2007-03-27
• Life After Graduation
• Get Rich Quack: David Schirmer of The Secret
• Salary Secrets and Myths
• 84-Year-Old Social Worker Saves $1.4 Million

Read more about Reader Story: The Secret Millionaire and the Mathmobile…

It really sucks to visit people who live in a college town

Right now I am visiting some friends. One of them teaches at this college so they live in this tiny college town. It is so annoying being here.

There are a bunch of college kids that are wreck less. I am scared to drive anywhere. I'm about ready to leave. The stores are always packed with college kids trying really hard to get all the good deals. It drives me nuts. I have to go shopping at the time when they all are in classes. I wish that this wasn't such a college town. It's all just annoying arrogant college kids.

I wish people weren’t like that

I really hate it when people get in fights knowing that in the end they are only going to just be unhappy with one another.

I have a friend who gets into fights with me about things all the time. Every time I try to stop her and explain that we are adults with our opinions set in stone, she just gets mad and starts arguing.

Sometimes I try and explain my opinion to her. She will just fight me no matter what. If I am being logical she doesn't care. She just wants to win the fight. I wish people weren't like that.

Front-Feet Flip Flops® for National Flip Flop Day®

The significance of National Flip Flop Day®

The Cat had been to charm school and could walk on her hind legs

I found out that today is National Flip Flop Day® when I was getting warmed up to look online for a quick payday loan. I saw it listed on Google Trends between "US Open" and "Jammie Thomas-Rasset," so I knew it was significant. However, the mysteries surrounding National Flip Flop Day® – including how the Dog found out about it — are not pertinent to this story.

The Dog was a desperado

It was June 19, 2009, the third annual National Flip Flop Day®, and quite naturally the Dog was bored. When no one was watching, he went out the front door to do something. He worked for a while at digging a hole in the yard where no one would ever see it. Then he saw the next-door Cat walking down the sidewalk.

The Cat was a capitalist

The Cat had lots of extra cash and had been to charm school. She had on green flip flops and a coordinating necklace of flowers and leaves. That was impressive. But what really got the Dog's goat was the way Cat was walking on her hind legs. The Dog didn't know whether the Cat had any money now, but he gave chase anyway.

They kept communications open

The Cat jumped out of her flip flops and ran up a tree. She didn't have any cash now, so the Dog picked the flip flops up in his teeth and ran back to the hole. He buried the flip flops as fast as he could and sat down on top. The Cat came down from the tree. She hissed perfunctorily and began to discourse. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Front-Feet Flip Flops® for National Flip Flop Day®"

I love superman.

He is a guy who can't control whether or not he has his powers but decides to do good anyway. It is sad that he has such a lonely life. He makes sure that everyone else is safe.

He is lonely and sad yet everyone else is safe because of his efforts to protect them. He doesn't know where he came from or why he has the powers that he does. All he knows is that he is some sort of alien to the planet earth but has been sent to protect it.

He could just as easily be a bad guy. Luckily he decided that he wanted to be a kind protective person than an evil guy. I'm sure if he turned evil he would kill everyone who he came in contact with. That would be a bad thing.

I love homemade cookies

Every year around Christmas time my friend brings my family cookies. She spends hours upon hours baking cookies. She brings them to all of her neighbors and friends. She also takes around some cookies to the homeless people.

She figures she won't give them money because she doesn't want her money spent on drugs of any sort so she brings them cookies in case they are starving. The cookies are very good.

There are so many different kinds of cookies in the box that she brings around. There are chocolate chip, some with nuts, and some without nuts, some sugar cookies, and anything else you can imagine. My nieces and nephews love eating all the cookies that she brings us every year.

Will National Sushi Day Make a Mint for Restaurants?

When is National Sushi Day?

Today is National Sushi Day! Or is it? When I first heard that today is National Sushi day, I had the same thought as Jeff Schmitt from OregonLive.com:

It seems to be yet another in a series of made-up internet holidays that are circulated to and fro, searched for on a specific day (today), hopefully capitalized upon by us.

I assumed, and still do, that the inventors of National Sushi Day were either sushi-loving connoisseurs or, more likely, sushi peddlers seeking a way to make a few extra bucks. Can’t blame them for trying, right?

National Sushi Day, show yourself!

But I figured I’d give National Sushi Day a chance to prove itself a legitimate holiday. I used a couple of time-tested internet techniques to uncover the mystery of the origin of National Sushi Day. I mean, if I can use the internet to get payday advances, I should be able to find out how long a holiday has been around, right?

What I uncovered might shock and astound you: Today might not be National Sushi Day at all! It might be on a different day.

The Wikipedia search

Everyone know that Wikipedia is a malleable database that contains some debatable information. Everyone also knows that everyone who’s anyone and anything that’s anything is in there. A search for National Sushi Day on Wikipedia came up with zilch, nada, nothing.

Well, of course, we all know that’s not true. A Wikipedia search for National Sushi Day came up with a lengthy list of results, including: National Cherry Blossom Festival, Sweden, Mark Dugdale and Mexican Cuisine.

The Google search

If you search for something on Google and don’t find it, you know it doesn’t exist. Luckily for National Sushi Day, I came across a little something called the National Sushi Society. The site for this very official-sounding organization says Sushi Day was started in 1997. It also says it’s on Nov. 1! ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Will National Sushi Day Make a Mint for Restaurants?"

The Ups and Downs of Unemployment

Unemployment is up or down depending on your point of view

The number of initial unemployment claims edged up last week, but the number of ongoing claims fell for the first time since January. According to newly released Labor Department data, 608,000 initial unemployment claims were filed in the week ending June 13, up 3,000 from the 605,000 filed the previous week. Continuing claims for the week ending June 6 (the most recent data available) totaled 6,687,500, down 148,000 from the 6,835,500 claims filed the week before.

Statistics don't really matter when you're a statistic

Every week there's something new to learn about unemployment statistics. Those big numbers are impressive, but it's difficult (not to mention boring) to decide whether the unemployment situation is getting better or worse. When you're out there looking for a job, it’s paychecks and not statistics that really matter. (You knew it was coming to this: The sooner you start getting paychecks again, the sooner you can apply online for extra cash and loans until payday.)

The internet is not a magical place where jobs come from

It's tempting to think of the internet as a virtual shopping mall for jobs. People do find jobs using online resources, but the internet should be just one part of your job-search strategy. Be sure to use traditional job-hunting tools, too, such as networking, cold calling, career fairs, local newspaper want ads, and college placement offices.

If you want to find a job in the real world

Make lists of your strengths, weaknesses, and career interests

What are you good at and what do you like to do? What are your downfalls and why? Given your education and experience, if you could have any job what would it be? These lists don't need to be long, but they do need to be honest. They're not for prospective employers; they're to help you get organized and focused. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "The Ups and Downs of Unemployment"

City of Bozeman Invades Online Privacy of Job Applicants

Job applicants must reveal log-ins, usernames

Relinquish your social media log-ins before you leave. Thanks, pardner.

If you’re reading this story on this Web site, I might assume one of three things:

1. You have used or are currently using online social media like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.
2. You are interested in obtaining personal loans and cash advances to give your budget a boost (sounds good to me).
3. You stumbled in here via Google, which is fine. Please apply for personal loans and cash advances before you leave, as they’ll help you with that surprise bill you never saw coming.

However, if you are applying for a job with the City of Bozeman in Montana, you need to see this coming: Bozeman will require you to give them all of your social media log-ins so that your background can be fully explored.

How’s that for privacy?

I understand Bozeman’s need to investigate whether a potential employee is trustworthy enough to serve the public trust, but this is ridiculous. According to CBS Montana News, one person who recently applied for employment with Bozeman E-mailed their concerns to the  television station. It’s right there in the city’s background check policy: “To be considered for a job, applicants must provide log-in information and passwords for social network sites in which they participate.” ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "City of Bozeman Invades Online Privacy of Job Applicants"

Hometown Vacationing without using Personal Loans

Save money vacationing right where you live!

My imagination helps me accumulate more money than receiving hefty personal loans. It's something about the adventure in accepting and seeking out the unknown that makes your inner child emerge, if only momentarily. When your inner child does spring forth, however, you're sure to have great fun and save some bucks in the process. So many things lie around your city for you to experience at little to no cost. These are just a few examples:

• Abandoned Buildings
• Road Kill
• Practically Demolished Streets
• Littered Parks

But underneath all that rotting boringness that seems to be surrounding you, there is a thin veneer of mystery and excitement waiting to be encountered. There are so many things that you haven't tried. I know, a day vacationing in the same city showed me things that I never thought existed in medium town Toledo, Ohio. Be sure to only take these ideas as a starting point. There should be many more things for you to do in your own city.

First: Out to Breakfast

I love going out to breakfast. There's just something about getting up early, especially when you don't really have to, and enjoying the bird's chirps, the fresh morning air, and the caffeine deprived employees screaming on their way to work. All of these things fill me with pleasure, and so does turkey bacon, pancakes, toast, and scrambled eggs. And Breakfast usually costs a lot less than going out to lunch or dinner! ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Hometown Vacationing without using Personal Loans"

Good Debt and Bad Debt

I don’t believe in “good and bad debt”. Debt is debt is debt is debt. Whether it’s out of necessity or due to a sudden lost of sanity, borrowed money is a liability that needs to be paid back.

The granddaddy of “good debt” is, of course, a mortgage. Most home buyers couldn’t buy a house without one, so it made sense to justify it by shedding a good light in this type of borrowing. Unfortunately, so many people take it the wrong way and end up buying a house that’s unaffordable. Debt is debt is debt is debt no matter how you look at it. Remember it on your road to financial independence.

Personal Finance Article

• My Two Dollars however, thinks there’s debt he’s okay with. What do you think?
• Want to profit in the stock market? Perhaps a read through several practical advise for the stock investor is in order for you this weekend!
• Frugal Dad needs your help! He is planning a vacation to Disney World and needs your help in having fun and staying frugal (of course)!
• Bible Money Matters wrote a pretty comprehensive article on watching TV online. If you’ve been thinking about cutting your TV bill, this is a must read!
• Looking at the Everbank CD rates, we won’t get a 3%+ rate until we lock in a 5-year CD! With rates this low, do you think it’s worth it to dip back into the market?
• There are tons of inflation indicators out there but I learned of one last week that I wrote about on Investing School. Check it out!

Carnival

• Money Hacks Carnival
• Carnival of Personal Finance
• Carnival of Debt Reduction
• Best of Money Carnival
• Best of the Best in Money and Personal Finance

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Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:

• Getting Used to The Debt Situation
• Debt to Income Ratio
• Debt is All Around You
• Possibly Avoid Bankruptcy with Debt Consolidation
• Debt Snowball - Highest Interest vs Smallest Loans First

Read more of Good Debt and Bad Debt…

The Free Frugal Email Newsletter

Want to with know the secrets to frugal living, less spending and happiness?

Thank you for all the positive feedback of the free newsletter I debuted a week ago!  Everyone who subscribed to it already received the first part of the 7-part mini course and there are already some people who said that they gained insight into cutting down their monthly expenses.  Here’s what some of those readers wrote:

From Mary

David, I knew that writing it down will help but reading you relay the idea gave me the final push to actually take action. I’m happy now because it worked… I can’t wait till the next lesson.

From Miss P

Your email reminded me of what my dad used to say about finding a date. “Who knows what the chances of succeeding is but you definitely have no chance if you don’t ask” Thank you for the memory!

From Emma (btw, my wife would think your name is great)

I can’t believe I missed your 50 ways to save money on travel post. It’s packed full of info and that alone was worth signing up. Keep them coming.

Here’s a reminder that the free subscription entitles you to the email newsletter that includes:

• 7-part mini course for simpler, more frugal and happier life.
• Daily Blog Post Delivered in the Morning (no more remembering to come read your favorite insights in personal finance!)
• Newsletter exclusive discount on the upcoming frugal book.
• All For Free

Still thinking? Here’s the real reason why you need to subscribe. Once you get emails from the newsletter, you can just hit reply to send an email to me. Who wouldn’t want that?!?!?

—
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:

• Best of Personal Finance with MoneyNing - May 2009
• Misunderstanding of Frugal Living
• What Everyone Ought to Know When Applying for Free Stuff
• Blockbuster Coupon for 2 Free Movie Rentals, Popcorn and 2 20oz Coke Products
• Links Sunday and Reminder For HP SD Card Reader Giveaway

Read more of The Free Frugal Email Newsletter…

Obscenity Appears on Yearbook Cover | Student's Parents Pay

More news on Shaker Heights Ohio yearbook

I wrote yesterday about the obscenity that appears on the yearbook cover for Shaker Heights High School. Check out yesterday’s article and photo. Luckily, though the school in Shaker Heights, Ohio, is a public school, no taxpayer money was used to correct the mistake.

Today, I read on an NBC news affiliate that the student’s parents had to pay the yearbook company to print stickers to cover the hidden message. The same article reports that the student who is responsible for the obscenity that appears on the yearbook cover had to place the stickers as punishment. Some punishment. The penalties for defaulting on a paydayloan are worse than that.

Conflicting news

At this point, I am hesitant to present anything as “fact,” because reports about the Shaker Heights Ohio yearbook are mixed. NBC says the responsible student was a girl, and the yearbook editor. CNN says “he got a round of applause” at graduation, indicating the student was a boy.

Yesterday, reports said that the “cosmetic surgery” the yearbooks underwent just involved altering the image with pen strokes. I read several reports about the obscenity appearing on the yearbook cover, and none of them mentioned stickers. But I digress. I am supposed to be writing about money, right?

When obscenity appears on yearbook cover

So, luckily, regardless of whether the message was covered with sticker or pen strokes, it sounds like it was a cheap fix. Well, it was cheap for everyone except perhaps the student’s parents. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Obscenity Appears on Yearbook Cover | Student's Parents Pay"

Obscenity Appears on Yearbook Cover | Student's Parents Pay

More news on Shaker Heights Ohio yearbook

I wrote yesterday about the obscenity that appears on the yearbook cover for Shaker Heights High School. Check out yesterday’s article and photo. Luckily, though the school in Shaker Heights, Ohio, is a public school, no taxpayer money was used to correct the mistake.

Today, I read on an NBC news affiliate that the student’s parents had to pay the yearbook company to print stickers to cover the hidden message. The same article reports that the student who is responsible for the obscenity that appears on the yearbook cover had to place the stickers as punishment. Some punishment. The penalties for defaulting on a paydayloan are worse than that.

Conflicting news

At this point, I am hesitant to present anything as “fact,” because reports about the Shaker Heights Ohio yearbook are mixed. NBC says the responsible student was a girl, and the yearbook editor. CNN says “he got a round of applause” at graduation, indicating the student was a boy.

Yesterday, reports said that the “cosmetic surgery” the yearbooks underwent just involved altering the image with pen strokes. I read several reports about the obscenity appearing on the yearbook cover, and none of them mentioned stickers. But I digress. I am supposed to be writing about money, right?

When obscenity appears on yearbook cover

So, luckily, regardless of whether the message was covered with sticker or pen strokes, it sounds like it was a cheap fix. Well, it was cheap for everyone except perhaps the student’s parents. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Obscenity Appears on Yearbook Cover | Student's Parents Pay"

Get Your U.S. Open Golf TV Schedule Here, Golf Fans

Follow Tiger and Phil at Bethpage Black

Golf may be a good walk spoiled, but there’s always something fresh about a major. This weekend, U. S. Open golf 2009 will be heating up the rain-soaked fairways of Bethpage Black. Last time the Open was played there was 2002, and the golfing world took to the municipal course. To be able to play the same course that Tiger, Phil and Padraig Harrington have held court on is a special honor, and since Bethpage is a muni, it doesn’t take payday loans for fast cash to be able to afford greens fees.

If you are online and want to follow U. S. Open action, there’s US Open live streaming at usopen.com. I’ve never taken the time to watch US Open golf online, but it seems that a sport with golf’s pace would work well online. For more updates, check out pga.com and the Golf Channel.

U.S. Open Golf TV schedule

But you want the U.S. Open golf TV schedule, don’t you. Well here it is. From June 18 to June 21, two networks will be airing the tournament. On opening day (Thursday, June 18):

• ESPN will air coverage from 10am to 3pm Eastern
• NBC will pick up coverage from 3 to 5 pm Eastern
• ESPN will come back from 5 to 7 pm Eastern
• ESPN will replay the day’s opening coverage from 8 to 11 pm Eastern

On Friday, June 19: ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Get Your U.S. Open Golf TV Schedule Here, Golf Fans"

Flexo’s Investment Portfolio, May 2009

Although I post my financial reports each month to keep myself accountable for my financial decisions, I have moved to summarizing my investments rather than listing all the details. My reports now simply separate my investments between retirement and non-retirement accounts.

An important part of anyone’s finances is how investments are allocated among stocks, bonds, or other forms of investments like real estate. It’s also important to look at asset allocation at a deeper level, such as the size of the company invested (large-cap, small-cap, etc.) or the type of bonds (municipal, corporate, etc.).

Continue reading for my investment account balances by investment as of May 31, 2009. I will also explain why I have invested as I have.

The investment in AIVSX was held in an Universal Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) account until I graduated from college. At one point, I was adding to this account monthly until I realized that a front-end load of 5.25% was immediately reducing any return I was earning. In September 2004, the discount brokerage decided to start changing an annual fee for holding this account, so I removed the funds from the company immediately and moved it into Scottrade.

The investments in the iShares exchange-traded fund, Microsoft, and Akamai were made with free money from ShareBuilder. All three investments have lost money since I first used bonuses from Sharebuilder to dabble, but I can’t complain.

I joined my company too late after its initial public offering, so I did not qualify for stock options like many of my colleagues. I do, however, invest ten percent of my salary in company stock through a special discounted purchase plan. Originally, my intent was to sell each quarter’s lot of shares as soon as I qualify to do so, but the recession has brought the stock price down. I may be tempting fate, but I plan to wait until the end of the year to sell the shares I’ve accumulated since the price started decreasing.

My 401(K0 is a hodge-podge. Unfortunately, there are not many low-cost options available. Even the lone index fund has high fees. When I originally started with the company, I chose one of the allocation-building options based on an “aggressive” risk profile, but I’ve messed around with the allocation too often without rebalancing. Studies have shown that 401(k)s perform better when employees leave leave them alone, so one of my goals for the end of the year is determine what I want my 401(k) to look like and stick with it.

Moving forward, I’ll include my investment portfolio with my monthly financial reports, but only at the end of each quarter. Even with Quicken, it’s difficult to properly calculate my investment performance (the internal rate of return), but I’d like to include some measure of performance each quarter.

Another investment-related goal for this year is to determine whether I should start investing in an education savings account or 529 for a possible future child’s education before knowing whether I will have children.

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Flexo’s Investment Portfolio, May 2009

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