Obama orders $ 600 million border security boost

As debate over the new Arizona immigration law SB 1070 rages on, the decision for immigration reform and additional border security is boiling over and can no longer be pushed to the back burner. As outlined by the Los Angeles Times, President Obama was so inspired by the legislation – or underwhelmed, depending upon the source – that he is now demanding that Congress punch through a $ 600 million emergency fund to ramp up Border Patrol numbers by at least 1,000, put two Predator drones on duty and improve overall border security. As part of the border security fund, 160 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and additional Border Patrol dog units would also be hired, according to an unnamed senior White House official.

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

Border security is vital to national defense, said Obama

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi received a letter from the president that underscored just how seriously he views his $ 600 million plan. It is a matter of “urgent and essential need,” writes Obama; it is an emergency. America’s border to the south is often stained by violence. The Mexican drug war no doubt hastened Mr. Obama’s decision to pump up Border Patrol forces. The New York Daily News reports the cartels are now openly threatening violence against U.S. border security, so the president’s move comes at an opportune time. Much of the proposed $ 600 million emergency fund would help give overrun Mexican authorities with ballistics and DNA analysis, with the hope the drug war does not spill over to the U.S..

Border security should be an active endeavor

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer proclaimed in her recent meeting with President Obama that Arizona is “the gateway to The US for drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and crime”. And that’s one of the a lot more subtle cues Brewer has given concerning her outrage over the federal government’s relative inactivity over border security. Predator drones, top personnel and also the kind of fences that really do the job are what Arizona needs, attests Brewer. Enforcing Arizona immigration law SB 1070 will not create a “Papers, please!” military state, but will really have a optimistic effect on border security, according to Brewer. Even a Mexican lawsuit against SB 1070 (as CNN reports) won’t stop the move toward tighter border security in America. People who live within the borderlands have had enough of the government’s ina! ction; perhaps Obama’s emergency fund is a step in the right direction.

Find a lot more information on this topic

Los Angeles Times

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

New York Daily News

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

CNN

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

Summer solstice ideal day for clean energy to promote solar power

The summer solstice this year as a transition in the seasons, could be a turning point for the solar energy industry as well. The summer solstice on June 21, the longest day of the year, was chosen by a California utility company to announce a $ 100 million campaign to promote installation of residential solar power systems. As Congress debates climate and energy legislation, the summer solstice is also being used by clean energy companies to inform the public about the benefits of solar energy.

Article Source: Clean energy firms choose summer solstice to promote solar power by Personal Money Store

Solar power soars on summer solstice

The summer solstice announcement by PG & E Corporation of a $ 100 million tax-equity fund to finance residential solar power installations is the largest solar leasing pool to date, according to the company. The New York Times reports that the fund marks a growing interest by utilities in clean energy financing. In January, PG & E created a $ 60 million tax-equity fund for a Silicon Valley company called SolarCity that also leases residential solar power systems. Earlier this year, the president delivered a speech advocating his positions on the climate and energy bill at a clean energy company in northern California called Solyndra.

Lease solar panels for your home

The $ 100 million fund announced on the summer solstice is expected to finance solar energy systems for 3,500 homes in Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Hassle-free solar energy for homeowners is the main objective of the program. Instead of paying for the solar energy system, which can cost more than $ 30,000, homeowners sign a power purchase agreement with SunRun that fixes the cost of their monthly electricity payments for as many as 18 years. In exchange, SunRun installs, owns and maintains the solar energy systems.

Public opinion on solar power

The summer solstice was also appropriate for the clean energy company Applied Materiasl to publish a survey on solar power attitudes. It found that two-thirds of American's say solar power needs to be used more for U.S. energy needs. MarketWatch reports that according to the survey, three-quarters of Americans feel that increasing renewable energy and decreasing U.S. dependence on foreign oil are the country’s top energy priorities. Other findings from the survey's sample of 1,000 people include that 67 percent would pay more for power if their utility used more renewable energy, and 49 percent think an extra $ 5 isn't too much to use more renewable energy.

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green.blogs.nytimes.com

www.marketwatch.com

People who purchase health insurance on their own facing steep hikes

Health insurance premiums for people who buy coverage by themselves are soaring, according to a study released Monday. While lawmakers debated the health care reform bill, health insurance companies were trying with a lot of effort to make as much money as they could before the law’s provisions kick in. Individuals facing sharp increases in their insurance premiums are trying to save money by settling for fewer benefits and higher deductibles. In the mean time, steadily increasing insurance premiums and a drop in the number of employers offering health coverage swelled the ranks of the uninsured by nearly 3 million individuals in 2009.

Article Resource: People who purchase health insurance on their own facing steep hikes

Health insurance cost trends

Premium hikes for health insurance for individuals far exceed increases within the premiums for employer-sponsored coverage, according to a new survey on health insurance cost trends from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The Associated Press reports the non-profit foundation said premium hikes for individual coverage averaged 20 percent. Customers who were able to switch to cheaper plans brought the average increase in what individuals are paying for health insurance down to 13 percent. This year’s individual health insurance premium spike tops last year’s 5 percent average increase for employer-sponsored family coverage. Health insurance cost trends for some of the employer-sponsored single coverage held steady.

Costly medical insurance for individuals

The rising cost of health insurance for individuals made news when Anthem Blue Cross tried to raise its rates by as much as 39 percent in California. As outlined by the New York Times, the Kaiser study sheds light on how widespread these premium hikes are. As outlined by the New York Times, when the proposed Anthem hikes were met with outrage from federal and state officials, there was little information about how widespread such increases were in other parts of the country. Drew Altman, the Kaiser foundation’s president and chief executive, told the Times that "The survey shows the steep increases we are reading about over the last several months aren’t just extreme cases."

A long wait to health care reform

The Kaiser survey highlights all of the challenges that about 14 million people younger than 65 who purchase their coverage in the individual market will face until changes under the health care reform law kick in 2014. All Americans could be required to have health insurance by then. In the meantime, 52 percent of respondents in the Kaiser survey who buy individual health coverage said they would keep their current plan next year, when 32 percent said they weren’t sure. 14 percent said that they would probably switch companies to cut costs.

High deductibles on health insurance plans

To conserve money, people are switching their individual health insurance plans to higher deductibles. The average deductible is $ 2,500. There is an annual deductible of $ 5,000 or a lot more. The number of those who have high deductibles has risen from 39 percent in 2007 to almost 47 percent in 2009.

Health coverage being lost by millions

For the 2.9 million U.S. adults who joined the ranks of the uninsured in 2009, health care reform does little to help them with their current needs. USA Today reports that in 2009 — the latest statistics accessible — 46.3 million American adults had no health insurance coverage, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s about one in five working-age adults with no health insurance coverage. The percentage of uninsured adults climbed from 19.7 percent to 21.1 percent in 2009, and 58.5 percent of American adults went without insurance for at least part of the year.

Read more on this topic here

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5je_4AEzpzQnfbTmeeOg1yUO9jWRgD9GFOU080

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/06/22/business/22kaiser.html?src=busln

USA Today

usatoday.com/news/health/2010-06-20-uninsured-reform_N.htm

USA Today: Pay day loan alternatives are not cheap

Those who oppose payday lenders often claim that cheaper pay day loan alternatives exist. When this does apply to those individuals who have the credit to have choices, those consumers with average to less-than-average credit may find payday loan store to be more accessible. USA Today’s recent piece on payday loans alternatives is an additional sad example of the misinformation that poisons the public view. The newspaper’s musings are something a lot more than cheap.

Article Source: USA Today payday loan alternatives article is misleading by Personal Money Store

Payday loans no faxing alternatives: First try 401(k) loans

Consumers who are serious about payday loans alternatives like 401(k) loans should realize that there can be dire consequences. True, it is possible to borrow up to $ 50,000 or half of what’s with your 401(k) plan (whichever is the lesser) at an initially low interest rate with no credit check. The Money Alert reports the awful truth: you’ve to pay it all back before you can continue building your nest egg. If you are able to manage the hit to your retirement savings, go for it. You should pay back in full, without the benefit of employer matching.

Losing take home pay via payroll deduction is another pitfall of 401(k) loans. Some will swallow that, but job lost can be a bitter pill. Then you’ll only have 60 days to pay anything back or the 401(k) loan can be considered an early withdrawal. Think penalties and also the possibility of being thrown into a higher tax bracket once you report the amount of the withdrawal penalty as taxable income on your next tax return. That’ll cost you. Payday loans, on the other hand, are a proven inexpensive alternative, as outlined by the University of Michigan and the Federal Reserve. They’re also much better on a small scale than 401(k) loans.

You do not really want credit card cash advances, right?

USA Today strikes out again with this effort at exposing payday loan alternatives. Credit card cash until payday loan seems attractive (with fancy blank checks and all), but you will find major caveats. The cash til payday APR is always more than the APR for regular credit card transactions. Second, if you use an ATM to get a credit card cash until payday, you will find additional fees. It’s very significant to read the fine print with your credit card’s terms and conditions before springing for a credit card cash til payday, suggests Young Money. If you need money and want pay day alternatives, try using an installment loans instead. An payday installment loans won’t require that you pay down an entire credit card balance before getting to the advance itself.

The skinny on bank and credit union small loans

Here’s where a consumer’s credit history comes into play. USA Today trumpets these low-interest unsecured loans, but spend little time addressing the reality that most consumers don’t qualify. Pay day loans are a better choice, in that that allow credit-constrained consumers to repair credit. Those with less-than-perfect credit should explore the possibility, something the USA Today apparently neglected within the process of researching their story.

Find more info on this topic

USA Today

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

The Money Alert

themoneyalert.com/401kloan.html

Young Money

youngmoney.com/credit_basics/040216_01/

Auto dealer regulation - An inability to compromise

Auto dealer regulation has been on the minds of House Democrats most recently, or a lot more specifically a lack thereof. Their belief is the newly formed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) would hamper auto dealers’ ability to recover during these trying financial times by limiting their ability to continue offering dealer-assisted financing. Led by New York Reps. Bill Owens and Mike McMahon, the Democrats thought that they might have achieved an acceptable bipartisan compromise – until now. It was reported by Automotive News that an additional provision was surreptitiously inserted to the bill that would have actually expanded the CFPA’s oversight over car dealers.

{|Source for this article: Auto dealer regulation – A failure to compromise by Car Deal Expert

For auto dealer regulation, NADA is lobbying hard

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) – which is the auto dealer lobby – is flexing its considerable lobbying muscles to bring lawmakers in line with the more permissive House version of the auto dealer regulation bill. Kansas Republican Sen. Sam Brownback was vocal in his opposition to Senate changes that went against what had been perceived to be “sensible bipartisan compromise.” No matter what, compromise would go against President Obama’s direct request that no special conditions be generated when it comes to the CFPA’s jurisdiction.

Christ Dodd delivers on what Obama wants

As crafted by Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, the suggested auto dealer regulation would allow the CFPA to write binding rules that car dealers would have to follow concerning “credit discrimination, credit disclosure, financial privacy and credit-report accuracy,” according to Automotive News. NADA spokesman Bailey Woods disparaged the Senate version of the bill, claiming that it would it a lot more difficult for “millions of Americans (to discover) an affordable way to finance a vehicle.”

Unfair and deceptive practices

Ridding the industry of unfair practices is the essence of the Dodd bill, which NADA finds entirely untenable. Last month, Brownback’s proposal to grant dealer exemption from CFPA regulation was approved 60-30 as “a non-binding recommendation to Senate negotiators,” writes Automotive News. Today a vote for either House or Senate approach occurs. By early next week, the agreed-upon version will leave committee and go to the House and Senate for final approval. The last step will be to get the president's signature. What will the future hold for America’s auto dealers?

Sources

Automotive News (subscription may be required)

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100623/RETAIL07/100629945/1203

Sam Brownback views auto dealer regulation as anti-small business:

youtube.com/watch?v=jv8lgKa_yAA

No cash in divorce case – Elon Must of Tesla, Space X and Iron Man

Elon Musk who was the high flying tech entrepreneur is broke. Or is he? Musk, the man behind companies as PayPal, Tesla Motors and Space X, said he was out of cash and living on personal cash loans when his wife filed for divorce. After he ran off with an actress and left her with all of of the kids, Mrs. Musk wants to get her slice off a chunk of Mr. Musk’s empire.

Source for this article: Elon Musk of Tesla, Space X and Iron Man – no cash in divorce case

Divorce won't cramp Elon Musk's style

Elon Musk – who’s the Space X rocket scientist and Tesla Motors mogul, was used as a role model for Robert Downey Jr. in his portrayal of industrialist Tony Stark of the Iron Man movie franchise — has it all. But the New York Times reports that Musk, finding himself within the middle of a divorce, says his account with your bank is empty. He says he invested every cent of his money in his companies and is living off loans from his wealthy friends. He owes, according to court filings, $200,000 a month. Nevertheless, he nevertheless has his private jet.

Elon Musk – Iron Man of tech

Elon Musk, who graced “Iron Man 2″ in a role, may just be broke, but in the world of the super rich, the term is relative. On June 4 his company Space X conducted a successful launch of the Falcon 9, which is a rocket he helped design, which brings the business closer to a $1.6 billion contract with NASA. Tesla Motors, the $100,000 electric sports car business he founded, just won a $50 million investment from Toyota and is scheduled to hold an initial public offering of stock that is expected to value the business at about $1.4 billion.

Justine Musk wants a divorce

After Musk ran off with actress Talulah Riley, fantasy novelist Justine Musk, also his wife, filed for divorce. It was reported by Autoevolution that Mrs. Musk wants the house, alimony, child support and $6 million cash. She also wants a piece of Tesla Motors. In a post on her blog titled “Golddigging,” Justine Musk wrote:

“For those who want to know the extent of my golddigging, this is what I asked for, from my ex-husband and also the father of my five children Elon Musk, who’s a billionaire and likely to become one of the wealthiest men on the planet. Is that what I deserve? I don’t know. Who exactly deserves that kind of wealth? But based on our life and history together, is that reasonable? I think so."

Elon Musk has assets, not cash

His finances were not always so strained. VentureBeat reports that in documents filed in the divorce case, Musk made $9.6 million in 2008; he made an average of $17.2 million per year from 2005 to 2008. As of Dec. 31, 2008, he also had extensive holdings in venture capital and private equity partnerships. These partnerships can't possibly be considered liquid assets. It might take months to get cash given that buyers have to be willing to take the risk.

Citations
New York Times

dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/sorkin-elon-musk-of-paypal-and-tesla-fame-is-broke/

Autoevolution

autoevolution.com/news/elon-musk-is-broke-21647.html

VentureBeat

venturebeat.com/2010/05/27/elon-musk-personal-finances/

Royal Olympians - Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock engaged

Today, the official announcement agency of the royal house of Monaco announced that ruler Prince Albert II is engaged to Charlene Wittstock. Both members of the couple are athletes that have competed within the Olympics. The very wealthy country is sure to be planning a huge celebration, though the official wedding date is not yet set.

Article Source: Royal Olympians – Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock engaged by Personal Money Store

Engagement of Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock

Prince Albert II, the son of Princess Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III, has been the head of Monaco since 2005. An Olympic bobsledder for a number of years, Prince Albert met Charlene Wittstock when she was competing as a swimmer for South Africa. Since 2006, the schoolteacher and Olympian has lived in Monaco. No official date for the wedding has been set, though tradition requires a waiting period of at least six months.

A large royal wedding in Monaco

The prepared wedding between Wittstock and Prince Albert II can be the first royal wedding since 1956. If there are children that come out of this marriage, they will become the official heirs. Prince Albert does have two kids – though both are illegitimate. Illegitimate children aren’t eligible to become royalty, no matter who their parents may be.

A celebration for Monaco

Monaco is an independent city-state in Europe. The country is bordered on three sides by France, which is financially and socially responsible for the defense of the country. The entire country has only 30,000 residents. A large casino combined with the fact individuals pay no income tax make Monaco a very popular place for wealthy individuals. The GDP of the country is about $ 6.5 billion. In short, that means that the royal wedding of Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock is certain to be an expensive, elaborate affair. History and current events – like the planned wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling – have proven that royal weddings are expensive, elaborate, and a true public spectacle.

Mississippi Toyota plant construction resumes

In a move that will bring 2,000 jobs to the unhappy state, construction will resume on the Mississippi Toyota plant in Blue Springs. As outlined by the Associated Press, Toyota has made it clear that they expect the Mississippi Toyota plant to be fully functional by the fall of 2011. It had initially been slated for completion in 2010, but the recession that began in 2008 made the economic climate unfavorable.

Source for this article: Mississippi Toyota plant construction resumes by Car Deal Expert

Corolla is the Mississippi Toyota plant’s stock in trade

When original plans for the Blue Springs, Mississippi Toyota plant were to make the Prius hybrid car, now the Japanese automaker plans to make 150,000 Corolla compact cars each year. Regardless, industry insiders see this as a step within the right direction for Toyota’s image in North The US. Considering that they’ve had to recall 9 million cars given that October 2009 due to safety issues, Toyota will take any gains available.

Toyota didn’t make friends with U.S. plant closures

New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), a California plant Toyota shared with GM, was scrapped after the recession and recalls saddled Toyota with massive debt. Toyota President Akio Toyoda tried to repair some of the damage by allying Toyota with Tesla Motors within the San Francisco area, but Toyota still had their work cut out for them.

Toyota and Blue Springs should be together, says Gov. Barbour

Regarding the re-emergence of the Mississippi Toyota plant, Gov. Haley Barbour told the AP:

“We’re delighted but not surprised. We’ve had good reason to keep our faith in them. Through a global economic crisis, Toyota kept its financial commitments to the state and to local schools, proving they’re not just the world’s premier automaker but a valuable community partner also.”

To Blue Springs (and Mississippi), new jobs are of vital importance, and the Mississippi Toyota plant will deliver. While profits for the automaker remain shaky, this move may be the recovery sign investors have been waiting for, indicates the AP.

Additional info can be found here

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jTG7SuUsayqE6bO9GPluAfU5blewD9GD2RRO0

Drilling moratorium overturned by judge with oil company holdings

A federal judge has overturned the Obama administration’s six-month deep water drilling moratorium within the Gulf of Mexico. The ruling issued Tuesday cited economic hardship as a result of the ban and explained the government overreached by suspending all deep-water drilling operations prepared in the gulf. The ruling was hailed by oil companies. The Department of Justice said they wanted to appeal the decision immediately. Meanwhile, as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010 gushed for the 63rd day, about 106 million gallons of crude and counting have spilled into the sea.

Resource for this article: Drilling moratorium overturned by judge with oil company holdings

Possibility of drilling moratorium judge being invested in oil

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

More deep-water drilling uncertain

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

Oil companies spin drilling moratorium

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

Containment failure for BP oil spill

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

Read more on this topic here
ABC News

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

Los Angeles times

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

CNN

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

The SpaghettiOs recall will affect 15 million pounds of pre-cooked pasta

Last night, Campbell Soup Company put out a SpaghettiOs recall that affects approximately 15 million pounds of the canned pasta product. The SpaghettiOs recall is not happening because of any reported illnesses, but was issued “out of an abundance of caution.” Because of undercooked meat, there are three types of SpaghettiOs in the recall.

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

SpaghettiOs recall products

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

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

Department of Agriculture inspection spurs SpaghettiOs recall

The SpaghettiOs recall is being announced in conjunction with Campbell Soup Company and also with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service. The FSIS was completing a routine safety inspection of the Campbell warehouse that is in Paris, Texas when they discovered that some meats in the SpaghettiOs recall were undercooked. Undercooked canned meats can pose a danger of sickness if eaten.

SpaghettiOs recall costs

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

If you were in the SpaghettiOs recall, what you should do

If you were a part of the recall, return the SpaghettiOs to the store where you got them. The store should be able to give you a replacement ore refund. Call the Campbell's hotline at 866-495-3774 if you would like to get more information.

Ohio speeding tickets could really set you back - no proof necessary

Getting a speeding ticket is never really a fun thing – between fees, fines, and increased insurance costs, you’re looking at a lot more than $400. In Ohio, however, the state that gives out one of the most speeding tickets, fighting that ticket just got a lot harder. The Ohio Supreme Court decided to rule that “trained” officers can rely on visual estimates to hand out legally binding speeding tickets.

Article Resource: Ohio speeding tickets could really cost you – no proof needed By Personal Money Store

The court case of the Ohio speeding ticket

A 5 to 1 decision of the Ohio Supreme Court stated that officers do not need any kind of verifiable evidence to issue a speeding ticket. The officer has to be "trained" in estimating speed. This indicates no radar gun, no laser measurement of speed, no paper trail to dispute – only your word against the officer’s. The supreme court of Ohio is quick to point out that this is not what they desire to see as policy, but what the constitution permits.

The reality of speeding tickets financially

Speeding tickets are often used by small towns for more than safety enforcement. Some cities make more than 30 percent of their budget from traffic enforcement. An average speeding ticket in the United States costs about $150, and increased insurance costs can run up to $300 over 3 years from just the first infraction. Some states even passed laws stating that cities aren’t allowed to make any more than 30 percent of their income from speeding tickets. Some states have even instituted systems like the one where speeding tickets can be paid for on the spot with a credit card.

The reaction to the outcome of the Ohio speeding ticket case

Ohio is being criticized all around the world. The ACLU says that this case will open up Ohio to possible racial profiling, stops for no reason and civil liberty violations. To address this concern, SB 280 was introduced within the Ohio congress. Senator Tim Grendell and Senator Capri Cafaro have introduced a bipartisan bill to require verifiable evidence for speeding tickets.

What the Sony Dash doesn’t and does

Not quite an iPad, not quite a laptop and not quite an alarm clock, the Sony Dash is showing up at the top of a lot of Father’s Day gift lists. The Sony Dash is intended as probably the most costly, interactive alarm clock you’ve ever purchased. The Sony Dash can run apps and connect you to the web – but are all the features worth the price.

Resource for this article: What the Sony Dash does and doesn’t By Personal Money Store

Features of the Sony Dash

First, the tech specs of the Sony Dash. The device is only plug in. On the top there is a power and snooze button and a seven inch touch screen. The display has about 800 x 480 pixels. The processor has 500 MHz and has 256 MB of RAM. You will find built in stereo speakers and there is also a WiFi connection. There is a Chumby-based interface with the operating system is Linux.

What the Sony Dash will do

The Sony Dash is essentially intended as a “first glance” alarm clock and media center. It will play YouTube, Pandora, Netflix and other media applications.Downloads for other developed apps could be available also and these will allow you to access online websites like Twitter and Facebook.In order to use the applications, you have to have wireless internet inside your house. Without wireless internet, the Sony Dash is really just a $ 200 alarm clock.

What the Sony Dash doesn't' do

The Sony Dash does have its limitations. First, the Dash does not have a battery – which means you are stuck next to a power outlet. Second, there is no programming solution for streaming or downloading your own content; you are able to only stream things off the internet. The Sony Dash also doesn’t necessarily log you into all your preferred applications; you may have to go to your Sony Dash account on a computer to do so.

Who to get the Sony Dash for

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

The device runs about $ 200, though even the most basic of wifi connections will be one more $ 50 — unless you can convince your next-door neighbor to be friendly and share.

Should you use suction or gravity to change your oil?

Changing your oil seems like a relatively basic process, all things considered. Drain out the oil, replace the filter, put every little thing back together, and add new oil. In some mechanics’ garages and quick-lube shops, though, “suction” or “siphon” oil changing methods are gaining popularity. What are the essential differences between suction oil changes and plug oil changes?

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

A standard oil change

Emptying the oil out of an engine, until most recently, has relied on gravity. There is a drain plug at the bottom of the engine that could be removed. Remove the plug, and gravity pulls the engine out. In most mechanic shops, the gravity method is still used to change the oil. In theory, the sludge and gunk that settles within the oil pan is more likely to get drained out with this system.

Changing the oil with a siphon

In the SkyMall catalog and in some quick-change lube shops, siphoning oil machines are making an appearance. These machines suck the oil out of the dipstick tube. In theory, this process is just as effective as gravity changes. There are some enthusiasts who claim that these siphoning oil changes actually get more oil and gunk out of the engine during every change. Some worry that the suction method of oil changing might miss some essential things.

Is the suctioning method as good?

Gravity oil changes work equally well as suction oil changes. No matter the method, you should include a filter change with each oil change. Feel free to ask your quick-lube place or mechanic which method they use. No matter what type of method is used, it is most essential to just remember to change your oil.

SEC fighting over regulation of P2P lending

The Securities and Exchange Commission has been in an extended debate with Prosper, one of the two largest peer to peer lending businesses. A new industry, the peer to peer lending model is a Silicon Valley startup that directly connects investors with borrowers, effectively cutting banks out of the lending equation. The SEC calls these companies investment businesses, which means the SEC could regulate them. Prosper, nevertheless, believes that this is not a correct ruling.

Article Source: Peer to peer lending confounds the SEC

The way peer 2 peer lending operates

The peer to peer lending model is one that has been used in the past. By letting the lender choose exactly who and just how much they invest money with, it gives the lenders control. A borrower can make a plea for money on the site, including their prepared use of the money, their credit score, and personal story. For as little as $ 25, a lender can contribute to one of these borrowers. The two largest p2p lending facilitators are both Silicon Valley startups – prosper.com and lendingclub.com. These two companies report that, on average, investors get a return of 6 to 16 percent on their investments.

The regulation question for peer to peer lenders

The Securities and Exchange commission presently regulates the lending and investing that occurs on these peer to peer lending sites. The SEC claims that these lenders sell bonds, not loans. Prosper, however, is asking for the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency to regulate their business.

The real differences between bonds and loans

In order to raise money, many corporations will sell bonds. Bonds are a contract that promises payment later as well as cash until payday. Bonds are traded, insured, and exchanged on open financial markets. The interest rates on bonds are usually relatively low. A loan, on the other hand, is a contract between a borrower and a lender that can’t be effortlessly exchanged or traded. Individuals are "sold" loans by banks, while corporations sell banks bonds.

UK Office of Fair Trading says no to payday loan rate cap

America has seen its share of pay day loan rate cap legislation in recent years. But such is not the case for all countries that offer consumers the convenience of easy loans and other forms of loan company under the free market banner. According to UK newspaper The Guardian, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in the United Kingdom has ruled that a pay day loan rate cap is not needed and would ultimately harm competition – and hence prices.

Article Source: UK Office of Fair Trading says no to pay day loan rate cap

'Reasonably well’ is the functional level of UK payday loan competition

Easy loans and other forms of payday loans credit are beneficial if credit-constrained persons can very easily access them. The OFT recognizes that market competition has helped regulate paydayloans prices. When the OFT admits that improvements can be made to the way the current paydayloans market works, it still functions “reasonably well”. The OFT has moved forward with their pro-payday loan freedom stance, despite heavy resistance from the Archbishop of Canterbury and a variety of other special interest charity groups. Within the interests of balance, the OFT did suggest the UK payday loans industry would most certainly benefit from a uniform code of conduct to bring violating stragglers into line.

Finance and Lending Association approves of OFT stance

A payday loans no fax interest rate cap “would have adverse unintended consequences for consumers, including for the cost and availability of credit,” said Finance and Lending Association Head of Consumer Finance Fiona Hoyle to The Guardian. Learning from the U.S. study from Dartmouth University that showed the follow of payday loan rate caps (as well as an additional recent U.S. study that showed that payday loan companies companies don’t reap unreasonable profit, Hoyle told The Guardian that she hopes parliament will learn from the OFT’s example.

Do not just throw the payday loan into the financial stocks

The Guardian found that Marie Burton of the group Consumer Focus agrees that healthy competition and low prices aren’t always an easy balance to achieve. It may be the ideal, but the UK payday loan industry nevertheless has some road to travel before arriving at that goal. Pulling banks and credit unions into competition by encouraging them to offer low-cost, low-hassle payday loan products would be most ideal for the free market, although banks and credit unions have failed at this before, considering America’s example.

Sources

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

Microsoft announces Xbox Kinect motion-controlled gaming

At the E3 2010 trade show, Microsoft announced the new gaming system – Microsoft Kinect. The Xbox Kinect is the official name for the Natal project Microsoft announced last year. Much like the Wii gaming system, the Xbox Kinect encourages real movement – but in contrast to the Wii, the Kinect will focus on full-body movement. The Kinect will release in October or November as an add-on to Xbox 360.

Article Resource: Microsoft Xbox Kinect – Motion-controlled gaming goes hands free By Personal Money Store

The operation of the Kinect

The Microsoft Kinect system uses a two-camera system to capture motion. Depth is captured by one camera, when one more takes RGB color photographs and video. Combined, these cameras can re-create full body motion.This user interface system will eliminate the need for a hand-held controller.

The games published to the Kinect

Xbox will offer games bundled with the Kinect, also as on Xbox Live and on discs. LucasArts is even working on a Star Wars game, complete with light sabers. There are six games that the Kinect system is already being demonstrated with. Many gamers are already drooling over the possibility of Halo Reach migrating to Kinect.

Is the Xbox Kinect your only option?

Since the success of the Nintendo Wii, many game console makers have been developing a lot more interactive game systems. However, there are other alternatives to the Microsoft Kinect. Sony's Move system will sell for about half the price of the Kinect. The Nintendo Wii did something that other game console makers had assumed would not be possible – sell games to a very wide audience. Though the Xbox proved very popular when it was first released, it commercially lost over $ 1 billion – - proving that games have to be sold to more than just hard-core game enthusiasts.

Additional info at these websites

Engadget.com

edition.cnn.com

VG247.com

Using a dealer shop vs independent repair shop

Which is better – a dealership or an independent shop when your car needs some work? With unique benefits and drawbacks to each, you should choose carefully depending on what type of work you need done.

Article Resource: Dealer Maintenance vs. Independent Maintenance

When dealer maintenance is worth it

Authorized mechanics or "official" dealership mechanics are often suggested when you purchase a new car. For some items, such as manufacturer recalls and warranty work, the dealership is definitely the best place to get the work done. You should also visit the dealer maintenance shop if you have a difficult-to-diagnose vehicle problem. In short, anything that is incorporated in the price of your automobile should be done at the dealership shop. Going to an independent shop is probably a better option for just about anything else.

Independent mechanics – a better option at times

You’ll be spending a lot of money if you get your car maintained at a dealership. Scheduled maintenance, oil changes, or basic repair jobs are often more costly at dealership car repair shops because they have higher overhead. You should go to an independent car repair shop for much of this work. The work can be less expensive, usually, because the shop is independent. You can always ask your mechanic to use parts from the original equipment manufacturer if you would like. Many of the time, independent shop work will not void your warranty. Just keep records – including receipts – for all work that is done on your car.

Making sure that your independent shop is good

Going with the lowest bidder doesn’t always mean you'll get the best work on your car. Ask each mechanic if they’re ASE certified. ASE certification – from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence – is a non-profit certification.

Your home improvement project needs financing

It was reported by Fox Business that Americans are likely to spend a lot more than $ 121 billion on home improvement in 2010, so knowing how to finance home improvement is important. Here are seven of the financing possibilities.

Resource for this article: How to finance your home improvement projects By Personal Money Store

How to finance home improvement – Seven possibilities

Breaking a larger concept down into smaller parts makes it much less daunting; that includes when you are trying to finance home improvement. These are seven steps to solving this riddle.

1. Make use of cash

Fox Business reports that historically, about 65 percent of homeowners who invest in home improvement pay cash for the job. It’s simple and there are not interest fees with which to contend. However, a large cash outlay can certainly make it a lot more difficult to pay other bills if you aren’t careful. Considering that as many as 85 percent of today’s homeowners finance home improvement with cash, even a lot more individuals are budgeting carefully.

2. Use some credit cards

Josh Frank, a senior researcher at the Center for Responsible Lending, reminds that revolving interest can keep you in debt for a while. Even the lowest credit card APRs are about twice the rate of standard home loans and home refinance loans. If you miss a couple of payments, it might even skyrocket to 30 percent or more. If you really need to use a credit card, do not use the card’s cash today feature, as the interest rate for cash till payday via credit card is much higher than the standard credit card APR.

3. Use personal loans

Whether you go to a payday lending, a bank or a credit union, short term loans may be accessible, depending on your relationship with the institution and what your credit score is. In the case of a loan company, nevertheless, having good credit is not required for personal loans . According to Steven Rick of the Credit Union National Association, such personel loans (also known as signature loans) can be either higher or lower in rate than credit cards. It might just pay to shop around.

4. Getting home equity loans

As the housing bubble has burst, standards for home equity loans have increased. You may get up to 90 percent of your current home's value in a fixed rate 10-15 year loan with an excellent credit score. For Business explains that rates could be higher by a point or two than the average home mortgage. Fixed-rate loans make long-term budgeting much easier when you are trying to decide how to finance home improvement projects. Be wary of variable rate loans, as they typically will not go lower and usually will only increase, particularly if you’ve difficulty making payments on time.

5. Trying to use a HELOC

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) sets up an account where the money is there for home improvement if you need it for any reason at all, rather than coming to you in a lump sum similar to a standard home equity loan. Look for a fixed rate, instead of a HELOC with a variable rate.

6. Get an FHA remodeling loan

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has a small remodeling loan program – 3,854 loans in 2009, as reported by Fox Business – but if you can get in, you are able to borrow up to $ 25,000 for up to 20 years at a very reasonable rate. Any loan more than $ 7,500 is secured by the home itself.

7. Get contractor financing

Terms will vary wildly here, but if you are able to get a fixed rate, no points loan with no other hidden fees, a contractor loan can cost anywhere from 5 to 11 percent. It will only depend on your credit score and trust of the contractor. Do a little bit of research.

Discover a lot more information on this topic

Fox Business
foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2010/06/07/compare-home-improvement-financing-choices/

Mortgage rates near record lows - housing market not responding

Mortgage rates hit the lowest levels of the year this week — almost too record lows. Shouldn't the housing market have good news by low rates? Shouldn't it be better news also when thinking about how sales were up in April? But despite all of the attractive mortgage rates, mortgage applications plummeted following the home buyer tax credit deadline April 30. Plus, many homeowners are still out of work, a lot more than 1 million more foreclosures are likely to occur and banks still have yet to put the homes they’ve already taken back on the market. The recovery of the housing market can have to wait. The market might nevertheless get worse.

Article Source: Mortgage rates near record lows – housing market not responding By Personal Money Store

Mortgage rate trends

The average mortgage rate dropped to 4.72 percent this week, down from 4.79 percent last week, according to mortgage finance business Freddie Mac The average mortgage rate dropped by around 4.72 percent this week, down from 4.79 percent last week, as outlined by mortgage finance business Freddie Mac . Last December it was above the record 4.71. Mortgage rate trends point even lower. The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage hit somewhere around 4.17 percent, down from 4.2 percent last week and the lowest on record since August 1991. The US housing market still isn't responding. According to the Associated Press, the market is struggling without a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers, which expired at the end of April. A campaign by the Federal Reserve to lower borrowing costs for consumers pushed mortgage rate trends down to extraordinarily low levels last year. Rates were expected to rise following the program ended this spring, but have fallen inst! ead over the past two months.

The mortgage rate forecast

The mortgage rate forecast is subject to a domino effect of economic setbacks. A jobs report released last week showed that private sector hiring was practically non-existent at 41,000 jobs. Investors worried quite a bit about the stock market shifted money to the safety of U.S. Treasury bonds. It was reported by the LA Times that investors have rushed to buy Treasury securities since late April, in the process driving market yields on the bonds sharply lower. Investors bought $21 billion of the securities at a Treasury auction that occurred on Wednesday, despite the fact that they are paying just 3.20 percent. The yield on US treasury has been pushed down by it. The mortgage rate forecast tends to track that yield.

Housing market predictions 2010

With mortgage rates at near record lows, the number of customers applying for a mortgage to buy a property fell to the lowest level in 13 years last week and was down 35 percent from a month ago, as outlined by the Mortgage Bankers Association. MarketWatch reports that any housing market recovery will likely continue to be slowed by additional homes on the market from “shadow inventory” and “sidelined sellers.” We called foreclosed homes not yet on the market shadow inventory. You will find some homeowners who haven't foreclosed yet. At about 2 million, analysts think foreclosures will peak later his year or next.

Recovery of housing market seems on hold

Sidelined sellers are individuals who want to sell their homes but are waiting for the housing market recovery. MarketWatch reports that about 7 percent of homeowners — representing more than 5 million homes — fall into this category. They will likely be waiting for a while. 9.7 percent was the US unemployment rate in May. Many of the salaries are frozen or cut. In a National Foundation for Credit Counseling survey, 49 percent said if they tried to buy a home they’d never be able to save enough money for a down payment. People underwater on their mortgages, about 25 percent of borrowers, can’t get the financing to move to another house. People who are buying for mortgages are not only worried about getting a home, but additionally their ability to keep it. Doug Duncan, who’s the chief economist at Fannie Mae, told MarketWatch that in the long run, that attitude is a good thing for the economy.

We're finally getting good news.

Discover more data on this topic

Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hPHFMSZDHZNqzg3uDQ1tvmGdoq4wD9G8FSG00
Los Angeles times
latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/06/treasury-bonds-yields-rally-economy-auction-austerity-pimco-gross.html
Marketwatch.com
marketwatch.com/story/the-housing-market-recession-is-not-over-2010-06-09?pagenumber=1

Increase in truck driving jobs and auto industry jobs in forecast

As much as 400,000 truck driving jobs and an upcoming labor shortage in the U.S. auto industry promise to put a small dent within the U.S. unemployment rate. The recession took a heavy toll on the U.S. auto industry and also the U.S. trucking industry. But truck driving jobs and auto industry jobs are slowly recovering along with the economy. The U.S. trucking industry is already seeing driver shortages in some markets. The U.S. auto industry could face a labor shortage within the next few years.

Article Source: Truck driving jobs and auto industry jobs to surge in near future

A resurgence of truck driving jobs

Overall the U.S. trucking industry lost almost 150,000 truck driving jobs since the start of 2008. But the industry will create about 200,000 new truck driving jobs by the end of this year. And a report authored by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals predicts that one more 200,000 will have to be filled next year. CNNMoney.com reports that a number of factors are creating the need for more truck drivers: retirements, tougher safety regulations intended to get drivers with bad records off the road and also the have to replace drivers who were laid-off during the recession.

Automakers need workers with new skills

The U.S. auto industry shed 228,000 jobs in the past two years. But trends point toward an addition of about 15,000 jobs this year and up to 100,000 new auto industry jobs a year from 2011 through 2013 as the industry recovers from the recession, as outlined by the Center for Automotive Research|The Center for Automotive Research sees job numbers trending upward as the industry recovers toward about 15,000 in 2010 and another 100,000 new auto industry jobs each year through 2013|In a dramatic reversal, the Center for Automotive research forecasts 15,000 new jobs this year and one more 100,000 a year through 2013 as the industry recovers from the recession}. The emerging new jobs, USA Today reports, won't be filled by the complacent union workers who contributed to the U.S. auto industry's decline. On the factory floor, auto industry jobs are demanding more and different skills, like computer literacy and the ability to work with less supervision than their predecessor! s. That likely means education beyond high school.

A good truck driver is hard to discover

Even with a U.S. unemployment rate reported at 9.7 percent, many truck driving jobs may not be filled, said Rosalyn Wilson, author of the report featured on CNNMoney.com. It’s not an attractive profession for people who want to be home with their family at the end of the work day. As of May, 2009, truck driving jobs paid a mean of $ 37,730. Wages will likely increase because truck drivers are paid by the mile, and a lot more miles and less drivers are expected.

Discover a lot more information on this topic

CNNMoney.com

usatoday.com

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

You should make a personal budget to get probably the most out of short term credit. Nobody really wants a spending budget. But everybody has to be on one, regardless how much money they make. When short term cash advances or payroll loans become part of your financial strategy, controlling spending with a budget is the way you can make sure the money being borrowed is used within the best way.

Why would I make a personal budget?

Creating a personal budget involves working with all of the data available about your finances. When you choose to get a payday loans no faxing, you need to know where your money is coming from, how much you have and where it all goes. One of the biggest reasons most people keep away from budgeting is that they would rather not know how they really use their money.

Budget before you borrow any money

It isn't as bad as it sounds to create a personal budget. Most of the work is at the beginning. After dialing as part of your finance, if you stay on top of it, tracking income and expenses is almost automatic. According to CNN, what may seem like drudgery gets spiced up by facing the reality of foolish spending habits . It’s better to learn what they are on your own. Most of the foolish spending is pretty common and fairly easy to eliminate.

Make a personal budget for debt reduction

Get began making a personal spending budget by making a list of all of your regular monthly expenditures, including every little thing you spend on fun things like eating out, entertainment and hobbies. It is very essential to include minimum payments toward debts, including payment in full of personal pay day loans at the end of their term. About.com says that you need to never forget to build in money for debt reduction. To make it easier, use software. These personal-finance programs have the built-in budget-making tools that can create your spending budget for you.

Settle all of your emergencies with payday advances loans

Subtract expenditures from earnings to see how much you are able to expect to have left at the end of the month. If your personal budget comes out on the negative side, go back over each expense and determine where you are willing to make sacrifices to get out of debt. Your first priority should be debt reduction. After paying that, you are able to start saving money to meet your financial goals, like a nice escape, retirement investments or an emergency fund.

Living on a personal budget

All the time you spend creating a personal budget could be totally wasted if you aren't going to put your spending budget to work. You should try to live as part of your budget. Try to see how it feels. At the end of that first month, look over your spending to see if it matches up to your spending budget. If things are still out of whack, consider small payday advances while you figure out how you are able to work harder to control spending. You might need to rework your personal spending budget to be more realistic as far as how you actually spend your money. Keep crunching the numbers until you've made it right.

Tips for personal spending budget:

Here are some money-saving tips courtesy of freefinancialadvice.net:

• Try not to use credit cards. Pay them in full each month if you’ve to use them
• Consolidate at a better rate credit cards and student loans
• Refinance your mortgage or car loan at a lower rate
• try coupons.com so you are able to shop with coupons
• Make an effort to use non brand merchandise or generic
• Quit smoking
• Don’t make an effort to compare yourself to your friends and neighbors

Read a lot more on this topic here

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

June 14 release of Danielle Staub sextape

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

Source for this article: Danielle Staub sextape video set for June 14 release

Around the Danielle Staub sextape video is litigation

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

The Danielle Staub sextape video story

The Danielle Staub sextape video that Hustler has reported it will be releasing was reportedly filmed in September of 2009. This means the drama on “Real Housewives of New Jersey” about Stephen Zalewski secretly filming his sexual encounters with Danielle was not about this particular tape. The Danielle Staub sex tape supposedly features a “mystery man” that has not been spotted on the “Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

The release of the Danielle Staub video tape

Hustler, Inc., has said it will release the 75-minute Danielle Staub sextape video on June 14. There are no comments yet from Danielle Staub's representatives. Nevertheless, if sales of past “celebrity” sextape videos are any indication of future sales, the “Real Housewife” could stand to make a relatively large amount of money off this tape. Depending on the information of the contract made, Danielle Staub’s sextape video could effortlessly net her within the neighborhood of $1 million. Ex-boyfriend Stephen Zalewski has confirmed that he has not sold the video tapes in his possession. This means that there were two people who could have sold the Danielle Staub sextape video – Danielle herself, or a “Mystery Man” partner that she has chosen not to sue. With rumors of financial ruin surrounding Danielle Staub, it would be about right if the previous call girl and con artist offered the videotape for sale herself.

An overheating engine – what to do

An internal combustion engine is not particularly efficient. Even the most efficient gas-run engines use only about 38 percent of the stored energy of gas for powering the automobile – the rest becomes waste heat. When an engine overheats, it can be very severely damaged.

Source for this article: The basics of an overheating engine By Car Deal Expert

The anatomy of an overheating engine

When an engine starts to overheat, a wide range of other things start to go wrong inside the engine. A normally-functioning engine will run between 195 and 220 degrees F. The engine will start misfiring above 220 degrees. At 250 degrees, rubber and plastic parts of the engine start softening. At 265 degrees, most of the metals in the engine will start to soften and stress. The radiator might also burst after long periods of high temperatures.

What you need to do

Most engines have a dial or gauge that will show you at least the general temperature of the engine. You should keep as close an eye on this gauge as you do on the fuel. Pull over quickly if the engine stays consistently above 225 degrees.Take a look first at the coolant levels in the reservoir. If the level is low, add coolant – or water if that is your only option. Go right to a mechanic to have the engine checked out. Do not attempt to open the radiator cap until the engine has entirely cooled off – it is under pressure and could cause injuries.

What may be causing an overheating engine

The temperature of an engine can go off in a number of places. The five most common things that cause an overheating engine contain:

• Leak within the cooling system – the most common cause, and most easily found with a pressure test.
• Thermostat issues – they might be a mechanical problem or a sensor problem.
• Make certain the cooling fan is entirely operational.
• Dirty radiator – if the airflow through a radiator is blocked by dust and dirt, it can overheat the engine.
• Overworked engine – if you’re working the engine hard with an extra-heavy load, towing or driving fast on mountains in the summer, your engine may naturally overheat.

Second credit report can derail closings - Loan Quality Initiative

The Loan Quality Initiative is a mortgage loan quality control measure that was enacted June 1 to cut down on Fannie Mae foreclosures. In most cases the Fannie Mae Loan Quality Initiative requires lenders to pull a borrower’s credit report a second time at closing. If the borrower has applied for credit since the mortgage loan was approved, the resulting change within the debt-to-income ratio could squash the deal.

Source for this article: Loan Quality Initiative – second credit report can derail closings By Personal Money Store

The Fannie Mae Loan Quality Initiative

Fannie Mae’s Loan Quality Initiative means lenders will be checking up on mortgage borrowers until the day they close. People who extend their credit to purchase a new washer-dryer or furniture for their new home could possibly be in for a rude surprise.

Lou Barnes, a mortgage banker in Boulder, Colo., told smartmoney.com that the initiative will probably "blow up an unknown number of closings because of mistaken or ambiguous findings in new credit reports."

Debt-to-income ratio is the key

It was reported by Smartmoney.com that applying for credit of any type between the date of the loan approval and closing could snag the deal. The new lines of credit could affect the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio – which is the percentage of monthly gross income used to pay monthly debts is a primary tool lenders use to determine loan eligibility. Additional debt could push the borrower over Fannie Mae’s debt-to-income ratio threshold of 45 percent.

Mortgage loan quality control

Boston.com reports that numerous lenders already pull second credit reports right before the closing, but the Fannie Mae Loan Quality Initiative makes this mandatory for all mortgage lenders who sell their loans to Fannie Mae. New loan quality control actions require lenders not only to pull two credit reports for each mortgage transaction but to perform additional verifications of a borrower’s plans for the property, plus Social Security numbers and Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, among other changes. These last minute credit checks could result in a closing delay, pricing adjustment or, at worst, loan approval cancellation.

How a second credit report hurts

The Loan Quality Initiative gives lenders the freedom to verify nevertheless they choose. But mortgage blogger Bob Phillips reports that most will pull an additional credit report just prior to closing. Three things will be looked for by underwriters:

1. The updated credit report will show current credit card bills and minimum monthly payments. Those numbers will replace the original numbers made at the time of application. The loan can be denied if the debt exceeds Fannie Mae's threshold.
2. The credit score updated. If the FICO has dropped below minimum lending standards, the loan could be denied, or be subject to a new loan-level pricing adjustment. Loan level pricing adjustments are loan fee depending on the credit score.
3. The Credit Inquiry section. The goal is to see if the borrower has been applying for credit elsewhere. Underwriters can use this data at their discretion.

Foreclosures for Fannie Mae overwhelming

The Loan Quality Initiative is an attempt by Fannie Mae to stem the tide of foreclosures overwhelming the nation’s largest mortgage buyer. $11.5 billion in losses were reported by Fannie Mae. The US treasury was asked by Fannie Mae to give them $8.4 billion to stay afloat. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own or guarantee more than 50 percent of mortgages within the United States. Statistics for mortgage foreclosures reached an all time high. The combined share of foreclosures and also the mortgage delinquencies was 14 percent, or about one in each seven U.S. mortgages. Mortgage foreclosure statistics are expected to peak this year with a lot more than 2 million borrowers losing their homes.

A lot more information on this topic

Smartmoney.com
smartmoney.com/Personal-Finance/Real-Estate/borrowers-beware-the-second-credit-report/
Boston.com
boston.com/realestate/news/blogs/renow/2010/05/fannie_maes_loa.html
Bob Phillips
southorangecounty.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/fannie-mae-loan-quality-initiative/

Personal loans and getting good rates

Everyone needs personal loans of some type, somewhere along the line. Whether it's an emergency cash loans until payday because you blew a flat tire, or for a home, car or college education, chances are you’ll have to finance something eventually. If you’re getting into the market for personal cash loan of some type for whatever reason, there are a couple of things that can help you get the best personel loans rates.

First thing in rates for personal cash loan is credit score

Your credit score is one of the most important details about your financial life, and it is also significant when you apply for personal cash loan. It may seem unfair, depending on past occurrences and not reflective of your present ability to repay a loan, but sadly it is entrenched. To better your chances to get a personnel loans, you need to boost your credit score. Pay off the credit cards, first and foremost. With numerous cards, start with one and pay them off until you only have one or two left. Even if you can't pay it all, some payment is better than none.

Lay your money down

The a lot more you offer as a down payment, the less you’ll owe on the principle. The less principal that you owe, the better rate of interest you'll get. Typically, a down payment is something you’ll only have to worry about with a home or a car. It was stated by Forbes that a 20 percent down payment on a home is nearly extremely hard now and days. This seems to be part of an overall trend, as the requirements to make that upfront payment loosen. That practice is beginning to get nipped in the bud, so for any large personal loan, expect it to come up.

don't be afraid to refinance when you’re purchasing around

As you may do with anything, you need to shop around. One of the great things about credit unions is that they carry lower risk structurally than a bank does, and often can offer lower rates than some banks. If a company doesn’t have lavish bonuses to shell out, that means lower overhead. Also, if you have a large enough loan, such as a mortgage loan, student loan or business loan, don’t be afraid to refinance once you’re in the right position. Lower interest rates mean lower payments and will mean you’ll have more money.

Read more on this topic here

blogs.forbes.com/moneybuilder/2010/06/03/down-payment-on-home-out-of-reach-for-half-of-u-s-poll-finds/
Forbes

Facebook.com/nabiscocookies - Get a free cookie coupon

You can get a free package of Nabisco cookies if you act easily and go to facebook.com/nabiscocookies. The free Nabisco cookie promotion is not an unusual move, especially for the parent company Kraft. You will find less than 500,000 free cookie coupons available on facebook.com/nabiscocookies, so have a backup plan if at all possible.

Resource for this article: Facebook.com/nabiscocookies – Get a free cookie coupon

Free cookies with your facebook.com/nabiscocookies coupon

If you "like" the facebook.com/nabiscocookies site, you'll get a coupon for free cookies – but just today. You will find almost a half-million coupons accessible, and Nabisco thinks they’ll go quickly. In order to use your free cookie coupon, you’ll have to purchase a package of Nabisco cookies and two containers of milk, including a gallon. The coupon is good until June 25, but you can only get it until Midnight June 7.

The promotion of facebook.com/nabiscocookies

Coupons will only be available on the facebook.com/nabiscocookies site for one day. There are various types of "Nabisco cookies" including Fig Newtons, Oreos, Nutter Butters and even more. Nabisco cookies are mostly owned by the Kraft foods company. Ultimately, the majority of the Kraft foods company is owned by Phillip Morris. 88.1 percent of Kraft is owned by Phillip Morris, which operates as a holding company. Over the past five years, the conglomerate has bought and sold dozens of brands. Kraft Foods purchased Cadbury most recently. In one year, Kraft stock has gone up in value by over eight percent.

Miss out on facebook.com/nabiscocookies?

There are less than 500,000 coupons available on the facebook.com/nabiscocookies site. Even if you do get a coupon, you’ll have to shell out $ 15 or a lot more to get your "free" coupons. You don't have to miss out on the treat of a cookie, though. Nabisco-style cookies are really relatively easy to make at home. Instead of the shortening and sugar filling in traditional Oreos, you are able to use something to replace the vegetable shortening. If an Oreo sounds good, imagine it fresh out of the oven.

Space X Falcon 9 rocket launch ushers in commercial space flight

The Space X Falcon 9 rocket successfully made it into orbit without exploding Friday. The Falcon 9 is the beginning of a new phase in commercial spaceflight as the space shuttle program ends its low-orbit cargo missions. Friday’s launch was the first flight test of the Falcon 9, a two-stage, 180-foot-high rocket carrying a mock-up of the Space X Dragon capsule. Commercial spaceflight to the International Space Station for NASA took a major step with the successful launch.

Commercial spaceflight worth billions

The Space X Falcon 9 is in line to replace NASA's space shuttles, which can be retired at the end of the year. Universe Today reports that SpaceX plans to fly up to 3 Falcon 9/Dragon test missions for NASA. The Falcon 9's fourth flight early next year could possibly be its first cargo delivery to the space station. Space X has a $ 1.6 billion contract to take on some of the resupply duties that will no longer be handled by the space shuttle fleet.

NASA saves millions with Falcon 9

The first new U.S.-built rocket engines in a decade power the Space X Falcon 9 rocket. Since it was founded in 2002, the Orlando Sentinel reports that Space X has hired hundreds of former NASA employees and contractors. Space X was founded by Elon Musk, who invested $ 100 million of the fortune he made selling PayPal to achieve the goal of a lot more affordable spaceflight. Investors who believe in Musk threw down one more $ 300 million. NASA will continue to spend $ 300 million a month on the Constellation moon rocket program until the end of the year, although it's been cancelled.

Falcon 9 bet pays off

The odds were against a successful Falcon 9 rocket test. A typical launch test has a 50-50 chance, most experts believe. Musk said the Falcon 9 had about a 70 or 80 percent chance of success at a press conference earlier in the week. In contrast the gun just clicks in Russian roulette 83 percent of the time . "So if anybody remembers that scene from 'The Deer Hunter,' Musk said, "That's tomorrow". The Space X Falcon 9 beat the odds and then some achieving orbit on its first test flight.

Space X – more Falcon 9 tests planned

An earlier Space X rocket, the Falcon 1, took four tries before it achieved orbit. MSNBC reports that some in Congress and also the space community have severe doubts about the ability of Space X and other commercial companies to meet NASA’s requirements for future spaceflight. But besides the successful Falcon 9 launch, Musk said the survival of his company, or the future of private spaceflight, didn't rest on the outcome.

Read more on this topic here

universetoday.com

orlandosentinel.com

cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com

Pac Ten expansion will alter the entire college sports landscape

Pac Ten expansion is causing an upheaval in the college sports landscape that will make it unrecognizable as we know it. The Big-12 and Big-10 conferences will both be affected by the aggressiveness of the Pac Ten expansion. The objective of Pac Ten expansion is enhanced revenue from television contracts. Probably the most sought after prize in the college conference tug of war is Texas, with its huge legion of fans and nationwide television ratings draw.

Resource for this article: Pac Ten expansion will alter the entire college sports landscape

Pac Ten expansion buying list

Pac Ten expansion plans were shared with conference athletic directors at a June 6 meeting in San Francisco. ESPN reports that a full merger with the Big-12, taking six current Big-12 schools, adding just Colorado and Utah or maintaining the status quo were the scenarios discussed within the meeting. A lucrative Pac Ten TV network is also on the table in discussions about conference expansion. Large 12 schools on the Pac Ten purchasing list includeTexas, Texas A and M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado .

Television revenues drive Pac Ten expansion

Pac Ten expansion is being discussed as the Big-12 conference has found itself under siege from both the east and west. The Big-12 hasn't kept up with other major conferences in the race for TV dollars, despite having large name schools like Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Missouri. The Big-10, a conference with its own TV network that doled out $22 million in TV revenues to each of its members last season, has made overtures to Nebraska and Missouri. Television revenues for Big-12 schools last season ranged from $7 to $12 million. The leader of all conferences, as outlined by the Sports Business Journal, is the Southeast Conference, which rakes in $205 million a year from ESPN and CBS. The Pac Ten’s contracts with ABC/ESPN and Fox are worth $45 million.

How the Pac-16 could work

No one is expecting Pac Ten expansion anytime soon, but Orangebloods.com reports that Pac Ten commissioner Larry Scott will invite Texas, Texas A and M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Colorado and Oklahoma State to join the Pac Ten this week. With so numerous schools, the Pac-16 could form two leagues. The six newcomers, plus the two Arizona schools, which made the Pac-8 the Pac Ten would form one league. The original eight schools within the conference would form the other.

Is the Big-12 facing oblivion?

The San Jose Mercury News reports that the Big 12 has reportedly given Nebraska and Missouri an ultimatum: commit to the conference by Friday, June 11 — with the assumption being that if they don't, everybody will go their separate ways. If that scenario comes true, the Big-12 would be left with Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. To remain viable, the Big-12 could gather in Texas Christian and Southern Methodist and perhaps convince Colorado and Utah to join the league. But would the Little-8 stand a chance against the bigger, richer conferences encroaching on the east and west?. And its doubtful that the conference expansion spree is a good thing for college sports fans.

Additional details at these websites

sports.espn.go.com

sportsbusinessjournal.com

blogs.mercurynews.com

New AT and T data plan with lower prices and lower limits

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

Source for this article: New AT and T data plan – Lower prices and lower limits By Personal Money Store

AT and T data plans plan on eliminating 'unlimited'

When the iPhone was introduced on the AT and T network, the one-size-fits-all data plan was just a $29.99 a month “unlimited” plan. The definition of “unlimited” however, was sometimes brought into question. Some of the AT and T customers got huge data-use bills that indicated there was a limit to network usage that they were not aware of. Some customers had to pay their bills with best payday loans . Heavy use of the data network led to many dropped calls and slow data speeds that have been a tough sticking point between the carrier and customers.

The newest AT and T data plan

The new data plans revealed by AT and T will have 3 “levels” of data use. There could be a $15 plan allowing 200 mb of data per month. A $25 plan will allow 2 gb of data per month. Connecting a laptop to internet through an iPhone costs an extra $20 per month. These new AT and T data plans will send a text message to the users when they’re approaching their data limit. These data limits will not apply to anybody when the smartphone or tablet is getting used at a WiFi hotspot – only the 3G network. Users that already have a contract with AT and T could be allowed to keep their “unlimited” plans and pricing.

AT and T data plan effects

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

Google bans Windows over security concerns

At the California Googleplex and around the world, concerns over security have led to Google officially giving Windows the boot. This move by Google is a reaction to security difficulties with Windows operating systems, as well as a lead-up to Google's Chrome OS. The only way a Google employee can use Windows is by getting special permission.

Article Resource: Google bans Windows over security concerns

The official Windows Google stance

The official policy of Google on Windows has been, until now, a lot more flexible. When a new employee starts at Google, they’re given an option of which operating system they want to use. Now, if Google employees want to keep Windows as an operating system, they have to get CIO approval. Google's Chrome OS is being offered as an option. Google decided to make this change after the hacking of Google’s China channels.

Windows security concerns cited by Google

From credit counseling to office management, about 80 percent of computers run Windows. Viruses and hackers usually target Windows computers as the operating system is so popular. This security hole has led to Google disallowing the system – it's simply too easy to hack. Because Google’s dedicated developers design programs for wide use, they are able to keep away from many of the downfalls of Windows security holes.

Google banning Windows a publicity stunt?

A few observers have suggested that Google kicking Windows out of its offices is more about publicity than security. For the last year or two, Google has been creating Chrome OS – a Windows competitor. The first public release of this operating system was the Google Chrome web browser. Developers will be allowed to edit and alter the Google Chrome OS, because it is an open-source piece of programming. People used to assume that open-source operating systems were less secure, but experience with Linux and other large open-source projects have proved this theory incorrect. Yes, there will be a Google competitor to the Windows operating system, but that isn't entirely the reason Windows will no longer be used in the Google offices.