Hurricane Alex is nevertheless very threatening despite it veers from the gulf oil spill

Until Tuesday, Hurricane Alex probably won't become a hurricane. But for now, tropical storm Alex, the first named storm of hurricane season 2010, appears to be heading away from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010. South Texas and northeastern Mexico has been given a hurricane warning. About 116 million gallons of crude have fouled the gulf, according to government estimates.

Source for this article: Hurricane Alex veers away from gulf oil spill but still threatens by Personal Money Store

Oil could be pushed onto shore by Hurricane Alex

A hurricane could hit in 48 hours is what the hurricane watch means. If the tropical storm conforms to all of the predicted forecasts and becomes Hurricane Alex, the storm’s center isn’t expected to approach the area of the oil spill off Louisiana’s coast. But Stacy Stewart, who is a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, told CNN that Alex’s outer wind field could push oil from the spill farther inland and hinder operations in the area. Its center is coming from the Yucatan peninsula and is headed for the Texas-Mexico border.

Hurricane Alec might very well threaten oil spill containment

Oil spill containment operations and all of the efforts to cap the gushing well would likely be suspended if Hurricane Alex approached the northeastern part of the Gulf. It was reported by ABC News that when Alex became the first named storm of hurricane season 2010 which started June 1, officials worried what effect it could have on efforts to contain the millions of gallons of crude spewing into the sea and washing up on beaches.

Hurricane Alex could change course

50 mph winds extend up to 70 miles from the storms center. Around 7 mph, it is moving north-northwest. As outlined by CNN, National Hurricane Center forecasters have not ruled out an easterly shift in Alex’s path. If Hurricane Alex were to change its present course, the oil spill cap positioned over the blown-out well that is capturing a lot of the crude would have to be taken out within the event of a hurricane. Ships drilling relief wells would have to suspend operations. On their present schedule, the relief wells, considered the best hope to stop the leak, are projected to be done by August.

Futures of crude oil are sensitive to storm track

As hurricane season 2010 settles in, an indication of how oil prices may be affected by coming storms emerged. As Hurricane Alex veers away from the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010, it was reported by the Wall Street Journal that crude oil futures Monday backed off from seven-week highs. Although the storm could make the affects of the oil spill worse, what matters more to the world is getting more of the oil production, and fears that the developing tropical storm would disrupt oil production eased a bit. As a result, prices for light sweet crude for August delivery fell 75 cents to $78.11 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Find more details here:

CNN

cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/06/28/tropical.storm.alex/index.html?npt=NP1

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Business/wirestory?id=11033517&page=1

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100628-706482.html

Wedding Cans Update - Peter and Andrea reach 5-ton goal

Just in time for their wedding day, the Wedding Cans couple has successfully achieved their goal to collect 400,000 cans to pay for their wedding – completed in just eight months! Who would have ever thought collecting aluminum cans would pay for an entire wedding? Although some may call it crazy, this Spokane couple is proving that great success can be achieved through the craziest ideas.

Post resource: Wedding Cans Update – Peter and Andrea reach 5-ton goal by Personal Money Store

Ringing success with wedding cans

With the help of the United Recycling Services, Alcoa Aluminum and also the outpouring support from individuals across the world, Andrea Parrish and Peter Geyer have reached 100 percent of their goal in just 197 days. The couple can be married next month, July 31, in Spokane, Wash. at the Corbin Art Center, where wedding cans will right, not just for the love they share, but for their great accomplishment.

“The response to this project has been overwhelming,” Andrea said./p>

“The most exciting thing about the project is how numerous people have borrowed the idea,” Peter added. “We have other engaged couples recycling for their weddings and honeymoons — even a woman collecting cans to pay for her liver transplant.”

Peter and Andrea will donate more than half of the proceeds of any additional cans they collect to nonprofit organizations Rim Country Land Institute and Doctors Without Borders, using only 40 percent for their honeymoon.

Wedding Cans is surely a story to remember

The couple has suffered through numerous trials and challenges throughout their quest to collect five tons of aluminum cans to help pay for their summer wedding. Nevertheless, the two have remained true to their values, also as that crazy idea that came to mind at around 1 o’clock one morning. In a time of excessive consumerism and outlandish wedding expenditures, Peter and Andrea are truly admired for their courageous efforts of dedicating probably the biggest event of their lives to saving the planet. Wishing you the best, Peter and Andrea, and congratulation on your Wedding Cans success!

Visit www.weddingcans.com for more details about Wedding Cans

iPhone 4G reception difficulties are your fault, says Apple

For a product from a business that supposedly prides itself on quality, the iPhone 4G has many issues. First, Gizmodo get a hold of a prototype in a bar. After that, ordering and delivery did not work as intended. Anybody who wants a white iPhone 4G has to wait. For many iPhone lovers, the iPhone 4G reception issues are coming close to the last straw.

Source for this article: iPhone 4G problems- Apple says it is all your fault by Personal Money Store

iPhone 4G won't get reception in certain situations

With one glaring exception, the iPhone 4G actually gets better reception than the 3G. The steel-band antenna around the iPhone 4G quickly kills all reception if a user touches the bottom-left corner of the phone. Apple’s solution to this problem is simply “just do not hold the phone that way.” You could also spend money above and beyond the phone, iPhone apps, your data plan and your voice plan to get a case. Apple has admitted the iPhone 4G design problem is a flaw. Perhaps duct tape would fix it?

iPhone 4G troubles – Colors

There is nothing different within the tech behind a white and a black iPhone 4G, but Apple calls the delay "manufacturing issues.” There can be a few weeks or months before the white iPhone 4G is accessible.

The iPhone 4G has ordering and delivery issues

iPhone 4G ordering has been a big problem for customers and also the company. The promised delivery date for the iPhone 4G was changed a number of times. First, the online AT and T store crashed. The Apple store also shut down orders to help try and fix the problem. Because of these issues, the delivery date was pushed back. When AT and T shut down orders, they ran into a problem that some customers had been told they had not ordered the phone when they did, and visa versa.

iPhone 4G difficulties to come?

Because there was so much demand for the iPhone 4G, you will find severe problems. There is not really any move towards fixing the iPhone 4G. AT and T’s new data plans mean that getting no reception, though, could possibly be helpful – because you cannot download much before you owe even more.

Reduce debt with a carefully prepared debt consolidation loan

To simplify your debt, debt consolidation loans work. However, for real debt relief, debt consolidation is only the first step. Without changing your spending habits, a consolidation loan is trying to borrow your way away from debt, which makes no sense. If bundling all your debt into one payment lowers your interest rate it makes sense. But you can end up paying a lot more within the long run if the interest rate is only lower since the term is longer.

{|Article Source: For real debt reduction, plan your debt consolidation carefully by Personal Money Store

Plan ahead for worthwhile debt consolidation

To conserve on interest and get out of debt faster, debt consolidation takes careful preparing. Numerous debt consolidation calculators are available for free online. You are able to figure out all the factors that will determine if debt consolidation will work using these tools. Use an online debt consolidation calculator to experiment with different interest, payment and term scenarios to develop a plan of action.

Good debt consolidation moves

There are many different ways to go about debt consolidation. At MSN MoneyCentral, M.P. Dunleavy offers some of the stronger debt consolidation methods. If you have equity in your home, explore a home equity loan. The interest paid is tax deductible on a home equity loan, and it carries a fairly low interest rate within the high single digits. A secured loan you probably don't think about is your car, which you are able to refinance for cash to pay down debt. The rate of interest on a personal loans is a lot less than the rate on credit cards, making that a great way also.

Debt relief can grow like a rolling snowball

Many financial advisers think that you have to plan on keeping debt payments separate for debt reduction. Financial adviser Dave Ramsey likes what he calls the “snowball approach. The snowball approach pays off debts one by one, from small to large. List your debts in order from small to large. Your first priority is paying down the smallest debt. The snowball can give you some success fairly easily knocking off the easier debts and motivate you to continue with the larger debts. But it takes a lot of financial discipline, budgeting and saving for the snowball approach to work.

Read a lot more on this topic here

moneycentral.msn.com

daveramsey.com

High credit card debt persists with personal finance savvy rising

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

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

The personal finance know-how is no good

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

Prevailing is credit card debt

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

Personal finance gets advice given

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

You should know what affects your credit score

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

Find more information on this topic

Bankrate Inc.

bankrate.com/

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

nfcc.org/

Jennifer Openshaw

coaches.aol.com/money/jennifer-openshaw

The want to defer strategic default with consequences by Fannie Mae

Fannie Mae upped the ante on strategic default of home mortgages Wednesday, saying that borrowers who default in spite of having ability to pay or don’t seek alternatives in good faith won’t be eligible for a new Fannie Mae-backed mortgage for seven years from the date of foreclosure. Home foreclosures and strategic defaults are both increasing. Numerous offers are proliferating online to help in strategic defaults. Last week the House passed the FHA Reform Act with a provision for penalizing strategic defaulters within the bill.

Source for this article: {Consequences of strategic default

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

Strategic defaulters sued by Fannie Mae

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

Strategic default definition

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

Citations
Fannie Mae

fanniemae.com/newsreleases/2010/5071.jhtml

Washington Independent

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

Stay away from credit card debt relief scams by helping yourself

The long, deep recession and its aftermath have created an environment in which debt reduction scams and debt relief scams flourish. With millions in financial trouble, credit card debt is a bigger problem than ever. Predatory debt relief companies promising peace of mind are seeking out individuals drowning in debt. But with financial discipline and effort people can stay away from even the so-called legitimate debt reduction services.

Source for this article: Do not fall for credit card debt relief scams, just do it yourself by Personal Money Store

Debt reduction pitfalls

Paying off existing debts with more debt is a common tactic of companies hawking debt reduction services. Other debt reduction services will offer to negotiate with your creditors to arrange a payoff for under you owe. In many cases just taking your upfront fee is all that matters, not actually reducing your debt. And one thing they won’t tell you is that paying less than you owe shows up on your credit report as failure to pay back your debt in full, which wreaks havoc on your credit score.

Debt relief in disguise

That financial predators sell themselves as legitimate companies with the ability to help consumers overwhelmed by credit card debt is no secret. The Los Angeles Times reports that investigators for the Government Accountability Office posed as distressed consumers seeking help from debt management companies. Making wild exaggerations of their success rates, some companies promised savings of as much as 50 cents on the dollar.

Debt reduction false promises

After paying big up-front fees to debt management companies, often running to various thousand dollars, many consumers end up deeper in debt than they were before. MSNBC reports on the ordeal of a woman in North Carolina who fell for the pitch from a debt relief company that she would conserve enough with lower interest rates to settle credit cards, a mortgage and a car loan five times faster. After paying $ 499 up front, she was assured that rate of interest savings would make up for the fee within the first 30 days on her way to a total savings of $ 2,500. The Federal Trade Commission sued the firm after they refused to refund the $ 499 fee after failing to deliver on those promises.

A common debt relief ruse

Claiming "government approval is a common angle pursued by debt relief scam artists today. In the same article, the Los Angeles Times reports that statements made by debt management companies to GAO investigators, as well as their ads, show the firms try leading individuals to believe they are administrators of a government program related to the bank bailout. One business that shows up at the top of search engine rankings for debt relief calls itself the Federal Debt Relief Program. One more less-than-honest scheme is the "U.S. National Debt Relief Plan.

Debt relief – do it yourself

There are hundreds of debt reduction and debt relief companies infesting the Internet, but there’s no government-backed credit card debt relief program. Debt relief in these troubled times has become a huge industry co-opted by shysters taking advantage of desperate individuals. Getting on a spending budget that allows you to pay your bills on time and pay down your debt is nevertheless the best route to debt relief. Negotiating better terms or lower payments and refinancing car or home loans are actions you are able to take yourself.

Debt management advice—for free

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

Discover a lot more information on this topic

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com

NFCC

nfcc.org

Ohio speeding tickets could really cost you - no proof necessary

Receiving a speeding ticket is never fun – between fees, fines, and greater insurance costs, you are looking at more than $400. Fighting the ticket is a lot harder in Ohio. The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that “trained” officers can rely on their own visual estimates to hand out legally binding speeding tickets.

Article Source: Ohio speeding tickets could really cost you – no proof neededs

Ohio Speeding ticket and court case

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. Instead, the officer only 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 wish to see as policy, but what the constitution allows for cops to do.

The reality of speeding tickets financially

Most small towns will use speeding tickets for a lot more than just some safety enforcement. Numerous cities will use a lot more than 30 percent of their budget for traffic enforcement. An average speeding ticket within the United States costs somewhere around $150, and increased insurance costs can run up to $300 over three years from just the first infraction. Some states — like Florida — have even passed laws that say cities are not allowed to make any money 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 response to the outcome of the Ohio speeding ticket case

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

BP escrow fund – will it help get payments out a lot more easily?

In a private, closed-door meeting, Obama administration officials and BP executives agreed to the creation of a $20 billion BP escrow fund. The BP escrow fund will be used to pay the damages from the oil spill. It can be used to pay claims of lost income, businesses, and other damages by human victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Some politicians are wondering if this BP escrow fund is really distracting from the real problem.

Article Source: BP Escrow fund – Helpful or hurtful By Personal Money Store

Liability cap not established by the BP escrow

The estimate of damage from the BP oil spill run from $ 1 billion to $ 100 billion. On the Today Show, David Axelrod assured reporters that "this is not a get-out-of-the-situation-free card.” The Obama administration has already said that if the $ 20 billion BP escrow fund is not enough to pay damages, BP can be responsible for more.

Fineburg tapped to administer BP escrow fund

At the moment, Kenneth Fineburg is the "pay czar" for the federal government's TARP bailout. Fineburg has also administered the escrow fund for the September 11, 2001 attacks.

BP escrow fund addresses complaints

BP's claims process has garnered complaints, which increased calls for a BP escrow fund style system. While some residents say they got checks from BP for their damage claims “within days,” others are saying they have yet to see anything. Some oil spill victims have been asked to provide up to 3 years of documentation of their income.

Will distraction ensue from BP escrow fund?

A few politicians are wondering if the BP escrow fund is really a red herring. Last year, BP earned $ 5.6 billion in profits. The BP escrow fund is a bad idea, as outlined by governor of Mississippi Haley Barbour. Her concern is that once BP pays into the escrow fund, it may wash its hands of the oil spill.

Sources:

NowPublic.com

ABC News

AP News

South Carolina House nixes pay day loan bill veto

Last week, Mark Sanford, the governor of South Carolina, exercised his veto power on H.3790, a pay day loan bill that would have made the standard repayment period 120 days rather than the common 14 without increasing the total fees charged by lenders. In addition, an approved H.3790 would have rid South Carolina of both unsecured loans and the post-dated checks used for secured loans. The South Carolina House disagreed with Sanford’s move; they overturned his veto. In doing this, they also went against the governor’s veto of the portions of the bill that affected mortgage industry licensing fees.

Source for this article: South Carolina House overturns veto of payday loans no faxing bill By Personal Money Store

Why Mark Sanford said no to payday loan-crippling H.3790

In a letter to the state House, Governor Mark Sanford writes regarding his veto of the payday loan bill that

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

Allow the people to choose

A payday loans or comparable loans with no credit check – whether they’re unsecured loans or not – are typically more the domain of credit-strapped consumers, instead of state legislators who are paid significantly a lot more, so it follows the general public should be allowed to determine if the loans work for them. If Mark Sanford, a man of privilege, can see that, the legislators should be able to as well. At this moment, South Carolina allows payday loans borrowers up to $550 at a time, and only one loan can be active. Payday loan customer history is maintained in a statewide computer database.

A lot more veto's to be flipped in the Palmetto State

A separate veto override against Sanford points back toward his history of impropriety along the Appalachian Trail, so to speak. The House nixed Gov. Sanford’s veto of a bill that would “allow data to be made public in a state ethics investigation of the governor when it indicates possible cause that a violation may have occurred,” reports S.C. Politics Today. The vote against that veto was a massive 102-2. Sanford has gone on record as saying that he vetoed the bill because he wanted the language of that bill expanded to contain all state lawmakers, not just the governor.

A lot more details on this topic

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

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

Dealer Maintenance vs. Independent Maintenance

When you take your car in for maintenance, choosing where you go is often a difficult question – should you go to the dealer for maintenance, or go to an independent maintenance shop? 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 By Car Deal Expert

When you need to go for dealer maintenance

Authorized mechanics or "official" dealership mechanics are often suggested whenever you buy a new car. Your dealership is the best place to get "free" work like warranty and recall work done. If you’ve encountered a problem that an independent mechanic can't diagnose, the dealership may be helpful. In short, anything that is involved in the price of your automobile should be done at the dealership shop. However, if you’ve car repair concerns that don’t fall under this purview, the dealership may not be your best option.

When independent maintenance shops are a better option

Dealership maintenance, at times, could be very costly. 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. Usually, the work can be much less costly. You can always ask your mechanic to use parts from the original equipment manufacturer if you would like. You are not voiding your warranty if you have an independent shop do work on your car. Just keep records – including receipts – for all work that is done on your automobile.

Vetting your independent maintenance shop

Going with the lowest bidder doesn’t always mean you'll get the best work on your vehicle. The best judge of quality is if your car repair mechanic is ASE certified. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence certifies vehicle mechanics for quality and knowledge.

Financing your home enhancement project

Fox Business reports 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 very important. Here are seven of the financing options.

Source for this article: How to finance your home improvement projects

How to finance home improvement – Seven options

Breaking a larger concept down into smaller parts makes it much less daunting; that is done also with how to finance home improvement. These are seven steps to solving this riddle.

1. Make an effort to use cash

Fox Business reports that historically, about 65 percent of homeowners who invest in home improvement pay cash for the job. There are no interest fees and it is simple. Be careful because paying too much at one time could make it hard to pay other bills. Considering that up to 85 percent of today’s homeowners finance home improvement with cash, even a lot more individuals are budgeting carefully.

2. You can use credit cards

Revolving interest can keep you debt for a while as outlined by a senior researcher at the Center for Responsible Lending, Josh Frank. Even the lowest credit card rates are twice the rate of a standard home loan. It could skyrocket to 30 percent or more if you miss a payment or two. If you really need to use a credit card, do not use the card’s cash today feature, as the rate of interest for cash until payday loan via credit card is much higher than the standard credit card APR.

3. Use personal cash loan

Whether you go to a payday loan lenders or a credit union, unsecured personal loans may be accessible, depending upon your relationship with the institution and your credit score. However, In the case of a payday loan store, having good credit is not required for personal loans. As outlined by Steven Rick of the Credit Union National Association, such personel loans (also known as signature loans) could be either higher or lower in rate than credit cards. It might just pay to shop around.

4. Obtaining home equity loans

Standards for home equity loans have increased with the housing bubble burst. You may get up to 90 percent of your current home's value in a fixed rate 10-15 year loan with an great credit score. Fox business says rates should be slightly higher than a mortgage. Fixed-rate loans make long-term budgeting much easier when you’re trying desperately to choose how to finance home improvement projects. Be wary of variable rate loans, as they will not go lower and will only increase, especially if you’ve difficulty making payments on time.

5. 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, instead of coming to you in a lump sum just like a standard home equity loan. Search for a fixed rate.

6. Get an FHA remodeling loan

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has a small remodeling loan program – 3,854 loans in 2009, as outlined 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. Loans more than $ 7,500 are secured by the home itself.

7. Get contractor financing

Terms will vary wildly here, but if you can 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.

Find a lot more info on this topic

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

Peer to peer lending confounds the SEC

Peer-to-peer lender Prosper has started a debate over the right of the SEC to regulate – or not – their industry. A relatively new business model, P2P lending is a type of lending that cuts banks out. The SEC believes that these businesses should fall under their purview of regulations. However, one of the two largest p2p lenders is fighting that ruling.

Source for this article: Peer to peer lending confounds the SEC

How peer to peer lending works

Peer to peer lending is a business model that is not entirely unheard of. The basic idea is that investors get the option of investing a lot or just a little money directly with the borrower. Borrowers posts their information, including credit score and desired loan amount. Lenders can offer as little as $ 25 to each of these borrowers. Thus far, the two largest U.S. depending p2p lenders are lendingclub.com and prosper.com. According to the two websites, these lenders usually make about eight to twelve percent back on their first investment.

The regulation question for peer to peer lenders

The lending on peer to peer loan websites are at the moment regulated by the SEC. The argument the SEC uses is that these online lenders are investment firms selling bonds – and therefore fall under the purview of the SEC. One lender, Prosper, is arguing that the business is instead a lender that should fall under regulation of a different agency — ideally, the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

The difference between bonds and loans

In order to raise money, numerous corporations will sell bonds. Bonds are promises to pay money back later, as well as getting money now. Bonds are traded, insured, and exchanged on open financial markets. In comparison to other loans, bonds usually have very low interest rates. Loans are a contract for money now that cannot be traded as very easily. Individuals are "sold" loans by banks, while corporations sell banks bonds.

Is suction or gravity better to change your oil?

Changing your oil seems like a relatively basic process, all things considered. After emptying out the oil, replace the filter and then re-fill the oil. It's becoming a lot more popular to change your oil with a suction or siphon method, though. Given the rising popularity, though, is the suction method just as good?

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

The traditional oil change

Emptying the oil out of an engine, until lately, has relied on gravity. There is a drain plug at the bottom of the engine that could be removed. The engine drains oil when the plug is removed. Mechanics will most likely use this method to change oil, depending on where you go. This method is a lot more likely to remove the gunk with your oil pan.

The siphon/suction oil change

Within the SkyMall catalog and in some quick-change lube shops, siphoning oil machines are making an appearance. The dipstick tube is used to suck or siphon all the oil out of the engine with these machines. As long as the oil filter is nevertheless changed every time, these machines supposedly work as well as gravity oil changes. There are some enthusiasts who claim that these siphoning oil changes really get more oil and gunk out of the engine during each change. Important things might get missed with this oil change, though.

Should you use a suction oil change?

In the end, a suctioning oil change will probably work about also as gravity oil changes. You need to always make sure that an oil change includes a filter change. Feel free to ask your quick-lube place or mechanic which method they use. Changing your oil, no matter what method you use, is an important step in keeping your engine in good working order.

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

It isn't unusual for billionaires to give away money. When the billionaires giving money away are Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, it is good, but old, news. But when billionaires Gates and Buffett call out their fellow billionaires to pledge 50 percent of their fortunes to charity, people tend to notice. The billionaire philanthropists announced a campaign Wednesday that is here to persuade America’s billionaires to sign a “Giving Pledge” to donate most of their wealth to the causes of their choice.

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

The pledge for the Gates Buffet charity

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

Some billionaire philanthropists

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

The real billionaire list

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

Will billionaires give money away?

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

Charity goals for Gates and Buffet

The campaign started just over a year ago, when Gates and Buffett — who represent a combined net worth of $ 90 billion, according to Forbes — invited various billionaires to a secret dinner meeting in New York. MSNBC reports the group ended up settling on a goal of 50 percent of net worth. They set up a website, givingpledge.org, to promote the campaign. If the individuals on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans pledged half their net worth to charity, that amount donated would be around $ 600 billion.

Read a lot more on this topic here

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h23rkKsJ_qiBk01fiixWfsYsj_rgD9GCG4700

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65F5CC20100616

Fortune

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

MSNBC

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

Re-refined oil basics

We all know that we are supposed to change the oil in our cars on a regular basis, but other than natural or synthetic, most people don’t typically think much about what oil goes in or comes out. Re-refined oil is engine lubricant that is what it sounds like — used oil that has been re-refined for reuse. Is re-refined oil safe for car?

Resource for this article: The basics of re-refined oil

The exact process of re-refining oil

Oil from petroleum doesn't wear out. Instead, it gets dirty. The additives in the oil wear out. Crude oil and motor oil is re-refined the exact same way. The oil is cleaned, refined and re-blended with additives to create a product that is the exact same and created with crude oil.

Approve the re-manufactured oil first

While re-refined oil can be as clean, safe and effective, you need to take a few extra precautions. Make sure the re-refined oil getting used is American Petroleum Institute approved. Usually API approved oil will be required. API approved oil has also undergone stringent testing requirements that ensure it does what it is supposed to. Whether re-refined or not, you’ll need oil that is API approved. If you use a mechanic, check with them that they are using API approved oil, re-refined or not.

Re-refined oil benefits

Re-refined motor oil has numerous benefits above and beyond lubricating your engine. Used motor oil is really a toxic waste, and is generally disposed of in a variety of not-so-environmentally-friendly ways. Re-refining oil helps to make a closed-loop system, where the nonrenewable resource of oil is consistently re-used. 2.5 quarts of re-refined oil is made with a gallon of used motor oil. The byproducts are usually used to power re-refining plants and create asphalt roof shingles. If all motor oil in the United States was re-refined, there would be enough recycled oil to maintain about 8 million vehicles each single year.

BP oil spill likely to pass the Lakeview Gusher as the worst ever

The Lakeview Gusher, a 1910 disaster, is making headlines now because of the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. The Lakeview Gusher, a California disaster of 100 years ago known now as the worst oil spill in U.S. history, will likely be dethroned by the BP oil spill, which shows no sign of being contained after 50 days. A century hence, the undersea gusher is overwhelming an oil spill cap on the oil spill live feed, which shows thousands of barrels a day still flowing to the sea.

Resource for this article: BP oil spill likely to pass the Lakeview Gusher as the worst ever By Personal Money Store

Lakeview Gusher: epic disaster

The Lakeview Gusher started when an oil well blew out near Maricopa, Calif. in March 1910 The Pasadena Star-News reports the Lakeview Gusher lasted 18 months and spilled 9 million barrels of oil–378 million gallons. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010 may have dumped up to 122 million gallons in 50 days. That figure could be much higher, according to some experts. The Lakeview Gusher blowout flowed at about 48,000 barrels a day. Estimates of the BP oil spill run as high as 72,000 barrels, or 3 million gallons a day.

Rivers and lakes of oil

Despite its spectacular blow-out, the Lakeview Gusher ended up as one of the most successful well ever in California.At the start the gusher spilled 18,000 barrels a day into the ground. Peak flow was estimated at 90,000 barrels a day. A 60-acre lake formed from a river of oil flowing downhill from the well.So much oil was recovered from the lake that William Rintoul in his book, “Drilling Through Time,” said it drove down the price of oil in 1910.

Oil spill live feed: cameras don't lie

The ruptured well's powerful jet of oil, as seen on the oil spill live feed, is overwhelming the oil spill cap, BP's latest effort to control the spill. BP claims the oil spill cap is a step forward in controlling the leak, but MSNBC reports that scientists viewing the oil spill live feed disagree. BP said about 15,000 barrels of oil were contained from the leak on Monday. Ira Leifer, a member of the Flow Rate Technical Group, a national panel of scientists and engineers tasked with determining the spill size, told MSNBC that the well may be gushing as much as 100,000 barrels a day.

BP oil spill underwater plumes

The New York Times reports that scientists have traced deep underwater plumes of oil carrying probably the most grave threat to undersea live ever seen. For two weeks researchers cruised the gulf, tracking one underwater plumes as large as 15 miles wide, 3 miles long and 600 feet thick, the Times said. The plume’s core is 1,100 to 1,300 meters below the surface. A dead zone with no undersea life could possibly be created as bacteria draw all the oxygen from the water as they break down the oil.

A lot more data on this topic

pasadenastarnews.com

msnbc.msn.com

www.nytimes.com

May jobs report fails to meet expectations

The number of accessible jobs rising is something many individuals are hoping for. The May jobs report did not live up to those expectations. It wasn’t awful, but the stock market had pinned their hopes on greater numbers than what came out. There were less than 50,000 jobs in the private sector, and most job growth within the last few months were all as a result of US Census.

Slower growth as outlined by the jobs report

The Department of Labor didn’t disclose doom and gloom entirely in the May jobs report. It does make it clear that the unemployment rate is going to eventually succumb to attrition. According to Forbes, the May jobs report showed a gain of 431,000 total jobs. The bulk of them are temporary. Of those, 411,000 were jobs with the US Census, which means an increase in employment is due in June when Census jobs end.

Private sector slips

The private sector did not fare well. The April jobs report had a gain in private sector employment of 218,000, but May took a turn for the worse and added a scant 41,000 jobs. It's the lowest month given that January for private sector hiring, so it would appear the rebuilding of the workforce is going to be a slow climb. The unemployment rate fell to 9.7 percent from 9.9 percent last month.

Stock market slips

This spring has been a turbulent time for the stock markets. On the heels of the news that job growth had been slower than anticipated, combined with the European debt crisis, the Dow Jones and NASDAQ indexes both slid 1.9 percent, when the S&P 500 fell 2 percent, according to CNN Money. Recovery is apparently taking longer than previously thought.

Additional data at these websites

Forbes

forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/06/04/general-technology-hardware-amp-equipment-us-economy_7661383.html?boxes=Homepagetopnews

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2010/06/04/markets/markets_newyork/

Oil spill live feed – raging gusher overwhelms oil spill cap

The oil spill cap, BP’s latest attempt to gain control of the terrible disaster that has been happening within the Gulf of Mexico for 48 days, is being overwhelmed by the massive gusher of crude at the bottom of the sea. Most of the oil spewing from the leak continues to escape. Yet the crude that the oil spill cap does collect is overwhelming the capacity of the ship storing it on the surface. As the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010 grows larger, it appears to become increasingly harder to contain the oil as it breaks up into hundreds of meandering slicks that wash ashore at times and in places that are extremely hard to predict. By the time relief wells could come close to stopping the leak in August, the spill could total up to 200 million gallons.

Source for this article: Raging gusher overwhelms oil spill cap – Oil spill live feed

True size of lead – oil spill live feed

The BP oil spill live feed (see below) shows a brown cloud that is completely obscuring the oil spill cap as many of the crude gushing from the stricken wellhead continues to escape into the sea. The oil spill cap scenario appears to confirm all of the claims by scientists that BP and government officials have underestimated the quantity of the leak. Reuters reports that U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said at a news conference in Washington that government scientists are working to set up a a lot more solid leak rate. He also explained that BP hoped to bring in 20,000 barrels per day from the well — a comment that indicated government estimates of a flow of 12,000 to 19,000 barrels daily were low. The upper range was put at 25,000. Scientists thought the number could possibly be much higher.

Same day quick payday loans

BP said that the oil spill cap got 11,100 barrels of oil on Sunday. Its goal is to increase the amount collected to 20,000 barrels a day. In the meantime, the high side estimate of the oil spill adds up to about 118 million gallons in the 48 days given that the Deepwater Horizon exploded, sank, killed 11 individuals and launched the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. The Associated Press reports that the oil slick has broken into hundreds of thousands of individual patches stretching from 100 miles east of the Texas-Louisiana border to near the middle of the Florida Panhandle and down to the open sea about 150 miles west of Tampa, Fla.

Oil spill cap isn't doing well with the pressure

The oil spill cap was made with four vents to keep the intense pressure of the gusher from overcoming the device. As outlined by the New York Times, the sheer volume of oil gushing from the out-of-control well forced BP to leave 3 vents open. Besides just one vent closed the oil spill cap was capturing more crude than could actually be processed on a drill ship that was at the surface. The Discoverer Enterprise drill ship can only handle getting 15,000 barrels a day. Shuttle barges carry oil from the ship to storage tanks on shore. Admiral Allen said that BP is actually looking at bringing in larger production vessels that can withstand coming hurricanes. He stressed that the ultimate solution to plugging the well is the drilling of two relief wells, which are scheduled to be completed in August.

Oil spill havoc continues

Due to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010, one-third of the federal waters off the gulf have been closed to any and all fishing, and also the spill is killing and injuring birds and marine animals. Admiral Allen says shoreline cleanup will take many years to complete. It was reported by the Washington Post that floating booms deployed on the water are of limited use in preventing oil from reaching the shore. According to Allen, shoreline cleanup will last for years. To help with the cleanup, BP has spent a lot more than $1 billion. The company said that one more $48.1 million was spent on about 18,000 claims from fishermen, companies and others harmed by the spill and is working through 17,000 a lot more claims.

Additional information at these websites

Reuters
reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65634V20100607
Yahoo via Associated Press
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_gulf_oil_spill
Yahoo via New York Times
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_gulf_oil_spill

Mother Teresa discussion centers around New York City’s Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the centers of life in New York City. By neglecting to participate in a celebration of Mother Teresa's birthday, the owners of the Empire State Building have raised the ire of the New York City Council and Catholics. In a debate that pits private property rights against the city council, the New York City Mother Teresa debate is becoming heated on both sides.

Source for this article: NYC Empire State Building in Mother Teresa debate By Personal Money Store

Request to honor Mother Teresa's birthday rejected by the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building lights itself in a wide variety of colors to celebrate anything from St. Patrick’s Day to young author's week to a new Mariah Carey album. The Empire State Building owners refused a request to light the building in blue and white to honor Mother Teresa's 100th birthday. This refusal came with no remark as to why the request was refused.

The New York City Council gets involved

The Catholic League appealed its case to the NYC Council after their request to the Empire State Building was refused. The New York City Council will consider a solution on Wednesday that was written to force the building to display blue and white on that day. The Catholic League has also began an online petition, organized marches, and gone to the media.

The position of the Empire State Building

Despite the fact that it is a landmark, the Empire State Building is privately owned. The Empire State Building Company L.L.C. is responsible for the building, the operation, and also the management of the building. On the application for becoming a "lighting partner" – having the Empire State Building lit up for a specific reason – an entity has to agree to the following statement:

“Due to the high volume of applications, the Empire State Building Company is under no obligation to provide specific feedback to any individual or organization regarding the status, merit, and/or denial of its application.”

The Empire State Building, on average, receives one to 3 requests per day to light the building for a special event. When considering the legal framework in New York City, it is unclear if the city Council can really "force" the building to do anything.

Separating church and state?

Questions about the separation of church and state are being raised by the move of the NYC Council. The organization guiding the request is a religious organization – the Catholic League. The Empire State Building Company is a private entity that is afforded the freedom to decide who it works with. The NYC Council is a government entity, though. Questions of separation between church and state may be raised if the City Council tries to force the Empire State Building to participate within the observance of a religious group.

What do you think about this query?

Jane Lynch marries Dr. Laura Embry

The relationship between Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch was made legal in a small Massachusetts ceremony over Memorial Day. Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch have not publicly announced their marriage yet, though they are engaged given that November. Though the marriage is very large news, the story most people are most interested in is what is going to happen on the newest season of "Glee.”

Resource for this article: Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch tie the knot in Massachusetts

Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch

In November, Jane Lynch and Dr. Laura Embry made headlines when they got engaged. Jane Lynch is a comedienne and actress who used to be in "Second City" and is now a star of "Glee.” Dr. Laura Embry, who works as a psychologist, is known to most individuals because of her public custody battle with her ex. The small Massachusetts ceremony did not require a low rate personal loans, as the couple is very successful.

The ceremony that married Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch

The small, private wedding between Dr. Laura Embry and Jane Lynch was held at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland, Mass. A friend of the couple officiated the 20-minute ceremony where they exchanged vows. Both Jane Lynch and Dr. Laura Embry wore cream and black for the event. The small dinner reception was prepared by the chef at the Blue Heron – including salad, appetizer, dinner, and dessert.

Jane Lynch to see changes in 'Glee'

Her marriage to longterm girlfriend Dr. Laura Embry is not the only large change coming for Jane Lynch. On "Glee", where Jane Lynch plays Sue Sylvester, changes are certain to be seen in Season 2. During "Glee" season two, a conservative Christian character is going to be introduced to the group. In announcing these changes, the producers of "Glee" said that they had "taken some quite hard shots" at the right wing during season one, and they want to balance that out. It will certainly be interesting to see how the "Glee" group reacts to this large change.

Security concerns prompt Google to ban Windows OS

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 response to security problems with Windows operating systems, as well as a lead-up to Google's Chrome OS. Google employees will no longer be allowed to use Windows, but they will nevertheless be offered an option of operating systems.

Source for this article: Google bans Windows over security concerns

Google dumps Windows officially

The official policy of Google on Windows has been, until now, a lot more flexible. Google employees were offered the option of Windows, Linux or Mac operating systems. To use Windows, though, Google employees now must get approval from the CIO. The Google Chrome OS, still in unofficial testing, is being offered as an choice to Windows. The hacking of Google’s China channels created an urgency for this move.

Google cites Windows security concerns

About 80 percent of the computers in use today use the Windows operating system — anything from offices to credit counseling offices. The fact that Windows is so popular makes it a very popular target for viruses, worms, and a lot more. This security hole has led to Google disallowing the system – it's simply too easy to hack. Those that develop Google programs – the dedicated developers that design the products – work on a cloud computing system rather than hardware-based system.

Is the Google Windows fight a marketing ploy?

Some say the Google Windows move is about publicity, not security. For the last year or two, Google has been creating Chrome OS – a Windows competitor. Chrome OS can be depending on 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. Some may think an open-source programmed operating system may be less secure, but that has not proven true. Google offices won't be using Windows anymore, but this is not just because Google is developing a competitor.

Top 10 offbeat automotive tips part 2

If you are looking for more of the top 10 offbeat automotive tips, you are within the right place. This will continue the top 10; if you missed the first five automotive tips, you can check them out at CarDealExpert.com. In no time, you’ll be able to use these off-the-beaten-path remedies to get the most out of your vehicle.

Article Source: Know clean with the top 10 offbeat automotive tips (Pt. 2) By Car Deal Expert

More of the top 10 offbeat automotive tips

6. Don't get a rusted undercarriage

Don’t allow the underside of your car suffer from the constant exposure to road grime and salt; that’s a basic top 10 offbeat automotive tip. Put a lawn sprinkler underneath it at full blast. For one of the most part, it will drip dry, in contrast to the kind of water exposure a car takes on during a flood.

7. Lacquer when all of the chips are down

Similar to the way nail polish protects fingernails from breakage and wear, it can also protect the body of your car from rust if the paint chips. All you have to do is clean the area where the paint has chipped and apply clear nail polish to protect against rust.

8. Light up the bumper stickers

Don't really burn them off. Use lighter fluid and a razor blade to remove bumper stickers and their rubber-based adhesives Soak and scrape gently. Wise Geek says that a solvent like lighter fluid breaks down the bonds in an adhesive, turning it into a loose solution that’s much easier to separate. Also, lighter fluid tend to be cheaper than the industrial-strength solvent your dealer recommends.

9. Clean fogged windows like school

Use a blackboard eraser to wipe away condensation on the inside. It’s cheap and it does the job. After all the auto loans bad credit to purchase the car, who wants to spend additional to keep it clean.

10. Rough up your old wipers

Ford Truck Enthusiasts say to rub your old wipers down with sandpaper if you can't afford new ones now. Their life can be temporarily extended as this will harden the rubber.

Do you’ve more offbeat automotive tips?

Car Deal Expert would love to hear about them. We would love to see what your comment is about, no matter what it involves.

Citations

The Fun Place
Wise Geek
Ford Truck Enthusiasts