The Business and Investment Guide Blog

Some interesting facts on national health care insurance issues

2011-10-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

I just got back to NC from South Carolina and I am ready to get blogging yet again. Too bad GOP forerunner for the presidency, Mitt Romney, is forced by the far right to run from the health care insurance legislation he implemented in Massachusetts. Rick Perry, once the darling of the far right, falsely charged during the recent GOP debate that health care has risen 14% in Massachusetts since Romney’s plan was signed into law. I know that the NC health insurance and also the SC life and health insuranse markets have been effected,
over in Charlotte and Raleigh, NC as an example of this.
Flat-out wrong: Massachusetts has long been known for so-called Cadillac health plans, and at the time Romney’s plan was signed into law, health insurance premiums were substantially higher than the national average in Massachusetts. Since Romney signed the law, health care insurance has dropped from being 16% higher than the national average in Massachusetts, to 14%.
So, instead of forcing health insurance 14% higher in Massachusetts, Romney’s plan reduced it by 2%. Mr. Perry, that is quite a difference.
You would think someone running for the nation’s highest office, someone talking about one of the most important national issues, would take a little more trouble to get his facts straight. If for example someone gets atorn rotator cuff and needs PRP here in NC or over in SC then their health insurance may not cover it. By the way, PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy and both prolotherapy injections and PRP treatments are gaining in popularity.
Perry cited Romney’s chief economic adviser, Glenn Hubbard, as saying that Romneycare was Obamacare, and Romneycare has driven the cost of small-business insurance premiums up by 14 percent over the national average in Massachusetts.
However, Holly Ramer posted, “FACT CHECK: Perry miscasts Romney health,” published October 13, 2011, on the Huffington Post,

Upstate NY Real Estate Offers a Refreshing Change and a Touch of Nostalgic Charm

2011-07-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

Those looking for a charming, nostalgic area that offers plenty of privacy and
spacious tracts of land should consider Upstate NY real estate. When you're tired
of neighbors that are too close, constant noise and traffic, this is an area that
offers beautiful, natural surroundings and homes that are a bit on the
old-fashioned, rustic side although most are newer.

Upstate NY real estate also boasts the world-renowned Catskill Mountains, along with
so many lakes it's impossible to count. Gently sloped hills offering plenty of
shade make the perfect building spot if you're considering a primary or vacation
home. Charming cottages, rustic cabins and spacious farm houses scatter across the
landscape, each with it's own particular brand of character. If you love a
nostalgic, peaceful atmosphere, you will love it here.

Whether you decide to build a home among the hills, on one of the many lakes or up
in the mountains, you will find the peace and tranquility amazing. Upstate NY real
estate is where you will find that you can actually hear yourself think; the quiet
surroundings and awe-inspiring landscapes are unparalleled anywhere else in the
world. Perfect for those looking for a little 2 acre spot for a cozy cabin, or a 6
acre plot big enough for a rambling farm house and the whole family.

If you love to fish, enjoy skiing or just like to hike or ride a bike when the
notion hits, Upstate NY Real Estate is the perfect destination. Outdoor activities
are at their prime here, where kayaking, canoeing and mountain climbing are enjoyed
by outdoor enthusiasts. Even if rigorous activities aren't your thing, you will
enjoy the hamlets and villages that offer culture, art, fine dining and the ultimate
shopping experience.

What you may find with Upstate NY real estate is that you really don't care what
activities are going on. It's a nice feeling to just sit back on the wrap-around
porch in a comfortable rocker and enjoy the breath taking views. If a relaxing,
comfortable cottage complete with a big kitchen, lots of salvaged wood and wide
plank floors sounds like your kind of home, you will love this location. The homes
here are the perfect combination of old and new. Newly built with modern electrical
and plumbing, you'll have the best of both worlds - a home that doesn't require
repairs but that reminds you of those a century ago.

Are you ready for a refreshing change from life as you know it today? Consider
Upstate NY real estate.

Upstate New York Real Estate - Where Peace and Charm Abound

2011-07-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

Upstate New York real estate offers beautiful, spacious tracts of land that allow
you to really enjoy life and what nature has to offer. If you are looking for that
perfect spot to build a home or vacation get-away, you will find Upstate New York
real estate is not only gorgeous, but peaceful and charming as well. The Catskill
Mountains, numerous lakes and beautiful landscapes combine to create surroundings
that are simply breathtaking.

City life is great, but every now and then it's good to get away where you can be
alone with your thoughts and de-stress. Those looking for surroundings that offer
quiet and solitude with a touch of intimacy will appreciate what Upstate New York
real estate has to offer. You and your family can enjoy peace and quiet without
nearby neighbors, traffic, noise and the other aspects of city living.

The geographical aspects of Upstate New York real estate make it the perfect
destination for those who really appreciate the outdoors. Fishing, water or snow
skiing, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and mountain climbing are just a sampling
of the activities you will find here. Even if you're not much on the outdoors, you
will enjoy the view from a wrap-around porch which is common with the cabins,
cottages and traditional farm houses in the area.

Can you imagine your own rustic cabin sitting amongst a grove of trees, the land
gently sloping and nothing but nature for as far as you can see? Not only is it
beautiful, but soothing to the nerves. When all you have to listen to are the
sounds of nature, you truly appreciate how wonderful it is to be away from the
sounds of city life. Upstate NY Real Estate, while not too far away from the
city, offers an old-fashioned, nostalgic atmosphere that calms your spirit and
rejuvenates the soul.

You may be looking to build your own vacation home, or buy one that is already built
so that you can move in right away. The homes you find in the area are new, but
designed to echo those of a century ago. Wide plank wood floors, stone fireplaces,
claw-foot tubs, walk-out basements and whole-house audio are just a few of the
features that make these homes so unique, the perfect combination of old and new.

When you are ready to experience total relaxation and yearn for a bit of the old
days, consider Upstate New York real estate.

Why you need an Attorney for this type of Insurance Claim

2011-07-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

When filing for an insurance claim, it would be an excellent idea to work with a good attorney, whether you are in Los Angeles, Dallas or wherever. All in all, there are a number of kinds of personal injury attorneys these days. However, not all of them will be able to do the job. If in LA I can suggest this great Los Angeles Injury attorney firm who has alot of experience in personal injury overall For their part, they have taken time to research and update themselves on the evolving standards and principles that are related to insurance claims and aviation accidents.

Another reason why you have to look for a lawyer is because the entire process is not only time-consuming but very draining. Insurance companies very well know that if they lose the case, they are going to lose a lot. Thus, they are going to do the best they could to give you a small percentage of the insurance policy, perhaps 10 percent instead of 80 percent. Worse, they would discredit your claim, denying your application. If you are in Dallas then this Dallas personal injury attorney may be able to help you. They also cover the nearby areas around Dallas

With a lawyer around, you will have your own representation. That would somehow make the insurance company feel intimidated and treat you like a professional more. You can also free yourself from all the hassle of attending settlement hearings and even of appearing in courts. You can focus all your energy in making yourself well or keeping the rest of your family strong and healing.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Aviation cases are usually huge, and they may be too much for you to bear. Get a lawyer instead.

Misleading Real Estate Loan Tactics

2011-03-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

I am glad I am back over here in lovely Big Bear, California after my little Scottsdale jaunt ( I really like the luxury golf courses there and in Phoenix but especially over in Scottsdale, Arizona you know)...You know, it is an unfortunate fact of life that certain unethical people and organizations have a tendencey to use misleading sales tactics to make prospective clients sign either downright fraudulent, or at least misleading loans. Generally speaking, these said lenders basically cover up very heavy loan fees of five percent (or even more actually in some cases) when a regular loan is supposed to have fees at less than 1% of the total loan amount. Lenders often make borrowers buy unnecessary insurance, add the coast into a total loan amount and receive yearly commissions on the premiums. I should note that up here in Big Bear, this does not seem to be a huge isse compared to other regions of the nation but I suppose the overall Big Bear real estate market is kind of a little bit unique in some ways.
Often there are abusive prepayment penalties attached to the loan. About 80% of subprime mortgages have an abnormal prepayment penalty compared with 2% of normal conventional mortgages. This is one more way the lenders can rip off a homeowner. When borrowers decide to sell or refinance their homes they often discover that they have to pay a large penalty. Just as a side note, if you are in Utah I would advise you to not only be very careful about your real estate loan, whether business or private, but also with your Scottsdale home insurance as well as homeowners insurance. This is very important whether you are dealing with Big Bear or scottsdale real estate and luxury homes homes for sale in scottsdale there on the whole. I mean, some folks spend more time researching their car or auto insurance than their home insurance but this is a mistake, especially over in utah state I am told so be cautious please Some homeowners are unable to pay off their loan early because of 5% fee hidden in the fine print. That's how the homeowners end up trapped by abusive lending and unable to sell or refinance their house. When borrowers pay the prepayment penalties, the mortgage brokers pocket more money.

Upstate New York Real Estate Offers Everything You Don't Find in The City

2011-03-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

Upstate New York real estate is where you will find gorgeous, spacious surroundings
and a peaceful quiet you just can't find in the city. The Catskill Mountains
dominate the scenery, while rolling hills, lush forests and numerous lakes abound.
Imagine your own cottage or cabin setting on a spacious tract of land, no near-by
neighbors and magnificent views for as far as you can see. This is exactly what you
will find with Upstate New York real estate.

It's really hard to imagine that within about 90 miles from NY City you can
find such beauty that remains mostly untouched by modern civilization. Imagine
sitting on a big old wrap-around porch, and enjoying a picturesque landscape that
offers what nature intended. No noise, just the sounds of nature. Upstate NY
real estate is what outdoor life is all about; hike the mountains, ski, fish, ride
horses, or just relax in a hammock in the front yard and enjoy the solitude.

When you've been conditioned to constant noise, pollution, tall buildings in every
direction and crowds of people, it's hard to imagine a place where you can really
experience peace and quiet. Upstate New York real estate is where you will find
character-filled cottages, cabins and old-style farm houses that remind you of those
you would expect to have seen in the early 1900s, when life moved at a slower pace.
While these homes are newer, most are designed using early American architecture for
that old-fashioned character and charm you just don't find in most modern homes
today. Upstate NY Real Estate is where you can buy or build one of these charming
"old" new homes on one of the many lakes, or nestled among the trees at the foot of
a mountain. We've all seen those movies where a lonely old house sits atop a hill;
that is a scenario you will find is true to life in this area of the world.

Today, most people's lives are filled to the brim with work, errands, activities for
the kids; there is little time to really sit back and enjoy life, take a breather
from the hectic pace. Whether you are looking for a weekend get-away or a "home
away from home" where you can escape for vacations or any time you like, Upstate New
York real estate offers a respite from an unrelenting daily grind. Discover your
own little piece of Heaven and find out what true enjoyment of life really is.

Upstate NY Real Estate Offers Respite From a Stressful, Busy World

2011-03-09T12:26:00.000-08:00

It's a real shame that life is often so busy today that we don't have time to slow
down, relax and enjoy family. Upstate NY real estate is where you actually can
enjoy life for a while; no hurried pace, no noise, no crowds. Just lay back and
enjoy your surroundings, with nary a neighbor in sight.

When you live in a bustling city, all too often there isn't a quiet moment in the
day. Rush, rush, rush - work, constant activities, it often seems that you can
barely slow down long enough to catch a few winks of sleep at night. Upstate NY
real estate is where you really can slow down and enjoy what nature has to offer.
Picturesque landscapes, the Catskill Mountains looming in the distance, countless
lakes and lush forests surround you. The peace, quiet and beauty is simply
unimaginable until you see it for yourself.

Another aspect of Upstate NY real estate that you're sure to love is the
old-fashioned homes. Every one is filled with character and rural charm you simply
do not find in most modern homes today. While these homes are newer, most are built
using early American architecture that gives them nostalgic appeal. If you can
imagine what the old homesteads would have looked like a century ago, this is what
you will find in the area.

Upstate NY real estate is also the perfect destination for those who love the
outdoors. Fish, sail, water ski, ride horses, hike the mountains - the options are
endless. When you don't really want to do anything, just sit back in a rocking
chair on the wrap around porch and enjoy the view. On spacious tracts of land that
average about 3 to 5 or 6 acres, there is plenty of room for the kids to roam and
have a good time.

Can you imagine your own "old" new home nestled among the trees, breath-taking views
in any direction you look? Upstate NY real estate is truly indescribable, and
offers the beauty and solitude you will never find in a bustling city. Only about
90 miles away, you will love to know that there is an escape from modern life that
is within quick reach.

Whether you are looking to buy or build a charming old-fashioned home of your own to
escape to for long weekends, summer vacations or just any time the mood hits,
Upstate NY real estate is the perfect destination when you want to enjoy nature the
way it was intended.

Estate Planning: The Basics

2010-11-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

Here is a little bit about estate planning as i return from Chicago to see my attorney. All in all, You may decide who your beneficiaries are going to be, from making certain that your beloved sister gets the heirloom dishes or perhaps deciding who will get that land in the outskirts of Chicago, for example.
In addition to all of that, it is also an opportunity to give something back to the community at large, should you choose to. For instance, when Bob Hope died a number of years ago he specified that a big piece of his land in California become a public park. If you need some help in the Chicago estate planning arean then I can suggest this lawyer if you happen to be in or near Chicago.

And Let’s not forget it’s a way to minimize the bite taxes will take.
States have set rules as to how your estate will be distributed if you die intestate. Certain assets pass directly to heirs, such as life insurance and IRAs. Your financial firm will obtains those designations when you invest.
Without a will, your assets pass to your closest blood relatives under your state’s predetermined rules. This may not work out the way you would prefer.
Probate will occur whether or not you have a will. It is a process through which the validity of your will is determined and is a state’s method for overseeing its distribution.
As you can see, estate planning is not so mysterious, and it is not only for wealthy people. Estate planning is for anyone.

How Settlement Loans Give You Finanial Relief

2010-10-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

Have you been injured, and now you're having trouble making ends meet? This often
happens to those involved in a personal injury lawsuit. Settlement loans may be one
option you want to consider; litigation funding companies offer a cash advance
against what you expect to receive in your settlement. This way, you can catch up
on those bills that are piling up. Since you are unable to work because of your
injuries, the money in your household just won't stretch far enough. Now, you can
relax and focus on getting justice from those who have caused your injuries.

How do settlement loans work? It's easy. You simply submit an application with the
details of your lawsuit. Litigation funding companies base their decision on
whether you qualify on the facts of your lawsuit, and nothing else. There are no
credit checks or previous employment checks to worry about. The great thing about
this is that you can get the money you need immediately - by the very next day if
you qualify! This means that you can pay those bills that continue to pile up,
medical costs, attorney fees and other obligations.

Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may be only temporarily unable to
work, or you may be out of commission for a long time. Those who caused your
injuries should pay in full for their carelessness, and you should not be forced to
settle for less than you are truly entitled to from insurance companies. Settlement
loans offer you the funds you need now, so that you can live comfortably while
pursuing justice. You may even be on the verge of bankruptcy, which makes it
extremely difficult to concentrate on your lawsuit. Litigation funding companies
are in business for one reason - to help those in your situation keep up financially
so that you can continue to fight to a successful verdict.

How much money can you get? settlement loans are given on the basis of how much you
expect to win in your settlement. Whether you need $1,000 or $100,000, in only 24
hours you can have your money in hand so that you can get the wolves off of your
door. When do you re-pay the cash advance? Only when you have your money in hand -
if you do not win, you owe absolutely nothing to the litigation funding company.

You were rolling along just fine, then the unexpected happened - you were injured
due to someone else's negligence. Now, you're facing medical bills and the income
coming in to your home is less. How can you go on? Discuss the possibility of
settlement loans with your lawyer today.

Upstate NY Real Estate - This is Not Your Average Sleepy Little Town!

2010-10-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

You've no doubt heard of those small towns where everyone minds their own business,
and you're left to yourself to enjoy life. Upstate NY real estate offers that and
more - MUCH more. Not only will you have plenty of room to enjoy your privacy, the
beauty of the area will astound you. Gently rolling hills, plenty of trees and
gorgeous mountains offer some of the most beautiful landscapes you will ever
witness. Upstate NY real estate is where you want to head when your nerves are
shot, you're tired of congestion and noise, or you just want to get away from it
all.

Other than the most beautiful rugged landscape you have ever seen, the biggest
attraction of Upstate NY real estate is the charming, old-fashioned homes you will
find. While they are newer, most are built to bring those older homes of the early
1900's to mind. Cedar shake, spacious wrap-around porches, and walk-out basements
can be found on many of these cabins, cottages and farmhouses. Remember the
old-school radiators found in older homes? Those are common in these beautiful
homes, as are wood burning stoves, claw-foot tubs and wide-plank floors. Love those
huge country kitchens? You'll fall in love with these homes.Upstate NY Real Estate is where many people have "second" homes - get away for the
weekend, spend your vacations here, or live here permanently if you'd rather! Early
American architecture makes these the most comfortable, welcoming homes you have
ever laid eyes on.

Other aspects of Upstate NY real estate you're sure to love are all of the outdoor
activities. Lots of lakes offer plenty of skiing, fishing and swimming. Rather go
horseback riding or hiking? The rugged mountains beckon you to come and explore, or
just sit on your wrap around porch and enjoy them from a distance. Upstate NY real
estate is the perfect blend of modern and old-time charm; your family will enjoy all
of the acreage, where you can actually go outside and not be greeted by a neighbor.

Are you ready to experience a place that will make you feel as though you have gone
back in time a bit? Upstate NY real estate offers privacy, peace, quiet, the beauty
of nature and the most charming old-fashioned homes you will ever see, bar none.

Stimulus Funds for Maui and Hawaii Electric Companies

2010-10-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

According to the a story by the Associated Press, October 20, 2010, under the headline; “Stimulus funds supporting Hawaii energy storage,” $1.2 million will be awarded to Maui Electric Co. and $900,000 to Hawaii Electric Light Co.
The article quotes Steve Lindenberg, U.S. Department of Energy renewable energy senior adviser, as saying the funds are intended to expand renewable energy use in Hawaii.
Obviously, one of the concerns with solar and wind power—two sources Hawaii is betting on—is that it is intermittent. Storing that energy will be critical to being able to rely upon them as a viable alternative to imported petroleum.
Where I live we largely depend on michigan gas utilty companies for heating and the like but I think that they are likewise starting to move away from things like natural gas and into more sustaniable energy sources overall, which is definately great. However I do not think Michigan is at the top of the heap in that regard just yet but I am optimistic that this day will eventually come, hopefully sooner rather than later. Anyways back to the main story: the total grid-connected photovoltaic capacity installed in the sunny state of Hawaii increased by almost fifty percent from 8.6 megawatts in 2008 to 12.7 megawatts in 2009. All in all the source of this data is the 2009 U.S. Solar Market Trends, Interstate Renewable Energy Council report that had Hawaii ranked number two in the whole United States of America last year for installed solar power per person. I wonder where it will be next year. Of course Hawaii has an advantage for solar power that michhigan does not have, they are closer to the equater, which is whay michigan uses so much natural gas for heating and the like.

How Upstate NY Real Estate Differs from the Big City

2010-09-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

If you've ever been to New York City or even live there currently, you know that
most of what you find is crowds, congestion, noise and tall crowded buildings. When
you go just a short 90 miles away, you will find that Upstate NY real estate is the
exact opposite. Wide open spaces, lots of trees, the most beautiful mountains you
have ever laid eyes on and quaint, old-fashioned homes are what you will find, as
shocking as it may sound.

Can you imagine your own farmhouse with a big country kitchen, old-school radiator
and wrap around porch? Even though this sounds like a home built a century ago,
Upstate NY Real Estate
offers homes that are brand new but built in early American
style. While you will find the old-fashioned touches charming, you won't find the
problems that often come with an older home. Imagine a cozy cabin that looks as
though it has been sitting on a private piece of land nestled among rolling hills
for years, only it offers a really cool kitchen and whole house audio!

Upstate NY real estate offers the authentic beauty only nature has to offer. On
tracts of land around 5 or so acres, your family will enjoy privacy, natural views
and a peacefulness that you just don't find elsewhere. If you are used to hearing
the constant sounds of chatter, car horns and the general noise pollution you
experience in the city, can you imagine how it will feel when all you hear are the
birds chirping and other sounds of nature? Pure Heaven.

Many people who live in the city long for an area with a hint of romance and
nostalgia that comes to mind when you think of life in the early 1900s. This is
exactly what you will find with Upstate NY real estate; calm, quiet surroundings,
farmhouses, cottages and cabins nestled in the trees atop the rolling hills, and the
most beautiful lake waters you have ever seen.

Imagine waking in the mornings, going downstairs to your big country kitchen to
enjoy a cup of coffee, then retreating to the bath to enjoy a soak in the claw foot
tub - all while never hearing a car horn or any other nerve-grinding sound! When
you are looking for solitude, peace of mind and the most exquisite surroundings you
have ever laid eyes on, come experience Upstate NY real estate - it's a definite
change from what you're used to!

Some of the Best Used Cars around

2010-08-03T11:41:00.001-07:00

In this economy, you should definately choose your used cars wisely. This is especially true here on oahu, with high gas prices and roads that often degrade cars faster then normal. That is why I recommend an informative story recently penned by superb author Sam Foley under their Vehicle category entitles; The 10 Best Used Cars to Own.Just google it and it will pop up for you. All in all, this said story has some fascinating and even shocking data to know when your are thinking about which used cars make the most common sense. As an example, Honda's Accord scores relatively high on the J.D. Power and Associates long-term-dependability research. These particular used cars are very popular here on Oahu I have noticed. The author notes that this year it was beaten by both the Buick LaCrosse and the Mercury Milan! Now that is a real shocker to me and indicates that American used cars may be making a comeback. I do not see this trend reflected in Oahu used cars as of yet however.
The venerable Accord maintains a high resale value year after year. Plus, Foley reports, “A 2007 Accord's cost-of-ownership estimate comes in about $100 less than that of a Corolla, despite the sticker price being over $1,000 more.”
I’ve never cared for large vehicles of any sort unless I’m flying, so I really know nothing about any of them. Apparently the Mercury Montego takes the honors for the large car category.
J.D. Power's long-term-dependability study for 2010 places the crown on the hood of the Mercury Montego! This, Foley says, was the Ford sub-brand's version of the Five Hundred, which was Ford's temporary replacement for the Taurus. A fully loaded 2006 AWD Premier with continuously variable transmission, for example, can be had for less than $13,000, says the writer.
For the smaller SUV category, the pick is the Honda CR-V. Again, no shocker there. It’s the topper apparently in J.D. Power's 3-year dependability ratings and its resale ratings. Foley describes it as affordable yet spacious for a small SUV, with a gleaming reputation for quality. This one is $21,545 new but can be had for between $11,200 and $16,100, says Foley.
Check out the article for more detail and the rest of the list—it’s worth your time.

Settlement Loans Help You Pay the Bills While Waiting on Your Settlement

2010-06-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

Settlement loans are a good option for many people who find themselves having a
tough time paying the bills while waiting for their lawsuit settlement. If you have
been injured, you are most likely unable to work. Litigation funding companies help
by providing personal injury plaintiffs with the money they need to live normally
while waiting for their lawsuit to settle, which often takes months or even longer.

Add mounting medical bills to your normal household expenses, and you may find that
you are facing bankruptcy. At the very least, the money you do have is stretched to
the limit! settlement loans are a way for you to get the money you desperately need
right now, with no out-of-pocket expenses to you. Litigation funding companies
determine whether you qualify based on the merits of your lawsuit, and you don't
have to wait for weeks to find out if you are eligible.

Settlement loans allow you to pay regular monthly expenses, medical bills, attorney
fees and other costs, so that you can concentrate on winning your lawsuit. It's
easy to decide to settle with insurance companies when you're desperate for money,
which is a huge mistake. Insurance companies are in the business of making money,
and will do their best to get you to settle for much less than you are entitled to.
Litigation funding companies help those just like you live comfortably, so that you
can fully pursue your lawsuit in order to get every dime you deserve.

The process is extremely simple, and takes only 24 hours or less. Your attorney
will submit the application to the litigation funding company, who will then review
it to determine if you qualify. If you do, you will have the money you need
available to you the same day, whether you need $500 or $70,000! You don't have to
worry about paying the money back in monthly installments, as settlement loans are
only paid back when you actually win your lawsuit and have the money in hand. If
you do not win, you have nothing whatsoever to repay - this solution is
non-recourse.

If you are struggling to make ends meet while pursuing justice, talk to your lawyer
today. Settlement loans have allowed thousands of people to live a normal life
while waiting on their lawsuit to settle. Don't settle for less than you deserve;
make those responsible for your injuries pay in full!

Non-Profits Surviving the Drought through Savvy Fundraising

2010-04-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

The economy is showing signs of life, after a near-fatal meltdown. But money is still tight, and most nonprofits are parched after a long drought, whether it be a church fundraiser or whatever..
Joanne Fritz, has a great article in About.com called, Nonprofit Hard Times Survival Guide; Nonprofits Need to Ride Out Economic Storms.
Fritz poses the question: How do you keep your nonprofit financially stable when the economy has the jitters and donors have cold feet? Weathering a bad economy, she says, should not send your nonprofit skittering to the bunkers, but it should sharpen your focus and improve your efficiencies. Fritz goes on to provide several suggestions to think about. And do not forget about the old Church Fundraiser which is tried, tested and true,
Rule #1 is do not scale back on fundraising. Fritz writes that just as companies need to keep advertising during hard times to keep their names in play before the public, nonprofits will achieve nothing by retreating.
“Not only should you not retreat, you should become even more focused in your efforts. Look at your lists again, sharpen your case, get more personal, and cultivate your donors within an inch of your life,” she says.
Let contributors know that those you help are in more need than ever. No matter how much a donor may be hurting by an economic downturn, the disadvantaged are far worse off and have a far tougher time recovering.
So, suggests Fritz, find the stories that will touch the hearts of your donors. It should be easier than ever to obtain personal testimonies of your clients. Allow them to tell their story in their own words. Never resort to begging, but make a connection between the shared humanity between donors and those served.
Work to Keep in touch with people who have stopped giving. According to Fritz, it’s much better to keep in touch with lapsed donors. Keeping in touch will help those donors to return to giving when they can, again, afford it. She says they will feel close to those nonprofits with which they have an unbroken relationship.
I think one really great suggestion Fritz gives is to find new donors in industries that are still prosperous.. Some businesses weather recessions better than others. Look where other organizations are not. Fritz suggests keeping up with the business press in order to spot those companies that are still doing well.

Hawaii trying hard to raise new revenues.

2010-03-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

In Hawaii real estate and economic news, Representative Ward (R-Kalama Valley-Hawaii Kai)of the Big Island was quoted as saying, "When you pull money out of the economy, you weaken the pipeline, cash-flow and basic mechanisms that keep the economy strong. We want to keep our people employed, we want to keep our kids in school and we don't want these job-killing bills."
The $20 business tax measure would affect companies when they apply for permits, file documents or pay fees. That money would create $5 million to fund the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The oil tax would cost consumers a few pennies per gallon, would gather a total of $30 million-- $10 million of that will help meet the state budget requisites, and the remainder would fund renewable energy programs. Car rental fees will increase from $1 to $4.50 per day. As ana side if you look for Big Island Real Estate then Sotheby's may be the way to go for you. All in all they specialize in high quality real estate transactions over on the Big Island.
Rep. Karl Rhoads, D-Kakaako-Downtown was quoted as saying, "This is a time when demand for services goes up, and we need the money."
Eliminating exemptions affecting nonprofits, airlines, hotel operators and labor groups will result in one of the largest revenue streams, and would bring in $100 million. Those exemptions would be replaced with a 1 percent tax.

Talking to Your Family about Money

2010-02-25T16:33:00.000-08:00

Previous generations had a strange taboo about discussing money, especially with children. Even now, most kids leaving home have only the slightest financial education, often not knowing how to properly balance a checkbook. Is it any wonder there is so much family strife caused by money?
You must first have a financial plan. When the paycheck comes in, pay yourself first by setting aside at least 10% for savings and investments. Explain to your kids that saving for the family’s future and paying the bills comes first. Sit down and explain the realities of your financial situation. If the kids are lobbying to take a trip to Disney World, for example, then work up a plan to save the money to go.
Get the kids involved by exploring the costs of the proposed trip with them. These hard realities may be a bit shocking to them to learn. How can they know how difficult it is to pay a mortgage, homeowner’s insurance, utilities, health insurance, buy food, clothing—all the responsibilities that you have, unless you tell them? You may be surprised at the maturity that they will show when they understand the reality. Speaking of kids, if you are looking for some leather or messenger diaper bags
then I do suggest this particular firm. They also specialize in pink and tote diaper bags as well as the messenger varieties.
When they want to go to the movies, or shop for those fancy athletic shoes, let them know how much longer that will delay the trip. Take the emotion out of the equation and discuss money in a matter-of-fact way that clears up the murkiness and mystery.
One of the first rules of good communication is listening. Hear everyone out patiently. Resist the temptation to jump in until they have had their full say. Above all, never belittle anyone’s expressed desires. Even if their desires seem silly to you, show them that you respect their needs and dreams.

Is a Pet Grooming Business for You?

2010-02-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

I have to leave for Salt lake City, Utah in a day or two but here is a new article. Someone I know who has literally spent months looking for a job which fits her lifestyle has finally hit upon something awesome. She has a mobile pet grooming business. She calls it ‘Best Friends Mobile Pet Groomers.’
For her part, Amy is able to offer all the same services she provided when she worked in a shop. After all dog grooming is certainly a growing business these days. She gives her furry customers medicated shampoos, conditioning, hot oil treatments, checks their anal glands, trims and files nails, checks ears, brushes teeth, performs flea dips, and much more. If you want a salt lake city dog grooming business (but not your own business obviously) then I do suggest this firm. They also do cat boarding and doggie daycare in addition to the aforementiones pet grooming. They are good for sure in Salt lake City.
One of Amy’s favorite customers is an elderly lady named Iris. Iris struggles to live on her own and remain independent. She loves that she can call Amy to come to her home to groom her pretty little grey schnauzer, Betsy. Every time Iris has to go somewhere she has to call her son, and she hates to do that, Amy says.
“I go out to Iris’s mobile home park about once a month to groom Betsy,” Amy says, smiling at the thought, “and every time I go out there, Iris tells me how much the mobile service means to her. She takes such good care of Betsy, and Betsy is such a sweetheart, just like Iris.”
Amy grooms up to about 30 animals per week. She has a couple of cats that she grooms. She charges only about ten dollars more than she would in a shop, and that covers the cost of the van and gas.
Lately she’s gotten very busy and it’s become more difficult to fit everyone in.
She says, “If I can find someone who’s as picky and particular about giving good service as I am, I might hire them and buy another van. Business is good. I’m so grateful.”

The Latest Trends in consumer credit counseling

2010-02-01T15:56:00.000-08:00

I just returned from Washington and here is the latest scoop over there. Weston says that most of the counseling services' fees are paid by the lenders themselves, which send back to the services a portion of the payments received. She explains that this practice has prompted critics to contend that credit counseling is just a tool of the lending industry. If you need to determine Washington Bankruptcy laws then I can suggest this state based Bankruptcy laws firm, which s based beautiful Washington state.
The consumer funded payment system is known as "fair share." Weston asserts that it has encouraged the proliferation of credit counseling services. Some of these agencies have been driven by competition to begin trolling for consumers who haven't even fallen behind on their debts-- by promising them lower interest rates! This practice has infuriated credit-card companies and hurts consumers, who may realize eventually that such plans can harm their credit ratings and serve only the agencies who promote them, other wise there could be a Bankruptcy, but you need to check the laws.
Take the following concise advice from Weston: “So let's make this clear: If you're able to pay your bills and are current on all your accounts, you almost certainly don't need credit counseling. If your interest rates are too high, you usually can negotiate a lower rate with your credit-card companies just by asking -- or threatening to move your account elsewhere.” This is a big issue over in Washington

Florida Having Some Tax Issues

2009-11-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

Florida's shrinking population has had the adverse effect of also reducing the state's tax base and thus causing budget shorfall's, which is a very negative downward spiral that they are working hard to reverse. So far they look like they are having some success. The republican senator from New Port Richey, Mike Fasano, oversees Browning’s budget. He backs the idea to change the fees. Need a Florida Tax attorney then perhaps David Garvin is your man. He handles Miama as well as Fort Lauderdale and he is likewise an experienced criminal attorney. Fasano was reported in Bousquet’s piece as saying, “The taxpayers are losing millions of dollars each year. I'm not saying everybody is being dishonest, but it sure sounds strange that all these people are not getting their renewal notices.''
Browning has already approached lobbyists representing Florida businesses. He believes most are accepting of the fees. He’s hoping that will make it easier for the lawmakers to make the changes.
Bousquet’s article goes on to quote John Rogers of the Florida Retail Federation as having said, “Retailers expect their customers to pay their bills on time, and we should not expect anything less from the state. We think people ought to pay their filing fees on time.''

Bousquet closes by indicating that some, like Bill Herrie of the National Federation of Independent Business also believe the changes would represent “good government at work.”

Some Corporations getting Rid of their Office Art

2009-11-21T14:21:00.000-08:00

I some recent cases, large business entities have been compelled to sell or otherwise move their often substantial office art collections for a variety of reasons ranging from mergers to financial collapse When Unilever moved from their headquarters into a smaller building, they wanted a new, fresh theme. They held a public event and sold off the beautiful 92 photographs from the old building and raised $400,000. That money was then donated to the Marwen Foundation, which provides free art classes to Chicago's disadvantaged youngsters in grades six through 12. All in all, the particular office art in the new buiding featured their products; blown up pictures, big and colorful.
It appears that Altria has essentially changed its name from Philip Morris Cos. in 2003. It sold off half of its 700-piece art collection and it moved to Richmond, Va. The new offices feature many of Virginia artists. When Altria moved they donated 200 works to the Whitney Museum of American Art. I have notoced a lot of sizeable office art work collections as of late, especially office paintings and cool art gallery sections. In addition to the awesome paintings, I have also noticed a trend of more and more office building art selections which I do think is a good idea in general.

San Francisco Lack of Development Fuels a Vicious Cycle

2009-11-05T21:56:00.000-08:00

The dearth of building projects going forward in San Francisco feeds the unemployment of those employed in the construction trades. Roughly one-quarter of the city’s have been unemployed for the last 7-8 month, the San Francisco Chronicle quoted Michael Theriault, secretary-treasurer for the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades council as saying. By the way, if you need a Laser Tattoo Removal San Francisco specialist I do suggest this company as they are in fact one of the truly superlative Laser Tattoo Removal San Francisco companies in the entire bay area, in my humble opinion.
All in all, the city of San Francisco will truly feel the pain of the lack of revenue that those development projects would have brought in. The City Planning Department’s Elaine Forbes was quoted as saying, "To get projects approved, developers have to pay for things like sewer lines, street improvements and other open space." Reminds me of thr Rolling Stone song 'Tattoo You' or something like that.

Denver Housing related News

2009-08-28T23:55:00.000-07:00

In Denver downtown housing related headlines, homes which were under one thousand square feet were up by some fourteen odd percentage points generally plus those bigger ones about three thousand square ft. give or take were actually down by the same amount, which is also a real shock to me. As a whole, a possibility could be the reality check which some individuals who may be able to stretch their finances to buy a bigger home could actually have had during this rather monumental housing correction. It used to be that a lot of individuals thought of their home as an investment, as the perceived the larger the home, the better the investment.I do question this specific idea of obtaining more house than they can heat, cool, repair, clean and the like. Now, some of these particular individuals could be thinking it more to the point to own a house that is just about the right size, broadly speaking, for their needs, and not a bit more than that. Highest-end home sales have all but taken a hike, unfortunately. One developer, for example, said that some of his former multi-million dollar homes are now selling for literally half that, believe it or not. One interesting situation has been seller’s denial. With short sales, buyers get an excellent cost for sure. If you are searching for a pretty nice Denver Hotel I would like to suggest this one, it is areally good one. As far as a denver hotels near pepsi center this is perhaps the top one. Now back to the main story:....or the house coming onto the market through foreclosure, that they are not going to be able to sell their home for substantially more than a similar home in the neighborhood that is discounted.
It appears that even with some areas bouncing back with sales and upward price trajectories, that the worst may still be far from over.

Tennessee tightening Regulations on Credit Counseling

2009-07-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to regulate certain credit counseling outfits, the Tennessee legislature has passed certain bills to assist monitor these organizations in general. All in all, the legislation in question is known as the Uniform Debt Management Services Act, which insures that these firms have insurance, plus other conditions. One of these specific conditions is that, for corporations which are based outside of the state, they will have to register with that state. This is due to many of them being situated just outside of the state and doing advertising in a wide array of venues.
All in all, Senator Doug Overbey (who just happens to be a republican, if that matters), has sponsored the Senate bill and truly thinks tha it is the best method for protecting the consumers there. This act was drafted using the Uniform Law Commission, which is basically an outfit which is more than a century old and is highly respected as well, much like the better Business bureau or something like that I suppose. As an aside, it should be noted that there are many honest outfits that can help with Credit Counseling, Debt consolidation and relief as well as other forms of Debt Help. Alright now back to the mian article:
This commission stated that many consumers with credit card debt can do what these companies do themselves. The commission went on to say that these companies usually charge a large upfront lump sum.

New Financial Guidelines coming on down the Pike

2009-07-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

From Forex to the stock trading world's convoluted deals, the current administration plans to add bold and fresh (and some say much needed and long overdue) guidelines for the United States's overstretched financial system under legislation put into motion earlier in the week, says numerous mainstream media sources.
It appears that these steps are designed to deal with the overall rollback on federal regulations which have happened over the past few decades and last several administrations, broadly speaking. There needs to be some form of easy to obtain non-profit credit counseling as well as different of Debt consolidation, Debt help, etc. Yet credit counseling, in particular, I strongly beleieve.
For instance, it is hoped that it will help to better organize the mixed bag of governmental agencies which currently monitor the financial sector. But it likewise may entail fundamental modifications in authority which could eliminate a regulatory agency, form another one and lower the profile of the juggernaut known as the Federal Reserve system.
These are fairly lofty and ambitious goals indeed. The newly formed agency, once constituted, would take over oversight of mortgages in particular and then mandate that the lenders give their customers more reasonable terms than previously in an attempt to prevent this kind of debacle in the future.
As an additional safegaurd measure, the lenders who repackage loans to investors would have to retain some five percent of the credit risk. This is a figure that certain industry analysts believe may be a bit low.
Generally speaking, the latest proposal made some consumer advocates happy but horrified the banking sector with its proposed formation of a regulator to insulate customers in their particular banking transactions.
Right now mutual funds are staying under the general authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission rather than the new agency.
All of these individual steps have been an effort to find a balanced, common ground somewhere between the relative pros and cons of the capitalist system.

Investing in office Furniture

2009-05-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

In office furniture related news, if you happen to be searching around for some high-end furniture pieces for your office, there are many solid pieces out there to select from.
When you are searching for a Big and Tall model, for instance, you may want to anticipate spending a fair amount since they are made to last and are thus a bit more expensive to make
On the whole, I tend to like the look of the distinctive European made design office chairs as well as related furniture(particularly the styles from Italy and England), yet I have noticed that sometimes they are not really the most orthopedically sound if you are a few pounds heavier and will be spending a huge amount of time in the office. Furthermore, those localities do offer outstanding pieces, much like a high performance Lotus or Bentley, though, they are not always the ideal choice for every situation because they are just not always practical. Nevertheless, for some folks they are simply ideal and must have a superlative Furniture Source in general..
of the Italian made designs, I am especially fond of The newer Luxy Nulite line of executive type of office chairs which are are indeed amazingly solid for a wide array of different uses.
As an example, each chair in this particular line has a full range of different fabrics to choose from so as to to improve any office anywhere.
By the way if you need to obtain a nice assortment of modern office chairs, executive leather office furniture and the like, by all means take a look at Sitbetter.com.....As the name suggests, they basically specialize in office chairs of a high quality such as of the conference room variety and leather models too. They have one of the best such lines available. All in all, I suggest that you find yourself a tip top Furniture Source with which to choose from.
In addition to those big & tall selection they also feature a full line of great small/petite type office chairs to choose from.
These particular models naturally have a more petite back size, with a fair amount of ergonomic adjustments to ensure good ergonomic comfort and support.
This is really very important. By the way, this firm does always providing complimentary shipping of it's focus on office chairs and other office furniture.

Rappers starting to tone down the bling due to Economy

2009-05-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

In the relatively recent past, the hip hop and r & b genre was defined nearly as much by their distinctive 14k gold chain or stylish diamond dog tag as from their street-wise and gritty song lyrics. However, over the past few years, it has markedly reduced the bling, a move that some insiders in the industry say has been prompted by the current economic downturn.
After all, this is a point in time when some 'normal' people have reportedly had to pawn-off their gold dental fillings just to pay for basic bills. Therefore, it seems just a tad out-of-touch
for someone like P Diddy to flaunt a diamond dog tag or what have you.
Despite all of this, however, it should be duly noted that this particular world is not fully reversing it's current course, as anyone who watches Music television can easily ascertain.
All in all, however, Photo shoots are reportedly being done with less of the specialized medallions and other iced out jewelry which is deemed to be a trademark for the likes of some of the top performers in the genre.
You are now more likely to see see a hip hop performer sporting in an off-the-shelf diamond pendant or perhaps just lower-quality diamond jewelry in general.
For instance, Ben Baller, head of the southern California area jeweler I.F. & Co., states that the shift is most obvious among the younger, up-and-coming performers, for whom a regular paycheck is appearing to be less and less certain.
Broadly speaking, sales for hip hop albums have been lower along with those other musical genres, obviously reducing revenue for the entire industry.
This change is not necessarily new for performers like Jay-Z, who has already made a certain shift from hard-core bling to more of a boardroom look, featuring button-down shirts plus designer suits.
There is ample evidence of the shifting sands of the hip-hop fashion trends. According to an interview in 'The San Jose Mercury News' online newspaper, Tamara Connor, a Georgia-based stylist who has created looks for a number of top rappers like Lil Wayne stated:
"the day of conspicuous consumption is gone"
They are simply dropping some of their"ice," going with smaller gold chains and jettising pricey threads while introducing some lower budget fashion lines.

Consulting Company files for Bankruptcy

2009-03-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

I just got back from Baltimore and Here is some more fallout from the general economic mess we are enmeshed in at this time. The McLean consulting agency has announced that they are filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. There was the definate chance that their stock was going to be delisted from Wall Street and all of its loans would need to be repaid. Trading of their specific stock was already been halted by the exchange and their prices have dropped heavily. Too bad you cannot really do a Lawsuit for that. If you reside in lovely Baltimore and you need a Baltimore credit repair attorney then please consider this firm for that and also bankruptcy needs over in Baltimore.

Meanwhile, their CEO Ed Harbach announced that their particular operations would nonetheless continue without interruption and that their commitment to employees and customers would continue to provide “world-class consulting solutions.” Not sure where they are going to get the funding, however, without Wall Street funds in hand.
By the way, if you happen to reguire a first rate, top drawer Lawsuit Funding attorney then may I recommend happy Rock LLC as they are an excellent organization to assist you with general and specific Lawsuit Funding needs. Ask them for a consultation on their website.
All in all, they have clients from the Department of Health and Human Services to the United States military. Overall federal contracts had previously reached $520 million back in 2007. They employs or provide Funding for approximately fifteen thousand individuals or so globally.

The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing was done in the Southern District of New York state. A company spokesman reported that some management staff will stay in place. There are no plans for layoffs in the near future, but that could change if funding issues happen to worsen.

Nissan planning to shift some production capacity to Asia

2009-01-17T13:06:00.000-08:00

I just got back to Hawaii (I reside part of the year on the beautiful garden island of Kauai, lucky me)
and I wanted to make my readers aware of a sugnificant move by the Nissan Motor Corp of Japan. As most of you probably know,
the Nissan Corp has been straggled with declining vehicle sales as they are rolling of the assembly lines in short order but not of the dealership lots. I should know, as the Hawaii Nissan dealership near where I live is noticeably less busy in recent months for sure... As a result of all this and with the general economic conditions being what they are, Nissan is now planning to transfer their production
facilities of their popular subcompact automobile from Japan to the much lower wage country of Thailand. The Japanese media is also reporting that Nissan will make the move to shift the entirety of all Japanese automotive production of this model
to Siam in 2010 and then ship it back to the home country. That will do wonders for the japanese unemployment rate, I am sure. Broadly speaking, Nissan is the island nation's third-biggest automobile manufacterer overall and is in the process redesigning its leading March
supermini model as a sort of cosortium with the French giant Renault SA (the major producer in all of France for a long time now).
They are trying hard to appeal to those who are searching for a fuel-efficient ride. There is that old Hawaii Nissan dealership again....
This economic news with a global impact comes on the heels of Nissan's recent effort to move the facilities
of the Micra, which is essentially the March's foreign model of the same vehicle, from the UK to India within the next couple of years.
A lot of these moves appear to be pure economic necessity. For example, The global recession has not missed Japan's automakers. As a result
of all of this bad news, Nissan recently stated that they were cutting overall production by some twenty-one percent or so.

Portola Packaging files Bankruptcy

2009-01-14T12:35:00.000-08:00

A top Illinois manufacturer, Portola Packaging, has exited the backend of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The restructuring which occured largely reduced the total outstanding indebtedness and interest expenses of Portola Packaging. According to state headline news, they were able to wipe out $180 million of their total debt. The US Bankruptcy Court has verified that the Portola Packaging Company’s restructuring plan and the firm converted all of there 8.25% senior notes into equity. More info. at washington bankruptcy laws All in all, they did not even need funds from Washington, which is a refreshing change. regarding the laws:

The Portola Packaging corporation which operates in Batavia in the state of Illinois, manufacturers tamper evident closures, cosmetic packaging in addition to some specifitems plus various engineering services as well. The Delaware Bankruptcy Court ultimately ruled that the corporation in question met its statutory requirements and pre-packaged chapter 11 plan of reorganization and would be emerging from chapter 11 in late October. If you need help with washington bankruptcy laws Jason Newcombe. He is a top washington state bankruptcy attorneys around and can assist you with a broad range of cases

Portola was finally able to obtain exit financing from Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC and Regiment Capital Special Situations Fund IV LP for a $66 million senior secured credit facility.

Investment holders of the Portola existing senior unsecured notes received all of Portola’s common stock which was reorganized. According to their exiting plan, Wayzata was named to become the controlling shareholder when Portola emerged from chapter 11.

Legal Aid Attorney Funding reduced due to Poor Economy

2009-01-09T11:47:00.000-08:00

The legal organizations which aid poor clients like the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project which assisted victims like Maria Nunes following a hazardous and physically abusive marriage are in danger of losing much of their earmarked and much needed funding sources which comes from part of the interest in question of funding held in trust for clients. For those that are too poor to afford an Attorney on their own, such assistance can be a real Godsend.

For example, the aforementioned victim Nunes was a resident of the scenic West Indes island of Jamaica who fled Florida and her terribly abusive husband who had physically abused her to the point of unconsciousness in this sad and tragic case.. She now states she did not know she had any rights; she was dependant on the marriage to stay in U.S..

All in all, Attorney Jorge Baron and the Northwest Immigration Rights Project helped Nunes over a seven year period of time to gain a legal divorce and the Attorney in question also helped her to remain in the country with a residency green card.
Should you be a victim and require a superlative and effecient Attorney post settlement funding then might I advise to you the excellent and experienced Law Offices of happy Rock LLC. They are actually one of the better organizations you can find in my opinion if you need a seasoned Attorney post settlement funding or simply just a consultation to begin.

Fortunately for her, she is now legally divorced because of the legal aid which might not be there for other women in abusive marriages due to the economic factors they are facing today expect their funding to decrease by as much as 50% this year. That is why it can be vital to have an Attorney to assist with post settlement as well as funding issues.

Y2K legal Concerns

2008-10-31T13:51:00.000-07:00

While some analysts at the time predicted on the possible side effects that the Y2K problem could potentially have on everyday life, a rather broad consensus emerged that a large volume of undesirable and counter-productive litigation would result. Con¬sequently, in the United States resolving the Y2K issue necessarily encompassed taking into account the anticipated legal consequences arising from the problem. Congress responded by enacting the "Y2K Act".
Under certain circumstances the Act imposes severe limitations on a plaintiff's ability to prosecute claims predicated upon inten¬tional conduct, causes of action for fraud for example. In order to pursue such legal theories the plaintiff must prove that the defendant had actual knowledge or recklessly disregarded a known and substantial risk of a Y2K failure. Wow, it is so important t all worked out... Punitive damages can only be recovered based on clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's conduct meets the applicable stand¬ard. Moreover, such damages cannot exceed three times the plaintiff's compensatory damages or $250,000, whichever is less. Finally, a defendant can only be held liable for that portion of the plaintiff's damages that is attributable to the defendant's conduct. In other words the rule of joint and several liability does not apply. More details can be found at theEconomic & Business News Blog
The Y2K Act coupled with the absence of any major or widespread Y2K failures has kept litiga¬tion in check. One area that has not been im¬pacted is insurance litigation. While there are no published appellate decisions addressing whether the Act applies to coverage claims involv¬ing remediation costs, at Jeast one lower court has held that the legislation does not because insurance litigation does not involve damage directly resulting from a Y2K failure.4 Thus, determining who pays for the Y2K fix will likely not be impacted by the legislation.

Denver Criminal News and the Subprime saga

2008-06-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

Here we go again, more news on the now infamous Mortgage bubble. Brace yourself as it has been a bumpy ride indeed....Well over four hundred real estate type professionals have been indicted in the last several months (and many of these over the last week alone) in a gigantic, draconian (and rightfully so in this particular case) government sweep on incidents of criminal mortgage fraud activity around the United States which are a result from the US housing crisis.
All in all, the Federal authorities like the vaunted FBI put the damage to homeowners victimized by this criminal activity at over a billion dollars! Some pretty eye opening numbers to be certain. Unfortunately a lot of these guys should have had an attorney but what can you really do sometimes? These are staggering numbers even for this particular industry.
Since the beginning of March more than four hundred individuals in total have been arrested in the sweep which has been aptly nicknamed “Operation Malicious Mortgage” which has to this point resulted in well over a hundred legal cases across the United States. About 60 different individuals were arrested in one day, including in the midwest such as the Windy City, Denver, Colorado, Dade County Florida as well as Fort Worth, Texas. Incidentially if you require a top-drawer, world class criminal attorney Denver then you should certainly good look at the Law offices of Kevin Ellmann. He is indeed one of the very best rated criminal attorney Denver that you will find and he has been practicing law in Denver for some time. The authorities have stated that their increased spotlight on mortgage related crimes is an attempt to solve very serious issues which have arisen out of the unstable if not shamelessly speculative lending tactics which were widespread until the mortgage market catastrophe which begain in earnest in 2007. Among the hardest hit regions for this insidious criminal activity have been Denver, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New York and Utah.
To individuals who have committed such criminal fraud or are thinking of doing so in the future, FBI Director Robert Mueller stated in no uncertain terms that “We will find you, you will be investigated and you will be prosecuted.”
Those named in these cases include various housing developers, mortgage lenders & brokers, attorneys, real estate agents and so on

Looking at Loan related Websites

2008-06-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

Some sites have some unique features if you are browsing the world wide web for loan options since many tend to offer deeply reduced rates and may even put you in touch with lenders who deal mostly or entirely with brokers. These types of websites may do a broader search in the lender market and find superior loan quotes for you. Additional information on this and other topics may be found over at
Merlin's News Blog

All in all, a loan specialist will do all the negotiations for any loans and send you the quotes for secured loans by electronic mail which you can then compare by researching the various terms and benefits attached to them as such. All the facts relating to loan fees, payment terms, plus the interest rates are listed in this streamlined process. This makes it easier as well as more organized from a borrowers viewpoint, as all the pertinent information is gathered on your behalf and is thus ready to go.

Secured loans basically mandate certain specific types of collateral to be used for security against the amount of the loan. This collateral can be be a house or an automobile or perhaps some similiar valuable property, for example. The lender may reserve the right to take over the property in question used for collateral as compensation if the borrower happens to default. Take a lot of time to consider what all is really involved and what you might lose if you are thinking of taking out a secured loan.

Secured loans are, as a general rule, taken out for relatively long time periods and the total amount which is available for a loan of this kind will be far greater than what is available for an unsecured or personal type of loan. The repayment period is extended over a long enough time to keep the installments at a rather reasonable level. Remember however that the longer you take to repay the loan the longer your assets are thusly put at risk of seizure. If you are able, it would be good idea to pay a little bit extra at times so the repayment period will be shorter.

iPods, iTunes and their competition

2008-03-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

Many online articles as well as stories seem to say that there will be huge changes coming in the near future for various iPod owners and also those who plan to purchase them. Apple for instance is already talking about making their music download website iTunes at least somewhat free for those who go there. But the catch is that instead of paying at iTunes per say they will instead be paying more for the particular model of iPod they want to purchase.

While this has not really been decided yet, Apple & also the companies EMI, Sony BMG plus Warner Music would not make staements concerning this topic as of last week, yet I would imagine a final decision coming down the pike shortly.

Further, David Pakman, the excellent and highly respected Chief Executive Officer of eMusic, which is of course a major competitor of iTunes, has clearly stated that his concern lies principally with the fact that the Apple Company may in fact try to take advantage of the monopoly it currently enjoys in the digital player market in general.

As it stands, for example, the various IPod lines (which are fairly numerous, relatively speaking) represent around eighty five percent or so of the digital music market online as of the time of this writing. Having nearly ninety percent of any such market is quite staggering, but if this particular plan which has been leaked in some competitors thoughts, if it is for example bundled with music from iTune downloads then that would be grounds to be considered anti-competitive, according to staements made by David Pakman.

In other related news, the online technology magazine ‘MacWorld UK’ has stated that the Apple Corp. has Registered an ”iPod Air” Domain Name as well as a Web Site and this has led them to think that there are probably more wireless iPod technologies coming down the research and development pipeline and into the production stage. This should be very interesting.

More Bad Real Estate News

2008-02-17T12:33:00.000-08:00

In an excellent story by top journalist Matt Woolsey which was initially published on the Yahoo online News network, it was reported that the real estate market in general and home prices in particular keep falling in many regions of the United States. In Sacramento, for instance, home sale prices for November of last year fell just under twenty percent over 2006!But there is nonetheless some good news for those beleagured residents of the state capital: they will benefit from the executive initiative which is supposed to assist homeowners who are facing foreclosure and financial ruin. This particular effort is named “Project Lifeline,” and has been put together by 6
of the countries’s biggest financial institutions, which service nearly fifty percent of the mortgages in the United States. it essentially permits certain homeowners to suspend proceedings for some thirty critical days while providing them with various forms of refinancing assistance.

The financial companies in question, such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Countrywide Financial, Citigroup, Washington Mutual plus Wells Fargo state that they will let homeowners know who are ninety days or more past due and try to find some kind of way to make their loans manageable, according to the news report.

ZipRealty, which is a San Francisco real estate tracking company which analyzes multiple listing service data, provided the facts for Matt Woolsey’s superbly informative article.

In the California state capital, about half of all the houses on the market have been reduced in price! That is an amazing percentage, is it not?

Just behind them is the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, where during that same one year time perios prices tumbled about seventeen percent or so. In addition, the number of homes on the market surged by some thirty percent during that same time span likely leading to more problems later on.

Detroit, Michigan finished ninth on the list. They were already a pretty depressed real estate market with a declining manufacturing base (isn’t outsourcing grand).

Florida took spots on the list of the fastest-falling markets, according to the report.

Latest News from the Apple Corporation

2008-01-16T11:45:00.000-08:00

It seems that Apple may be considering taking the Apple iPod line to the next level for iPod owners.

There have been rumbling on the Internet about Apple iPod owners being able to have digital downloads of movies available to them.

This appears to be in discussion between Apple and movie studios, to make digital copies of movies that will be compatible with the Apple iPods to download. A deal like this could make using an iPod a whole new experience for the iPod owner.

This of course will just as music, will be a feature of iTunes and will also be found at iTunes for downloads or as a feature on DVD’s when placed in a computer there will be a place on theDVD menu that will tell the viewer what version of iTunes needs to be loaded in order to watch the iPod version of the movie and a serial number that will need to be used to access the digital download at iTunes.

Having a feature like this will change the use of iPods for some owners who will be able to view the latest movies that are available to download, along with listening to music of all genres. Meanwhile, in

related news, the overall numbers are in from this past November in the radio industry and they are down from November of 2006 by six percent.

Among the reasons listed that are taking listeners away from radio is the iPod that can now be found in cars that have docking stations built in, along with other reasons such as availability to radio on the Internet and satellite radio.

Analysts expect that the percentage rate will decline approximately five percent more over this year, as there is an increase in personal digital music players. This is placing the position of radio operators and commentators in a fragile position.

With the release of the next generation in Apple iPods and all the new components coming out on the market within the next few months it is likely that the analysts correct. In addition a new product known as RockStar has been announced. iPod users who want to not only enjoy their listening experience but want to share it or join in with someone else’s tunes will probably love this particular product......... It will basically allow you to include up to 5 other persons to listen to their iPod music and the RockStar accessory can furthermore join a number of different iPods together as one.

New Product from Clarion Corp.

2008-01-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

The Clarion Corporation of America, a
top ranked manufacture of mobile gadgets and technology items, unveiled a feature for the
direct iPod audio control via USB which is internall integrated into many of their newest
multimedia source units. The firm is presenting 6 of their new CD & multimedia units with an easy
direct iPod connection using the basic iPod USB cable. These premium
CD receivers, the DXZ785USB and the DXZ585USB have Clarion's signature "SLIDETRAK" HMI control,
direct USB iPod connection, USB digital media streaming with DRM (WMDRM10) and MP3/ WMA/ AAC playback.
Wow what a nice combination there! As a matter of fact, The SLIDETRAK control is a perfect fit for scrolling
through music files from an iPod. These units are Bluetooth and Satellite Radio capable plus offer CeNET
control. In addition to all of these totally awesome and rear kicking features, they are additionally able to
interfacing with the OEM steering wheel controls, have AUX input. Plus, they even have with a 2-year warranty.
You just cannot get much better than that, in my opinion. The top or flagship model, DXZ785USB, furthermore offers audiophile
features like time alignment control, 3 band parametric EQ and 3-way crossover control. It is
motorized detachable front panel has a highly visible full dot LCD, 2-line
letter display which stands out to illuminate any dash very well.

And don't forget about the other ones. With all-new cosmetics, the
DXZ385USB is a good looking unit offering MP3/ WMA/ AAC playback, front panel AUX
input and USB port and is likewise already Bluetooth and Satellite Radio ready.

MP3 Market Share News

2008-01-08T18:07:00.000-08:00

the Apple Corporation has secured over seventy percent of the market share for MP3 players. That is respectable and impressive by any standard, if you ask me.
What is perhaps less well known, is the ratio of Apple's investment in the iPod platform relative to its return. In the last 3 and half years or so, the Apple Corporation has added
only a single solitary item to it's iPod stable, the iPod touch, making some 4 pieces of in all. In that time span, the catalog of
available content has increased amazingly six-fold, to over four million items, rather staggeringly.
Meanwhile, the quantity of iPod accessories has increased tenfold, to some three thousand or so. The firm then collects fees for the vast majority of those accessories, with 3rd-party vendors
and various producers paying to add the "Made for iPod" logo to a package or perhaps a fee to use the proprietary Apple connector. We should all be so lucky.
But I guess really a lot of it is skill and some strong business sense thrown in as well for good measure. As it tuens out,
quite a few firms have attempted to duplicate their methods by copying at the product level and placing an emphasis the design of the object itself.
But all of this effort has been largely for nothing as the underlying business strategy and structure as well as system is very difficult to properly
copy. The Sony Corporation, for instance, even with a strong brand. cutting edge product platforms such as the portable transistor radio laid the groundwork for the current era.
But they have not really transformed and morphed that success to this century, at least not yet. All of this time they have released a rather frantic spectrum of digital cameras which
recorded on all different sorts of media such as DVDs yet now has merely 3 lines to show for the effort. The Apple Corporation
Apple ended its fiscal year on September 30, 2007, with a net margin of almost fifteen percent. To succeed on this level, firms should recognize the consumer whom they are targeting.
Apple knows that it can't have everyone as its customer. But it is nonetheless ready and willing to eliminate some sections by emphasizing a strong core of individuals which are known as Cultural Creatives.
These are folks who wait hours in line for the latest iPod or MacBook. With this in mind,
design is used for meaningful experiences which are authentic to the brand. It is not about paring product lines or simple creating making cool stuff. Done well, design can add value to the bottom line.
Design done right goes well beyond the appearance and behavior of the object itself. It takes the entire product ecosystem into consideration.

New technology products

2008-01-05T17:58:00.000-08:00

the Newer Technology Corporation, which is a developer of RC, Macintosh & iPod performance upgrades plus various accessories, has stated that their new NewerTech
iPhone Accessory Line composed of some 6 products which add iPhone functionality & user convenience. All in all, these include
a speaker phone, mic extender for hands-free usage, a noise-reduction and sound quality enhancer, various headphone connectors plus even a cool gadget which charges the iPhone or iPod while driving
The speaker seems kind of cool. The way it works is that While the iPhone is docked, the NewerTech iPhone Speaker Dock & Mic charges and controls it with built-in volume and call start/end buttons.

Meanwhile the NewerTech Hands-Free Mic & Earbud provides hands-free iPhone communication while driving, walking, riding a bike or whatever. This particular gadget is made to basically cut out the
neck bending associated with keeping the ear to the iPhone while using hands for something else entirely. And
the NewerTech iPhone Mic Extender Cable let's users which also have high-end headphones to plug into the iPhone’s recessed jack for hands-free talk.
This in turn provides music pause, call answer/end, plus music resume operation

And according to the report, the NewerTech iPhone & iPod Auto Charger is compatible with any vehicles’s basic 12V power/accessory outlet & charges an iPhone or iPod while driving.
It does work on all model vehicles, forighn or United states built.

As the popularity of the iPhone grows, especially with the anticipation of a newer model in 2008, the demand for accessories such as those offered by NewerTech is likely to grow.

In related technology news, Energizer has stated that it will showcase an entire new range of light products as well as an iPod battery charger at the 2008 CES show. This particular show takes place in Las Vegas starting on the seventh of January.

The big firm has stated that it will launch the Energi To Go Portable Power for iPod, plus Energizer Light on Demand; which is a home lighting product line which provides emergency light when their is a power outage.

The Energizer Energi To Go Portable Power for iPod is a battery-powered device charges and provides extended playtime to a variety of iPod models

Designed to go with the flow of the rather unique, trademark styling of the iPod according to Energizer when powered with its batteries users will be able to get over forty hours of music playback plus eleven hours of video playback on a thirty gigabyte iPod with video.

iPod hard drive market to diminish?

2008-01-04T19:19:00.000-08:00

According to an awesome article by Peter Cohen from the 'MacWorld' online news resource,
it was reported that the Hitachi Global Storage Technologies division is currently planning to leave
the one inch hard disk drive market, and furthermore believes that there will be substantially diminishing demand for the 1.8-inch hard drives used in devices such as, perhaps
most famously, the iPod classic. The corporation states the various flash memory storage-based gadgets are basically filling up that particular niche, and also stated that it will make it's primary focus on various computer drives instead.
Further, they statedfor the record to Macworld (as reported on their excellent site) that the one inch and 1.8-inch hard drive markets are essentially tiny businesses as compared to the hard drive market as a whole. Well,
it certainly sounds as if the firm did it's research and due diligence in this regard. They have a reputation for being thorough in this area. On the
whole, this information was initially reported last week by the Japanese business media giant 'Nikkei Business Daily'. This respected publication likewise stated that the Fujitsu Corporation has basically trashed their plans to go into this relatively tiny
market. So who recieves the "leftovers" now that these big players have left the field? Well, it has been essentially taken by both the Toshiba and Samsung corporations, respectively, which offer products all the way up to 160GB,
which is also the same size as what is used inside the Apple Corporations' bigger-capacity iPod classic (the smaller iPod classic has an 80GB drive, by the way).
For their part, they do not identify the producers of the various components used in the iPod. By the way, additional iPod information may be obtained over at
the
iPod Touch Central Blog
Meanwhile, the other iPod models use flash memory to store files as, essentially, a replacement for hard disk drives. But the real question
for most industry analysts is why has this particular market shrunk or is currently shrinking? Apparently, it is because,
of alterations and modifactions with regards to consumer electronics requirements.

Technology Companies' Sales keeps growing despiting housing slump

2007-12-29T21:29:00.000-08:00

You are not the only one who loves all those cool gadgets you see so much of,
especially during this time of year. Technology companies also really love them.
After all, they are like jet fuel for sales in this sector of the economy.
And investors adore them as well. This is because even as
the real estate crises, dismal global trade deficit reports and ever-increasing fuel prices have put much of Wall Street in a cranky mood,
many investors are still finding plenty of profits in technology stocks, which is an area that the United States leads the world in. The
Apple Corporation, Nokia and and Research In Motion are just a few of the companies which are profiting handsomely from the gadget boom. more detail can be found at
the
Technology Blog
In addition to these industry giants, the standard bearer IBM, mega corporation Oracle plus virtualization software pioneer VMware are reaping rich dividends
thanks to the gadget driven consumer spending. As an example, Thomson financial has stated that Technology companies which grace the S&P 500 are predicted to outperform
all the other sectors in the 4th quarter of the year. Pretty impressive and also a godsend for an otherwise embattled economy. of course, each company is affected by
slightly different factors at work here. The Apple Corporation, for example, is benefiting greatly from 2 sweeping items in particular: strong notebook sales plus a thriving wireless market,
courtesy of the iPhone.
In fact sales are anticipated to grow by just under a third in Apple's current year to over thirty-one billion! Likewise,
Hewlett-Packard has capitalized on the strong laptop computer demand. In fact their 4th quarter notebook sales have leaped by nearly fifty percent!
And Personal Computer sales in China, which is currently theor third largest market overall, doubled in the fourth quarter.
Furthermore, the Microchip leader, the Intel corporation, produces over eighty percent of the processors which power these machines.
There has been good reason for investors to be optimistic, as everything seems to be falling into place for these particular companies.

Wages and workers’ comp statistics

2007-12-28T13:50:00.000-08:00

According to an article by leading journalist Tom Searls of the Sunday Gazette, both
Legislative leaders as well as West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin are gradually pushing towards a battle involving the right way to regulate workers’ compensation insurance benefits in that state.

Lawmakers have made their intent clear that they wish, at an absolute minimum, to be informed of any modifications in workers’ compensation rules, like earlier moves to cut off widows’ benefits at the age of their late husband’s retirement, for example. Meanwhile, in

minimum wage news, the wages of salaried workers will go up by some fifty cents to $8 per hour on the first of January, in the state of California,
making workers there the 2nd highest paid earners overall in the entire United States, with Massachusetts being the other such state.
The Massachusetts minimum wage will likewise reach the $8 an hour plateau on the first of the month, according to the U.S. Dept of Labor.
The state of Washington on the other hand, which automatically adjusts their minimum wage each year so as to keep up with inflation rates, will have the highest overall such wage at $8.07 per hour.

The Governor tends to think that if lawmakers interfere with the various rules and regulations for workers’ compensation, it may in fact damage the state’s plan to ultimately privatize the whole system.
Insurance companies may then potentially wrongly presume that as a move to bring the program back under government control, he was quoted as stating.
BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company., which was formed from the Workers’ Compensation division about 2 years ago, at this time is the only such firm selling workers’ compensation insurance in the state.
However, this will change on the first of July when the state opens workers’ comp to private firms across the whole country in an effort to maximise market effeciency.

American and Chinese Firms in Legal Battle

2007-12-26T21:05:00.000-08:00

Globalism meets the legal realm as the
The Applied Materials corporation and the Chinese firm Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Incorporated (AMEC) are in a rather bitter legal battle concerning
a confidentially motion filed in court, according to reports from several news
outlets, The Applied Materials Corporation, which is based in
Santa Clara, California, is hoping to prove their lawsuit against AMEC (Shanghai) by turning over a certain”trade-secret list” which has been under wraps up to
this point in time. In a document filed this month, Applied Materials states that AMEC is in fact fighting this legal manuevre and thus delaying the motion.
Sounds like your typical feet dragging ploy straight from the handbook. More
related legal and technology news can be found over at the

Legal News Blog The motion in question just one section of a lawsuit filed by the technology firm against it’s Chinese competitor several months ago. In fact, their suit,
filed in the United States District Court in the Northern California jurisdiction, states that the firm is in fact involved in misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract plus unfair competition.

The co-defendants in the suit include several AMEC executives and former employees at Applied Materials: Gerald Yin, Aihua Chen, Ryoji Todaka and Lee Luo. As a
matter of fact, the lawsuit states that some thirty former Applied engineers now work over at the Chinese firm.
All in all, The co-defendants in this lawsuit apparently have been employed at Applied at 1 time or another and had “access to highly sensitive Applied
trade secrets” involving etch and CVD, they maintain. “Defendants willfully breached multiple duties to Applied by transferring and converting Applied
inventions and trade secrets to AMEC.”

Mortgage Crises prompts Tent City to Spring up

2007-12-23T22:33:00.000-08:00

Bbetween railroad tracks and beneath the roar of departing planes in this Californian suburb is perched the "tent city," as it is called, which is basically a transit point for homeless folks. It is located in the suburbs to the east of the city of los Angeles.

There are now some two hundred individuals living here, including a number of kids, growing in size steadily due to the effects of the now infamous United States real estate mortgage crisis.

or as some analysts are calling it, mortgage fiasco.

The unhinging of this whole broad area almost seems to ech back to the Great Depression days, in terms of it's overall look and feel, at least.

As additional families surrender their upstream struggle and head to foreclosure here and across America, the social casulaties are also piling up as a result of higher rates of homelessness and other related problems.

While none of the camp's residents now claim to be victims of foreclosure, they all agree the place is a symptom of the broader economic downturn. And it is simply a matter of time before foreclosed families end up here, local housing experts say.

Nationally, foreclosures are at an all-time high. Filings are up nearly one hundred percent from last year, according to the data company RealtyTrac. Officials say that as many as 500,000 individuals could lose their houses as ARM loans rise over the next 2 years.

California ranks 2nd in the country overall for foreclosure filings, or 1 per 88 households in the previous quarter. Within the golden state, San Bernardino county is in the worst shape of them all, with a filing filing for every 43 households, say the statistics.
Ouch, that is pretty bad ratio by any standards of measure.

An example of someone on the edge of this financial abyss of sirts is Maryanne Hernandez, who purchased her dream home in San Bernardino a little over 3 years ago and now is in danger of losing it after falling some 4 months behind on her mortgage payments.

To make matters even worse, she has experienced an increase in crime since the foreclosures began. For example, her house wasburglarized, her kids' bikes were stolen and she worries about the kind of message that empty houses can send to potential predators.

Th is particular pattern appears to be rearing it's ugly head in localities across America, such as Acron, Ohio, Dade County, Florida and numerous others.

Health risks are also an issue. All those empty swimming pools in California have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which may transmit the occasionally lethal West Nile virus, Riverside County officials have stated.

Too 'Techy' for Youngsters?

2007-12-21T21:07:00.000-08:00

Kids and technology, here we go again...According to an excellent article by Andy Merrett of the 'Tech Digest' published today,
it was noted that with the new M-Toy MP3 player, designed by Sung-kyu Nam, appears to think that children using this particular gadget need to brush up on their pattern-matching skills.
Apparently, this device consists of 3 concentric circles, onto which a certain scrambled image is shown. When the child in question spins the discs to align this image, the music stored on the plugged in USB stick begins to play.
This device uses older technology, which in the authors opinion should be developed for new televisions and not brain-baffling MP3 players. Still, I am sure that this toy will be on a lot of Christmas shopping wish lists this holiday season.
More related technology news can be found over at

The Gadget Blog
Meanwhile, another news article out of the Reuters news network has reported that a
download collaboration which has been planned between the Pepsi Corporation and Amazon.com is among a few developments forcing additional consideration by the Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment Division to follow EMI &
Universal Music Group's lead in distributing music in the MP3 format, which forgoes restrictive digital rights management technology. All the while,
the Disney's corporations Hollywood Records has joined the list of distributed labels testing the MP3 at both Amazon and walmart.com. The firm has supplied thirty to forty or so titles from its huge catalogue in the MP3 format.
That is pretty cool and people should eat that up this year.

Winding Down of Moore's law may curtail future economic Growth

2007-12-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

The time appears to be coming fast when it will be technologically impossible to make microchips any smaller than they are now. This could really dampen the rapid growth in the technology sector which has been the calling card of the information age. Transistors are somewhat similiar in overall function to light switches, flipping on and off inside a microchip to generate the 1's and 0's which warehouse and process the data inside a computer.
In any case, the modern transistor was first invented by research scientists William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain to amplify voices in phones for a Bell Labs experiment, an effort for which they later shared the annual Nobel Prize Award in the field of physics.
You cannot obtain a much loftier achievement than that in this world....
After the first transister was created in 1947, their steadily shrinking dimensions combined with their low power consumption made them the perfect replacement of the bulky vacuum tubes used at that time to amplify electrical signals and switch electrical currents. The telecommunications giant AT&T recognized
them as a replacement for the clattering telephone switches.
They ultimately found their way into various portable radios as well as other related electronic gadgets, and are probably most prominently used today as the building blocks of integrated circuits, another Nobel Prize-winning invention which is the foundation of microprocessors, memory chips and certain other related gadgets as well.
Then, when the integrated circuit was pioneered in the late 50's the pace of innovation has been ever-increasing. A struly breathtaking fact is that
the quantity of transistors in compters has jumped from only a few thousand in the 70's to almost a billion now! The CEO of Sun Microsystems says that you should not
bet against Moore's law because of the economic investment cycle and finacial incentives for it to contune is so great. In other words, follow the money.

Praemittias Corporation plans to provide technology for Spacehab

2007-12-14T18:18:00.000-08:00

In Finance and investment related news, Spacehab Corporation has signed an agreement with Praemittias Group Incorporated to sell Spacehab's technology to the United States DOD.
Under
Under the particular licensing terms of the agreement, the Praemittias corporation will produce sales of ten million dollars in 2008, fifty million in 2009, and one hundred million in 2010 for Spacehab (NASDAQ: SPABD).
This particular technology is just the initial product to come out of their wholly owned subsidiary known as Spacetech. In related financial news,
the Spacehab Corporation stated December 12 (today) it has approved a 1-for-10 reverse stock split.
They also stated that the split will go into effect on November 29, when their stock will begin trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol SPABD for twenty trading days.
Then on December 28, the firm will continue to trade under the symbol SPAB. After
the conversion of their shares of preferred stock into corresponding common stock and Thursday's reverse split, the defense firm should have some thirteen million or so shares outstanding.
They also reported a quarterly ney loss which they said was due to their support of space shuttle mission STS-118 which returned to the planet several months ago.
This story is kind of intriguing to me because something very, very strange happened to me last night. You see,
while I was sleeping I had an odd dream. In the dream I took the Space Shuttle out to the international space station and went to a party up there with the Russians and the Europeans. it was like taking a cruise on some sort of steller sailing yacht or something. Anways, then I woke up and read this interesting story.... Was that a bizarre kind of an omen or what?

New Swiss reporting regulations unveiled

2007-12-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

According to the respected Forbes magazine,
New Swiss reporting regulations not far-reaching enough.
According to a breaking story out of Zurich,
Saurer AG Arbon chairman Giorgio Behr stated that he welcomes the revision of Switzerland's shareholding reporting rules yet also stated that the new regulations in question are not nearly far-reaching enough.

As of December 1, Switzerland lowered the threshold for reporting a stake in a firm to three ercent from five percent.

'Under the old legislation a hostile bidder needed 6 'investors' to buy up just below 5 pct so as to gain a 30 pct stake. Now ten are needed. That is all the new law does,' Behr said in an interview with Swiss Sunday paper Sonntagszeitung.
More news out of Switzerland can be found over at
Swiss and European Portal
The revision of the stock exchange act was triggered by several deals which saw investors covertly building up stakes of above thirty percent in Swiss firms, such as the acquisition of a 31.4 pct stake in Sulzer AG by Russian federation investor Viktor Vekselberg.

More Subprime Loan Issues

2007-11-18T12:51:00.000-08:00

As defaults increase substantially because of questionable subprime mortgages or ARM loans, many folks are seeing their neighbors caught up in the meltdown. And the defaulters misfortunes are severely affecting those who are left living in those particular communities.
Further, the problem is not simply restricted to the worse areas, as they are also finding their way into upper/middle-class neighborhoods.
The courts are just seeing more default and foreclosure traffic.
In the Franklin Reserve neighborhood of Elk Grove, California, for instance, which has a plethera of expensive houses, they are fighting various inner-city issues such as gangs, narcotics, arson, theft and of course a lot of graffiti.
More real estate, banking and general financial news can be found over at the
Eljaysun Investments Portal
You see, during the height of the boom, this suburb near the capital grew 10,000 houses in only 4 years time, attracting investors from the affluent San Francisco bay area. Now many of those same houses are empty, with weeds overtaking their lawns, and various bank repo signs
lining the area. Median house prices have dropped from around $570,000 to the low $400,000s or so, unfortunately.
As a matter of fact, it may surprise many individuals to note that California ranks 2nd out of fifty states in the country with 1 foreclosure filing for every 88 households, according to the statistics.
Yes, number 2 on that most unprestigious of scales.
The house owners themselves have no options but to accept any renters they can find, according to the folks involved in regional real estate there.
Furthermore, criminal elements have looted some of the vacated houses, even going so far as stripping them of copper wiring plus pipes which may be then sold as scrap to recyclers.
Banks are not watching their foreclosed properties very closely, according to Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden.
Franklin Reserve resident Susan McDonald claimed that 2 of the homes on her area were actually turned into indoor marijuana operations utolizing greenhouses, and each of them caught fire last year after the growers tapped into the city's electric grid with bad wiring.
Pretty outragious is it not?

Yahoo profit decreases despite it's reorganization

2007-10-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

That web titan called Yahoo has reported that their 3rd quarter profits have slipped despite an increase in revenues and an almost finishes corporate structure reorganization.
Their revenue for the quarter was 151 million dollars, or some eleven cents per share, as compared to 159 million dollars in the same period in 2006.
In addition, some stock market analysts had predicted that the firm would post income of twelve cents per share.
Revenue had risen to 1.77 billion from 1.58 billion in the corresponding quarter in 2006.
Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, who took over as CEO earlier in the year and started several months ago on a one hundred day plan to reorganize the firm into a more profitable entity, remained optimistic in general.
Yang stated that his firm has made certain decisions to increase the size of it's user base as well as the website publishers who use their services.
All in all, their lackluster 3rd Qtr. results came about as it faced some big questions from the United States Congress.
For example, the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs stated today that it desires the firm's executives to testify at a hearing concerning their role in a human rights case in China which resulted in a journalist being imprisoned for about ten years.
The Committee chairman Tom Lantos had requested that Yang appear at a hearing next month to discuss the firm's disclosure of damning data to the Chinese authorities regarding the case of Shi Tao.
"We want to clarify how that happened, and to hold the company to account for its actions. And we want to examine what steps the company has taken since then to protect the privacy rights of its users in China."
The committee has stated that it has data which seems to indicate that Yahoo had known more regarding the Chinese investigation than was admitted during testimony. Well I personally predict that they will make a strong rebound in the near future.
They are still the most popular portal site on the internet and they just have too many users not to sustain their profits, particularly with the pending reorganization, in my humble opinion.

AOl to terminate 2,000 Positions

2007-10-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

According to a report in the highly respected Bloomber Financial News network website,
the Time Warner Corp., which is the globe's single largest media firm,
will cut about two thousand positions or so over at the America Online web division. This is around twenty percent of their total
workforce so this is obviously a severe reduction in general. According to the report,
the reason for these drastic measures is due to substantial subscriber defections which have
led to a nearly forty percentage reduction in sales over the previous recorded quarter.
This latest round of job cuts will reduce the web unit's staff to about eight thousand, which is down from about some
eighteen positions in 2001, when the firm purchased New-York based Time Warner for $124 billion dollars and change.
Boy, you talk about some serious downsizing going on here. To be honest though I sort of saw this coming some time ago. I saw the customer
service really slipping at this firm. Some of my own friends were complaining that they were having a difficult time nvigating on the world wide web
from America Online and also that it was almost impossible to uninstall the software. I do not know if these things were actually true because I never used them myself
but I felt something was going wrong there, unfortunately. In any case, for whatever reasons the
various unfavorable circumstances led to some one hundred billion dollars or so in losses (not exactly chump change) and a more than sixty percent drop in Time Warner's stock as
their customers rapidly jettisoned their dial-up internet access. I suppose that times had simply changed.
This is all sort of sad to me because America Online were Internet pioneer's created back in 1985. This child of the 80's who came on the scene when 'Breakfast at tiffany's' 'St. Elmo's fire'
and Madonna were hot is now attemting to catch up to more modern and streamlined competitors such as the Yahoo Corporation with free e-mail and other internet services.

The latest Employment numbers

2007-09-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

According to the Oregon-based newspaper 'The Building Team Forecast',
Employment Growth in the country has been Decelerating for over twelve months, unfortunately.
In fact, the latest month (8/07) U.S. employment number (monus four thousand jobs) sent major ripples waves throughout the entire American economy.
According to the report in question, this was actually the first month-to-month decline in some 4 years, dating back to August of 2003. Much of the responsibility for this
drop has been laid on the steps of the now infamous subprime mortgage fiasco and the aftereffects of reduced business as well as consumer confidence in general.
All in all, the United States Year-over-year Job Growth was +1.2% as of August; Down from it's Peak, according to the September 20 report by Alex Carrick.
There was some reason for optimism in the gloomy news, however.
More General News is available at
The Cutting Edge news Blog
The Toronto, Canada Stock Exchange's primary index upticked higher yesterday after lower-than-expected U.S. jobless claims emboldened their investors and increased good feelings regarding the world's largest economy.
It should be very interesting to see what happens in the job markets next month as the latest news is sure to send additional ripples throughout the global economy as whole.

August/September employment figures

2007-08-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

August/September employment numbers and economics

According to the highly respected Bloomberg financial news network,
consumer confidence has dropped recently and
unemployment spiked last month to 4.6 percent from 4.5 percent previously. Employment growth slowed to about ninety thousand last month from 126,000 the previous month,
down from last year's average of about 189,000 per month, unfortunatelt. In addition to this, growth in hourly earnings slowed to 3.9 percent las month as well.
What is causing the slow job growth rate and other negative economic statistics such as an increase in workers comp claims?
Well according to Bloomberg, a true authority on the subject, the worst housing recession in some sixteen years appeares to be badly reducing consumer confidence and therefore crucial spending as well as effecting employment numbers.
For example, sales of previously owned houses fell last month to the very lowest level in nearly 5 years! Furthermore, the glut of unsold houses rose to a sixteen year high

Further, The credit crunch appears to be effecting employment numbers as well. For instance, Accredited Home Lenders Holding Company just last week stated that it would close over fifty percent of their operations and let go about sixteen hundred individuals,
sadly enouph. Just before that occured, SunTrust Banks Incorporated stated that it was goping to cut more than two thousand employees in 2007 as profit from retail & commercial banking alike falls.
As if that were not enouph, Weaker house prices also means slower automobile sales, according to the biggest American automobile retailer, Bloomberg reported.
The economic news is not all gloomy, however. Luckily, decreasing fuel costs have at least provided consumers with a certain amount of relief. The Price of regular gasoline fell from as high as $3.05 a gallon the previous month to $2.78 a gallon on Aug. 22. These Prices are still up thirty percent from their lows for 2007 of $2.14 a gallon on Jan. 24, however.

Job Cuts over at Earthlink increase stock price

2007-08-28T13:15:00.001-07:00

Did you ever notice that stock always shoots up right after a firm announces layoffs or downsizing? According to an AP report by noted journalist Greg Bluestein,
Shares of the giant ISP EarthLink moved upwards over six percentage points today after the
they stated that they would be trimming about nine hundred or so positions (which is around fifty percent of their total work force), plus close down 4 offices in a major campaign to lower existing expenses.
In addition to these rather draconian measures, the firm stated that it will also repurchase some two hundred million dollars worth of their own stock as part of this restructering plan. Furthermore,
the Georgia-based firm declared that additional cuts may be announced as early as prior the year's end.
All in all, the firm will close it's offices in Orlando, Florida., Knoxville, Tennessee., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. and San Francisco, California.
They will also reduce their profile in a couple of other locales around the country.
The firm claims it may save between twenty-five million to thirty-five million through the remainder of the year due to these actions. The firm now employs nearly two thousand individuals,
and they have been one of the leading ISP's in the nation for some time.
The firm is struggling to bring dial-up customers into the fold who were turning to high-speed internet alternatives and had declared that it was looking at its municipal wireless Internet networks in 4 metropolitan areas prior
to deciding how to move forward with similar networks at other locations around the nation.
Last month, the firm prudently lowered their 2007 revenue estimate after reporting large losses pertaining to the Helio project.
These struggles certainly reflected in the firm's overall earnings. They posted a $16.3 million loss last quarter which may have prompted the current downsizing efforts.
I would not be at all surprised if they eventually outsourced some of their other positions overseas, if they have not already done so.

Workers' comp changes affects employers

2007-08-18T00:32:00.000-07:00

Insurance firms are less liable for some specific kinds of workers' compensation claims following
a policy change that was approved by the state Department of Banking and Insurance.
The change in question, which occured on July first, permits insurance firms to reduce their coverage as well as to
limit liability in those cases where an employer's specific actions may have contributed to the accident.
All in all, Employers will be affected in 2 different waysaccording to the particular banking dept. which made this ruling.
More workers comp related information and data at
The Workers Comp Blog
For one thing, they will be more exposed to claims, since they will not have the coverage for some kinds of accidents. And yet
the policy change in question should save them from increase in premiums. Thus it has a downside and an upside as well.
The change was prompted by a Court decision late last year pertaining to a workplace accident and whether or not the workers'
compensation insurer had to shoulder the whole responsibility for paying the damages
that would result if insurers had to pay compensation for more of the claims.
Therefore the bureau, working with the insurers, edited the policy language somewhat to allow insurers to get around an additional liability, over and above the regular workers' compensation payments.

Can the Housing Market get worse?

2007-08-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

Many analysts are wondering if the housing downturn can get worse than it already is.
Channel 4 News has reported that Mortgate repayments are rising and repossessions
are at an all-time high - while still increasing - and new figures released today
showed that the number of new homes being constructed in the United States has decreased
to its lowest level in some ten years.
Just yesterday Yesterday, one of the countries largest mortgage firm, Countrywide Financial,
stated that it had been made to borrow nearly $6bn from a consortium of forty banks to stay alive.
This has caused it's shares to fall severely - with repercussions for the stock market.
In addition to this, homeowners have seen their home values drop and defaulters have seen their homes taken over
by the banks. Your out on the streets mama. I don;t care if you have 3 young children.
We just gotta have the profit.
BusinessWeek is not optimistic on a quick recovery either.
They reported on their website that financial markets were already in some turmoil today when
the Commerce Department stated the bad news that housing starts fell some 6.1% in July to a seasonally adjusted pace of 1.381 million.
That is the lowest level in an entire decade. it was really ytthe sheer size of the drop that was such a shock, however, as they had beeb bracing for some kind of tumble.
Meanwhile Single-family building permits, down about 1.6% last month, were not much better than the housing-starts numbers. Since they are less affected by the weather,
they are a less volatile measure of the state of the market and are a crucial marker for future construction. Last month's steep slide in permits marked the nineteenth reduction in the twenty-two months
that housing has been in recession. Sounds like we are out of the frying pan and into the fire.
"As bad as July's numbers were, they are going to get worse in the next 1 to 3 months because of the turmoil in financial markets today," stated Patrick Newport, an economist at Waltham (Massachusetts.)-based Global Insight.
Part of the reason is that fewer individuals will be qualifying for mortgages.

The most Expensive Real Estate Markets in the country

2007-08-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

Top journalist & writer Matt Woolsey of Forbes magazine recently compiled his list of the
priciest real estate markets in the country, and what a sobering list it really is.
Not surprisingly, New York City and LA top the list..... buyers there can expect the cost to be a million dollars or more for a house which could cost 50% less than that in other markets.
LA has just been ridiculous. For instance, in quarter one of 2001, about forty-two percent of the houses purchased there were available at the median earning household. Yet in the first quarter of 2007,
only some three percent of the houses sold there were affordable to those households earning the median income!
This information comes from the National Association of Home Builders as well as Wells Fargo Bank.
Matt pointed out that a decade ago, San Francisco was the only major real estate market that was above a 4.5. But today there are a staggering thirteen.
More California resources can be found over at at California News
Unfortunately, the more incronguent that prices are with income, the more potential buyers must turn to various credit sources to make up for
the market's inherent unaffordability. This could realistically signal trouble later on. Just consider the current tightening of credit standards for instance. This may very well create problems for the markets trying to recover from a downturn.
Another contributing factor to a region's unaffordability is certain local policies which increase the cost of building new houses.
Affordability has much to do with where a market is in its particular growth cycle. For instance 5 years ago Las Vegas was one of the countries's most affordable cities, because of a flurry of development. Yet now, growth has slowed down enough so that fewer than twenty percent of all house sales last quarter were available to those households at the median income level.
A fascinating tidbit is that since the beginning of the century, Boston house prices have risen 16.7%. Median-income buyers who make up half the buying pool in 2000 now represent only 28% of it. By way of comparision, in Raleigh, North Carolina., house prices have grown by 37% in that span, and the share of median-income earners buying houses has dropped by only three percent.
The rest of top 10 most expensive real estate markets are San Diego, California, Miami, Florida.; Sacramento, California.; Las Vegas, Nevada.; Seattle, Washington.; Boston, Massachusetts & Orlando, Florida.

The Subprime Loans Debacle

2007-08-12T21:37:00.001-07:00

As reported recently in 'The Economic Times', the subprime loan problem that has been hammering the American
economy of late has also sent ripples worldwide, with a mild correction occuring to global equity markets
in recent weeks. Even countries such as India are feeling the heat and are affected, unfortunately.
But what exactly is this thing all about?
Well in a nutshell, the home loans offered by banks and various real estate finance firms are subject to capital standards that are prescribed by regulators. This essentially requires them to back
the risk in lending with an adequate level of owned capital. The growth in the mortgage business of a firm is therefore limited by the amount of capital available. and this includes undistributed profits as well.
Pursuing a more aggressive growth rate would require new capital to be raised from time to time, and this has a tendency to limit the attractiveness of the firm in the equity market.
As the Economic Times reported, to overcome this particular problem the firms in question began to sell the loans which they originated through a process sometimes known as securitisation. This big word just means the carving out of
pools of home loans with varied risk & return characteristics and selling down the same through certain structures to new investors in basically the same way that a bond is traded in the debt market.
Now the mortgage firms by becoming originators of mortgage loans who sell down the assets at a profit to other investors — often mutual funds, insurance firms, hedge funds and so on therefore improve their return on equity without having to continually raise new capital.
Wow, talk about playing games with money!
The CDOs are usually sold at a yield lesser than the contracted yield with the individual home mortgages therefore deriving a profit equivalent to the difference between the net present values of the cash flows at the 2 yields.

The subprime fiasco in America a therefore a result of the excesses built into the system originally created by pushing the balance between risk and return beyond reasonably levels. Aggressive American banks were offering well priced home loans to subprime borrowers while hoping that the boom in the real estate market
would continue and the security cover will be more than enouph when repossession & ultimate sale becomes necessary on loan default caused either by too much unemployment or increasing interest rates. So far, it hasn't been.

Over sixty percent of consumers expect unemployment rate to remain unchanged

2007-08-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

According to the highly respected Reuters web-based news network,
the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers for the month of July showed that some sixty-six percent of
all consumers expect the unemployment rate to remain unchanged (or possibly decline), while another thirty
three percent of them thought that the jobless rate would rise in the coming year.
This information is relevent since Consumers' employment expectations are a fairly reliable measure of worry
regarding future job and wage prospects, according to expert Richard Curtin of the Univ. of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.
He was quaoted as saying that ""Employment and wage growth rate are the leading factors that will ensure the continued expansion of consumer spending,"
He also stated that this is due to the fact that Consumer spending has been one of the top drivers of the American economic engine.
There are also concerns that the chaos currently happening in the housing market may result in an unfortunate slowdown of GDP growth.
Furthermore, Curtin was quoted as saying that non-farm employment has grown by an average of some 136 positions per month up to this point this year.
The unemployment rate is at 4.6 percent right now.

Financial Fraud Bill signed

2007-07-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

With more and more older American citizens living in the Golden State than in any other state in the union, the Governor signed legislation on July 12 to aid in protecting older residents from fraud.Incidentially this a terrific Baltimore credit repair attorney
which likewise does bankruptcy and credit repair attorney cases in Baltimore.
Just last year, the Governor signed SB 1609 by Senator Joseph Simitian, (a Democrat from Palo Alto) which helps in protecting senior citizens from various unethical lenders when they go into reverse mortgages. And in 2005, he signed SB 1018 by Senator Simitian which gaurds seniors from financial abuse by requiring bank, savings and loan, and credit union workers who suspect possible elder financial abuse to notify the Adult Protective Services right away.
According to the California Dept. of Social Services statistics, the number of abuse reports in California has grown by nearly a quarter, from about 75,000 in 2000-01 to some 93,000 or so in 2005-06. Pretty frightening stuff when you stop to think about it.
To find some quality Los Angeles personal injury attorneys
who can help with cases of elder abuse as well as many types of
injuries, accidents, automobile crashes and so forth, take a look at the site mentioned above. They are among the best in Orange County as well as the greater Los Angeles area.

FED News

2007-07-02T13:36:00.001-07:00

FED News

According to MoneyNews.com as reported by the New Max network,
The Federal Reserve left its target Fed funds rate unchanged at 5.25 percent for the 8th straight meeting. The latest meeting happens to mark a whole year since the Fed last adjusted rates.

This puzzling inaction over the last year has come even though inflation has been rising and the overall economy dipping a bit. And it's looking increased assured that Bernanke & Co.'s inaction may very well lead to a bout of stagflation, which of course is a mixture of increased inflation and recession.
It is not a pretty mixture, unfortunately. On the whole, inflation has been consistently growing since October of 2006, unfortunately.
Furthermore, News Max reported, GDP has slowed down over the last year to a rate of only 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2007. Ouch, that really hurts.
The Fed is holding out hopes that inflation will begin to slwo down and that economic growth will be "moderate" this year, picking up in the second half.
Is that a pipe dream? probably not, but even the Fed has said that the housing slump and it's effect overall will be worse than previously expected. "The correction of the housing sector was likely to continue to weigh heavily on economic activity through most of this year - somewhat longer than previously expected". This statement was taken from the Fed's May 9 meeting.
MoneyNews.com believes that the Fed is basically ignoring the probable threat of stagflation. It would "rather watch as the 2 economic disasters duke it out with each other", as they said. Obviously, there are no real winners when it comes to stagflation. It is truly the worst of both worlds.

Stealth Financial News?

2007-06-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

According to an article by top journalist John Browne and reported on the Newsmax website,
the financial world was stunned by the fear that Bear Stearns may have to close 2 of its hedge funds which are
heavily invested in some twenty billion of subprime mortgage market instruments.
It appears that a central issue of contention was simply what the Financial Times called "cov-lite" deals.
This is short for dilution, or perhaps exclusion, of various restrictive covenants which have traditionally been generally standard in the lending industry.
Apparently, some hedge funds are using their huge leverage as well as major financial clout to force lenders to lend on conditions which include
small changes made to what is termed the "boiler plate," restrictive covenants contained in the loan agreements.
This makes sure that the borrower meets certain financial standards on an up-to-date basis. Cash flow coverage of interest payments, margin call levels and debt/equity ratios would be examples.

Workers Comp News

2007-06-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

According to June 5 article reported in 'The Californian',
Workers comp reforms still need some work. Some serious work, it appears.
While even many skeptics have to admit that the reforms the "The Governator" achieved several years ago did indeed accomplish some good, fundamnetal cost reductions for California based firms, it is time to really analyze whether
or not these particular reforms are unfairly punishing injured employees and whether or not they are really fulfill their alleged aim to employers as well.
To give Arnie credit where credit is due, several years ago California's rates were a whopping two times the national average, and high workers' comp rates were simply dragging down virtually every firm (except for medical and legal ones).
Along with several other provisions, these particular reforms restricted an employee's choice of physicians to those on an employer-mandated list and also, significantly, scaled back the number of visits, standardized benefits for each category of injuries to eliminate arbitrary reimbursement rates which were rampant
and also established a review panel which was meant to limit litigation levels.
And yet, paradoxically, these apparently well-meaning reforms may have tipped the scales too much in favor of the insurers at the relative expense of workers & employers.More information about employment, unemployment and workers compensation issues at The Employment information Blog
Even though California's employers are paying less to insure their employees than they were initially, employers' costs are still more than forty percent higher than the $2.30 per $100 in payroll they
were paying in 2000! As a matter of fact, California is still among the ten most expensive states for workers' comp. You can find some additional news regarding California at California Legal news

Adding insult to injury, (pun intended) payouts for severe injuries like losing a limb or an eye while working are very far below the national average.
All in all, workers compesation is still costing California's employers more than the competitors in other states and yet all the while compensating injured employees less than elsewhere. Ouch, that hurts.More information about employment, unemployment and workers compensation issues at........
This sounds like a system that, despite various improvements several years ago, still is not really working too great for either the employers or their employees.

Employment and Immigration Issues

2007-06-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

In a recent summer 07' article by Steven Camarota (Center for Immigration Studies)
reports that state employment numbers prove that as the number of poorly educated migrant workers has grown substantially, the number of lesser-educated state residents there holding a job in Georgia has been reduced sharply.
Between the years 2000 and 2006 the share of less-educated native-born adult Georgians (between 18 to 64) holding a job was reduced from seventy one percent all the way down to sixty-six percent. In this case less educated means high school only.
The article also reported the astonishing fact that if
employment rates for Georgians been the same in 2006 as they were at the beginning of the decade, then 186,000 more less-educated state-born adults & teenagers would have been employed. The number of less-educated migrants holding a position of some kind increased by 218,000
during this ame period of time.
Less-educated black individuals in the state have seen an even steeper decline in employment, from 66 percent holding a position in 2000 to just 60 percent as of last year. More info. on this topic at
Employment and Workers Comp News Blog

According to this report, there are probably between between 250,000 and 350,000 less-educated illegal aliens holding jobs in this state.
All the while, Wages for less-educated persons in Georgia have stayed the same. Over the entire 6-year time period of this research study, real annual wages for less-educated adults grew by only one percent. If there was indeed a labor shortage, wages should be rising fast.
In this same time period, the percentage of native-born teenagers holding a job dropped sharply from twenty-two percent to eleven percent.
There are some 300,000 native-born teenagers not working in Georgia.
Immigrants, both legal as well as illegal, substantially increased their share of all less-educated workers in this state, from seven percent in 2000 to nineteen percent in 2006. Other numbers show that at least fifty percent of this growth was from illegals.

Banking and investment news

2007-06-17T14:07:00.001-07:00

However, it is quite obvious that many investors are simply grabbing their money and running, despite the fact that commercial real estate stocks are considered a staple of a well-balanced portfolio by many financial and investing experts & analysts.
These shares are usually considered to be a sort of hedge against inflationary pressures since investors can collect some sizeable
dividends which then actually tend to increase in the higher inflation time periods as landlords raise their rents (is that cynical, do you think?)
Als, after real estate assets go up in value, the investors get a share of the profit after the properties are eventually sold.
So what is the best course of action for most individuals who are playing the game right now but don't want to lose their shirt?
More details at IFIP Financial news
Well, for smaller investors, the article goes on to say, the most affordable and also the most effective method for gaining said exposure to commercial real estate is simply through real estate investment trusts, which are also sometimes referred to as REITs. The majority of the firms involved own a mixture of buildings and such.
Yet certain investors in this game have flat-out confused the housing & commercial sectors, particularly after trouble surfaced earlier in the year regarding subprime home mortgages, which tend to service individuals who have flawed credit & likewise other riskier types.

Troubling News about Outsourcing

2007-06-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

A report by W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research and additional analysis by Business Week (as analyzed by the scdigest editorial staff) states that for the past few years anomalies in the way the government accounts for imported goods has had the effect of somewhat overestimating overall economic growth,
domestic manufacturing output, plus productivity growth.................
This particular news report may in and of itself go a long way towards explaining the seeming contradiction that some individuals have observed between the rather huge increase of imports over the past 3 years, particularly from China and other Esta Asian countries, with what seemed to be strong American manufacturing growth but stagnant wages. If the new data holds up, it is quite
probable that it will prompt louder calls for better protectionist policies from the powers that be.
The article summed all this up by saying that
certain statistical data regarding the American economy may not be accurately assesing the overall effect of imports as well as outsourced production. Now precisely how this is the case takes a skilled economist to figure out, yet it appears that there are some real issues here.
GDP growth may therefore be reported at half a percentage point higher than it really is; with reported GDP growth in the 2-3% range or so, this is in reality a substantial mistke, if it is indeed correct. This accounting is basically producing “phantom” GDP.”
The impact on manufacturing data is much larger. In this particular sector, manufacturing output might be overstated by as much as forty percent - a gaping discrepancy.
This, in turn, would say that the impact of imports on US manufacturing levels and competitiveness is much more severe than economic statistics have indicated – and would explain why anecdotal evidence indicated a large impact on US production, but that it didn’t seem that way from overall statistics.
All this combines seems to show that American manufacturing competitiveness in the new information age, global economy may not be in as good a shape as some people were led to believed.

This may, at least in part, explain the difference between statistics and appearance, if further analysis supports the accounting errors, it is quite likely to lead for calls for a heightened set of trade protection laws before the industrial base is futher eroded by GATT and NAFTA.

Los Angeles legal Resource

2007-05-29T16:33:00.000-07:00

Today I really wanted to endorse an individual whom I
know personally and who I can remark of his credibility. I urge you to survey his website if you are so inclined,
because this guy is one of the top personal injury attorneys in all of Southern California in general, and Los Angeles specifically.
In fact Michael and the rest of his firm are very aggressive former U.S. Marine attorneys who fight extremely hard to assist you in winning a verdict or legal settlement.......
Their website is:
Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney and you can contact these especially aggressive lawyers if you need to recover any monetary damages
for events such as whiplash, broken ankle, broken jaw, Train/Metrolink
Trucks, Motorcycle, Pedestrian, Slip & Fall, Elder Abuse, Electrocution, Hit & Run and car accident cases. Get a free legal consultation for you serious California personal injury case. You may be entitled to recover for past,
present and future lost income and physical and mental pain as well as suffering. Here you can Ask and retain an experienced, compassionate local L.A. personal injury attorney.
Take a look at the site to find out Verdicts & Settlements, look at the client portal and also view the Practice areas. There is a section of the site that has a broad array of legal links & related resources as well.

Real Estate Agent Commisions Questioned

2007-05-14T18:02:00.000-07:00

An uproar seems to be brewing about the huge commisions that real estate agents and brokers appear to be making, despite apparently doing little work to justify it.....

In an RISMedia news report on May14, 2007 (no writer was credited), it was stated that The real estate piece featuring Redfin that aired Sunday on the popular television program "60 Minutes" prompted broad reaction throughout the whole industry, and in particularly on real estate related weblogs.

The 60 minute piece in question had zeroed in on how the world wide web has been changing the real estate community by essentially spotlighting the Puget Sound are discount broker Redfin and it's founder, Glen Kelman.....................Kelman has stated that the real estate industry "is the most screwed up industry in America, and we feel like things that Amazon or eBay or Yahoo have done of other industries, we can do for the real estate industry."{perhaps like how they affected the stock broking industry?}

In anay case The RISmedia publisher responded to the piec by saying that the television segment "........misleads consumers into thinking that all their Realtor does is list their property-or only does ‘four hours worth of work' as the former traditional agent in the piece noted-and they walk away with thousands of dollars for doing nothing. This is a gross misrepresentation of the work Realtors do for their clients to increase the value of their homes and justify their commissions."

I can only say that, where I live, a friend of my father, who happens to be a real estae agent, bragged about how he just made a $90,000 commision for doing a few hours work on a particular real estate deal. Of course,

New Article

2006-02-10T22:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a retirement investments article:
Your Retirement Investments Priorities

You hear it over and over in the media: "Invest for your retirement!" But with so many retirement options and a limited amount of money to put towards retirement investments, it isn’t always clear where the investor should put her money.

In fact, one of the most common questions that both current and prospective investors ask is: if I have a limited amount to contribute, where should I put my money first, second and so on?

In the best situations, you’d maximize all of your legally allowed retirement contributions every year. But many of us do not have the financial freedom to do this. We need to place our retirement money where it will be most effective. Here are some rules to guide you in your decision making process:

Retirement Rule #1: Maximize Your Company’s Matching Contribution

If your employer provides matching contributions in a company sponsored plan, then put in as much as you need to receive the full match. It’s not everyday that you can get 25-100% of a return on your investment immediately.

Rule #1 is the easiest decision to make. But if your company doesn’t match, or you’ve got some left over money to invest, how do you choose between the other options?

Retirement Rule #2: Prefer Quality and Flexibility

If your employer’s retirement plan is very restrictive and doesn’t offer you very many good investment options, then choose to first maximize any IRA of your choice. Choosing a good IRA is as easy as choosing a good mutual fund: you want to identify a fund that has a strong track record, has good management and is poised to provide consistently high, long-term returns.

On the other hand, if you’re company’s plan offers you a wide array of good investments, it may also offer some flexibility that an IRA cannot offer. Many 401k plans allow you to have access to your funds before retirement and without penalty via self-given loans. These loans can be used for emergencies and you always pay yourself back. Unfortunately, while you have the money out, you mis-out on any stock market returns that you may have otherwise profited from.

Retirement Rule #3: Roth or Traditional IRA?

There are two IRA options: Traditional and Roth. Which should you pick? As a general rule, pick the Roth if you think you’ll be in a higher tax bracket at the time of your retirement and choose Traditional if you’ll be in a lower tax bracket as retirement approaches. The reason: you minimize the taxes you have to pay to the government.

Quentin James writes articles on investing and personal finance for The Common Sense Investor @ http://csinvestor.com.

Investing Article

2005-12-21T18:45:00.000-08:00

I found this to be a very interesting and informative article about investing online and finding investment information on the web. Larry has some very interesting perspectives on investing that I find unusually insightful......

The Internet is a great tool for everyone, including investors due to the response speed, and the amount of information that is exchanged. Transactions are executed very quickly, with the click of a button or a few keystrokes. However, the Internet is also another avenue for fraud. Investors must use caution and common sense when using the Internet for securities activities.

The fact that information appears on the Internet does not render additional credibility to the information. Be especially wary if the identity of the source is not identified.

Over the Internet, investors can purchase securities of a company directly from the company. Treat the online transaction as you would a regular investment, and make sure that the securities are registered or exempted under both federal and state law.

Alternatively, investors can trade securities through online brokers. Study and understand the terms, conditions and costs of these services, before you use them. Brokers must be licensed, and must be registered with the Securities Exchange Commission.

Finally, be very careful with information you gather from a “chat room.” It is in these “chat rooms” that persons posing as credible sources send out information to “pump” the price of a stock. Once the price of this stock has increased, they “dump,” or sell their stock at a great profit. These are called “pump and dump schemes.”

Steering Clear of Cyber fraud
The following steps, according to North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) can help you keep on guard when you go online.

1. Do not expect to get rich quick – When evaluating an investment you have learned about online; exercise the same caution and deliberation that you would bring to any unfamiliar investment opportunity. The old rule “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” applies just as much to offers made in cyberspace as to those made through any other medium.

2. Download and print a hard copy of any online solicitation you are considering – This document may come in handy if problems develop later. Be sure to note the Internet address, date, and time of the offer.

3. Do not assume that an online computer service polices its investment bulletin boards – The vast majority of services take a “hands-off” approach to screening claims made in message postings, and even those that do minimal policing cannot possible keep up with the millions of messages posted each month. Remember, too, that anyone can set up a web site or advertise online, usually without any check on the legitimacy of their claims.

4. Never buy little known, thinly trade stocks strictly based on online hype – Low-volume stocks are the most susceptible to manipulation since their price can be moved through relatively small strategic trades. Even if a hyped stock starts to move up, proceed with caution – this may just be part of the overall manipulation scheme.

5. Be cautious about acting on the advice of individuals who hide their identity – The use of aliases on computer bulletin boards is intended to protect privacy, but con artists also can exploit it. People online may not be whom they claim. What may seem to be two or more different people talking up a stock may actually be a single individual with a personal interest in driving up its price through false information or baseless speculation. In addition, an impressive-looking website can be the product of a laptop computer on the other side of the world, far from the jurisdiction of U.S. law enforcement regulators.

6. Do not get taken in by claims of “inside information” such as pending news releases, contract announcements, and innovative new products – In cyberspace, practically anyone can say anything. Despite the abundance of “hot tips” littered across bulletin boards and discussion groups, it is extremely unlikely that genuine insider information will be publicly broadcasted on an investment bulletin board.

7. Be skeptical about claims that an online stock hypester has personally checked out an investment – One established tactic of investment schemers is to talk up companies, mining operations, and factories in remote corners of the country or the globe, where it can be impossible for the average investor to investigate or visit in person.

8. Take the time to investigate outside sources of information on any investment you learn about online – Check with a trusted financial adviser and always obtain written financial information, such as a prospectus, annual report, offering circular, and financial statements. Ask the online promoter where the firm is incorporated, and call the state’s Secretary of State or Commissioner of Securities to verify that information. Also, make sure that an investment opportunity and the person promoting it are properly registered with your state securities agency. In Hawaii, the agency to contact is the Business Registration Division of the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs.

9. If you think you have been duped, do not be embarrassed about complaining – Early action increases your chances of getting your money back and may prevent others from losing money. If you spot a potential online investment fraud, contact your state securities administrator, Better Business Bureau (808) 942-2355, or The Federal Trade Commission (415) 356-5270.

Larry Westfall is the owner of http://www.trueperseverance.com

Hello

2005-12-13T19:21:00.000-08:00

I hope these other changes now take effect.

Hello

2005-12-13T19:16:00.000-08:00

By the way articles regarding investing, business and banking issues will be posted asap and will come a variety of consumer and investing sources. They will cover various topics such as consumer loans, how to fill out loan applications, where to obtain venture capital and other entrepreneurial issues.

Welcome

2005-12-13T19:12:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to the Business and investment Blog. Here you will find information on a number of topics related to business, finance, investment, money and banking.