Friday, September 14, 2012
Statist solutions will only hamper growth
Telegraph View: Luckily, Mr Cable's proposals for a state lending bank look little more than a footling irrelevance
Essay: Moyers on Greed
A Bill Moyers Essay.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/2gspR20LTmI/watch3.html
W. S. Merwin, Part II
On the heels of winning this year's Pulitzer prize for poetry, W.S. Merwin joins Bill Moyers for a wide-ranging conversation about language, his writing process, the natural world, and the insights gleaned from a much-lauded career of more than 50 years. W.S. Merwin is the author of 21 volumes of poetry and won his second Pulitzer Prize for his most recent collection, THE SHADOW OF SIRIUS.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/cTnRzAOvs7Q/profile.html
Thursday, September 13, 2012
jpmorgan: @msuster agreed. The way Twitter is treating developers/users and killing the goose that laid the golden egg--I would expect nothing less.
jpmorgan: @msuster agreed. The way Twitter is treating developers/users and killing the goose that laid the golden egg--I would expect nothing less.
Source: http://twitter.com/jpmorgan/statuses/240677989476597760
Maybe Romney's Critics Jumped the Gun
Debra Saunders, SF Chronicle
They don't fear us, and they don't respect us. That's the only message you can take away from an Egyptian mob's attack on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo during which rioters scaled embassy walls and tore down the American flag on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. President Barack Obama helped ease out Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak -- a dictator, yes, but also an ally -- to facilitate the Arab Spring, and this is the thanks America gets.Sadly, a separate assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that took the life of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other...
They don't fear us, and they don't respect us. That's the only message you can take away from an Egyptian mob's attack on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo during which rioters scaled embassy walls and tore down the American flag on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. President Barack Obama helped ease out Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak -- a dictator, yes, but also an ally -- to facilitate the Arab Spring, and this is the thanks America gets.Sadly, a separate assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that took the life of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other...
Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/09/13/arab_spring_american_winter_115430.html
America's Policy on Bombing.
On the heels of the American drone attacks on suspected terrorist compounds in Pakistan, Bill Moyers Journal takes a closer look at America's history of and current policy on bombing, explores the ethics behind these assaults when civilians become the victims and asks: Does bombing work? Bill Moyers sits down with historian Marilyn Young, author of the forthcoming Bombing Civilians: A Twentieth Century History and former Pentagon official Pierre Sprey, who developed military planes and helped found the military reform movement.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/bG7MAxRPpHM/profile.html
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
August 2012 Goals
Since July was so successful I decided I will put up some goal for the final month of Summer. For me it technically ends Aug 26th as we start work on the 27th. Many are the same but tinkered with.
Walk 45 miles this month.
I did well in July so I would like to repeat this in August with a higher goal. I know once school starts I am going to have to change my schedule and I will have to see how much energy I have and how healthy I am.
Lose 8 lbs this month (and keep it off)
Snowflake $200
This will come from bottle recycling, money saved from weekly jars and potentially, money left from summer 2012 or back to school.
Read 2 books just for ME
Read 5 books for school
Log 50 hours of quality prep work at school (before Aug 26)
It's time to kick it into gear and get things ready. I will ensure 'quality prep work time' by making a list of things I need to accomplish. That will save me from wandering about and keep me focused. SO much to do.
Walk 45 miles this month.
I did well in July so I would like to repeat this in August with a higher goal. I know once school starts I am going to have to change my schedule and I will have to see how much energy I have and how healthy I am.
Lose 8 lbs this month (and keep it off)
I will go with the WW guideline and hope for 2 lbs a week. If I work the program and walk and I don't achieve it I will be ok with that, because I know I am still on program.
Bake 4 times (on the cooler/rainier days)
Bake 4 times (on the cooler/rainier days)
Try 2 new recipes
Snowflake $200
This will come from bottle recycling, money saved from weekly jars and potentially, money left from summer 2012 or back to school.
Read 2 books just for ME
Read 5 books for school
Log 50 hours of quality prep work at school (before Aug 26)
It's time to kick it into gear and get things ready. I will ensure 'quality prep work time' by making a list of things I need to accomplish. That will save me from wandering about and keep me focused. SO much to do.
Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/08/august-2012-goals.html
Matthew Herren on why one-way satellite radio is the answer in Africa
TR35 winner Matthew Herren has a plan for improving education in Africa: beam in textbooks using one-way satellite radio. Technology Review asked him about the status of the project at the Emerging Technology Conference today. Herren explained how he hopes to make the most out of the continent's limited infrastructure resources.
Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/VideoPosts.aspx?id=17426
More Jobs in August in Canada? Hot Dang!
Stats Canada pulled a little bit of good news (economy wise) for Canadians with their Labour Force Survey for August 2012: After a decline in July, employment rose by 34,000 in August, the result of an increase in part-time work. The unemployment rate held steady at 7.3%. Any news like this has got to be [...]
More Jobs in August in Canada? Hot Dang! is a post from: Canadian Personal Finance Blog and follow me on twitter as well: Big Cajun Man, daily updates from all over the Blogosphere. Subscribe to my comments feed as well!
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CanadianFinancialStuff/~3/2kX6ZSKxdYc/
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Among Likely Voters, the Race Is Close
Balz & Cohen, Washington Post
Last week's Democratic National Convention helped President Obama improve his standing against Republican Mitt Romney, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, but did little to reduce voter concern about his handling of the economy.The survey shows that the race remains close among likely voters, with Obama at 49 percent and Romney at 48 percent, virtually unchanged from a poll taken just before the conventions.
Last week's Democratic National Convention helped President Obama improve his standing against Republican Mitt Romney, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, but did little to reduce voter concern about his handling of the economy.The survey shows that the race remains close among likely voters, with Obama at 49 percent and Romney at 48 percent, virtually unchanged from a poll taken just before the conventions.
Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2012/09/11/among_likely_voters_the_race_is_close_289768.html
Simon Schama Part 1
Bill Moyers speaks with historian Simon Schama, who spent months traveling across America in the run-up to an historic election to discover what events in our nation's past can tell us about how we live today and what's in store for the future.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/ASbwyzVXTZ8/profile.html
Monday, September 10, 2012
Simon Johnson and Michael Perino, Part II
This week, the Senate responded to the growing demand for a new Pecora Hearing, the 1930s investigation into the causes and effects of the Great Depression. ring, the 1930s investigation into the causes and effects of the Great Depression. A 92-4 vote in Senate supported the creation of a bipartisan and independent commission to investigate wrong doing in the lead-up to the economic crisis. For context, Bill Moyers speaks with economist Simon Johnson and Ferdinand Pecora biographer and legal scholar Michael Perino. Johnson is a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a professor at MIT Sloan School of Management, and Perino is a professor of law at St. John's University and has been an advisor to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/opD5-u5Zx4U/profile2.html
Italy's Mario Monti rejects extra conditions for Draghi aid
Italy would not accept additional conditions being attached to any support from the ECB's bond-buying programme beyond the guidelines already agreed with EU partners, Prime Minister Mario Monti said.
Money, Politics and Health Care
Bill Moyers looks at the influence of money and lobbying on health care reform efforts in Washington, D.C.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/HV7x2c4jqMI/profile3.html
Sunday, September 9, 2012
How is Your Money Thermostat Impacting Your Finances?
“Limits exist only in the mind” – Unknown In last week’s post I explored one of the key concepts presented in T. Harv Eker’s book “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind” – your money personality and how it can impact your financial future. One other concept presented in the book has sparked an “aha moment” in...
How is Your Money Thermostat Impacting Your Finances? appeared first on Retire Happy Blog.
Related posts:- How is Your Money Personality Impacting Your Finances?
- Get serious about your finances
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- Be aware of putting money into depreciating assets
- Saving money for children
Source: http://retirehappyblog.ca/how-is-your-money-thermostat-impacting-your-finances/
MF Global and the Risks Looming in the Repo Market
MF Global's crippling bets were only possible because the brokerage firm was able to borrow voraciously in a debt market that also played a big role in the collapses of Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Isaac Brings Higher Gas Prices, South and North
Filed under: Energy
By JONATHAN FAHEY, AP Energy WriterNEW YORK (AP) - Drivers are being hit with the biggest one-day jump in gasoline prices in 18 months just as the last heavy driving weekend of the summer approaches.
As Hurricane Isaac swamps the nation's oil and gas hub along the Gulf Coast, it's delivering sharply higher pump prices to storm-battered residents of Louisiana and Mississippi - and also to unsuspecting drivers up north in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
The national average price of a gallon of gas jumped almost five cents Wednesday to $3.80, the highest ever for this date. Prices are expected to continue to climb through Labor Day weekend, the end of the summer driving season.
"The national average will keep ticking higher, and it's going to be noticeable," says Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst at Gasbuddy.com
The wide storm shut down several refineries along the Gulf Coast and others are operating at reduced rates. In all, about 1.3 million barrels per day of refining capacity is affected. So, it's no surprise that drivers in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida saw gas prices rise by a dime or more in the past week.
But some states in the Midwest are suffering even more dramatic spikes. Ohio prices jumped 14 cents, Indiana prices soared 13 cents and Illinois prices jumped 10 cents on Wednesday alone according to the Oil Price Information Service. Days before Isaac is expected to douse those states with rain, the storm forced the shutdown of a pipeline that serves a number of Midwest refineries.
Drivers in the region were angry and confused. "''I saw gas in my neighborhood for $3.56 a gallon just Tuesday morning, and now I'm paying $3.95. It's terrible," said Mary Allen of Cincinnati as she paid $20 for just over five gallons of gas. She wondered how Isaac could drive up gas prices in Ohio - and then resigned herself to a holiday weekend without travel.
The price surge is happening at the wrong time and the wrong place for Dickson Stewart, a 56-year-old electronics consultant, who is driving from Minneapolis to Savannah, Ga. this week. He stopped at a BP station in downtown Chicago Tuesday - home to some of the highest retail prices in the country - and paid $4.49 a gallon to fill up his Jeep Wrangler.
Stewart expects gas prices to fall after Labor Day. Analysts say he's probably right.
As Isaac fades away, the summer driving season ends, and refiners switch to cheaper winter blends of gasoline, stations owners should start dropping prices. "There is some very good relief in sight," DeHaan says.
When Katrina hit in 2005, the national average for gas spiked 40 cents in six days and topped $3 per gallon for the first time. Isaac likely won't have the same result, though its full impact on the refineries is yet to be determined.
The refineries are not expected to suffer long term damage. But refiners decided to shut down or run at reduced rates to protect their operations.
These facilities consume enormous amounts of electric power and generate steam to cook crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and heating oil. If a refinery loses power suddenly, operators can't properly clear the partially cooked oil out of pipes, and re-starting the refinery can take several days or even weeks.
In advance of Isaac, refineries instead conducted what is known as an orderly shutdown, so they can re-start as soon as the power supply is assured again. The Gulf refineries will likely stay off line for about three days.
Isaac cut into the amount of gasoline being produced, and raised fears that supplies could fall dangerously low if the storm proved worse than expected. When supplies drop or are threatened, wholesale prices rise. Then distributors and station owners have to pay more to fill up their station's tanks. They then raise their prices based on how much they paid for their current inventory, how much they think they will have to pay for their next shipment, and, how much their competitors are charging.
Prices spiked particularly high in the Midwest because Isaac forced Shell to close a pipeline that delivers crude from St. James, La. to refineries in the region.
Gasoline prices are particularly vulnerable to spikes around this time of year. Refiners keep a low supply of more expensive blends as driving season ends, knowing they'll soon be able to make cheaper winter blends of gasoline.
"We are really working with a just-in-time delivery system," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service.
Sponsored Links
Pump prices were on the rise even before Isaac blew in. The average price for gas rose about 40 cents from July 1 to mid-August because of higher oil prices and refinery problems in the Midwest and West Coast. At $3.80 per gallon, the national average is the highest since May 1 and well above the previous record for Aug. 29, $3.67 in 2008.Wednesday's jump of a nickel was the 10th biggest one-day jump on record, according to OPIS, and the biggest since the average price rose 6 cents on February 15, 2011 when turmoil in Libya was rising.
But prices could quickly come down if refineries can soon get up and running. Crude oil prices fell Wednesday and wholesale gasoline prices fell the past two days, suggesting the spike in retail gasoline prices could be short-lived. Americans will soon do less driving and the switch to cheaper blends will be well underway by mid-September.
That's still too late for Sharon Simon of Gadsden, Ala. She's driving 900 miles north to her daughter's wedding in Olean, N.Y. this weekend, and will now have to spend an extra $30 to $50 on gasoline for the trip. "Just as we are getting ready to head out the prices go up," she said. "I'm fed up with the surge in price every time there is a holiday."
__
AP Writers Lisa Cornwell in Cincinnati and Michelle Janaye Nealy in Chicago contributed to this report.
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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/30/hurricane-isaac-higher-gas-prices-south-and-north/
Leo Gerard
Bill Moyers sits down with United Steelworkers' International President Leo Gerard to discuss seeking economic justice for workers in the middle of an economic crisis and how he sees the future of American manufacturing. Gerard shares his thoughts on how unions will fare under the Obama administration, what kind of stimulus might be needed and what the future of American industry might look like.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/18_WWCluP_Q/profile.html
Sunday morning
After a busy day yesterday I am enjoying a bit slower pace today.
We ended up having a power outage last night due to a storm. Was off for about 4 hours.
The crock pot pulled pork turned out good. I added a couple things to the recipe. The last time I made this I tried one of those Clue House seasoning packs. Too many chili flakes in it for us. Great if you like hot and spicy.
Thanks to a video I found online I got two of my three hard drives out. The screws on my most recently deceased laptop are tight tight tight so I will try it again today. Those will go to the recycle depot tomorrow.
I am watching Canada vs Great Britain beach volley ball right now and curled up with one of my kitties, my coffee and my laptop.
Life is good.
We ended up having a power outage last night due to a storm. Was off for about 4 hours.
The crock pot pulled pork turned out good. I added a couple things to the recipe. The last time I made this I tried one of those Clue House seasoning packs. Too many chili flakes in it for us. Great if you like hot and spicy.
Thanks to a video I found online I got two of my three hard drives out. The screws on my most recently deceased laptop are tight tight tight so I will try it again today. Those will go to the recycle depot tomorrow.
I am watching Canada vs Great Britain beach volley ball right now and curled up with one of my kitties, my coffee and my laptop.
Life is good.
Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/07/sunday-morning.html
Friday, September 7, 2012
Bear Stearns Ex-Managers to Pay $1 Million to Settle Fraud Case
The federal judge overseeing the securities fraud case said it was "being settled for, relatively speaking, chump change," but that he was inclined to sign off on the settlement.
John Lithgow, Part II
He's played heroes, villains, saints, sinners, a ballet-dancing elephant, and a space alien, now actor and children's author John Lithgow - best known as Dick Solomon from NBC's hit show 3rd Rock from the Sun - reveals a new side of himself... poetry lover. The award-winning stage and screen star Lithgow shares his favorite poems, insights into acting, and thoughts on the enduring power of art. Lithgow currently stars in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. He has penned several children's books, as well as compiled poems for The Poets' Corner: The One-And-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/Hx-EA1qhxjM/profile.html
Director Oliver Stone, Part I
Veteran Oliver Stone came back from Vietnam a changed man. Now, with four films on the Vietnam War under his belt –Platoon (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Heaven & Earth (1993), and Pinkville (2007) – Oliver Stone talks with Bill Moyers about how his experiences of war has affected his life, his work and his vision of the world today. Also on the program, Bill Moyers comments on President Obama's decision to escalate troops in Afghanistan.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/NAsJdMJJdXQ/profile.html
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Health Care
A Bill Moyers Essay.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/VLHhxHIxizA/profile2.html
Are Fees Eroding Your Wealth?
Much of the time, it’s easy to overlook fees. They seem rather small, and it doesn’t seem as though they will have a big impact on your finances. However, you do want to watch out for them. Over time fees can add up, eroding your wealth and even resulting in a little missed opportunity. Are...
Are Fees Eroding Your Wealth? appeared first on Canadian Finance Blog.
Related Posts:Source: http://canadianfinanceblog.com/are-fees-eroding-your-wealth/
Reality Sets In for Nokia and RIM After Patent-Boost Fades
Filed under: Technology, Stocks in the News, Telecom
That was then.
Nokia and RIM are still in trouble, and no Samsung disruption is going to bring immediate salvation to their product offerings in the immediate future. Even if the lack of non-Apple competition does help, the vote so far is that the help will not be enough to stave off this bloodletting trend of Nokia and RIM.
All you need to do is look at the share prices of each and the performance this week. Both stocks resembled classic "gap and crap" patterns, where the gap up was met by immediate selling.
RIM shares closed at $6.94 on Friday, but they gapped up more than 5% to $7.29 on Monday morning on the Apple-Samsung news. The high was also $7.29, and shares then slid to $7.07 at the close on Monday and then to $7.02 for Tuesday's close. After a 1.3% drop so far on Wednesday, the price of $6.93 is now a penny less than where RIM's shares were on a prepatent news basis.
The Finns are not doing much better. Nokia shares closed at $3.28 on Friday, gapped up 7.4% to $3.31 at the Monday open with a high of $3.39 that day. Monday's close of $3.25 was under the opening price and shares closed at $3.03 on Tuesday. Now shares are down by 5% at $2.85.
Nokia and RIM might as well tell their employees that they will only get coal in their stockings this holiday season. The post-news trading reaction is only just further confirming that what was good for Apple does not really mean that anything is better for Nokia or for RIM.
JON C. OGG
Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Active Trader, Consumer Electronics, Technology, Technology Companies, Telecom & Wireless Tagged: AAPL, featured, NOK, RIMM
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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/29/reality-sets-in-for-nokia-and-rim-after-patent-boost-fades/
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
How to Be Grateful in Times of Need
Our lives go in cycles and at some point everyone experiences challenges in their lifetime. Some more extreme than others. When we are in challenging times it’s not always easy to find the goodness in life, especially when money is tight and we’re faced with worries about our income or family.
Personally I am currently facing one of the biggest challenges of my life and as a result my eyes are blurry from tears and my mind is clogged with worry. These worries keep interrupting my thought process, bring down my mood, and make me feel like crap all day long. It makes for a very difficult and unproductive day and sometimes these worries wake me up in the middle of the night too.
In the past when I have been faced with a big challenge I found that I was able to begin turning things around for the better by being grateful for what I already had in my life that was good.
If you too are struggling and worrying about life, here are some of the things that I practice, and you can too. I can tell you from experience that being grateful can actually work miracles.
Begin by Reminding Yourself About What’s Going Right
If you’re overwhelmed by worry and negative thoughts, find a quiet place, grab a pen and paper and make a list of answers to this question: What do I have to be grateful for in my life?
Start your list with the most obvious things such as your health and family. Do you have a car? A home? Clothes on your back? Food on the table?
- You don’t have to have the fanciest or the most expensive items for you to be grateful. Even if you buy your clothes at Goodwill, at least you’re clothed and warm. A used car in good condition will get you to work just as easily as a brand new car.
- Don’t forget to give thanks for the small things in life, such as getting a good parking space at the grocery store, or getting a restful night sleep before an important day.
Appreciating what you already have in life will free you to make positive changes.
Being Grateful In Spite of Setbacks
There’s no denying that you will suffer setbacks in life. It’s a fact of life! While it may be difficult to be grateful during these times, it’s important to remember that good can come from difficult situations.
For example, if you’ve recently lost your job, be grateful for the skills you have. With your skills, experience, and the knowledge you possess, you may end up finding a more fulfilling job that gives you more money or more responsibility while being closer to home.
As strange as it may sound in the moment of despair, try to be grateful during difficult times because, as one door closes, another opens the way to new opportunities. After all, you can’t find bright new possibilities in your life if you don’t experience a setback at one point or another.
Be Thankful For Life’s Setbacks
Setbacks are there to challenge you to be better, stronger, faster, and wiser.
The true test of your attitude is to be thankful for the obstacle ahead of you (even if you don’t understand why it exists in the first place), then push forward, stronger than ever.
Why should you be thankful? Because with each challenge you overcome, you gain the wisdom and courage to succeed the next time around. And if it weren’t for each and every challenge in your life, you’d never learn and grow!
Being grateful everyday will help you lift that overbearing black cloud that can be so stifling. You’ll begin to realize that life is good and you can make it through anything.
Source: http://tacklingourdebt.com/2012/08/13/how-be-grateful-times-need/
Friday, August 3, 2012
Make More Money, Get Out of Debt, and Live Your Life
For many of us making more money and getting out of debt is a top priority. Just take a look around at all of the Personal Finance blogs that talk about saving and spending money, as well as making more money so that they can pay off their bills and get out of debt.
My husband and I have a considerable amount of debt which honestly feels quite overwhelming at times. To combat that we work on following these simple steps so that we can still enjoy life, while we work towards becoming debt free.
Think about How Much You Need to Work
When you’re lining up work or contemplating a new job, think about your expenses and make sure you can earn the money you need to live comfortably. Keep in mind how many hours you can work while still having time for the things you love to do.
- Consider if you’re eligible to work overtime. A few extra overtime shifts a month could make a considerable difference in paying off some debt.
- Consider starting a side hustle doing freelance work based on something you enjoy and are good at.
How Much is Your Time Worth?
When you’re considering a job or a commission, you need to think about making sure you’re getting paid what you are worth. If you are worth more money, don’t take jobs that pay significantly less unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
- Try negotiating with your employer for an increase in salary, a higher hourly rate, or a performance bonus structure. If you have experience in a highly specific field it generally earns you a higher salary.
Use Public Transportation
The price of gas is high and it’s only going to go higher. Think about alternative means of transportation and think about what you can do to reduce the wear and tear and the gas consumption of your car in general.
- Check out the local bus or train schedules and if they meet your needs, consider selling your car to pay off some debt. Selling a car will eliminate a car loan, gas costs, maintenance fees, and insurance premiums.
Buy Locally
When you’re looking to buy produce, take the time to buy from local vendors. Not only will the food taste better, but you won’t be billed the extra transport costs and you’ll be supporting local business.
- Visit the local gift shop for that birthday gift rather than heading to the mall. Or have dinner at a local restaurant rather than a chain restaurant. You’ll likely save money on gas while supporting your local businesses.
Work Locally
If you work close to home you’ll have lower transportation costs and more time to spend with your family. This can make a job worth keeping.
- Working locally also allows you to run errands during lunch breaks so you have more family time on the weekends.
Avoid Late Charges on your Bills
Avoid late charges on your monthly bills by setting up automatic payments for the monthly amounts.
- Set up online banking so each month your bills will be paid automatically. No more forgetting to mail the cheque or going into the bank!
Budget Your Money
Make sure you know how much money you earn each month and exactly where it’s going. Don’t forget to figure in small costs like gas, dry cleaning, and snacks. Every dollar matters when you’re trying to get out of debt.
- Call your utility companies and ask to be put on their budget plans. Paying the same amount each month for electricity or oil is much easier than paying a $600 bill during the cold winter months.
Ask Yourself: Do I Need It?
Impulse buys can take a real toll on your cash flow. Before you buy anything, give it a second thought and discuss it with your spouse or friend. Can you get it cheaper elsewhere? Do you even really need it?
- Walk away for a day and think about whether you really need to spend the money or ask the salesperson if the item will be on sale soon. But chances are you really don’t need it in the first place.
Keep the Thermostat at a Reasonable Temperature
When you want to keep your bills low, you will find that one of your heftiest bills will be the heating bill if you live somewhere cold, and the AC bill if you live somewhere hot.
- Learn to wear layers of clothing and agree on a preset temperature with your family. Installing an electronic thermostat allows you to program the times and the temperatures so no one has to touch the thermostat.
- To help deal with warmer temperatures make sure your blinds and draperies are closed all day long to block out the heat. Try using fans to circulate the air, and of course wear lighter clothing. Of course when it hits 100 degrees as it has recently in many parts of the world, nothing beats turning on the AC. You might just have to eat less next month.
Buy Good Quality Items
It might seem counterintuitive, but buying more expensive things that are of a higher quality can be useful when you’re looking to save money. Quality things break less frequently so you don’t end up buying the same items over and over.
- This doesn’t mean you have to shop for designer clothing that’s out of your budget range. Simply look for higher quality items and buy fewer clothing pieces this season.
Being conscious of how much money you spend each month is critical to getting out of debt, but that doesn’t mean you have to live like a hermit without any entertainment. Choose some of these easy ways to save money and enjoy living your life simply!
Source: http://tacklingourdebt.com/2012/07/10/make-more-money-get-out-debt-and-live-your-life/
Why More D.C. Spending Is Not the Answer
Philip Klein, DC Examiner
In arguing for more government spending and higher taxes, Democrats have been advancing two competing arguments about America's expenditures on infrastructure.One was invoked by President Obama last month when he told small business owners, "Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business -- you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." In other words, government spending on infrastructure facilitates individual success.
In arguing for more government spending and higher taxes, Democrats have been advancing two competing arguments about America's expenditures on infrastructure.One was invoked by President Obama last month when he told small business owners, "Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business -- you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." In other words, government spending on infrastructure facilitates individual success.
Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2012/08/02/why_more_dc_spending_is_not_the_answer_286357.html
Thursday, August 2, 2012
July goals
On this, my first official day of summer (for me), I thought it good to set myself a few goals for the month of July. They are not onerous at all, but it gives me a bit of a focus. July is always my unwind month. August 1 comes and it feels like 'holy crap summer's almost over'
Here goes:
Here goes:
- Walk 31 miles this month. I don't care if I have to do it in stints around the block where the neighbours start to question my sanity, or in stints on the dreaded treadmill, it will happen.
- Lose 6 lbs this month (and keep it off)
- Bake 4 times (on the cooler/rainier days)
- Try 2 new recipes
- Snowflake $150 (recycling, change, money left from jars)
- Read 4 books just for ME
- Read 5 books for school ( There are so many new books at the middle years level so it helps to have read as many as I can so I can suggest good books for the kids)
- Continue to drink a ton of water and eat what I can to improve my health
I will make this into another page at the top and will update on Sundays.
Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-goals.html
And So It Begins
Hello everyone! I have finally found a nice relaxing Saturday morning in which I am able to dedicate an hour to providing a post to you all! (Although you will not see this until Monday) It seems to have been a very good time for self-improvement lately as I have gotten many things done that I [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyCanadianFinances/~3/15vHwe4FWeQ/
Andrew Bacevich
Historian, international relations expert and former US Army Colonel Andrew J. Bacevich returns to the JOURNAl to discuss America's long war in Afghanistan.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/HHyO3CDLey0/profile2.html
Santa Ana Health Crusade
The Journal profiles public health doctor America Bracho, who serves her Santa Ana, CA community – notorious for crime, poverty and disease – with her organization, Latino Health Access.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/Kt3OxLmYHv0/profile2.html
Bryan Stevenson and Michelle Alexander
In the months before his death, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had expanded his focus on racial justice to include reducing economic inequality. On this week's 42nd anniversary of King's assassination, Bill Moyers sits down with attorneys Bryan Stevenson and Michelle Alexander to discuss how far we've really come as a country, how poor and working class Americans have been falling behind and what America must do to fulfill Dr. King's vision.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/UMkNOfm52q0/profile.html
Cancer-Stricken Student Convinces Aetna CEO To Pay Off His Medical Bills Via Twitter
Talk about the power of social media — one graduate student battling Stage IV colon cancer in Arizona found out his Aetna health insurance plan had exceeded his $300,000 limit.He took to Twitter to express his frustration as his medical bills continued to grow and it turns out someone very influential was listening — the [...]
Samba growing pains continue in OS X Lion
Apple made a significant change in Samba support in OS X with its move to SMBX in OS X Lion. The changeover continues with the forthcoming OS X Mountain Lion. However, longtime Mac admins will likely find some frustration when dealing with the change.
Source: http://www.zdnet.com/samba-growing-pains-continue-in-os-x-lion-7000001353/
Itching to Store
With four of us in an 850 sq ft house (with basement) space is at a premium. Each summer I get purging fever and feel the need to go through things and chuck (recycle, donate etc). I guess it is my way of psychologically balancing the 'one in one out' that doesn't always get done over the year.
Each summer for the past four summers I stare at the far wall of my recroom and cringe. It's full of clutter. Boxes and containers and piles of stuff. Mostly DS1's hockey stuff and a whack of DH's scout leader stuff. There is no store room in the house so this is where it gets dumped. On Sunday, I with the temps soaring, I sought refuge in the cooler basement, which is usually occupied by the boys. I stared at that wall and went batsh*t crazy. Couldn't stand it. So off to the internet I went to see how much it would cost to put cabinets on the wall. I have talked about it before but talk is cheap when one never does anything about it.
I found a few that were interesting but required drives to a neighbouring city. I checked out our limited resources in town and found they just didn't have what I wanted.
Home Depot to the rescue. We don't have one here but there is one in the city. The cabinets were 72 inches high and deep enough to hold a lot. The price ? $99. Now they are not solid wood. What is these days? I wouldn't have been able to afford them anyways. But $99 I could swing.
So yesterday I conned DH into driving with me into the city to get them. Four to be precise. The boxes are happily sitting in my garage waiting for assembly. I sure hope assembly goes well. The reviews were fairly favourable in that regard.
Where will the money come from? Well in July my paycheque is a bit larger as many of my deductions only come off in the 10 months of the school year. I will get $400 extra. yes!! perfect. So onto the CC it went, to be paid off in 2 weeks when my cheque comes in. There was $20 in tax. I have that left from groceries from last week, so I put it down on the CC already.
I am beyond excited and will be moreso when they are up (without a hitch) and happily storing my stuff.
Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/07/itching-to-store.html
Deepening the American Dream
Viewers comment on the future of the American Dream.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/bz1dZzJjaQY/watch3.html
Bear Stearns Ex-Managers to Pay $1 Million to Settle Fraud Case
The federal judge overseeing the securities fraud case said it was "being settled for, relatively speaking, chump change," but that he was inclined to sign off on the settlement.
Why Don't Main Street Investors Use Advisors?
Less than one-third of Main Street investors works regularly with a financial advisor, according to Millionaire Corner research, which explores why the client-advisor relationship may be breaking down.
Main Street Americans, those with investable assets of $100,000 up to $1 million, are most apt to describe themselves as “self-directed” or “event-driven” investors, according to a study on advisor relationships conducted by Millionaire Corner in the third quarter of 2011.
The self-directed (35 percent) manage their finances without any professional help, while the event-driven (34 percent) seek financial advice concerning certain life events, such as planning for retirement. Only 10 percent rely entirely on an advisor to make all their financial decisions and describe themselves advisor-dependent. Twenty-one percent consult with an advisor, but make their own decisions, and are considered to be advisor-assisted.
Main Street investors may be in the driver’s seat, but they freely admit that they don’t necessarily know where they are going, describing themselves as generally lacking in financial knowledge. So, why don’t more Main Street investors seek out the services of a financial advisor?
As a group, Main Street Americans appear sensitive to the fees charged by an advisor. More than 80 percent say fees are a major factor in choosing an advisor, and 53 percent say they find the fees of a professional advisor to be “very expensive.” (In general, affluent investors prefer paying advisors flat fees as opposed to commissions.)
Nearly one-fourth (23 percent) believes they can do a better job of investing than a professional, and the share jumps to 44 percent of self-directed investors.
More than 30 percent of Main Street investors report having had a bad experience with an advisor in the past. They say they would leave an advisor for not returning phone calls or emails quickly, not providing good ideas and advice, not being proactive in making contact and long-term losses. The results indicate that Main Street investors would like some of the personalized attention that appears reserved for high net worth investors.
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Source: http://www.millionairecorner.com/article/why-dont-main-street-investors-use-advisors
Simon Johnson and James Kwak, Part II
How did Big Finance grow so powerful that its hijinks nearly brought down the global economy – and what hope is there for real reform with Washington politicians on Wall Street's payroll? Bill Moyers talks with authors Simon Johnson and James Kwak, two of the nation's most respected economic experts and authors of the new book 13 BANKERS: THE WALL STREET TAKEOVER AND THE NEXT FINANCIAL MELTDOWN. Also, a Bill Moyers essay on the true costs of war.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/TLwxO15I8SE/watch2.html
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Does It Matter That a German Exchange May Control the NYSE?
Filed under: Investing, Investing Basics, NYSE, Market News, Investment
This last form of failure comes to mind in the case of NYSE Euronext (NYX). In 2005, it handled 80% of all trading in the stocks it listed. Today, that share is down to 23%, according to Bloomberg. New competitors have hacked away at its market share by offering superior service at a lower price.
And, as I reported in a DailyFinance article in June, the NYSE has been trying to offset some of the lost revenues by selling high-speed access to the NYSE's computers so hedge funds can trade a fraction of a second ahead of regular customers -- a practice that skims $3 billion out of investors' pockets each year. Now, Germany's 18-year-old Deutsche Boerse (DBOEY) wants to buy 60% of the combined companies for $10 billion in stock.
Considering that the NYSE is a storied American institution -- founded back in 1792 by traders standing beneath a buttonwood tree -- it's not unreasonable to ask whether the U.S. should allow a German company to control it. But the reality is that the luster of NYSE's name and history is far greater than its competitive position today. If Germany ever decided to close down the NYSE, nimbler U.S. exchanges would jump in immediately, eager to pick up the slack.
Computerized Competitors: Faster, Better, Cheaper
Investors don't decide where to trade based on an exchange's address: They want fast, inexpensive trade execution. And thanks to regulatory changes regarding what exchanges can charge, and an evolution of the industry structure that made room for new, computerized exchanges, that's what they get. A decade ago, it cost 6.25 cents to execute a 100-share trade. Today that cost is down to a penny.
Sponsored Links
And unlike the NYSE, which still has a few costly specialists whose job is to match up buyers and sellers for a specific stock, the 50 computerized exchanges -- up from 20 in 2000 -- don't. So exchanges such as Getco, Bats Global Markets and Direct Edge can make money -- with margins as high as 55% for trading derivatives -- while offering low prices and fast execution, reports Bloomberg.The NYSE has been going downhill for at least 40 years. The competition really got going in 1971 when the Nasdaq was formed to provide computerized trading and price quotes. In 1984, I consulted to the NYSE -- analyzing the competition it faced in the then-lucrative business of selling those price quotes. The business of charging for such quotes has essentially gone away.
Two scandals -- a 2003 flap over then-CEO Dick Grasso's $140 million compensation package and 2005's revelation that 15 NYSE specialists had manipulated prices to steal $19 million from clients -- tarnished the NYSE's remaining luster. In 2006, a reverse merger with Archipelago Holdings took the member-owned NYSE public.
A Decade of Merging for Leverage
If the Deutsche Boerse-NYSE Euronext merger goes through, it will be one among many similar marriages that have taken place over the last few years -- $95.8 billion worth since 2000, reports Bloomberg. The reason is simple: Once you build a computer system that can execute trades, the more trading volume you pump through the system, the higher your profits. This is bad news for people who work in the exchanges in jobs like sales, marketing and computer support. But it's better news for shareholders because mergers reduce costs.
If the two exchanges combine, they'll dominate the futures market. The Futures Industry Association estimates that the merged exchanges would be the top-ranked global futures trader, controlling 11 derivatives markets in the U.S. and Europe with 4.8 billion in contracts (based on last year's numbers). That's 55% more than 2010's futures leader, CME Group (CME).
For all the patriotic chest-thumping that might ensue over the idea of letting a German company control the NYSE, the truth is that the NYSE has been falling behind for decades. This merger is a way to rescue a failed company while it still has some salvage value.
As long as the U.S. can keep innovating in the creation of computerized exchanges, the price and speed of execution that investors want will keep improving -- and trading market share will shift to those innovators.
Get info on stocks mentioned in this article:
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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/10/nyse-deutsche-boerse-merger-stock-exchange-germany/
Over-saving is inefficient
So is over-spending. But I won’t get into that here.
I had a question from a reader asking what my Myers Briggs type is – and it’s INTJ.
Despite the rarity of that personality type (aren’t we all such special snowflakes though?), there’s been some anecdotal surveys that determined that INTJ’s are overly represented amongst the early [...]
I had a question from a reader asking what my Myers Briggs type is – and it’s INTJ.
Despite the rarity of that personality type (aren’t we all such special snowflakes though?), there’s been some anecdotal surveys that determined that INTJ’s are overly represented amongst the early [...]
Source: http://singlemomrichmom.com/over-saving-is-inefficient/
Buffett's Gloomy View of Our Economic Future?
This morning Warren Buffet's company Berkshire Hathaway announced that it was buying Burlington Northern Santa Fe in a deal valued at $44 billion. In the announcement, Buffett called the purchase an "all-in wager on the economic future of the United States."
Is Buffett right that a bet on Burlington Northern is a bet on the economic future of the U.S.? Because if Buffett is right, we've got real problems.
Let's take a look at what Burlington Northern carries. Its major freight revenues (as of 2008) come from coal (23% of revenues); agricultural products (20%); international intermodal shipments of consumer products, which is probably mostly imports (16%); construction and building products (14%); and petroleum products (4%).
In essence, Buffett is betting that the next ten years will look a lot like the last ten: A lot of growth in imports, construction, energy and agricultural products. If he thought that innovation was going to be the driver of the next ten years--biotech, energy, and infotech--he wouldn't be buying Burlington Northern.
I'm not saying that Buffett is wrong. His skepticism about the tech sector in the late 1990s, and innovation in general, turned out to be right on the mark. Berkshire Hathaway stock over the past decade has risen by 84%, whil the S&P 500 is down by 18%.
But his "all-in wager on the economic future of the United States" paints a remarkably gloomy picture of where we are heading.
Source: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/11/what_does_buffe.html
Debt crisis: ECB intervention hopes drive markets higher
European markets rose sharply amid mounting speculation of a dramatic intervention by the European Central Bank to arrest the crisis engulfing the region.
Refreshing Sunday
Finally our heat wave has been broken. It got cooler yesterday afternoon and cloudy and the forecast was for rain. It was so nice to be able to have the windows open and not hear the fan droning away. I felt like I was able to DO things instead of swelter. Can you tell I don't handle heat well?
I got in a couple walks, did some laundry, did some cleaning and I even dared to turn the oven on to bake cookies in the early evening. Even boiling something on the stove made the house infinitely hotter and muggier so being able to turn on the oven without melting was a bonus. I even managed to get the lawn cut before it rained. DS1 was at work.
It was refreshingly cool last night and about 2 AM a light, steady rain started coming down. It was such a wonderful sound.
This morning I was awakened by an odd sound outside my bedroom window. I always sleep with one ear open when DH is not home. Cautiously I raised my head to the window to find a young deer outside munching on my dogwood shrub. We both were equally startled lol
This morning is a beautiful soft morning. I started it curled up in the living room with the front door open, enjoying the cool fresh breeze and the sound of the rain falling. Such a privilege to sit with my coffee and relax, and watch a few Til Debt Do Us Part reruns. As the rain stopped for a bit I could hear sounds from the ball diamonds echoing up to my house.
I have cupcakes in the oven and they smell great. I will be good and not have one :-)
DS2 will enjoy them when he comes home tonight. FINALLY. I miss him. He will be tired after working 18 hours a day at his scout camp in this weather. There are tons of mosquitos and horseflies up there too. I don't know how he does it. He's been running camps for small groups that come up. Teaches them knife skills, firebuilding skills, canoeing, archery, shelter making, cooking over open fire. etc. He had a group of four of them out on an overnight Thursday night.
Friday morning he was in for a shock. Two of my sisters headed up there to visit him and see his world he thrives in. It's harder to share in his passion. With DS1 they can go to his hockey games. With other nieces and nephews we can go watch them curl, play football or volleyball, perform in a play etc but often DS2 doesnt get those moments of family at his activities. So the blond duo headed up. DH paid for their use of the camp and DS2 taught them all the things he would teach a regular group. One of my sisters is a photo hound so there are TONS of pictures of the whirlwind 24 hour visit.
Here are a few:
This is DS2 with one of the aunties (sister #2). She proceeded to dump the canoe to 'check' to see if DS remembered his lessons on how to get back into a canoe from the water. He got her back later :-)
Their slingshot targets - a great way to use old scratched CDs.
I got in a couple walks, did some laundry, did some cleaning and I even dared to turn the oven on to bake cookies in the early evening. Even boiling something on the stove made the house infinitely hotter and muggier so being able to turn on the oven without melting was a bonus. I even managed to get the lawn cut before it rained. DS1 was at work.
It was refreshingly cool last night and about 2 AM a light, steady rain started coming down. It was such a wonderful sound.
This morning I was awakened by an odd sound outside my bedroom window. I always sleep with one ear open when DH is not home. Cautiously I raised my head to the window to find a young deer outside munching on my dogwood shrub. We both were equally startled lol
This morning is a beautiful soft morning. I started it curled up in the living room with the front door open, enjoying the cool fresh breeze and the sound of the rain falling. Such a privilege to sit with my coffee and relax, and watch a few Til Debt Do Us Part reruns. As the rain stopped for a bit I could hear sounds from the ball diamonds echoing up to my house.
I have cupcakes in the oven and they smell great. I will be good and not have one :-)
DS2 will enjoy them when he comes home tonight. FINALLY. I miss him. He will be tired after working 18 hours a day at his scout camp in this weather. There are tons of mosquitos and horseflies up there too. I don't know how he does it. He's been running camps for small groups that come up. Teaches them knife skills, firebuilding skills, canoeing, archery, shelter making, cooking over open fire. etc. He had a group of four of them out on an overnight Thursday night.
Friday morning he was in for a shock. Two of my sisters headed up there to visit him and see his world he thrives in. It's harder to share in his passion. With DS1 they can go to his hockey games. With other nieces and nephews we can go watch them curl, play football or volleyball, perform in a play etc but often DS2 doesnt get those moments of family at his activities. So the blond duo headed up. DH paid for their use of the camp and DS2 taught them all the things he would teach a regular group. One of my sisters is a photo hound so there are TONS of pictures of the whirlwind 24 hour visit.
Here are a few:
Their slingshot targets - a great way to use old scratched CDs.
Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/07/refreshing-sunday.html
Central Banks Spark Bullish Conditions
As outlined in a popular October 2011 video on the European debt crisis, we are well aware of the serious nature of the problems facing the financial markets. However, our market models have been telling us, and continue to tell us, to be open to ongoing bullish surprises. Debt market and economic fundamentals [...]
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
The Journal travels to Iowa where one group, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI), has been helping ordinary citizens fight for change for more than three decades.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/DEGRCYiFG1g/profile3.html
Robert Kuttner and Matt Taibbi
Amidst fading hopes for real reform on issues ranging from high finance to health care, economist Robert Kuttner and journalist Matt Taibbi join Bill Moyers to discuss Wall Street's power over the federal government.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/0R2wEiSLwoc/profile.html
Simon Johnson and James Kwak, Part II
How did Big Finance grow so powerful that its hijinks nearly brought down the global economy – and what hope is there for real reform with Washington politicians on Wall Street's payroll? Bill Moyers talks with authors Simon Johnson and James Kwak, two of the nation's most respected economic experts and authors of the new book 13 BANKERS: THE WALL STREET TAKEOVER AND THE NEXT FINANCIAL MELTDOWN. Also, a Bill Moyers essay on the true costs of war.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/TLwxO15I8SE/watch2.html
Canadian Personal Finance Happy Hour – 7th Edition
Last week there was no edition (didn’t receive it from the blog carnival). So I wanted to thank everyone for submitting their entries this week – each week I am trying to only pick the best posts that I think work the best. It was an exciting weekend for us last weekend as we took [...]
Source: http://www.canadianpersonalfinance.com/canadian-personal-finance-happy-hour-7th-edition.html
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