Posted by KS on April 22nd, 2009 — Posted in Signs of the times
Do you remember Bernard Madoff? You know, the guy who had been scamming investors until everything unraveled this year? Well, the federal authorities showed that they aren’t done with him yet. The saying “don’t fight the state, you can’t win” has never been truer.
While Madoff was quick to apologize for what he had done to literally thousands of people, the FBI didn’t really care. That’s why one of his properties in Florida was seized.
This shows how powerful juridical bodies in the United States are; with a single flick of a judge’s knowing hands, properties come into the supervision of the state. We’re sure that Madoff is really depressed by now. What do you think the judge should do to Madoff’s other properties?
Posted by KS on April 21st, 2009 — Posted in News from all over
A former employee of Playboy Enterprises is filing a lawsuit because he had been made marginal, supposedly because he was homosexual. Aside from disparaging remarks, Joseph DeAcetis stated that he was eventually removed from his post because of being gay.
The director of the branch of Playboy that he worked for called people like him ‘girls’. While such remarks could be tolerated to a certain degree, being unemployed simply because you’re different is plain wrong.
A person’s artistic capacity and diligence at work has no bearing on a person’s sexual orientation. In a heterogeneous world such as ours, there’s no reason to exclude people because of nonsensical differences. If these practices were tolerated, then what would become of the world?
Posted by KS on April 20th, 2009 — Posted in World financial crisis
Beyond the sad borders of the United States lies another giant. The giant is Europe, and when there’s a territory as large as Europe, a credit crunch is never a positive thing. This is why the European Union itself is planning to correct several large blunders in its banking systems.
Why do they even bother? Well, investors would not come back if the system is faulty. No one would have the courage to drop their money where it could disappear instantly. That’s why within the month, the EU plans to bring back the confidence to stabilize the credit crunch. Everyone is hoping that indeed, the reforms would help. Otherwise, the credit crunch and the associate recession would only deepen.
Posted by KS on April 19th, 2009 — Posted in Your money and your world
It should be noted that before a crisis, the large businesses are stable. But in the world of the economic meltdown, the large businesses are in a lot of trouble, but the small ones are fighting back. With lower production costs and lower prices, small companies are fighting back diligently in the stock market.
This behavior can be seen in the way the small to medium enterprises are rising almost more than ten percent in short rallies. Though the increase in their market values is temporary, you could really earn a bunch by focusing on these small businesses and predicting when they’re going up or down.
Posted by KS on April 19th, 2009 — Posted in Signs of the times
When the bulwark of Europe, the European Union speaks, people stop dead in their tracks and listen with apprehension. Large businesses know enough to not antagonize the largest trans-national formation in continental Europe.
This is where the power of the trans-national formation comes into play. Belligerent players in the world market, such as MasterCard can be threatened with the full force of the EU if it didn’t smarten up. This is already a while back, but it shows just how powerful the EU can be when led to the right direction.
Transaction fees that were considered nonsensical were ordered to be dropped. MasterCard obliged, quietly. What a success! Now if only Obama could do the same for the US. What do you think?
Posted by KS on April 18th, 2009 — Posted in Your money and your world
While people are no strangers to tight-nosed loan officers, just what is it that makes these individuals so hesitant to give you your much-need loan? For one, loan officers often look at your history as borrower. If you weren’t able to pay for a year and six months, then that’s considered a very bad sign.
So make sure that you’re in top form when you engage your friendly loan officer for a ‘friendly’ dialog. Make sure you know everything about your own credit history. Also, make sure that what your loan officer is holding is current. Bring your own report (this can be ordered for free, or for a very, very small fee).
Posted by KS on April 17th, 2009 — Posted in Politics & economics in the US
Things are getting harder and harder in the US. This is the reason why the Obama administration and the Senate are both pitching in to choke the credit card monsters. That’s right. Just recently, some folks from the US Senate were pushing for far-reaching changes in the way credit card companies deal with its intended consumers.
The changes were aimed at removing certain dangers upon using credit cards. Unstable interest rates and other such problems would be erased once these changes have finally taken effect. When this happens, people would be safer from credit sharks that increase their interest rates without warning. Imagine having forty-five days on your side when the companies want to increase the rate once again.
Posted by KS on April 17th, 2009 — Posted in Your money and your world
People’s credit scores are often only brought up when there’s trouble brewing. Is this a good practice? Definitely not. Your credit score tells you whether you can take out a loan for just about anything. Your credit score also tells you whether you would be able to survive another near-bankruptcy.
While people take note of so many things, why is it that they normally don’t take note of their credit scores? According to experts like Suze Orman, this has become a harmful, self-deluding practice that has to cease. So next time you’re online, why don’t you type “FICO score” on any search engine and find out whether you’re still in the green or not?
Posted by KS on April 16th, 2009 — Posted in News from all over
Oil has been the most important and most ‘scandalous’ commodity since the invention of the wheel. It’s black gold, and it’s literally responsible for running the world’s industries. And yet, we’re running out of oil. If M. King Hubbert was correct, then within less than a hundred years we would be all running on fumes.
While it’s impractical to limit ourselves to alternative energy sources with technologies still in their infancy, there are some ways that we can help the Earth and save a few bucks in the process. For example, why not try walking or jogging to your destinations rather than take a cab? Every buck counts; and you’re helping bring down the consumption of oil.
Posted by KS on April 15th, 2009 — Posted in News from all over
One way people are resisting the more insidious effects of the recession is by going back to the “basics” of living. Organic produces, clean living, less use of gasoline; all these contribute to the drive to resuscitate a dying planet. In the final analysis, everyone’s small actions contribute to the larger, long-term solution.
One of the benchmarks of subjectivity in the field of the Green Drive for a healthier planet is the recently concluded Earth Hour. One hour of switching off your light for a healthier planet. Everyone with a cellular phone or an active Internet connection learned about the Earth Hour. If we could only harness these technologies to reverse centuries of abuse of the Earth, we would really be accomplishing something. What do you think? Are you Earth-friendly?