Stay financially in shape with holiday money cash loans. (Thinkstock)

Looking for some extra holiday money this season? You’ve come to the right place. Borrowing money is easy through Personal Money Market’s wide network of reputable direct lenders online. In minutes, you can take care of your short term needs and get back to celebrating the holidays.

‘I need holiday money now!’

There are many ways a holiday cash advance loan can help with your finances this season. As many people know, the holidays are the best time to spend money while saving it. Retailers everywhere are trying to entice more consumers to buy, offering incredible deals on almost all store products. If you don’t have the money now but would like to take advantage of all the money-saving opportunities, holiday money loans can see you through.

What you need to qualify

The requirements for these loans are simple. All you really need to improve your chances of approval is to be at least 18 years of age, a legal U.S. resident, have a job and an active bank account. You should have little to no problem getting approved for a loan today if you meet all these requirements. Once you submit your online application form, we will go straight to work to find you the best-matching lender within our network.

Stay on track with your holiday money loan

Staying on top of bills is a common struggle during the holidays. Waiting too long to make payments could result in more late fees and other penalty charges. Instead of saving, you could end up spending more money than you ever did this year. So don’t wait until it’s too late; take action today. The process is fast and easy, and there are typically no credit checks and no faxing. If a holiday money loan can help you stay financially in shape this season, begin your application right now.

Apply for a Holiday Money Loan | Start HERE

Can you get cash today with a payday loan?

Yes. A payday cash loan today can get money in your hands fast, and you will be expected to pay it back typically in two to three weeks. You can apply for up to $1,500 and have the money deposited straight to your bank account, usually just two hours after approval.

Do I have to provide extensive information?

No. The loan application form only takes a few minutes to complete. It will ask you simple questions about you and your basic financial situation. You will not be asked to provide reasons as to why you need the loan.

What information is required on the application?

The only information that needs to be put on the application is your basic personal info. You will need to provide your banking information for automatic deposit of funds and identification such as your name, date of birth and social security number.

How much are the fees?

The fees are affordable, and it varies with different lenders. Most lenders charge an average of $15 for every $100 borrowed.

Why would I need a cash today payday loan?

You might need this loan if you are in a short term financial bind and need money now to stay on top of your finances. This loan is also good if you have trouble getting loans from traditional banks; getting a cash today payday loan is faster and easier.

What will I need to have to get a cash today payday loan?

1. Be of legal age to fill out loan, 18 or older
2. Have United States citizenship
3. Must have held a job three months and be currently working there
4. Have a valid address in the U.S.

Apply for a cash today payday loan | Start HERE!

Ohio cash loans even for people with bad credit

Problems with bad credit? No worries. If you feel you might be turned down because of bad credit, rest your worries aside knowing that our Ohio cash loans are typically offered with no credit checks. So even if you are struggling with bad, poor or no credit at all, you have the same opportunity as anyone else who applies through our online services. Even better, just in case you need more time to pay off the loan, you can even apply for installment loans for bad credit. With these loans, you can pay back the loan in small increments that work well with your monthly budget.

Requirements for Ohio cash loans online

To qualify for online cash loans in Ohio, you must meet the following basic requirements:

• Currently employed, preferably full-time
• Must be 18 or older to apply
• Must have an open and active bank account
• You are a legal U.S. citizen

Ohio online cash loans offer quick convenience

Applying for Ohio cash loans is fast and completely convenient, especially since everything is done online. It takes an average 2.5 minutes to complete the application, and once you submit the form, you will be notified of your status almost instantly. Upon approval, cash will be deposited straight to your bank account, typically available to use in just two hours. You can pay off unexpected bills before additional fees pile up, but how you choose to spend the money is really up to you. It is your money after all.

Ohio cash loans online – up to $1,500 | Start HERE

Barclays Bank allegedly poured money into banks in countries that violated U.S. sanctions, claim American federal prosecutors. (Photo Credit: CC BY/Pete Barr-Watson/Flickr)

The United States holds major sway on the world stage. The nation’s influence undoubtedly extends into the sphere of international finance, where it has thrown its considerable weight into bringing charges against England’s Barclays Bank. The Washington Post reports that federal prosecutors accused Barclays of violating U.S. sanctions against Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Burma for more than a decade, from March 1995 to September 2006. Via the U.S. dollar clearing operations at its New York branch, Barclays sent more than $500 million to banks in those U.S. enemy nations. Reuters indicates that Barclays Bank has already agreed to pay $298 million to settle U.S. criminal charges, and hence has admitted to wrongdoing.

Barclays attempted to conceal the transactions, say prosecutors

Barclays documents filed in the U.S. omitted the names of banks in those sanctioned countries. Payments were routed through an internal account in order to further obscure the connection to those countries. Counts against Barclays Bank include violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and trading with the enemy, according to Jennifer Calvery, chief of the U.S. Justice Department’s asset forfeiture and money-laundering division.

U.S. sanctions against Cuba have been in existence since the Kennedy presidential administration, while Libya (1986), Iran (1995), Sudan and Burma (1997) came later.

Barclays has disclosed some of the prohibited transactions

Reuters reports that Barclays Bank has agreed to cooperate by providing all related documents to U.S. government investigators. The company has not done so as yet, at least not completely. The $298 million settlement breaks down into $149 million up front to the U.S. government and another $149 million via a deferred agreement to be distributed at a later time.

Human rights violations and the American way

A brief study of history indicates that Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Burma have all faced accusations of human rights violations. Barclays Bank should have known better than to try to support U.S. enemies through their branches on U.S. soil, yet Barclays’ infraction is not likely unique among foreign businesses that operate in America. The United States will fight to enforce its right-of-way. As The Decemberists’ song “Sixteen Military Wives” puts it,

Cheer them on to their rivals
Cause America can, and America can’t say no
And America does, if America says it’s so
It’s so!

Sources:

Reuters

Washington Post

Barclays was previously fined £2.45 million ($3.8 million) for “poor reporting systems”

The IMF headquarters building is in Washington D.C. Image: Flickr/pingnews

The International Monetary Fund has announced that it will try to boost its lending power to $1 trillion this November. The Group of 20 summit in South Korea will discuss this request. By increasing its ability to give emergency cash advance money to countries in trouble, the IMF hopes to improve their response to financial crisis.

Lending capacity of the IMF

The IMF currently has a lending capacity of about $750 billion. This money is most often lent in the form of advance loans to countries that are struggling. The money is usually used to help stabilize shaky financial systems, purchase infrastructure and undertake reforms. IMF loans are usually given to third and second world countries. Though they are technically able to take the money, many first-world countries are not taking the fast cash loan in order to avoid appearance of instability.

Increasing ability to lend

The IMF is governed and funded by a large consortium of countries. Many of these countries will be in attendance at the G-20 summit in South Korea in November. If the IMF is granted an additional $250 billion in lending power, these countries will be on the hook. While the IMF does not have a bank account with $750 billion sitting in it, the countries that make up the IMF are responsible for providing the money.

Limitations on IMF money

When the IMF provides a cash loan, it comes with several strings attached. Countries must undertake a number of reforms if they do take a loan from the IMF. The reforms are the basis of much controversy. Some claim that the fast loans given by the IMF end up doing more harm than good. If the IMF does increase lending capacity to $1 trillion, it will be able to provide more loans. The jury is out, though, on if this is a good thing for the world economy.

The cash loan amount you need

The amount you get from your cash loan will depend, of course, on the price of the car minus any cash you have on hand. If you want a car that costs about $8,000, and you only have $3,000 cash on hand, you will need to take out a new car loan of $5,000. Larger cash loans like these come in forms of auto loans and installment loans, because you just cannot pay the entire loan amount back at once. (If you could, you wouldn’t need a cash loan, would you?)

However, if the car you are looking at costs about $3,000 and you have only half of that amount, we can help you get a cash loan of up to $1,500. Again, this may need to be paid back through installments. Just remember to take out only as much as you need and not any more.

The Application Process

When you are done reading this article, be sure to click on the green “Apply Now” button below. It will take you to the secure application form where you will then type in your information. Once this is complete, your information will be sent to a lender who specializes in larger cash loans like what you are seeking. They will review your information and give you an answer within minutes. Upon approval, you should have your money within a few hours – just in time to get rid of your old heap and get something reliable!

Pay it Back, Not Forward!

Cash loans should always be paid back on time. Rolling a larger cash loan forward can spell disaster for you if you fail to keep up with your payments. Installment cash loans are still subject to the higher interest rates, so keep this in mind when you plan out your budget.

Start your quick cash loan application HERE!

The space shuttle launch today is the final mission for Atlantis as the space shuttle program winds down and Obama starts a new direction for manned spaceflight. Flickr photo.

One of the last remaining shuttle launches today lights up its awesome spectacle Friday. The countdown has begun on the final launch of space shuttle Atlantis. Only two more shuttle launches remain. Space shuttles Discovery and Endeavor will conduct their final missions to complete the International Space Station before the aging fleet of spacecraft is retired for good. The end of space shuttle launch countdowns has sparked a battle between old-school astronauts and a new generation of space entrepreneurs.

Obama’s NASA plan

President Obama’s NASA plan means the shuttle launch, like the one today, will soon be a thing of the past. A new direction for the space program calls for commercial enterprises to take over the lead from government. Aging heroes who walked on the moon predict doom and gloom for U.S. spaceflight with Obama’s NASA plan. However, adventurous billionaires are looking forward to a brighter future for space exploration. What’s more, the U.S. government is broke and taking out a huge cash loan for dealing with an economic meltdown and fighting two wars. For the present, earthbound initiatives are a priority.

Billions up in fire and smoke

The shuttle launch was the most spectacular aspect of an expensive, extremely complex program. The technology is more than 30 years old. If you ask most engineers, they are amazed that only two space shuttles met with disaster in 25 years. According to NASA, the space shuttle Endeavor, built to replace the space shuttle Challenger, which disintegrated reentering the atmosphere in 2003, cost about $1.7 billion. The average cost to launch a space shuttle, not including the rest of its mission, is about $450 million.

Obama NASA funding

Obama’s NASA funding signals a new way of thinking about the future of manned spaceflight. The Obama administration cancelled George w. Bush’s Constellation program, which aimed to return astronauts to the moon by 2020. Reuters reports that an independent review found the $108 billion Constellation program was severely underfunded, with no hope of reaching its goal without a $6 billion a year increase in NASA’s $18 billion annual budget. Instead, Obama NASA funding pushes a public/private technology development initiative for an eventual international mission to Mars.

Old schoolers oppose Obama NASA plan

With shuttle launch countdowns winding down, politicians from Florida, Texas and Alabama — which have thousands of jobs tied to the space program — have been crying foul about the president’s plan. The New York Times reports that Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, and Eugene Cernan, the last man on the moon, read the president the riot act before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Tuesday. The 80-year-old Armstrong told the committee: “I do not believe that would be in our best interests.” Mr. Cernan also testified Wednesday. He told the senators the space program was on a “slide to mediocrity” and “third-rate stature.”

New schoolers reap Obama NASA funding

Younger space entrepreneurs are excited about the end of the shuttle launch. Obama is pledging $6 billion to encourage private companies to build their own spaceships. PayPal founder Elon Musk has founded SpaceX and plans to fly astronauts to the International Space Station by the end of 2013. Spacex plans to charge NASA about $20 million per astronaut–a bargain compared with more than $300 million a head it was going to cost NASA under the Bush plan, plus NASA will pay Russia $56 million  for trips on Soyuz rockets in the meantime.

Today’s shuttle launch

The shuttle launch today sends Atlantis on a 12-day mission to deliver a Russian-built addition to the space station that will provide storage space, and a new docking port for the Russian spacecraft will continue to service the station. As reported on eWeek, three spacewalks are planned to stage spare components outside the station, including six spare batteries, an antenna and spare parts for the robotic arm.

Flowers for Mothers Day are always a hit. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

If you aren’t already chock full of Mothers Day gift ideas, you can always buy flowers for Mothers Day. You know Mom would always appreciate it, and you know you should call more often. (Admit it!) There are plenty of specials and coupons all over the internet, which will make it pretty easy to get a decent arrangement for cheap, without even needing to think about a cash loan to get Mom something special.  She gave birth to you and you won’t even get her flowers?

Where to go for flowers for Mother’s Day?

There are plenty of florist shops around that likely have specials on flowers for Mothers Day.  That said, there are some online deals you can find as well.  For instance, Proflowers.com has been running fairly regular TV spots, and you can get a bouquet delivered for $19.99 (plus tax, of course). It’s the Grower’s Choice, and it includes a vase, though not the high end one.  You can add whatever you like, better vases or arrangements and so forth, if you so choose. Proflowers also has a special on one dozen assorted roses (no vase, though) for $24.99.  There are also some good deals through 1-800-flowers as well.

Ah – but what about an edible arrangement?

Indeed you can send an edible arrangement. In fact, you can do it online through EdibleArrangements.com.  The site offers plenty of gift baskets full of goodies, including chocolate dipped strawberries, fruit arrangements, etc.  Everything is arranged in such a way that it looks like flowers (sort of).

Other avenues

Mothers Day is always a popular day to buy flowers.  It would be prudent to check with florist shops in your local area to see if they have any specials currently running, if flowers for Mothers Day is what you have in mind.

May Day gardening doesn't nessisarily require a yard, or even a place of your own to plant. Image from Flickr.

The history of May Day is one full of celebration of spring and the coming summer months. For many gardeners, May Day means it’s time to quit waiting and take a cash loan to make sure the plants make it into the ground now that danger of frost is gone. No matter if you have five acres of good soil or just a few containers on your balcony, there is no day better than May Day to get your planting done.

Why May Day?

Depending on what region of the country you live in, May Day could mean very different things for your garden. The USDA Zone map provides hardiness ratings for the country. In high zones, May Day is the start of the hot season, and is a time to get citrus, tropical plants and other warm-season crops in the ground. In many cold-zone areas, May Day is the first chance to put seeds and starts in the ground without worry of them frosting over.

Just a few containers | May Day gardening on your balcony

If you live in an apartment, or have a yard and garden you have no desire to rip up, then May Day gardening can start with a few containers. Strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, root vegetables, and many herbs all grow very well in containers. Get a good-quality potting soil and make sure that you fertilize and water your plants on a regular schedule. Containers dry out more quickly, so make sure when you plant on May Day, you water the seeds generously.

May Day gardening | getting a grounded start

If you’re planning on putting plants in the ground, May Day is a great day to get plants in the ground. Well-turned soil and a fertilized bed will help your garden be more productive. If you live in a cold and frosty area, you may want to put a row cover over your plants to ensure nothing gets too cold.

Seed Bombs | May Day gardening, guerrilla style

If you don’t want to take the time or effort to put in your own garden, you can still spread planted happiness for May Day. Seed bombs or seed grenades are seeds stored in a biodegradable container that are thrown into unused or off-limits land. If you want to create your own seed grenades, just put together a collection of native flower and plant seeds and tie them into bundles of cheesecloth or other biodegradable material. Then – toss them! Into abandoned lots, forgotten parks or anywhere that desperately needs a hint of color. For the rest of the season, you can take a look at the abandoned lots and know that the color popping up is the result of your May Day fun.

Don't try this at home or in a laboratory. (Photo: ThinkStock)

Google is always searching for new ways to aid people in their online searches via customized suggestive ads, but who could have predicted that something like “ways to commit sucide” (sic) would be one of the more popular searches for which the company could help the public? How to find payday loans or a cash loan would have been slightly less controversial, or even where to find places that sell medical marijuana. But “ways to commit sucide” (sic)? What’s Google’s game plan, here?

‘Ways to commit sucide,’ regardless of bad spelling, is quite serious

According to Big Mouth Media, what Google is doing is attempting to offer a public service. Preventing suicide is, of course, compassionate and in the general interests of public health. Whether it’s “ways to commit sucide,” “ways to commit suicide” or “suicidal thoughts,” Google has been offering a free hotline number so that those searchers who are at risk can seek help. According to the company’s chief health strategist, Dr. Roni Zeiger, “We looked at many of the possible queries that could reflect interest in the topic.” Furthermore, the inclusion of search queries like “ways to commit sucide” is merely a conservative start to their public health efforts.

This is Google’s second shot at steering users with troubling searches

In their coverage of Google’s suicide prevention efforts, the New York Times reports that the company had previously offered links to a national poison control hotline for those users who searched for terms like “poison emergency.” This came after one mother wrote to the company, claiming it was difficult to find information after her daughter swallowed something potentially dangerous. She asked and Google delivered what Zeiger describes as a much more “straightforward” path to the necessary poison control info. In fact, that incident is what inspired Google’s public health focus, says Zeiger.

Search feature not functional outside the U.S. yet

For instance, Google UK does not yet offer the obvious hotline connection for searches like “ways to commit sucide” or “ways to commit suicide” as yet. But Big Mouth indicates that sponsored links for counseling and psychiatry do appear in related Google UK searches. That’s a positive start.

But what about less positive search results?

Searches like “ways to kill,” when fed through Google Suggest, still produce possibilities like “ways to kill yourself without pain” and links to things like the gory film short “Top Ten Ways to Commit Suicide,” writes Big Mouth. Removing those in the interests of public health could be considered infringement upon free speech and freedom of information on the Web. Thus, Google must tread carefully. What do you think a reasonable solution might be here?

Related Video:

The new health care bill injects money and regulation into the health insurance industry. Image from Flickr.

Yesterday evening in congress, the health care reform bill, HR 4872, passed the house of representatives on a 219-212 vote. An incredibly sweeping change, the new health care bill has many pros and cons. With more than 2,000 pages in HR 4872, the basics of the new health care reform bill are extensive. In short, the U.S. government will be attempting to provide health care insurance for most Americans without those individuals needing to take out a payday loan to pay for that coverage. The  effects of the new health care bill will be split over 10 years. The first two years will be covered below – to see the effects the new health care bill will have from 2012 – 2018, see Part 2.

New health care bill not yet law

The new health care bill passed the House on Sunday, but it is not yet law. First, the new health care bill must go back to the Senate for reconciliation. This means that some major provisions of the new health care bill may change – though the pros and cons of the majority of new health care bill are likely to remain the same. Once the bill is reconciled through the Senate, it will go to President Obama’s desk to be signed. At that point, the new health care bill would become law.

The timeline of the new health care bill

Because there are many details involved with the new health care bill, the timeline of implementation for the bill is currently set at 10 years. This is assuming that the new health care bill provisions are not repealed or changed in subsequent legislation. The cost of the health care bill is estimated to cost about $100 billion a year, but that cost is estimated to be more of a cash loan – the cost savings from altering the health care system are estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to be more than twice the yearly cost.

Summary of new health care bill in 2010

In the year 2010, there would be three major changes to health care. First, insurance companies would no longer be allowed to deny coverage to children with pre-existing illnesses. Second, children would be able to stay on their parent’s insurance policies until they turn 26 years old. Third, Medicare recipients who fall into a specific coverage gap will get a $250 rebate.

Other changes include an excise tax on indoor tanning, which will increase the cost of that service. Also, individuals that have not had health insurance for 6 months will receive a subsidy to enroll in high-risk insurance pools run by the states. All new insurance plans sold must exempt preventative care and screenings from deductibles. Finally, small businesses with fewer than 25 employees would receive up to a 35 percent tax credit for providing health insurance to their employees.

Summary of the new health care bill in 2011

In 2011, the new health care bill will make changes focused mostly on preparing for later updates. The new health care bill will set up a long-term care insurance program. Individuals who pay premiums into this system for at least five years will become eligible to receive support with daily living assistance.

The senior citizens that fall into the “medicare doughnut hole” – a coverage gap – will get a 50 percent discount on some drugs. In 2011, a new fee on drug makers will also be implemented to help pay for the upcoming changes. The fine on withdrawing funds from a Health Savings Account for non-medical expenses will increase by 5 to 10 percent. Employers will also need to start including the cost of health care on employee’s W-2 forms.

To read more about the continuing effects of the new health care bill, see Health Care Reform basics Part 2.

Sources:

Wall Street Journal
Lexington Clipper-Herald
My Fox Tampa Bay
Onion Kid
The Seattle Times
Wikipedia – Poverty article
Washington Post

Ambien is one of a wide variety of sleep-aid drugs. Photo from Flickr.

Tiger Wood’s former mistress is just the latest in a long line of people that have claimed the drug Ambien helped them make things in the bedroom even more exciting. Even though this very off-label use seems to be popular on message boards, there are many much more dangerous side-effects that are gaining notoriety as well. Ambien is a very expensive drug – so much so that some have to get a cash loan just to cover prescriptions – so it’s important to know what you’re getting into if you are looking into taking Ambien.

The original intent of Ambien

Ambien is a drug made made for and approved for treating insomnia. Simply put, Ambien puts you to sleep. Chemically, it is described as a “nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic”. Translation – it stops synapses in the brain from firing. This means that it keeps your brain from being awake, remembering things, or controlling muscles easily.

Ambien’s listed side effects

When Ambien was first approved by the FDA, it came with a long list of side effects, the most common of which were listed as daytime drowsiness, diarrhea, and coordination problems as well as depression, hallucinations, and addiction. These are just the side effects of Ambien that were reported before the drug went into widespread use, however.

Off-label recreational use of Ambien

The off-label (unapproved by the FDA) uses of Ambien have been growing in recent years. As ABC 7 (http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0310/712179.html) in Los Angeles reported, there are many people using this drug in the bedroom, much like Rachel Uchitel is reported to have claimed. This off-label use of Ambien, however, comes with many significant dangers, including severe addiction.

Ambien users report memory loss and more

One of the most high-profile dangers of using Ambien is the memory loss and sleep-walking. When combined, these side effects have led to individuals who taken Ambien (prescribed or not) eating, driving, shopping, or having romantic encounters in their sleep, only to have no recollection of it later. The social and financial repercussions of these actions often last for days, if not months or years – to the point some people end up taking out installment loans to pay for purchases or damages they have no memory of being a part of. ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=1927026&page=1) reports that Ambien has “made it onto the lists of the Top 10 drugs found in impaired motorists”.

Some “Ambien Zombies” speak out

Find out more about Ambien

Ambien is a very powerful drug that must be considered with care. If you would like to learn more about Ambien and the side effects of taking it, you should start with Drugs.com, Ambien’s website, and The People’s Pharmacy.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation that required quick cash to avert disaster, you know that bureaucratic red tape, lengthy credit and background checks and a long list of application requirements are not what you want. An easy, efficient application that respects your privacy is vital – and it’s no coincidence that First Cash Advance (See www.firstcashadvance.us/y/index.html) provides exactly this for consumers in need of a cash loan.

Get your money in just one hour

It doesn’t matter if you’re caught between paydays or facing a surprise expense that has your budget cornered: First Cash Advance is an excellent source for fast cash loans. They’re relatively new to the online payday loan industry (firstcashadvance.us traffic measurements have only been online since June 2009, according to Compete.com), but their clean, simple Web site is sure to be popular with consumers, particularly since the loan application and distribution process is entirely electronic. This means there’s no paper chase and no waiting for a check in the mail. If a potential customer has a checking or savings account and is approved for a loan, as much as $1,500 is wired directly into the bank account.

It can happen within an hour

So long as you apply before 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, it is possible to receive the fast cash loan you need on the same day – even within an hour!

While First Cash Advance is not a lender, they are in position to match applicants with “America’s best online installment and cash lenders nationwide,” according to their Web site. They claim to have helped “thousands of customers” obtain the cash advance services they need. Will you be one of them? Check them out at firstcashadvance.us.

Some traffic analysis from their Web site

Firstcashadvance.us first showed up on Compete.com in June 2009, and they’ve already reached a respectable level of monthly traffic to their site. In January 2010, the site drew 2,402 unique visitors, which is a huge jump from only the month before: 228.14 percent more. Their 2,716 total visitors was a 271.04 percent increase over the previous month.

While the sample size for referring sites is small at this point, we know from Compete.com that cashapply.com refers the most traffic to First Cash Advance (18.72 percent), but other sites like yieldmanager.com and untd.com rank. Their exact percentages are not currently available, however, and most searched terms leading to First Cash Advance aren’t either. Give them time.

First Cash Advance – may your first time with them be the cash advance experience you need

Obama's health care plan blends the House and Senate proposals. Image from Flickr.

The Obama health care plan, in its most recent incarnation, is now available for all to see on the White House web site. Of course, it’s a very lengthy document and some parts are a little hard to understand, so I have composed a summary focusing on the parts that have changed since the last health care bill was made public.

Obama’s health care plan contains elements from both the House and Senate versions of the bill, but the White House site says it more closely resembles the senate version. One important question people want to know up front is how the government will pay for Obama’s health care plan. People don’t want to see the feds take out another cash loan and incur more national debt.

Paying for the Obama health care plan

The White House site says the bill will make health care more affordable:

The House and Senate health insurance bills lower premiums through increased competition, oversight, and new accountability standards set by insurance exchanges.  The bills also provide tax credits and reduced cost sharing for families with modest income. The President’s Proposal improves the affordability of health care by increasing the tax credits for families.

Low- and middle-income families also will get tax breaks to help pay for health insurance. Check out a table of income levels and tax breaks.

Crackdown

Part of Obama’s health care plan focuses on cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse. The bill creates a comprehensive sanctions database and calls for registration and background checks of billing agencies and individuals. It expands access to the health care integrity and protection data bank.

The president’s proposal also aims to ensure that people have access to mental health care. It also provides the ability for real-time data review and increases sanctions for committing Medicare or Medicaid fraud. Read a full list of crackdown measures.

In the long run

As far as making sure the cost of Obama’s health care plan can continue to be sustainable, the web site says:

President’s Proposal creates a set of benchmark payments at different percentages of the current average fee-for-service costs in an area.  It phases these benchmarks in gradually in order to avoid disruption to beneficiaries, taking into account the relative payments to fee-for-service costs in an area.

The plan also will delay and reform the high-cost plan excise tax, broaden Medicare hospital insurance, increase fees on brand-name prescriptions and close tax loopholes to prevent unjustified tax shelters. You can read about more improvements and view a searchable copy of the Obama health care plan at WhiteHouse.gov.

"I commit to aggressively deciding not to decide."

So “agnostic definition” is something the Google searchers wants to know today. My guess is that it doesn’t have all that much to do with religion, which is typically how the word is applied. It does have other uses, though. Courtesy of the New York Times‘ “Word of the Day,” here’s a snapshot:

agnostic •\ag-’näs-tik, əg-\• noun and adjective

noun: someone who is doubtful or noncommittal about something
noun: a person who claims that they cannot have true knowledge about the existence of God (but does not deny that God might exist)
adjective: of or pertaining to an agnostic or agnosticism
adjective: uncertain of all claims to knowledge

Obama’s budget: vocabulary lesson or endless cash loan?

The Swamp recently ran an article with the headline “Obama ‘agnostic’ about deficit solutions.” Getting the tremendous federal deficit under control could easily lead to higher taxes for the middle class, but Obama has vowed not to do this. Rather than grab for that all-too-obvious political theology, he’s remaining “agnostic” and waiting for new ideas.

No new taxes, no new cuts?

Obama told the press we can’t simply “cut our way out of this problem.” A combination of tax spurts and cuts on Social Security and Medicare may be the road Obama travels, but he gave Bloomberg no definite indication. Again, he’s remaining “agnostic,” as politicians are wont to do when the cameras are running.

Must… remain… non-committal

I understand political gamesmanship. I also understand that repairing something as large as our national debt is a tremendously complex task. Obama’s proposed budget cuts it down to $1.267 trillion, which improves on the $1.56 projection – but he’s eyeing $727 billion by 2013! Remaining agnostic won’t get you very far, as tough decisions will have to be made right away to meet a 2013 deadline. The recession has only made that road harder to travel, and more people are looking to cash loans than ever. Make a decision and stick with it.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ / CC BY 2.0)

Related Video:

Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org

Before 1904, Time Square was better known as Longacre Square that was until the New York Times newspaper moved their head quarters to its address located on 475 Broadway. This helped pave the way for big change, starting with the squares name. From 1904 on, people would call the area Times Square. No one could have known how famous and important this land mark would become. Today we see Time Square as a pillar of new beginnings. This is why it was so easy to give the square our new year’s tradition. Not to mention the savvy move on the papers part in placing a giant lighted ball at the top of its building. Oddly the papers operations only occurred in this location for about nine years. It was then sold and production continued at 229 W 43rd St. where an annex was built especially for newspaper production. Many more expansions and moves occurred until 2007 that is when The Times finally found a permanent home in Manhattan.

A Developers Dream

Developers of that day saw Times Square as a money pot full of potential. The area boomed with popularity even before the Times moved in. This was thanks to an optimistic developer who saw the area as becoming the new uptown neighborhood of New York. Boy was he right! If he could see it now. With any new development in mans history no matter how positive, there always seems to be a trail of undesirable traits as well. Times Square was no different; there were many Brothels, pickpocket technicians, and plain old street walkers. This made for quite an interesting view of what we today would call a red light district. After a while a man named Oscar Hammerstein adopted the square and started an entertainment empire consisting of three theaters. Times Square was the most elite theater location in the United States during World War I.

Cleaning Up The Filth

Despite the glamor, the area would later become one of the worst areas for crime and sex in New York. Until the 1980′s when new legislation forced the area to clean it’s act up. By the 1990′s Times Square’s filth was replaced with much magnificence and an opportunistic business vibe. Out with the adult toy stores and in with personal money markets who provide cash loans to excited entrepreneur’s. In the future, who knows what we will see plastered on the walls of electric blues and greens, shouting at our unconscious to buy more of what we don’t need. So please take heed when visiting Times Square where pedestrians beware.

Apply for Cash Loans HERE!

Photo from Picasa

How the economy is recovering

The personal cash loan increased in usage this past holiday season. In November many people found themselves coming out of the recession with few options to manage Christmas gift purchases. Now that the holidays are over and people are recuperating financially, it’s time to put together some numbers as to how the economy is shaping up. Retailers have much smaller inventories than the past but also have slightly better-than-predicted sales receipts.

Inventories and Christmas

A lot of retailers are reporting low inventories. In fact, their inventories are so low that they have had to already bring in new orders to restock their locations. In former years, retailers were able to stock up enough product to last through the Christmas buying season and beyond. This year budgets were tight and overbuying was not an option. As a result, shoppers looking for after-holiday sales may have to search hard to find them.

NPD analyst Marshall Cohen said, “Retailers are much more nimble this year. Their ‘Plan B’ is to have new receipts at the ready.” He noted J. Crew and Coach as two stores that had already restocked their shelves for the post-holiday rush. Part of the higher profit margin can be attributed to ordering that was in line with weak demands. This allowed retailers to retain a higher price point on items and that is what brought in added profits.

John Lonski, chief economist of Moody’s, stated, “The latest holiday shopping season wasn’t a rip-roaring success, but at least it met or slightly exceeded expectations. Consumer spending is indeed in a recovery mode, which brightens prospects for 2010.”

Overall spending is on its way up

One of the indicators most economists have been watching closely is consumer spending. It fell to its low point at the height of the recession when the unemployment rate was at its highest. Spending rose 3.6% however from November 1st of this year through December 25th. That number was well beyond what industry insiders were predicting for the end of 2009. Studies are showing that consumers were using savings, personal cash loans and credit to rekindle the buying patterns of their pre-recession lives. That’s good news to the market because its full recovery is dependent on the reinvigoration of consumer spending in the US.

Despite the good news

Despite the good news with spending, there is still an issue with numbers for the holiday season. Analysts warn that it is still too early to truly gauge how well the market is recuperating from the economic downturn of 2009. Though there are some signs that things are on an upswing, there is still a period of recovery that every business and consumer needs to go through. Retailers are expected to extend their specials throughout January of 2010 in an effort to encourage spending. Lonski added, “The best thing businesses can do right now is to push for spending. That is going to mean creating deeper discounts and specials for customers. It’s imperative that businesses see how this encouragement is the only thing that will continue to turn the market around.”

Recovery after the recession

Though the recession is over, the US still needs to go through recovery efforts before it returns to normal. Consumers are still feeling their way in the dark, trying to best protect themselves from future financial disasters. In terms of spending though, they are ready to start making purchases. By using savings, personal cash loans and credit hopefully consumers will gain confidence in the market once again.

Need a Cash Loan? Apply Here!

So far, no word from the Governator on the California earthquake. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Residents of Southern California border towns should be thankful that the earthquake in California today caused little damage. The Los Angeles Times says no major damages or injuries have been reported in Calexico or Mexicali. There was brief shaking in San Diego, but it was hardly enough to even interrupt anyone’s work day.

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit at about a quarer to 11 a.m. PT. Though many are referring to it as a California-Mexico border earthqake, the quake was felt in Arizona as well. Earthquakes like this are common; the majority of earthquakes cause little or no damage and simply manifest themselves through brief shaking. But while California, Mexico and Arizona won’t need a cash loan for damages or aid, some cities in the past haven’t been so lucky.

Deadliest earthquakes

None of the top 10 deadliest earthquakes have happened in the United States. The worst earthquake this century, in terms of death toll, took place in Tangshan, China, in 1976. Wikipedia says the death toll was first reported to be about 655,000, but that number has been updated to 242,000. Regardless of which number is correct, the Tangshan Earthquake had the highest death toll of any quake since the 16th century. In the past 100 years, the top three deadliest earthquakes happened in China.

The Tangshan earthquake, not surprisingly, is also listed as the earthquake that caused the most damage this century. It destroyed four miles of city, leveling hundreds of thousands of buildings. It cost China 10 billion yuan in economic losses, or about $1.5 billion. Then length of the quake? Ten seconds.

Earthquakes in the United States

The U.S. has been incredibly fortunate, comparitively speaking, when it comes to earthquakes. Only one U.S. quake even shows up on Wikipedia’s “deadliest earthquakes” list, and it’s at the very bottom.

More than 100 years ago, in 1906, The San Francisco Earthquake and resulting fires killed more than 3,000 people. The event had a long-lasting effect. Economic growth was greatly slowed in the area because of the

Little Buddy Child Tracker can send alerts to smartphones if children aren't where they are supposed to be. Image from Flickr.

The most recent child abduction case to go national was the sad story of Somer Thompson, a 7-year-old Florida girl who was missing for days before detectives found her body in a landfill. No doubt this case will convince many parents that the Little Buddy Child Tracker is a good investment.

The Little Buddy Child Tracker is just what it sounds like. It “combines global satellite positioning and cellular technology to signal the child’s whereabouts to a computer or smartphone,” says Sun-Times Media.  The benefits of this device are obvious, but this particular child tracker has an additional advantage: It’s a lot less expensive than previous devices of the same type.

How much does Little Buddy GPS cost?

Most GPS devices so far have retailed for $200 to $500. The Little Buddy Child Tracker is cheap by comparison; it retails at Best Buy for about $100. Granted, many families don’t have $100 per kid just lying around, but maybe grandma or another relative would be willing to put up a cash loan to help keep the kids safe.

Of course, there are a lot of arguments against the Little Buddy Child Tracker. Sun-Times Media reports that “the device immediately drew angry writeups from some techies, who called it a reason for children to run away from home.” And, of course, for children of a certain age, people are arguing that Little Buddy Child Tracker is an invasion of privacy.

Focusing on what’s important

I don’t think any of the arguments against Little Buddy Child Tracker can trump this: It might save a child’s life. Granted, it might not. Sure, abductors will find out about these GPS devices; they’ll check for them and ditch them if they really want to carry out an abduction. But what if they don’t? And there’s no arguing that it would eliminate the problem of a child getting lost.

I think all of the minor problems people have with Little Buddy Child Tracker are no match for a kid’s life. I am sure there are not any parents out there who don’t believe that even the minor possibility of saving their their child’s life is worth $100. Of course, I’m not a parent. Does anyone else out there have other arguments for why parents should not use Little Buddy Child Tracker?

Image of the baseball-sized 530 carat Star of Africa from Wikimedia.

An independent diamond mining company near Pretoria, South Africa, has found a 507 carat diamond. The large stone was found in the Cullinan Mine last week. After a rough year in the diamond business, Financial Times reports this discovery could single-handedly improve the finances of Petra Diamonds.

Even though the collapse of diamond prices in the past year pushed Petra Diamonds to a pre-tax loss of $93.9 million, the 507 carat diamond could be one of the 20 largest known diamonds in the world. The gem is about the size of a chicken egg, and it could keep Petra Diamonds in business. Perhaps Petra won’t need a cash loan to get out of debt now.

Independent diamond mining companies

Petra Diamonds is one of many small, independent diamond producers that have popped up recently. Petra employed a strategy of buying up old, African diamond mines from De Beers.

Petra greatly increased its production because of this strategy. In the past year, Petra mined 1 million carats of diamonds. However, as production spiked, diamond prices collapsed. Also, reports Financial Times, “Much of the loss arose from a $75.3m impairment charge relating to the closure of exploration programs in Angola and Botswana.”

More about the big diamonds

The Recently discovered 507 carat diamond weighs 1bout 100 grams, which is roughly 3.5 ounces, less than a quarter of a pound. Reports say the diamond is of exceptional color and clarity. The 507 carat diamond is still being analyzed to determine its worth.

This 507 carat diamond was found in the same mine as the largest known diamond in the world, which is called the Cullinan Diamond. The Cullinan Diamond was 3,106 when found. In order to be finished, the Cullinan Diamond was split into several pieces. Now the largest piece of the Cullinan Diamond is part of the British Crown Jewels and is set in the Imperial Scepter. The piece, called the Star of Africa, is 530 carats and about the size of a baseball.

Petra’s best friends

Along with the 507 carat diamond, three other exceptionally large diamonds were found. One was 168 carats and the two other stones were 58.50 and 53.30 carats. No estimated value has been published yet, but most reports are saying it is a white diamond, which means it is at the tope of the clarity and color scale. That also means it’s at the tope of the pricing scale.

Petra earlier this fiscal years sold a 27-carat blue diamond for more than $9 milllion. No doubt we will see some astronomical figures for a 507 carat white diamond.