Many small businesses are struggling and relying on SBA loans to make ends meet. Image from Flickr.

The Small Business Administration has been charged with helping businesses weather the recession, and money is running out. The 7(a) lending program provides loans, personal and large, to small businesses around the country. The program, which was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is currently in a holding pattern, waiting for more money.

How the SBA provides low cost loans

The Small Business Administration itself does not give instant money to business owners. Instead, the government agency backs up loans made by banks. With the SBA “insurance policy” against default in place, banks are much more willing to act as money lenders to often cash-strapped small businesses. The stimulus package authorized the SBA to waive fees and guarantee up to 90 percent of a loan’s value.

The effect of SBA loans

Small businesses are often forced to rely on credit and loan lenders to keep their businesses going. Over just a three-month period of April, May and June, the SBA lent out $3 billion over 12,123 loans. Compared to the same quarter of 2009, that is 21 percent more emergency money for cash-strapped businesses. The program, however, is still waiting for re-authorization, which is leaving millions of dollars of loans in limbo.

The SBA loan queue

Since the official authorization for SBA loans expired in May, the agency has been forced to queue requests for loans. There are currently 419 borrowers waiting for more than $123 million in SBA-guaranteed funding. Because these SBA loans are often one of the very few types of credit available to these businesses, the agency is scrambling to help them find financing. Given the length of the recession thus far and the fact that the economy is not yet growing at a steady pace, it is almost for certain that programs such as the SBA 7(a) program will need to continue providing support for small business.

Peer-to-peer money lending is confounding the standard definitions at the SEC. Image from Flickr.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has been in an extended debate with Prosper, one of the two largest peer to peer lending businesses. A new industry, the peer to peer lending model is a Silicon Valley startup that directly connects investors with borrowers, effectively cutting banks out of the lending equation. The SEC believes that these businesses should fall under their purview of regulations. However, one of the two largest p2p lenders is fighting that ruling.

The basics of p2p lending

Peer to peer lending is a business model that is not entirely unheard of. The basic idea is that investors get the option of investing a lot or a little money directly with the borrower. Borrowers posts their information, including credit score and desired loan amount. Investors can peruse these requests, and decide exactly where they want to put their money — and they can loan as little as $25. The two largest p2p lending facilitators are both Silicon Valley startups – prosper.com and lendingclub.com. These two companies report that, on average, investors get a return of 6 to 16 percent on their investments.

The regulation question for peer to peer lenders

The Securities and Exchange commission currently regulates the lending and investing that occurs on these peer to peer lending websites. The argument the SEC uses is that these online lenders are investment firms selling bonds – and therefore fall under the purview of the SEC. One lender, Prosper, is arguing that the business is instead a lender that should fall under regulation of a different agency — ideally, the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

The difference between bonds and loans

A bond, usually known as a corporate bond, is a type of investment usually used by corporations and companies. A bond is basically a promise to pay a certain amount of money later in exchange for an amount of money now. A bond can be traded, exchanged, insured and generally moved around financial markets without much trouble. Because of this liquidity, a bond usually has a very low interest rate – 5 percent or lower. A loan, on the other hand, is a contract between a borrower and a lender that cannot be easily exchanged or traded. Generally, loans are “sold” by individuals to a bank, while bonds are “sold” by corporations to individuals.

Where should p2p lending be categorized?

Peer to peer lending is a difficult industry to categorize. Relatively new in the financial market, these businesses offer loans directly from one individual to another. Because of this, these loans could be seen as bonds, but they could also be viewed as standard loans. Currently, the SEC regulates both the Lending Club and Prosper, though Prosper has chafed under this regulation. The company has spent a significant amount of money on lobbying for p2p lending to be categorized and separately regulated by the possible new Consumer Financial Protection Agency. At the same time, Prosper has spent over $5 million to come into compliance with SEC regulations. Either way, this is an industry that appears to only be growing – and is worth keeping an eye on.

Credit card confusion

It’s no secret that credit cards have drawn millions of people who need cash today into an endless struggle with debt management. Complex terms and fees hidden behind fees make it very hard for average people to understand that they are actually taking out loans. Most people who need a loan wouldn’t choose a money lender who wasn’t up front with how much they are actually borrowing, what the interest rate is and how long it’s going to take to pay off the debt.

With responsible borrowing, credit cards aren’t necessarily a bad thing. When credit cards are the only thing, they can cause problems. Credit cards bring many benefits–as long as credit cards aren’t the only thing you use to manage money and debt.

Credit cards: small loans are big loans

Responsible borrowing is thinking differently. Charging everything on a card and getting by with the minimum payment makes whatever you buy with a credit card more expensive every day. Imagine buying a pair of shoes for $99.95 with your credit card. That amount goes into your balance and increases the interest you pay on your account. Your minimum payment mostly goes toward interest, because that’s how the credit card company makes its money. The credit card company doesn’t want you to pay off your balance. As long as you make your minimum payment, you will never pay off your balance and the credit card company will be making money off you forever.

Keeping a small loan small

To borrow responsibly, pay for things differently. Use an account for everyday spending that is paid in full. Have another one handy if you ever need to finance an emergency, or more expensive necessities. A good example of an account to pay in full is American Express. Use your American Express for groceries, gas, phone bills, utilities, etc. Every charge on your statement adds up to the minimum payment you pay each month. Using a card you pay in full every month is a very convenient way to spend money, manage debt and build a strong credit history.

Installment loans

Responsible borrowing also includes using other types of credit, like an installment loan, when you need a small loan for unexpected expenses — like a crown at the dentist, a medical bill from a minor emergency or getting your car fixed. Getting an installment loan is a lot smarter than paying the mechanic with a revolving credit card account, adding that amount to the balance and simply feeding the interest dragon with a minimum payment.

To borrow a small loan responsibly in an unexpected situation, use the credit card account that is paid in full at the end of the month at the mechanic’s garage. Then get an installment loan to pay that credit card bill when the next payment–in full–is due. With your installment loan, you will know exactly how much you are borrowing, what the interest rate is and how long it’s going to take to pay it off — in full.

Good, common sense

Think about it. You would never take out a car loan with no repayment schedule and make payments on it forever, long after the car ends up in the junk yard. But irresponsible borrowing with credit cards for stuff like big screen TVs, new tires or expensive toys is exactly that. Small installment loans or a short term loan is just good, common sense.

Installment Loans | Start your application HERE

Safe online loans

When you get in a pinch and need to borrow money, you can get online loans safely, thanks to the Online Lenders Association (OLA), a group committed to preserving affordable access to short term credit for millions of Americans. Before you arrange your cash til payday loan, make sure your money lender is a member of the OLA. OLA members are pay day lenders that have made a difference in the lives of responsible borrowers who need short term cash relief.

Using online pay day loans responsibly

While online short-term loans can offer you the ease of borrowing within the convenience of your own home, it only makes sense when it’s done responsibly. Here are a few tips from the OLA on how to only use pay day loans the right way:

Be aware that online short-term loans are real loans and must be paid back within the terms laid out by the lender.

Read all the terms of the online loan carefully before agreeing to the loan. OLA member companies are required to provide full disclosure of loan terms to customers.

Online short-term loans are like any other loan and come with a fee. If you must extend the amount of time in which you can pay back the loan, the fee will most likely increase.

Applying for an online loan requires you to submit personal information including your bank account information. Look for information on the lending website about protection and security of your personal information. OLA encourages its members to display the OLA logo on their websites so consumers can borrow with confidence.

Never agree to loan terms you cannot afford. For example, do not borrow more than you can repay in the allotted time frame.

Do not use short-term loans as an unrealistic or long-term financial solution.

Never use a short-term loan to pay off an existing loan.

Online pay day loans: be informed

For urgent needs such as emergency medical expenses, unusually high utility bills or unexpected car repairs, an online pay day loan, when used responsibly, can help bridge the gap in household cash flow between paychecks. For people who need online payday loans, OLA members are reputable companies that adhere to an industry standard of best practices and a code of conduct. OLA pay day lenders ensure that you are fully informed and fairly treated.

Online Pay Day Loans | Start HERE!

Mural painting in San Diego's Chicano Park. Some people are willing to resort to violence over the new Arizona law on immigration. (Photo: Embargo Wells Fargo)

Noted Canadian-American journalist and former George W. Bush economic speechwriter David Frum thinks people should stop griping over the Arizona law and start thinking about what’s at stake. Recently on his blog Frum Forum, he suggested that the cries of “racism and Nazi-style tactics” over the Arizona immigration law may work just fine as rabid sound bites for the media and the uninformed to throw around with righteous indignation. However, they fail to address that while Arizona’s answer to illegal immigration is “not perfect,” it is “not unreasonable, either,” says Frum. The Arizona law “should jerk the national conscience to attention.”

Arizona law deters litter, property damage, violence

When thinking about the Arizona law, consider this: Life in America’s southern borderlands – specifically the southern-most areas of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas – has been affected negatively by the unchecked flow of illegal immigrants. Frum makes the mistake of claiming that the San Diego/Tijuana corridor is “effectively fenced,” which it is not, but his error only serves to underscore his main points more deeply. While fencing and Border Patrol stations do exist, there are numerous ways immigrants can illegally enter America through underground storm drains that are not effectively guarded.

Admittedly, not all illegal immigrants are outwardly dangerous, but some do traffic in various forms of contraband, including drugs and human slaves. As was the case with southern Arizona rancher Rob Krentz, the dangerous crowd among illegal entrants will murder if it means they can get in and loot America. Even those who were not criminals before entering the U.S. illegally contribute mightily to litter and property damage. Legal residents often need a money lender to afford repairs. That doesn’t even take into account the abuse of resources funded by American taxpayers: overstuffed hospitals, accidents with uninsured cars and the destruction of natural habitats with makeshift migrant camps, to name a few things.

Immigration and failing public schools

Young children of illegal migrant families likely aren’t the ones who choose to take advantage of America’s lax enforcement for financial gain. However, when the Supreme Court handed down a 1982 decision that enabled such children of illegal immigrants to attend public school on the taxpayers’ dime, the court went too far, asserts Frum. The evidence is rampant: overstretched resources failing to accommodate the massive number of students and classrooms where teachers take extra time to ensure no child who can’t speak English is left behind. Frum rightly points out that it’s no wonder that American children in public schools in the borderlands aren’t receiving quality educations.

Arizona estimates they have at least 600,000 illegal immigrants

Thus, rounding them all up and deporting them would be a near impossibility. However, Frum believes that the new Arizona law will still act as a deterrent to stop the manic flow of people swimming toward a watered-down amnesty born from political fear of alienating registered Latino voters. It can easily be argued that politics is about getting re-elected first by overpromising; making tough decisions to help the people is secondary. Thus, real immigration reform has been a back-burner topic. But Arizona has actually shown some guts by forcing a complacent federal government to formulate a response.

But wait! Doesn’t the Arizona law give police the right to pull over anyone they please?

Not exactly, says Frum. Similar to the way New York police had to handle the illegal gun laws of the 1990s, police in Arizona will not be able to stop people on mere suspicion. The Arizona law does give police the right to ask someone if they can produce proof of legal residence if that person has already been stopped due to another offense or infraction. If an illegal immigrant is found through such a scenario, Arizona law now gives police the power to detain them. While this won’t send 600,000 illegal immigrants packing for Mexico, the threat of being caught could cut down on drunk driving and uninsured motorists (both of which sources indicate are serious problems in Arizona, and connected largely – but not exclusively – to illegal immigrant activity).

The threat of enforcement could make a big difference and prove to the southwest what works and what doesn’t. Time will tell if enforcement is effective or an invitation to xenophobia.

Related Video (interview with Arizona police chief):

Whistler made his mother famous; what are you going to do for yours on Mother's Day 2010? From Wikimedia Commons.

May 9 will be Mother’s Day 2010, the day appointed to celebrate the women that gave birth to us and to our children.  The day is right around the corner, so you better start getting some Mother’s Day gift ideas together.

Mother’s Day 2010, as always, right before summer

Mother’s Day 2010 falls just before the summer months, so that’s something you can bear in mind.  For instance, you could get her sandals or get around to fixing her sprinklers so her lawn doesn’t die. There are some great Mother’s Day gift ideas on Gifts.com to get you started, like a wine-of-the-month club, personalized M&Ms and so forth.  Here are a few ideas that probably won’t make you look for a money lender to come up with a great Mother’s Day 2010 gift:

• Show up at her house and do lots of yard/handy work and let her relax.
• Ger her a gift certificate to a spa or for a massage.  She works hard, darn it, and she could use a break. You can even find coupons and get a good deal; try Retailmenot.com or Couponcabin.com
• Jewelry is always nice, and there are some upcoming sales – for instance, the Ben Bridge Mother and Child collection, if you got the bucks.

You could also try making jewelry, for the handmade touch.  In fact, if you want to get the kids in on making jewelry, that would probably go a long way.

• Cooking – try making either mom or your partner something special, or treat her to dinner out.  Plenty of restaurants are going to run specials, and you may be able to get a nice discount.
• Gift baskets – there will be gift baskets galore all over the place.
• Crafts – scrapbooks, photo albums, are always a great gift to give someone.

Now get on it!

It’s the day set aside to celebrate the woman that gave birth to you and/or the woman who gave birth to your children.  They deserve a day, at least, so you better start shopping.

Chapel of the Divine Mercy will no doubt be full for Divine Mercy Novena. (Photo: Wikipedia)

As Easter weekend comes, so do the ancient traditions of those who profess religious faith – and today, Good Friday, brings the Divine Mercy Novena of the Roman Catholic faith. For those of you unfamiliar with the meaning of “novena,” WordNet defines it as “a Roman Catholic devotion consisting of prayers on nine consecutive days.” Roman Catholics believe that the Divine Mercy Novena was mandated by Jesus, who told St. Faustina that the special nine days of prayer would begin on Good Friday. Each day, prayers are to be dedicated to a specific group of souls. The last day, according to CatholicFire, is “the most difficult of all,” in that prayers are to be made for “the lukewarm and indifferent,” those who are said to cause Jesus “more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives.” Keep in mind, this would have been long before payday loans.

Divine Mercy Novena: For what are Catholics praying?

“On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls,” Jesus is reputed to have told St. Faustina. Here is a list of the daily Divine Mercy Novena prayers for Roman Catholics:

1. Good Friday – Pray for all humankind, with a particular focus on those who have sinned. This should include the souls of priests who contributed to the recent Catholic Church sex scandals, both participants and those who swept the information under the rug or did little or nothing to aid traumatized children.
2. Holy Saturday – Roman Catholics should pray for “the souls of priests and religious.” See No. 1, above.
3. Easter Sunday – Prayer for “all devout and faithful souls,” writes CatholicFire. See No. 1; some of the Roman Catholic faith might argue that those involved in the scandal are no longer “faithful.”
4. Easter Monday – Pray for those who don’t know/don’t believe in Jesus.
5. Easter Tuesday – A day of prayer for “the souls of separated brethren.” This former Catholic who writes for Penn State’s student newspaper would fall into this category, but he may not care all that much to listen.
6. Easter Wednesday – Prayer for “the meek and humble souls and the souls of children.” Certain Roman Catholics need to spend extra time here; see No. 1
7. Easter Thursday – The souls of those who go the extra mile to honor the mercy of Jesus.
8. Easter Friday – Those souls in purgatory receive prayers on this day.
9. Easter Saturday – Those souls who have “become lukewarm” receive prayer honors on this final day of Divine Mercy Novena.

Roman Catholics would like a nice Divine Mercy Novena

Unfortunately, the Vatican’s stance on the recent priest sex scandals may make that impossible. While it is most unfair to blame the many parishioners for the actions of a few, the actions of the Vatican have fairly drawn the ire of society. If the Vatican truly believes as Jesus does that children are the model of peaceful innocence, then they will take immediate action that is in the best interests of such children. Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzenberger) is defended by some cardinals for protecting the Vatican’s reputation, but there are laws in place on this planet for how to deal with those who would harm children. Following the law would be the first step toward aiding those Jesus favored so much, and it appears the Roman Catholic Church may be headed in that direction, but more must be done. If it means a need for a money lender or two to help settle lawsuits, let it be said.

Related Video:

College students already use federal student loans to pay for everything from tuition and books to housing. Image from Flickr.

Tucked inside the health care reform bill that congress passed on Sunday was a bill that will reform the student loan system. Focused mainly on how student loans are administered, the student loan bill will create $61 billion in savings over 10 years. Of those savings, $30 billion will be put back into education, while another $10 billion will go to deficit reduction. Banks and financial institutions will no longer act as the money lender on these loans — instead, the Department of Education will administer the loans.

Student loan bill changes administration

The biggest change that the student loan bill will implement is in how the student loan program operates. Currently, Congress sets eligibility rules, interest rates and most of the rules about how student loans are administered. The Department of Education then works with lenders like Sallie Mae and colleges to help students apply for the low rate personal loan.

The lending institution then distributes money to the school. The lending institution receives subsidies from the government for providing this service. The student loan bill will simply cut out government subsidies for lending institutions. Instead, the Department of Education will act as the lending institution. Just by cutting out subsidies, the government will save approximately $6.1 billion a year.

Reinvesting in education through the student loan bill

With the savings of the student loan bill, the Department of Education will be able to reinvest about $30 billion back into education. According to the student loan bill, this money will be used to increase the maximum Pell Grant, which is used to help low-income students pay for college. The bill will also reduce the monthly payments that some students have to make on their loans, which will help make college more affordable for more people.

Criticisms of the student loan bill

Even though this bill saves the government billions of dollars a year and reinvests in education, there are criticisms. The costs of college have been rising at double-digit percentages each year, and the increase in the Pell Grants will not come anywhere close to covering that increase in cost. There are also fears that by cutting out the loan industry, the government will effectively be cutting jobs. However, most estimates say that comparatively few — if any — jobs will be lost, as the government will need to hire personnel to administer the loans. Finally, some worry that interest rates on these unsecured personal loans will begin to rise. However, the student loan bill does not change the fact that Congress sets the rules, eligibility and interest rates for student loans.

Sources:

Columbia Spectator
Campus Progress
The New York Times

“With all the payday loan lenders out there, I didn’t know where to start…”

Eventually, though, the bills became too difficult for me to handle and I needed something to keep myself afloat until my next paycheck arrived. So I finally decided that it would not hurt to research a money lender and take out a quick payday loan – just this one time. And that one time was enough to not only keep me on track, but to get ahead of the game!

The types of loans vary with each payday loan lender

The types of payday loans vary widely, but the fastest fast cash comes through online payday loan lenders that provide no faxing and no credit checks. The Internet makes loan research easier for the average borrower, so with a simple online search, you can fill out a simple application form and receive your money in a few more clicks. Of course, you can also go for the more traditional method of getting a payday loan through retail lending, which works the same way but requires more walking.

Getting an instant payday loan seems easier than ever nowadays. Through proper Internet research, a borrower’s chance of determining the right type of payday loan for them is getting better.

Know which payday loan lender is right for you

There is no perfect payday loan, just as there is no perfect payday loan lender. To many borrowers, the right payday loan lender offers you instant cash without too much paperwork. The right loan is available even for those with bad credit. Lenders that require no credit checks and no faxing are good for those with a history of bad credit, such as late payments, and only require that the borrower maintain a regular job.

The money lenders that conduct credit checks, ask for collateral security, and ask for tons of documents should be considered, too, but many borrowers consider them to be a waste of time. Also, the stress of being denied for a payday loan that can save you from further ruin may be too much for some people to handle.

If you want to take out a payday loan, you can go after those lenders that offer faxless and online options for your fast cash needs. From there, decide which lender works best for you based on your other important needs. With all the options available now, finding a payday loan lender without much hassle has become a whole lot easier.

Start you quick payday loan application HERE!

Image from Flickr.

Today is National Grammar Day, and in 2010 I think it is important to focus on digital communication. Although MySpace, Facebook and other social networks have created a world where more people than ever see the things we write, people seem to put less care into those things. Just for today, for National Grammar Day, let’s focus on making sure the things we write on the Internet for all to see are correct.

National Grammar Day web site

National Grammar Day — unlike many fabricated, unofficial holidays — is not built to market or promote a product or draw a profit for anyone. As I learned from NationalGrammarDay.com, March 4 is simply a celebration of language. You don’t need to visit a money lender or get cheap payday loans to celebrate language, thanks to free speech. That’s what that means, right?

Of course, you can purchase T-shirts from the web site, but they’re not National Grammar Day T-shirts, they’re the type of shirts a grammar nerd could don any day. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t even figure out how to purchase said T-shirts, so clearly Grammar Girl, the founder of National Grammar Day, isn’t in this for the cash.

A sad story of a sad e-mail

I had an experience recently that I would like to share with you, dear Internet readers, on National Grammar Day. A student reporter at a community college wrote an e-mail to me asking about a local restaurant. A friend of mine tipped him off that I frequented the place, so he sent me a very short e-mail that contained one very broad inquiry about the place.

Putting aside this young gentleman’s lack of reporter skills, the thing that really bothered me was that the e-mail did not contain a single capital letter. He didn’t even capitalize his name. Honestly, I was insulted. A guy who apparently plans to be a professional writer couldn’t even take the time to make his one-paragraph e-mail to me grammatically correct.

A plea to you from me

The e-mail from the unfortunately budding journalist convinced me that this boy did not care about his job, had no respect for language or grammar and therefore had no respect for me. Here’s the point of the story: There are people like me out there. There are people who will write you off as not only an idiot but a careless, disrespectful idiot if you don’t bother using proper grammar in written communication.

So I beg you, just for National Grammar Day 2010, take care to make  your written communication grammatically correct. I know incorrect grammar in Facebook status messages will never go away, but just for today, edit your status before you post it for all to see. Hit that “spell check” button on your e-mail. National Grammar Day comes but once a year; let’s make it count. It’s more than six months until National Punctuation Day, so I promise not to ask again until then.

I leave you with this musical tribute to National Grammar Day, “March Forth.” (Get it? Because it’s March 4? Oh, just watch the video!)

Best overall vehicle

Despite Toyota’s recent recall disasters, the influential magazine has named the Toyota Lexus 460L best overall vehicle. With gas mileage of 24 on the highway and 16 in the city, the full-size luxury sedan scored 99 on Consumer Report’s 100-point scale. The $70,925 price tag means that you’ll probably need a loan to buy one of these cars, even if you have plenty of cash now for a down payment.

Best family sedan

Top honors in the family sedan category went to the Nissan Altima which may be good news if your payday cash doesn’t always flow like wine . The Altima carries a manageable price tag, somewhere in the range of $19,900 $29,600, and gets reasonable gas mileage, too (32 hwy, 23 city).

Best small sedan

The Hyundai Elantra SE took the award for best small sedan. Priced at a mere $17,845 that plenty of people could finance with just a small loan, the Elantra gets decent gas mileage (34 hwy, 26 city) and comes equipped with electronic stability control, a proven life-saving feature not available on many other small cars.

Best sporty car

The Volkswagen GTI, a turbocharged version of the VW Golf hatchback was named best sporty car. Without completely sacrificing gas mileage (31 Hwy, 21 City) and without a price so high that you need your own personal money lender ($23,465-$24,070), the four-cylinder engine offers 200-horsepower and performance –oriented suspension.

Best small SUV

The Subaru Forester came out on top in this category, with fairly impressive fuel economy (27 hwy, 20 city) and a moderate price range of $20,295 – $28,495. Consumer Reports temporarily suspended its recommendation for the Toyota Rav4 as its top choice in this category following the manufacturer’s recall and stop-sale order, but it’s back now and affordable with the help of a good loan company.

Best family SUV

With its roomy interior, easy ride and responsive handling, the Chevrolet Traverse took the prize for best family SUV. With a fairly steep price range of $29,224 to $39,985, the Traverse offers less-than-optimum gas mileage (24 hwy, 17 city) and may not be the best automobile choice for if you already need money now.

Best green car

Not surprisingly, for the seventh year in a row the Toyota Prius took the prize in the green car category. The price of the new redesigned version remains reasonable $21,400 – $28,070 and at 48 hwy, 51 city its gas mileage is hard to beat. Described by the magazine as safe, reliable, and easy to handle, sales of the Prius were not interrupted by the recent recall, allowing it to remain on the Consumer Reports top-10 list.  It shouldn’t take credit counseling to figure out that this car makes good financial sense.

Best sports sedan

The Nissan Infiniti G took the title in the sports sedan category the fourth year in a row. Priced between $33,250 and $40,400, the Infiniti G offers agility and luxury with plenty of power and gas mileage of 27 hwy/19 city.  Not a bad choice, especially if you qualify for low interest loans.

Best family hauler

Yes, “family hauler” really is the name given to this category, and the winner is a microvan, the Mazda5. With gas mileage of 28 on the highway and 22 in the city, this small and maneuverable family hauler (I just really like saying that again) is economically priced between $17,995 and $23,005.  If you’re already a candidate for cheap payday loans and need to buy a car, this is a model to consider.

Best pickup

Stripped down at $20,850 or souped up at $41,775 20, the Chevrolet Silverado offers the fuel inefficiency typical of even less worthy pickups (20 hwy, 15 city), plus optional interior comforts and a measure of dependability. If you’re in the market for a pickup but find yourself short of cash today, a basic version of the Silverado may be just the ticket to debt survival.

President Obama's school speech is meant to encourage, not indoctrinate. (Photo: flickr.com)

It’s a ridiculous question, of course. Can’t we all appreciate that the president wants our youth to work hard and achieve a bright future for themselves and America as a whole? Because the more well-prepared, motivated young people who enter the adult world, the better this country will be as a whole. From money lenders to structural engineers, a world of jobs will need to be filled. There’s nothing complicated or – dare I say – nefarious about that. Yet that’s exactly what critics are complaining about with the Obama school speech. They need something to gripe about to give themselves purpose, so they claim it’s all part of “the agenda.”

And the Obama administration has bent over backward to please these people. They even released Obama’s school speech text. Is that conclusive enough evidence to dispel the notion that some unspeakable evil is about to be wrought upon our impressionable youth?

The uproar is “silly”

That’s what Secretary of Education Arne Duncan calls the unsupported furor over Obama’s planned address to the schoolchildren of America. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has stated that “It’s a sad state of affairs that many in this country politically would rather start an ‘Animal House’ food fight rather than inspire kids to stay in school, to work hard, to engage parents to stay involved.”

According to the New York Times, the Obama school speech is intended to encourage kids to “dream big dreams, respect their teachers, study hard and learn from failure.” We all fall down at times; we do so in order to learn to pick ourselves up again. Nothing could be more serious. This is what we owe ourselves.

President Obama will deliver the school speech at noon Eastern Time from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, but it will be broadcast live to schools across the nation. Most of America’s 15,000 school districts plan to show the Obama school speech, and accommodations will be made for the few whose parents object to their children viewing the speech. Why a parent would object to what has been revealed to be an inspirational message is beyond me. If there are other reasons, then I would ask why the child is in a public school system to begin with. It is self-defeating to leave the child in public school if the parents have no intention of allowing that child to assimilate into the general public sphere. I would say that it damage’s the child’s psyche, but I’m a writer and concerned citizen… what’s that worth?

It’s about taking personal responsibility

Guilford County Schools of North Carolina Chief of Staff Nora Carr finds that the Obama school speech planned for the children of America is nothing controversial. On the contrary, it’s something “refreshing,” particularly from a politician. Taking personal responsibility for one’s actions and decisions has been a foreign concept for politicians in America of late, particularly with those who cheat on their wives and spend taxpayer money illegally. Don’t worry, Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina, I’m not naming any names.

Before the text of the Obama school speech was released by the White House, certain parents in Guilford County School District were angry like a number of those in red state pockets around the Bible belt. There were also those who were upset that school districts were allowing parents the option to opt out. While I do think parents should have such an option, it seems odd to me that they wouldn’t want their children to be involved in building up their country. Narrow-mindedness leads to a lack of intellectual diversity. Choking out ideas with the weeds of narrow fundamentalism teaches children to submit to authority and stifle creativity in deference to the party line. If all of the Republican complainers think that the Obama “agenda” is enslaving children, they ought to look in the mirror first.

This isn’t mandatory, folks

Nor should it be. As I’ve said, parents should indeed have a say in what their children are taught in schools. Not control, but a say. If they want their children out, they should have that right. Some schools are even opting out, which I suppose is also their right, although again, I don’t see why they would unless it’s true that they’re actually too busy. School has just begun around the country, so this is understandable.

Speech is OK; now let’s attach the Obama school speech lesson plan!

Work hard at your education, students. (Photo: flickr.com)

The Obama school speech lesson plan has also been controversial. The same people who initially opposed any sort of speech from Obama to America’s schoolchildren had gripes over the lesson plan the White House provided as supplementary material in case teachers wanted it. In particular, discussion points like “Write letters about what they (students) can do to help the president” were interpreted as some sort of mandatory service call, which is ludicrous. What’s wrong with helping the president if children choose to do so? Such a question does not exist in a vacuum; it is part of much larger discussion, one that includes not only teachers, but parents and caregivers as well. Talking about what kids can do is not a call for mandatory service, but a chance for them to use their imaginations and decide how they might go on to interact with their world in a positive way. Hiding from the world – whether it be due to political or religious fundamentalist views – does not provide a real growth environment. Children must have guidance, but they must also be allowed to interact with the world around them.

But the squeaky wheel got the grease and the question on the optional supplemental lesson plan was changed. Yes, it’s an OPTIONAL supplemental plan. Please find something productive to do with your lives, objectors. Now it reads: “Write (a letter to yourself) about how (you) can achieve short‐term and long‐term education goals.” Sure, it does make the meaning more clear for those who can only see in black and white… I suppose catering to the lowest common denominator in America isn’t a completely foreign concept.

The president struggled to get to where he is now

And it’s that kind of message Mr. Obama wants to get across to children: the road will be hard. There will be bumps. But if you commit to hard work, it will eventually pay off. Whether junior becomes a lion tamer or a money lender, hard work and a commitment to being the best they can be in their chosen field is what will lead to their own success. A society made up of such motivated individuals will not be predisposed to fail. Education is the key toward a better America.

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I’m a pretty bouncy kind of guy. OK, I’m round. Descriptive enough for you?

Crushed by deer meat

Nothing really gets me down. But I was nearly crushed by my deer meat adventure… that is, until cash loans saved me from feeling down.

My story

This happened to me a couple of winters ago, so I can look back at it now and laugh. However, since it’s the second time I’ve come here for help from cash loans (with nothing but great service to show for it, I would add), I felt inspired to tell you about what happened to me.

The stairs

You see, I love deer meat. Venison has the taste and texture that just feels right on my tongue. Yet it’s hard to keep enough of it on hand in my place, for a couple of reasons. First of all, I live in a third-floor apartment, and the stairwell leading up to my floor is a bit narrow. During the winter, those steps freeze over, and the landlord never gets up off his duff to salt them down. So if a cold snap comes in the afternoon while everyone’s at work, getting up those stairs at the end of the day can be an adventure.

My passion for deer meat endures

Second, since I love venison so much, I always want more. In the past, I’ve even taken out cash loans from other lenders (I don’t talk about “them,” anymore) to help me finance my culinary passion when bills and everything else in life have tied up my cash flow. That’s why I need lots of freezer storage space. I do have it, at the expense of a kitchen counter. My landlord doesn’t pay it any mind, and I’m never going to leave. However, if I wanted to look elsewhere for a place, a buddy of mine has a studio around the bend. If I had any trouble coming up with the deposit he says he’d need, I could even go back to the lending company I’ve gotten cash loans from before. It would be very easy, and my experience with their service agents was pleasant. Maybe some day… but I’m attached to my current place now.

Those stairs are a deathtrap

Did I mention the icy stairs? Well, one night after work, I picked up a major haul of deer steaks. I could barely carry them all, but was determined to get them all up in one trip, because I don’t trust my neighbors not to filch my meat. And sure enough, I slipped on the stairs and sprained my ankle. Lucky me, I also got my nose broken by falling deer steaks.

I had money, but needed more

I had saved up enough emergency money to pay for the doctor bills, but I needed crutches for a while. That was definitely out of range of my budget. Cash loans were definitely in my future,  so I gave the company that helped me before a call. This time around, not only did they get me the money I needed, they did it in less than two hours! I hadn’t even gotten dressed to wheel myself over to the medical supplies store before the cash loans money was safe in my bank account! And I didn’t even have to hobble over to an office to get it done.

Landlord-tenant stuff

This here money lender helped me in my fantasy story when I was injured by ice and venison. Lord help my landlord once my lawsuit against him is over. We’re still exploring whether he’ll be a decent guy and let me live rent-free for a while, or I’ll be the angry tenant who pursues what he’s legally entitled to.

Did I say nothing tends to get me down earlier? I guess I was wrong. I’m actually a mangy old cuss.

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