Image from Flickr.

Yes, Southwest Airlines is having a huge sale on plane tickets. Several round-trip tickets will cost only $50, $75 or $100 if you purchase tickets today through the end of the day Thursday. You can even get one-way tickets for as low as $25.

But wait! Before you head to Southwest Airlines web site to get a ticket, take heed: Blackout dates on these fares are Dec. 17 through Jan. 4. So if you’re looking to get tickets for Christmas, Channukah or New Year’s, you’re out of luck. I was really excited to see the Southwest Airlines sale prices because I wanted to fly somewhere for New Year’s, but then I was sorely disappointed.

Marketing strategy

Of course, Southwest Airlines decided to have this three-day sale during a time when a lot of people will already be looking for airline tickets. Being able to get a plane ticket for less than the minimum borrowing amount for most paydayloans is enticing, even if it’s for a different time period than what the person is looking for.

Because a lot of people are already looking for plane tickets, a lot more eyes will fall on the cheap airfare Southwest Airlines is offering. Of course, they’ll be disappointed, just like I was. However, the idea of getting to fly somewhere for $50 will no doubt have people inventing reasons to go, just as the web site suggests you should.

Still time to plan

The super cheap airfare applies to dates between Dec. 2 and Dec. 16. After the holidays are all over, you can get tickets for the sale prices for Jan. 5 through Feb. 10. So, though buyers have plenty of time to plan the agenda for their trips, they don’t have much time to decide where to go. Southwest Airlines stresses on the Fourth Quarter Sale page that these prices are available for 72 hours only.

January is a notoriously dead month for traveling, as people often like to stick close to home following all of the holiday hubub. However, people who live in snowy, icy climates and would like a little mid-winter sunshine should view this as a great opportunity.

Jenny Slate fired? Not exactly. What is it with America's attitude toward that four-letter word (Photo: nycomedy.wordpress.com)

It’s been called “fornication under consent of the king,” or the “f-word.” The f-bomb is another popular euphemism for it. Not surprisingly, it’s one of the seven things George Carlin reminded that you can’t say on television. The exclamation is no big deal among adults, even if it is something less than eloquent (some say it should be musty and hurtful). These are just a few of the masks worn by that famous four-letter curse word commonly associated with the expression “potty mouth” and those who think paydayloans stores are OK to rob.

Was Jenny Slate fired for her accidental SNL “f bomb?”

Not according to NBC. Jenny Slate was not fired because of what happened during a biker chic chat sketch. Co-star Kristen Wiig’s character in the sketch apparently had a love-hate history with Slate’s character, and that came out when Jenny Slate fired off the following exclamation: “You know what?  You freakin just threw an ashtray full of butts at my head. You stood up for yourself, and I f—– love you for that.”

It was Jenny Slate’s first SNL

It’s recorded live, and Slate had a little hiccup, that’s all. If you see a clip through the link above, however, you’ll notice that Slate was briefly panicked. I feel bad for her. She was understandably embarrassed for accidentally going “off script,” so much so that she didn’t attend the after party.

For a show that has gone down the tubes lately for bearing too few things that resemble laughs, SNL has been getting lots of attention. Even with Megan Fox hosting the show (my watch for when she’ll need paydayloans begins now), too few people care about the famous sketch comedy program anymore. They lost their vital spark sometime in the 1990s. Genuinely funny moments have been the exception rather than the norm. Even the Jenny Slate f bomb wasn’t funny… but it has been an attention-getter.

The f bomb hit the East Coast unbleeped

Those in the Eastern time zone heard the actually gaffe that some think got Jenny Slate fired. On the West Coast, however, the producers were able to bleep the expletive and replace it with “freakin.” Since Jenny Slate’s moment occurred at about 12:40 a.m. Pacific Time (well after prime time), it is not expected that the Federal Communications Commission will issue a fine against Saturday Night Live. They won’t need paydayloans to bear that weight.

According to the New York Daily News, NBC has made it clear that Jenny Slate won’t be fired. Show executives weren’t pleased with the slip up, but apparently they understand it as an honest mistake.

This has happened on SNL before

Back in 1981, cast member Charles Rocket intentionally used the f word during a sketch that mocked the “Who Shot J.R.?” odyssey from the popular evening soap “Dallas.” Rocket and an executive producer were fired for the action. Tragically, Rocket took his own life not long ago, but I don’t think it had all that much to do with a four-letter word.

Did you catch Ernie Anastos’ act?

WNYW FOX 5 New York news anchor Ernie Anastos had a bizarre exchange with fellow anchors over the air recently. He was speaking with weatherman Nick Gregory. He said to the weatherman, “I guess it takes a tough man to make a tender forecast.”

“I guess that’s me,” Gregory replied.

Then it happened. After a brief chuckle, Anastos muttered “Keep f—ing that chicken.” It is believed that he was trying to say “keep plucking that chicken,” but personally I find that expression to be equally disturbing.

Which is to say, not disturbing at all

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a parent, and I don’t advocate that my children use naughty words. Furthermore, I do my utmost to appear intelligent and agreeable. Since Anastos clearly wasn’t advocating bestiality, I’m willing to give him a pass. Same thing with Jenny Slate (who WASN’T fired) and Charles Rocket. SNL is not prime-time television, so it should be considered safe from the tender eyes and ears of youngsters. Parents should turn the television off and interact with their children if they’re concerned about whether it’s going to teach them to curse. After a certain hour, kids should simply be in bed. Then parents can fornicate under consent of the king in whatever healthy, happy way they choose.

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Sometimes society is just frustrating. Why would a beautiful woman like Lark Voorhies get plastic surgery? Star magazine is reporting that one of the stars of Saved By The Bell, Lark Voorhies, has gotten plastic surgery.

I can’t honestly say that I’ve seen plastic surgery make someone look better, but at least it doesn’t usually make them look worse. Unfortunately, in Lark Voorhies’ case, her plastic surgery appears to have done that. It’s pretty easy to say that she looked a lot better before she got the facelift or Botox or whatever she did to her face to make it look … weird.

Doctor comments on Lark Voorhies plastic surgery

According to a doctor who Star Magazine interviewed, Lark Voorhies appears to have had an eyelift and “a lot of Botox.” I just don’t understand why Lark Voorhies would want to mess with her face. Plastic surgery is not cheap. I’d definitely have to take out paydayloans to pay for it.

So Lark Voorhies spent a bunch of money on making her beautiful face look messed up. It’s really a shame, and perhaps the saddest part is that plenty of women have made this mistake before, and yet people never seem to learn.

Plastic surgery gone wrong

Lisa Rinna

Lisa Rinna is a good example of regrettable plastic surgery. She herself says that she looks like a freak after injecting way too much collagen into her lips. Joan Rivers and Michael Jackson also serve as good examples of why you should stick with the face you have naturally.

And bad plastic surgery doesn’t just show on people’s faces. America’s obsession with large breasts has caused millions of women to put their health and well-being in jeopardy to get breast implants, which have proven time and time again to be dangerous.

An open letter to women

So, if all of those times before didn’t show you why you should not mess with nature, please let Lark Voorhies’ plastic surgery be a lesson to you. Every woman feels flawed, and flaws are completely natural. It’s something we all have in common. It connects us as humans.

No one will call you an idiot for having wrinkles or a nose of a certain shape or eyes that look, you know, normal. But I definitely don’t ever want to be the “she” in this question: “Why on earth did she do that to her face?” That is exactly what people are asking about Lark Voorhies’ plastic surgery, and it’s just sad.

Save your money or spend it wisely

Don’t gamble your money away on plastic surgery that might make you look like the new, diminished version of Lark Voorhies. If you’re ever considering getting plastic surgery for some stupid reason, just remember Lark Voorhies’ plastic surgery.

If that doesn’t work, just remember that Comedy Central aired an entire hour long special that mostly focused on the ridiculous amount of plastic surgery Joan Rivers has had.

Kelly Choi, pictured with a chicken who asked to remain anonymous.

Everyone’s buzzing about Kelly Choi, who landed a job that many foodies, pop culture lovers and TV watchers envy. She is the host of Bravo’s new competitive cooking series, “Top Chef Masters.”

This spinoff from the original “Top Chef” series, which was wildly popular, will no doubt translate into big profits for the producers and for Bravo. However, even better than that is the fact that Kelly Choi’s show means lots of money will be going to deserving charity organizations.

Kelly Choi on the economy

Kelly Choi has been interviewed by many big-time and small-time publications recently. Of course, you can’t write an article nowadays without using the phrase “in this economy,” and interviews with Kelly Choi are no different. Here is a clip from her interview with Slashfood:

Why do you think this show matters in this economy?
Why not? Everybody loves food. The alternative is to cook at home and you can totally pick up tips. It’s a fun way — to be inspired by fun and passionate people — to cook at home.

Some of the budgets the chefs get for one meal on “Top Chef Masters” are bigger than payday loans, so using the same recipes they do might cost you money instead of saving it. Nonetheless, Kelly Choi makes a good point, that cooking at home is generally less expensive than going out, and that the show inspires people’s cooking.

Background on Kelly Choi

Before “Top Chef Masters” she hosted her own series called “Eat Out NY,” on which she picked restaurants to visit and cooked with chefs in New York. Someone saw her show, liked it, called her and asked her host “Top Chef Masters.” How could she say no?

Kelly Choi is 33, and before she was a TV show host she was a model. She was born in Seoul, Korea, and raised in the suburbs of Richmond, Va.

Donating to charity

One of the important differences between “Top Chef” and “Top Chef Masters” is that “Top Chef Masters” pits already well-established, successful, famous-in-the-food-world chefs against each other. Because these chefs don’t need the money to open a restaurant, like the beginners who compete in “Top Chef,” the money goes to charity.

Quotable quote

Here’s another snippets I liked from Kelly Choi’s interview with Slashfood:

What was the best tip you took away from the show?
I won’t tell you who it was, but it was sauce of mustard and bananas. It was sweet and tangy and it was a nice thick sauce. Kind of bizarre, but I am totally going to use it the next time I cook. The chef who made it is a total mack daddy master chef and it was really good.

Tune in to watch Kelly Choi in action and find out which charity will get the dough Wednesday nights at 10 on Bravo.

The 2009 NBA Draft Lottery has come and gone, which means that the 2009 NBA Draft is not far behind. For basketball fans, this is akin to fantasy land. Nobody knows exactly how the best college, high school and foreign players are going to perform in the National Basketball League, but it’s still fun to dream of what might be.

For teams in need of improvement, could that new player be the piece that completes the puzzle? Die hard fans will take out payday loans to see teams like that. For established teams that are looking for young blood off the bench, the 2009 NBA Draft is filled with quick loans. I say “loans” because the player will eventually be eligible for free agency, of course. But until that happens, the 2009 NBA Draft order is the stuff dreams are made of.

Your 2009 NBA Draft Lottery results

Chad Ford blogs for ESPN.com that the first pick in the NBA Draft will be a selection by the Los Angeles Clippers. The 2009 NBA Draft order as represented here is definite. The players selected could change, but in Ford’s opinion, what follows is the direction each team will go with their first round pick. In Ford’s estimation, this rendition of the NBA Draft, now in its 25th year, is the Blake Griffin sweepstakes. He appears to be the best player available and a likely number one pick, even if the Clippers trade the number one pick for more players (which they are unlikely to do).

Keep in mind that this is an educated guess on Ford’s part. All teams will be performing their own evaluations of the players available from college, high school and other countries. Depending upon what they find, the 2009 NBA Draft projections can change. They can also change if complications arise which change teams’ personnel needs. Remember, injuries can set back a team, as can players with legal difficulties. Players can go from a sure thing to working a steady 9 to 5 and needing payday loans and quick loans now and then. It’s hard to predict how the 2009 NBA Draft order will translate.

The 2009 NBA Draft order, plus player analysis

Blake Griffin

You’ll have to wait until June to see exactly how the 2009 NBA Draft will play out, but Chris Ford has some sagacious insight into all 30 of the first round selections. Without further ado, let’s get started. I’ve included my own commentary on each to boot.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the abbreviations for positions on the basketball court, they are as follows:

PF = power forward
SF = small forward
C = center
PG = point guard
SG = scoring guard

1. L.A. Clippers – Blake Griffin, Oklahoma. Position: PF, Height: 6-foot-10, Weight: 245 pounds, Age: 20. Any team would be happy to take the explosive, mobile big man in the draft. He is a relentless worker who puts in an honest night’s work on the boards and will nail the turnaround jumper with regularity. Griffin can even handle the ball. If the Clippers can sort out their big contract issues with current power forward Zack Randolph (who isn’t as good as Griffin), this will be a shoo-in. As to whether Griffin will want to stay with the B-team in L.A. is another matter.
2. Memphis  Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut. Position: C, Height: 7-3, Weight: 265, Age: 22. Going all the way back to their first draft selection as an expansion team in Vancouver (when they took Bryant “Big Country” Reeves), the Grizzlies have been looking for an effective center.  They’re still looking. Marc Gasol is an up-and-comer, but Hasheem Thabeet could be the defense-minded stopper on the front line that Memphis wants. It remains to be seen how his offensive skill will translate to the NBA.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ricky Rubio, Spain. Position: PG, Height: 6-4, Weight: 180, Age: 18. Selecting foreign players has traditionally come with additional risk, although not so much as selecting players out of high school. European players may be more emotionally mature due to the extra years of experience, but they generally do not play in systems that approximate the NBA game. In general, foreign leagues are less physical and not quite as fast-paced. Oklahoma sees Rubio as the best point available, which boggles my mind, as I saw North Carolina’s Ty Lawson in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Considering that Rubio is not projected as a great shooter, his leadership, passing and defensive skills would have to be extraordinary to justify this pick.
4. Sacramento Kings – Jordan Hill, Arizona. Position: PF, Height: 6-9, Weight: 235, Age: 21. What a blow for the hapless Kings. They could have really used Blake Griffin in the middle, but such was the bounce of the 2009 NBA Draft ping pong balls. Hill would bring toughness and a needed spark to this listless team, put their biggest need has been point guard ever since Mike Bibby left for the Atlanta Hawks. Ford predicts that if the Kings for a point guard, Jrue Holiday will go here.
5. Washington Wizards – James Harden, Arizona State. Position: SG, Height: 6-4, Weight: 215, Age: 19. Harden is considered to be “one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft.” Considering how much Washington loves to run with Gilbert Arenas, this active body who can make teams pay for doubling the high-scoring Arenas.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves – DeMar DeRozan, USC. Position: SG, Height: 6-6, Weight: 200, Age: 19. Due to injury, the jury’s still out on whether Corey Brewer will be the TWolves’ small forward answer. DeRozan has lots of upside and can swing between the frontcourt and the backcourt. DeRozan can run and jump like nobody’s business. Minnesota fans will appreciate his in high gear.
7. Golden State Warriors – Brandon Jennings, Italy. Position: PG, Height: 6-2, Weight: 165, Age: 19. Here’s a guard with all the tools, but he’s still a bit raw. This is a risky proposition for Golden State. I have to wonder why they wouldn’t consider Lawson, among others on the board.
8. New York Knicks – Stephen Curry, Davidson. Position: PG, Height: 6-3, Weight: 185, Age: 21. Run-and-gun is the way the Knicks like to play it, and they haven’t had a player with this kind of a pure jump shot since Allan Houston, who was one of the best ever. I love to watch a player who can shoot the ball from distance like silk.
9. Toronto Raptors – Tyreke Evans, Memphis. Position: SG, Height: 6-6, Weight: 220, Age: 19. Memphis has made their mark in the NCAA lately with a horde of highly athletic players. Evans is no exception. He can get to the hole and finish strong. Considering that Toronto could lose depth in the backcourt due to free agency, this could be a great pick for them.
10. Milwaukee Bucks – Jrue Holiday, UCLA. Position: PG, Height: 6-4, Weight: 200, Age: 18. Do the Bucks go with a power forward or fill the point with the defense-minded Holiday? Ford thinks Holiday and his upside will carry this pick.
11. New Jersey Nets – James Johnson, Wake Forest. Position: PF, Height: 6-9, Weight: 245, Age: 22. The Nets lack wide bodies in the paint, and Johnson would do nicely at 11. DeJuan Blair is another possibility, but Johnson gets the nod because his athleticism enables him to do more on the floor.
12. Charlotte Bobcats – Gerald Henderson, Duke. Position: SG, Height: 6-4, Weight: 215, Age: 21. A strong defender with a streaky offensive game that is frequently lights-out, Henderson would fill a definite need at two-guard in Charlotte.
13. Indiana Pacers – Jonny Flynn, Syracuse. Position: PG, Height: 6-0, Weight: 175, Age: 20. While Indiana could use an athletic big man, it’s unlikely a top-tier one will be available at this point, so they’ll go with plan B. They could lose Jarrett Jack to free agency, so a hole would open at the point that Flynn could fill. He has the confident attitude you look for in a team leader, plus he is explosive. If he improves his jumper, he could be a great one.
14. Phoenix Suns – Earl Clark, Louisville. Position: SF, Height: 6-9,Weight: 200, Age: 21. While some scouts question his desire, nobody questions Clark’s athleticism. This young man and jump out of the gym and is improving his mid-range game.
15. Detroit Pistons – Austin Daye, Gonzaga. Position: SF, Height: 6-10, Weight: 190, Age: 20. Daye could be the most talented player left on the board at this point, but after having seen him play tenative when it counted for most of his Gonzaga career, I don’t get it. He has height, long arms, quickness and a decent touch on the outside shot, but he will be pounded into submission in the NBA game. Pound the protein shakes, young man!
    

    Austin Daye

16. Chicago Bulls – DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh. Position: PF, Height: 6-7, Weight: 250, Age: 20. Chicago already has athletic, long and spunky on their front line. This man would bring the bulk to enforce their will in the lane. I hope his arms are long enough, though, or we could have another Clarence Weatherspoon on our hands.
17. Philadelphia 76ers – Eric Maynor, VCU. Position: PG, Height: 6-3, Weight: 175, Age: 21. Ford thinks Maynor would be the total package for Philly at point guard, which they’ll need when Andre Miller leaves. I haven’t seen him play, but once again… where is Ty Lawson?
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Miami Heat) – B.J. Mullens, Ohio State. Position: C, Height: 7-1, Weight: 260, Age: 20. Big men are frequently considered “projects,” because coordination, stamina and a big frame don’t always walk hand-in-hand. ESPN has love for Mullens, though, so this one could pay off.
19. Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague, Wake Forest. Position: PG, Height: 6-2, Weight: 180, Age: 20. Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo have both escaped in previous years. Now the Hawks need to nail their point guard pick, as Doc Rivers is not giving up his job as Celtics head coach to return to the court. He’s too old. Teague is waterbug-quick and has a nose for finding the hole.
20. Utah Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina. Position: PF, Height: 6-9, Weight: 250, Age: 23. Hansbrough is a warrior who battles for every point and rebound. He has the size and the quickness to make defenses pay. Furthermore, having remained at North Carolina another year for that championship season won’t hurt in the experience/maturity department. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is the definition of “hard-nosed,” and I think Hansbrough is his kind of guy.
21. New Orleans Hornets – Terrence Williams, Louisville. Position: SG, Height: 6-6, Weight: 220, Age: 21. Size, athleticism and mad skills and there, but Williams has been inconsistent in putting it all together. New Orleans sees him as a risk worth taking, and he could even back up CP3 (Chris Paul) at the point on occasion.
22. Dallas Mavericks – Ty Lawson, North Carolina. Position: PG, Height: 5-11, Weight: 195, Age: 21. Here’s a classic point guard with great speed, a sparking outside touch and championship pressure experience. What’s not to like? I’m baffled that Ford thinks he’ll fall this far.
23. Sacramento Kings (via Houston Rockets) – Nick Calathes, Florida. Position: PG, Height: 6-5, Weight: 185, Age: 20. The Kings need lots of help at every position, and Calathes could bring quickness and a developing offensive game to their backcourt.
24. Portland Trailblazers – Darren Collison, UCLA. Position: PG, Height: 6-1, Weight: 165, Age: 21. Portland hasn’t had a good point guard since Terry Porter. That was a long time ago. Collison could bring them everything Porter offered, except perhaps the consistency from behind the arc. And that kind of thing can come with practice, so we’ll see.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via San Antonio Spurs) – Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech. Position: PF, Height: 6-9, Weight: 220, Age: 19. No more good, true centers left at this point, so Oklahoma will go for the athletic talent and board-banging of Lawal.
26. Chicago Bulls (via Denver Nuggets) – Toney Douglas, Florida State. Position: SG, Height: 6-2, Weight: 205, Age: 23. This could be the poor man’s version of Ben Gordon, but not that poor. As Gordon will likely leave via free agency, Douglas will help out with his explosiveness and solid jump shot.
27. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando Magic) – Chase Budinger, Arizona. Position: SG, Height: 6-7, Weight: 205, Age: 21. Remember Mike Miller? He did well for the Grizzlies, and Budinger could be a similar type player who can move and spread the floor with his passes and outside shot. Is he tough enough for the NBA. That’s what Ford wants to know.
    

    Chase Budinger

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Boston Celtics) – Patrick Mills, St. Mary’s (CA). Position: PG, Height: 5-11, Weight: 175, Age: 20.  A quick point who sees the floor well, Mills will need some seasoning before he’s ready to take over.
29. L.A. Lakers – DaJuan Summers, Georgetown. Position: SF, Height: 6-8, Weight: 225, Age: 21. An NBA-ready athlete who can score, Summers will be needed to fill the holes left by the inevitable departures of players like Lamar Odom.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers – Sam Young, Pittsburgh. Position: SF, Height: 6-6, Weight: 215, Age: 24. Scoring and defense are both parts of Young’s game, and he starred at Pittsburgh. Playing alongside the great LeBron James, this young man could benefit from lots of open looks that the established superstar will create with his magic on the floor.

So there you have it. I think that Ford is mostly spot on with his 2009 NBA Draft order, save for his point guard order of selection.  If I could win payday loans and quick loans for each insight I get right here, I’ll share some of it with Mr. Ford. No, wait. I need the money more than he does…

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As Americans, it is our fundamental right to have our voices heard; this includes what we have to say about the auto bailout and our access to payday loans. Americans care about the auto bailout because it has everything to do with our tax money. Budgets are tight, so Americans are extremely vigilant about where their tax dollars are being spent. Americans are also concerned about their financial freedom. Some states are eliminating access to payday loans, which in essence, is eliminating financial freedom.

Auto Bailout

The Big 3 auto companies are struggling to remain above waters

The Big 3 auto companies, GM, Ford, and Chrysler, are begging Congress for money to help them avoid bankruptcy. The Big 3 are up against more than just Congress. A recent CNN poll claims that 6 out 10 individuals are opposed to the auto bailout more than half of the people polled are not in favor of bailing out the nation’s biggest automobile companies. Opposition increased when Americans learned of the poor performances by auto executives, and the private jet they flew to get to the Congressional meetings. Opposition to the bailout can be found across the nation, including the Midwest, where the auto industry employees thousands of Americans. With such widespread disapproval it will be interesting to see which way Congress votes. What do you think about the auto bailout?

Is the Government Listening?

Many Americans have absolutely no interest in saving the country’s major auto companies, but the auto companies are desperately pleading their case. On the contrary, many Americans are interested in preserving their financial freedom, including their right to payday loans, while several politicians are trying to eliminate payday loans nationwide. There is something wrong with this picture: Americans don’t want to bailout the auto companies because they would like to see their hard earned tax dollars go towards a more legitimate cause. Yet, the government is considering granting the Big 3 their bailout wishes? And Americans want to preserve payday loans and financial freedom. Yet, the government is trying to abolish payday loans? It sounds as though the government isn’t listening.

Use Your Voice

No matter what the issue is, Americans have the right to be heard, and Americans are catching on to this. If we want something bad enough we will use our voices to get it. Take this year’s election, for example. Our country desired change, and there was a record turnout for the presidential election. Barack Obama was elected president, due in part to his promise for change. Obama will surely bring big changes to the United States, but it is unclear if those changes will positively or negatively affect Americans. Obviously, the majority of the country believes Obama will bring much needed, positive change. He wouldn’t be president otherwise. However, Obama is one of the many politicians that would like to eliminate payday loans nationwide. You used your voice to put Obama in office, now use your voice to tell your president that you want to keep your financial freedom and your access to payday loans.