Eggo fail. Image from Flickr.

Last time I went grocery shopping, I noticed there was only one flavor of Eggo waffle in the freezer, and it was the plain kind. Luckily, the store brand offered the flavors I was looking for: blueberry and chocolate chip.

I grabbed the off-brand boxes and went on my merry way, not thinking much of it. Little did I know there is an Eggo shortage going on! Two Eggo waffle plants have been shut down, and one reopened while the other still remains closed. A factory in Atlanta shut down in September because of flooding, but it’s open again now. The plant in Tennessee that shut down because of malfunctioning production lines, and it’s still closed.

What’s the big deal?

The thing that has college freshmen, mothers with children in elementary school and my coworker all agitated is that the company has said this Eggo shortage will continue all the way until the summer of 2010! What in the name of quick payday loans are we to do?!

Luckily, I have come up with a few ways to cope with the Eggo shortage. Don’t worry, I am not going to tell you to actually cook in the morning or anything ridiculous like that. I understand all too well the reasons why people buy and eat Eggos. Luckily, I am a late sleeper and I was in college once, so I can help. I have decided to categorize my suggested coping methods into Eggo consumption motivations.

I need breakfast — fast!

One of the most common Eggo consumption styles is the by-hand-on-the-way-out-the-door method. This strategy is embraced by children who don’t get out of bed the first time their mother asks them and grownups who don’t get out of bed the first time their alarm goes off.

The most obvious answer to the Eggo shortage catastrophe is to buy generic frozen waffles. Most stores offer toaster-sized frozen waffles through a store brand. I think there might even be companies besides Eggo that make name-brand frozen waffles.

Of course, this Eggo shortage might be a good time to start experimenting with other quick breakfast items that can be hand-held and don’t really require toppings in a pinch. Pop-Tarts and other toaster pastries are great options and there are tons of flavors nowadays. When you’re in the frozen waffle section, look at the surrounding products. Toaster streudels, microwavable breakfast sandwiches and all kinds of new inventions can provide a super fast breakfast that can be eaten while walking to the bus stop or the car. But not while driving. That’s dangerous.

I don’t want to cook

People have all types of motivations for not wanting to put any more effort into their food besides pressing down the toaster lever. Perhaps they’re very hungry and want to eat right away. For some, it might be because it could be dangerous for them to attempt to use an oven or stove because they’re too … tired.

This is a common problem among college students, who often keep challenging schedules and will definitely be affected by the Eggo shortage. I’d say look to the microwave. Those are pretty safe and easy to use, so invest in bags of microwave popcorn, those Tyson Anytizers things (chicken nuggets) and microwave burritos.

It’s going to be tough, but we’ll get through this Eggo shortage together!

A millionaire wanted to clean out her home, as it was getting quite cluttered. But she did not want to pay a lot of money to anyone. So she put an ad in the local paper for someone to come in and clean, but no one would work for the pittance she wanted to pay for the amount of work there was.

Then one day, the doorbell rang incessantly, as if someone was very desperate for her to answer. When the millionaire answered, she saw a young woman at the door.“Can I help you?” the millionaire asked.

“I want to work for you,” the woman answered, holding up the want ad page from the local paper. “But my terms are that you let me spread out the work for a full 30 days, and that you start out paying me one cent on the first day, and then double that amount each day. Is that a deal?”

The millionaire thought this woman was very foolish, and immediately agreed, thinking she would be getting away with paying a little money for a lot of work. To seal the deal, the young woman insisted on drawing up a legal contract, with both of them signing it. The millionaire agreed and signed it, thinking that she didn’t have much to lose. Little did she know that she would fall for the oldest trick in the book!

First day on the job

The next day, the woman showed up, ready to work. The millionaire gave her plenty of work to do, having her carry heavy boxes, scrubbing, and more. But this was only a small percentage of the work! At the end of the day, the woman approached the millionaire for her first day’s payment of one cent. As the woman left for home, the millionaire shook her head in disbelief. How could anyone work so hard for such a small amount of money?

On the second day, the woman came back to do the same amount of work. But instead of receiving only one penny for her work, she received two cents, for a grand total of 3 cents for her hard work. Sounds like slave labor, doesn’t it?

The first week’s earnings

Every day for the first weed, the woman continued the extremely hard work for payment of a few cents, but for each day’s work, she continued to receive double the amount she received the day before. At the end of the first week, she had earned 64 cents for the seventh day of work, for a total of $1.27 for the first week. Still sounds too small for that amount of work, doesn’t it? Many people would have to take out a payday loan to make up the budget deficit, wouldn’t they?

The second week’s earnings

In the second week, the woman’s earnings were much better, but they were still very low for the amount of work the millionaire had her do. The first day of the second week, she earned $1. But on day 14, her earnings jumped to $81.92 for one day’s work, and her total earnings for the second week jumped to $162.56. Hold on! It gets much better.

The third and fourth weeks

By the end of the third week, one day’s earnings had become $10, 485.76, for a grand total of $20, 807.68. Can you imagine making that amount of cash in one week? By this time the millionaire was scratching her head in disbelief, wondering how she could have been so naïve. Much to her disdain, however, she had to continue paying according to the contract she had signed.

The woman’s earnings for Day 28 skyrocketed to $1,342,177.20, with a total of $2,663,382.90 for the fourth week alone! On Day 30, her earnings were $5,368,708.80 for that day alone, with a grand total of $10,716,446.10 for the entire 30 days! Guess who’s the multi-millionaire now?

Moral of the story

Taking out payday loans can help you in the short term, but taking the long-term approach can help you save your money for retirement. If you were to be very strict about living within your means, and if instead of getting a payday loan you were to save the money that required to pay it back, including the interest, you could become a millionaire yourself by the time you retire.

(photo courtesy of photozou.jp)

Thinking of joining the military? Pay attention, because when you’re in the military, you can be approved for short term loans (payday loans for those in the military) even when traditional banks will not lend to you. Military loans are designed exclusively for those who serve in the military, regardless of the division they serve in. With this benefit, you won’t have to run around trying to get your hands on some much-needed extra cash. But please, do not join the military just to get a loan. If that were your only reason for signing up — well, let’s just say you wouldn’t last too long in the service!

Why is this benefit available?

Enlistees look for incentives in addition to their regular salary. These loans fill that need. They’re readily available online, which makes them accessible from wherever you ‘re stationed, anywhere in the world. The loans range from $500 to $10,000, which you can use for any purpose, from home renovation, auto loan, or weddings to payment of  long-standing debts. No collateral is required and the loans are available to all who serve in the military, even those who have bad credit.

Who is eligible?

Anyone who currently serves in the active forces is eligible to apply for a military loan. However, if you are retired or have transferred to the reserve forces, you are not eligible for these loans. Once you have applied, you can be approved in as little as 24 hours. To apply, it does not matter where you are stationed, but you must have a permanent address in the United States for the loan to be approved. So, if you have a spouse or other family in the States, you cand use that address.

How do I apply?

You can apply online at one of the many sites that offer this service, and your application can be approved within 24 hours . Once approved, your money can be transferred to any bank account you may have, either in the States, or where you are stationed. You may also request a check to be mailed to you at the Army Post Office.

Is my personal information secure?

When you apply online for a loan, your information will be safeguarded in accordance with military loan privacy policies. In addition, there are no prepayment penalties for military loans. When applying, you must provide details of when you joined the service, your unique military service ID, as well as a few other personal details.

How much can I borrow?

Military loans are calculated according to your rank and length of service. Officers are eligible for higher amounts than enlisted personnel, but if you are an enlistee and have served longer than an officer, you may end up getting the same amount as the officer. It all depends on your particular situation. Payments on  the loans can be directly withdrawn from your bank account, which helps to minimize the risk of default. This easy and secure repayment method is one of the reasons so many private institutions and banks offer military loans.

Apply for payday loans even if you are in the military HERE.

That Kruger sped by on his Vespa. It looked like he had one menacing red eye… (Photo: flickr.com)

OK, so this is a story about something called quick payday loans. My brother and I had some fun with a neighbor’s cat, and the weird dude owner threw a rock that broke our car window, and dad needed the extra cash to fix things up.

Here We Go, Into Space

It’s Halloween, and my parents are big fans of the old radio show “War of the Worlds,” so they convince my brother and I to dress up as a fugly Martian and go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. I want to go to the school carnival, but my brother convinces me that we can have a lot of fun. Once he grabs a carton of eggs, he gets me on his wavelength.

Off to Kruger’s Universe

We’re wandering down Elm Street when we come to the house of Old Man Kruger and his spacey cat. He’s really weird. Through the plate glass window in his front yard, we frequently see him sitting there, listening to the radio and acting like a weirdo. How weird do I mean? He talks to the radio, screams and sometimes dances about like a withered, overly-caffeinated stilt-walker. He’s tall, too, so I think of stilts.

My brother Lemmy and I see his space cat wandering around in the front yard, so we decide to have a little fun. With an “oogah” and a “boogah,” we spook the kitty and manage to corner it. Neither of us are going to do anything nasty; we just love being Martians and teasing strange people and their pets.

Long story short, Kruger hurts himself as he’s trying to scare us off. We buzz him with the eggs as we ride off on our bikes, and Kruger curses us and our offal spawn.

Blast a Month Into the Future…

Lemmy and I are playing basketball in our driveway when Kruger speeds by on a Vespa and throws a rock our way. It barely misses my head, and it manages to break the windshield of my dad’s car. He gripes about how he doesn’t have the money to fix it right now, but I hear from mom that he’s thinking about going online to some company called Personal Money Store. They can loan him fast cash that he won’t have to pay back until his next payday. It isn’t very expensive, either, which is great, because I want him to buy me a new bike soon.

Until the windshield is fixed, he’s riding my bike to work. Every morning, I hear him break out his best imitation of some old guy named Orson Welles: “Kruger, our worlds are at war…”

Related Video:

Susan Boyle got more attention for her performance on "America's Got Talent" than winner Kevin Skinner. Image from Flikr.com.

“America’s Got Talent” crowned a new winner last night, but unfortunately it seems people are a lot more interested in some of the other performers than they were in Kevin Skinner, the winner.

So, I shall tackle this topic in order of public interest, or at least interest on the Internet, which is where we are — the magical Internet, where you can get quick payday loans and I can find out what people are Googling. So, beginning with the topic the most people are interested in …

Shakira on ‘America’s Got Talent’

Apparently, Shakira’s performance on “America’s Got Talent” has thrown 13-year-old boys across the country all into a tizzy along with millions of others. In a skintight black number, she sang her internationally popular single “She Wolf,” shook her booty and humped a speaker.

My coworker told me that even after she made her 13-year-old son leave the room during Shakira on “America’s Got Talent,” that was all he could talk about for the rest of the night. She was pretty disappointed that “Shakira danced like a sleeze bucket” on a family show.

And on that note, if you want to see the video of Shakira on “America’s Got Talent,” you’ll have to find it yourself. Don’t worry, it’s not difficult. Let’s move on to someone who definitely is appropriate for a family show, and happens to be the second most popular “America’s Got Talent”-related topic.

Susan Boyle ‘Wild Horses’ video

Susan Boyle, the woman who knocked the socks off of judges and viewers on “Britain’s Got Talent” with her amazing voice, came to the good ol’ U.S. of A. to perform a little Rolling Stones ditty called “Wild Horses.” I watched the Susan Boyle “Wild Horses” video, and I really liked that she took this old classic and made it her own.

It was also nice to catch up on what she’s been doing since her rise to the international spotlight and following mini meltdown. I also learned she has an album coming out in November. She talks about it in this Susan Boyle “Wild Horses” video:

Kevin Skinner wins ‘America’s Got Talent’

Finally, buried deep among topics on the scale of public interest, we come to the chicken catcher, Kevin Skinner, who won this season of “America’s Got Talent.” I guess it’s tough for a country boy and his guitar to compete with  instant, surprise international sensation Susan Boyle and a bootylicious blonde with her pants painted on.

Nonetheless, Kevin Skinner wins “America’s Got Talent,” and he’s off to perform in Las Vegas with $1 million in his pocket. Not a bad paycheck for an “unemployed chicken catcher.” So now that we have talked about Shakira on “America’s Got Talent” and seen the Susan Boyle “Wild Horses” video, it’s time to celebrate with him when Kevin Skinner wins.

And be sure to check out Kevin Skinner’s final performance on “America’s Got Talent.”

Image from Wikimedia!

It looks like the critics’ choice for this weekend in theaters is “The Informant!” starring Matt Damon. I am going to go ahead and trust that the filmmakers have a very good reason for putting an exclamation mark in the title.

Personally, I find this little punctuation mark beyond obnoxious, but I am aware of the fact that I am a punctuation dork and only .02 percent of Americans are afflicted with this disease, so I will move on. Speaking of moving on, critics are weighing in on “The Informant!” as we speak.

Best pick doesn’t always mean great flick

For the  most part, critics like what they are seeing, but not enough to recommend you get some quick payday loans and see this movie right away. The Rotten Tomatoes rating is in flux, but right now it’s at 75 percent. The Metacritic score is at 61, which doesn’t sound very good until you compare it to the other choices for new films this weekend.

“Jennifer’s Body” got 29 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and so far has 0 good reviews out of 3 at Metacritic. “The Burning Plain” has a 53 percent at Tomatoes, but no one from Metacritic even bothered to review it. So, clearly, if the critics have their way “The Informant!” will be among the top earners at the box office this weekend, or at least people will spend their money on this film rather than another new release. Then again, critics haven’t gotten to watch “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” or “Love Happens” yet.

“The Informant!” movie reviews

Todd McCarthy from Variety made me chuckle. “The pic showcases an excellent performance by a chubbed-out Matt Damon as a Midwestern executive who’s so smart he’s dumb,” he wrote. Most critics, including McCarthy, also had some opinions about this punctuation situation that annoys me so. McCarthy wrote:

The exclamation point on the title and the jaunty, old-fashioned score by Marvin Hamlisch serve as immediate tipoffs as to the film’s hyperreal intentions, which will inevitably put some viewers off, but for others will provide an amusing, original angle on the sort of story that’s almost always done with an earnest sense of self-importance.

McCarthy also wrote that its “amusingly eccentric rather than outright funny” and says Damon’s performance is great, as is the cinematography.

Not exactly a breadwinner

Richard Corliss from Time Magazine says the film is a “salutory achievement” in his “The Informant!” movie review, but also notes that it’s likely it will be “a nonstarter” at the box office. He notes that Steven Soderbergh has recently done films of a similar ilk — meaning anti-Hollywood in nature — and they did not made much money,  including “Che” and “The Good German.”

But we all know money can’t buy happiness or thoughtful movie messages. Corliss, at least, walked away from “The Informant!” with at least some interesting points to ponder. What he got from “The Informant!” he writes: “People who do good or ill have complex motives for their actions, and that not everyone is knowable, instantly or ever.”

Be a happy hippo with payday loans from Personal Money Store! (Photo: psotd.powerblogs.com)

Online-based no fax payday loans and easy payday loans connection site Personal Money Store is on a mission to be the only Web site that potential clients keep in mind when they’re in need of fast payday loans, payday cash loans, bad credit payday loans or other kinds of short term loans.

The company, boasting working relationships with a huge network of reputable lenders who have helped large numbers of consumers obtain the faxless payday loans, payday loans online, cheap payday loans, quick payday loans, instant payday loans and even payday loans for bad credit, is available anytime clients are in need of funds to tide them over until their next paydays.

We aren’t a lender… but we know them

It should be noted that Personal Money Store is not a lender of online payday loans, low fee payday loans, same day payday loans or installment loans, but rather a match making service of sorts, putting clients in touch with institutions who may be able to help them in their time of need.

The site, offering help obtaining installment payday loans and other kinds of payday advance loans is, quite possibly, one of the fastest in the business. The painless application takes just a few minutes to complete, with inquiries of a few simple things such as the applicant’s social security number, primary sources of steady income and other such things to verify their ability to comfortably repay their loan, should they be approved.

Don’t worry… it’s safe

Representatives of Personal Money Store want to ease potential clients’ fears right away, considering the increasing rate of cases of identity theft, especially online. They do this by assuring the client that should they come to the site in need of easy online payday loans or any other kinds of payday loans, the same up-to-date encryption technologies are utilized as online merchants who work very hard to keep their shoppers’ sensitive information out of harm’s way.

The best part about using the site, however, according to website representatives, is that should a customer be approved by one of the lenders that Personal Money Store has a great working relationship with, you just might have your money in your bank account quicker than you could have ever imagined. In fact, with some lenders, they have the ability to wire you your funds as soon as the end of the same day.

What are you waiting for?

If you are in need of easy online payday loans, you’ve come to the right place. We’re Personal Money Store, and we look forward to the opportunity to serve you!

Relax. Fast cash is available. (Photo: tomecat.com)

Bills seem to pop up at the worst possible times. Most of the time, however, the payment isn’t due for another couple of weeks, meaning that even if you’re stressing now, you can wait until your next payday to pay it. And then, there are the times when you’re short on the cash but the option of waiting isn’t there, such as the teacher asking for money for your child’s class’ next activity, the daily commuter vehicle that just won’t stay in working order, a much larger security deposit than you budgeted to get into your new place or the child whose illness forces a trip to the emergency room. In such cases, you can depend on fast cash from Personal Money Store.

Get it when you need it

Fast cash is available through Personal Money Store and the lending network 24/7 to help you, whether you’ve fallen short on paying all of your regular bills or a one-time surprise has thrown a wrench into your budget’s works. In very little time, upon approval, you could be on the right road to acquiring quick payday loans, cheap payday loans, low fee payday loans, instant payday loans, no fax payday loans, easy online payday loans, same day payday loans, bad credit payday loans, installment payday loans or payday advance loans which require no credit check and can get you back on with your life faster than you could have ever imagined.

Smooth move

Coming to Personal Money Store for all of your faxless payday loans or payday loans online needs is quite a smart choice. After all, the immediate decisions that our representatives make as to whether you qualify for one of our lenders’ easy online payday loans means that you may be able to get the cash you need in an extremely timely fashion; sometimes in the same day that you’re approved.

Your information is secure online with us

The process is not only very quick, but quite simple as well. Once logged on, you will be asked to fill out a faxless application which will ask you some important questions in regards to your current employment status, monthly take home income, whether you receive a paper check or direct deposit from your employer and others purely to verify your ability to repay a loan, should you be approved. There is nothing to worry about, however, because the transmission of all sensitive information is encrypted to keep it out of reach of identity thieves and other cyber criminals.

We’ll call you

Still listening? (Photo: sophierulestheworld.blogspot.com)

Should your application be approved to be picked up by one of the lenders in our network, you will be contacted by one of their representatives by either telephone or email. It is then that they will make you an offer for online payday loans, payday cash loans, fast payday loans, easy payday loans or payday loans for bad credit if you’ve been working on building a brighter financial future. Upon acceptance of an offer, you will hear or read the terms and conditions of the loan, including any applicable fees, interest rates, methods of payment and so on. Once you fully understand the terms of the loan and the confirmation has been secured, your funds will be wired to you very quickly, sometimes in the same day that you’re approved!

Making you a match

Keep in mind that not everyone will be approved, though we do try to help everyone. We are not a lender, but rather a “match making” service of sorts that works, tooth and nail, to match people from all walks of life with a company who may be able to assist them in their time of need. On a final note, always use payday loans as short term help and not a long term financial solution. Those with credit problems should seek credit counseling.

So, if your situation calls for fast cash, pay us a visit today!

Image from PlayStation.blog.

Lovers of first-person-shooter war games, listen up! Battlefield 1943 is now available for download on Xbox live. IGN reports “The game offers endless hours of 24 player multiplayer action.”

Users of Xbox live can download Battlefield 1943 for 1200 MS points. That’s about $15 — not a bad price at all. GamePro magazine says it’s “a triple-A title at a quarter of the price.” Many similar Xbox Live downloads cost closer to $50. The PlayStation 3 version costs about $15, and it will be available on PlayStation Network Thursday.

What’s with the points?

One big beef that many Xbox Live users have with the download system is that Microsoft refuses to switch to real-money transactions. The reason Microsoft uses points instead of dollars is obvious: it distracts players from how much money they’re spending.

Players have to purchase points, then spend their points for downloads. For instance, for 1200 points, players instinctively think they’re spending about $12. However, they’re really spending $15. If a users overspend too many times, they might find themselves needing quick payday loans to keep from overdrawing their bank accounts.

Get used to it

Of course, Microsoft has no plans to ditch their money-making system any time soon. In the meantime, gamers are more than willing to spend whatever it takes to get in on the action.

Battlefield 1943 has gotten a lot of rave reviews from trusted video game sources.

Edge: The Global Game Industry Network

Edge-online.com says at http://www.edge-online.com/magazine/review-battlefield-1943-pacific:

DICE’s Battlefield series has toughed its way through many eras of combat – historical, fictional and futuristic – but it was always its origins in an erratic, barmy depiction of WWII that offered the kind of joyful chaos that EA now wishes to recapture in this downloadable, multiplayer shooter. And it has – to a tee.

Edge also says Battlefield 1943 outshines other download games when it comes to fun factor. More focus on action and less on strategy gives the game a more whimsical feel.

IGN Entertainment

IGN.com also takes note of the action-focused gameplay:

Using the acclaimed Frostbite engine, Battlefield 1943 takes players back to WWII to re-experience some of the legendary battles … over three classic and tropic locations; Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. Delivering the award-winning through-the-gun and vehicle warfare online experience DICE is best recognized for, Battlefield 1943 will have players battling in ruthless aerial dog fights and intense trench combat.

Gamespot

The highly revered reviewers at Gamespot reported:

Our experience with the new game was punctuated by some incredible standout moments. Playing as the Japanese side, we were able to melee-kill someone using a samurai sword, a bizarre but highly entertaining weapon. There were times when airplanes blasted overhead, toppling the buildings around us but miraculously missing us entirely. But our favorite moment was jumping into an air-raid shelter, which provided temporary cover against the enemy while we piloted a formation of aircraft to bomb a target. … Battlefield 1943 is incredibly fun to play. It possesses all of the hallmarks of a great Battlefield game, and the Frostbite engine offers the graphics that you’d expect.

Free stuff!

If you’re not sure yet whether you’ll be a fan of Battlefield 1943, try it out for FREE! You can download free trial versions at both Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network.

Check out the official Battlefield 1943 web site.

Tim Armstrong of Rancid

This weekend is the weekend for “world’s biggest” festivals. Spokane, Washington, holds the world’s biggest three-on-three basketball tournament, Spokane Hoopfest, this weekend. Taste of Chicago, the world’s largest outdoor food festival, starts Friday.

Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, starts today, in  Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Summerfest lasts until July 5, with live music every day from noon to midnight.

Summerfest prices

Of course, if you want to attend the world’s largest music festival, it’ll cost you. Prices aren’t too bad. It’s $8 to attend from noon to 4 and $15 after that. Certain concerts, like headliners The Fray on July 4, cost extra. Tickets to The Fray cost $20 to $50, and that includes festival admission.

Between food and concert tickets, this event could get pretty pricey. Budget carefully so you don’t blow all your money and end up needing quick payday loans. If you were to attend Summerfest all day, every day, admission alone could cost you up to $300.

The food

Summerfest has tons of food from local vendors available. Eat Wisconsin recommends these dishes:

• The Saz’s Combo, fried cheese curds, mozzarella marinara, and sour cream and chive fries. Hands down the best Summerfest eats. The Saz’s BBQ Pork Sandwich is also pretty decent.
• Crawdaddy’s– Pretty much anything is good here. I remember when they actually served crawfish. I loved siting down with some beer, crawfish and corn.
• Usingers Sausage – Good but you can get their stuff anywhere.
• Sabor– Lenguica or other kebabs. They are overpriced but I found them pretty tasty.
• Venice Club Fried Eggplant Strips
• Martino’s Chicago Dog – Martino’s does dogs right. Just don’t ask them to put ketchup on it or you’ll be ridiculed, and rightfully so. If you add ketchup, its not a Chicago dog.
• The King & I – Spring Rolls and some of their entrees (especially Volcano Chicken)
• Mader’s Sampler Platter – Bratwurst, knackwurst, kraut and potato salad.

The music

Summerfest features up-and-coming bands and musical acts as well as well-known, popular artists. Here are Eat Wisonsin’s recommendations, along with a little commentary from the online zine:

Rancid, 8:00pm, Thursday, June 25 Harley Stage- I cannot believe that Rancid is opening for Rise Against.  I mean Rancid hasn’t released a great album since 1997’s “Life Won’t Wait,” but Rise Against still isn’t at the level of Rancid.   Rancid’s latest album is kind of a return to the older sound found on their first four albums but it feels really forced. Having them play at 8 leaves time open for…

Connor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, 10:00pm , Thursday, June 25 Briggs & Stratton Stage- Better known as Bright Eyes, Connor Oberst has released two albums with his new band. The first one “Connor Oberst” was awesome.  I haven’t heard the latest one but I hear he really lets the other band members play key roles, including some of the vocals.

Dropkick Murphys , 9:30pm, Friday, June 26 Harley Stage– I have seen them numerous times and they always put on a great show even if they attract some total meatheads.

The Roots , 10:00 pm, Friday, July 3, Briggs and Stratton Stage – One of the best rap groups around plays shows with a real live band, unlike most rap artists.  They are also the house band for the Jimmy Fallon show. This is a must see.

Flogging Molly , 10:00 pm Saturday, July 4, Miller Lite Oasis- Irish-influenced punk reminiscent of the Pogues.  They put on an awesome show in Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day this year.  Always a fun time.

The English Beat, 6:30, Sunday, July 5, Miller Lite Oasis – You might remember them for the 80s hit “Mirror in the Bathroom” but they have a lot of other excellent ska-reggae tunes.

Spoon, 10:00pm, Monday, June 29, Harley Stage- I saw them at the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago last summer and they are a great band to see live.

Margot and The Nuclear So and So’s, US Cellular, Sunday July 5, 8:00pm- I got into this Indianapolis band because of Jeffrey T. Meyer of the Good Beer Show podcast.  He was a fan well before  they signed to Epic records.  Fans of Radiohead and the Arcade Fire type music should enjoy this set.

He doesn't have cell phone elbow, ladies and gentlemen. He IS a cell phone.

Aches and pains tend to follow you through life, like uninvited guests who fart in your rose garden. I say “you” because I plan to have my limbs replaced by cybernetic meat hooks.

But back to that rose garden. I beg your pardon, but take a whiff. Ahhhhhh… oh. You crave freshness but you get a sense of something most foul. Fortunately it’s never that way with a loan till payday. Such quick payday loans are a breath of fresh air when your budget has been hit by a bunker-buster. It can power you through the rubble until your next paycheck rolls in like a UN peacekeeping force. But if you’ve got cell phone elbow, you won’t be able to help them bulldoze away  the mess.

That’s right, cell phone elbow

Everybody’s tied to their mobile devices anymore, so I guess cell phone elbow was inevitable. iPhones, Blackberries, Palms, T-Mobiles and their kind aren’t just telephones, they’re personal planners, messaging systems, music players and gaming systems. But more than anything else, they’re time wasters, and most people are happy to oblige. I’m guilty, too, but I excuse myself from this discussion because I possess abilities and powers that far exceed those of most people writing this article.

Madison Park reports for CNN that “if your pinkie and ring fingers tingle or feel numb, you might not want to pick up that cell phone to call the doctor.” That’s because orthopedic surgeons are fighting back the tide of cell phone elbow. Smartphones apparently don’t make enough people smart enough to avoid giving themselves nerve damage via elbows bent for too long.

But are there no earpieces? No speakerphones?

Personally, I hate Bluetooth earpieces (uncomfortable) and speakerphones (I actually care about not making private conversations public). But I also don’t spend hours talking on my iPhone. If I can use E-mail of IM for something, I will. But most people still prefer verbal communication, so they hold the phone to their ears. As they do this, they “stretch a nerve that extends underneath the funny bone and controls the smallest fingers,” writes Park. After a long period of time, the bent arm position “chokes the blood supply to the nerves. It makes the nerves short-circuit. The next thing you know, there’s tingling in the ring and small finger,” said Dr. Peter J. Evans of Ohio’s Cleveland Clinic.

Unlike Selsun Blue, if it’s tingling, it ISN’T working. Stop bending your arm, or at least switch hands. You don’t want cubital tunnel syndrome. Your hands will become weak, you’ll have difficulty opening simple jars and containers and you won’t be able to play musical instruments well. It’s life out of balance for the handy. And can you imagine not being able to write, either?

“It could impede your typing ability, your writing ability,” Evans said. “People get very unintelligible writing if it gets severe.”

Droppin’ things

Park introduces us to Donna Malloy, 66. Malloy felt the numbness in her hands and wondered what was wrong. It never occurred to her that talking on a cell phone for hours could be so harmful.

“Mainly when I was holding something, I noticed, ‘Geez, they’re tingling.’ It got progressively worse. If you walk around holding the cell phone, after a while you’re not sure you have it in the hand anymore.”

Then basic functionality in her left hand began to slip. She’s drop things from her left hand that she normally carried with no problem. She could no longer pursue her pastime of needlework, either.

“Constant cell phone use could stress out the ulnar nerves,” said Dr. Leon Benson, spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. After repeated stretching, the ulnar nerve can become weak. “The more you bend it, the more it stretches,” Evans said. “It diminishes the blood supply, and the blood is not flowing through the nerves.”

Aren’t nerves supposed to stretch a bit?

Sure, but not for an hour. “It’s not normal,” Benson said. People with severe cases of cell phone elbow (such as Ms. Malloy) must have surgery. But lesser cases merely require an adjustment in how the joints are used. It doesn’t mean no more cell phones, it just means a bit more caution and discipline.

“It’s like anything else, any sporting activity,” Benson said. “You can hit balls at the driving range — just don’t hit 300 of them, because you’ll be sore. So common sense would dictate not to talk on the phone for hours if your small and ring fingers go numb.”

Not just for cell phones anymore

“Cell phone elbow” doesn’t just apply to those who overuse cell phones. Anyone who rests their elbows for hours at a time on the arms of a chair, wheelchair or the open window of a car are susceptible. Even those who sleep in the fetal position or frequent computer users with elbows bent beyond 90 degrees for a long time could damage their nerves, hints Evans.

More than a 90-degree bend can stretch the ulnar nerve by as much as 15 percent, says Evans. But here are some simple solutions he suggests:

• Avoid activities that require you to bend your elbow like that for an extended period of time
• Make sure your computer workstation is ergonomic enough to help you avoid this situation
• Don’t lean on your elbows for too long
• Use a loan till payday or quick payday loans if your budget is doubled over more than 90 degrees to Sunday (my suggestion, if you couldn’t tell)…

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I don’t know why it never occurred to me to Google search “June 2009 calendar printable.” You see, I have been thinking for a while that I need to buy a calendar. You know, one of the old-fashioned, paper ones as opposed to the one that lives in my computer or phone.

I’ve been thinking about buying a calendar so I cam stick it up on the wall in my apartment so my “significant other” and I can both see it. That way, maybe I won’t have to repeatedly remind him about every event.

That’s a pretty big “maybe,” but still, it’s a good example of the fact that some old technology really is just more functional and convenient than any electronic device. The Internet has made infinite activities — such as getting quick payday loans — immeasurably easier, but sometimes you just need a calendar.

Didn’t want to spring for it

So, this need for a calendar started nagging at me as summer was suddenly upon us and the event invitations started rolling in. Weddings. Rallies. Parties. Camping trips. I really wanted to have all that stuff up on the wall where I could see it every day.

However, I thought, it’s already May. If I buy a calendar I’ll be wasting five whole months worth of paper, not to mention paying for a whole calendar and only using a little more than half of it.

The solution: new technology

That brings us up to today, when I saw the term “June 2009 calendar printable” in Google Trends.” The only thing I could thing was “Duh!”

I use the Internet for pretty much everything nowadays. Paying bills, making plans with friends, getting directions, organizing events, listening to music, making a living … you get the picture. But I never thought “I bet if I Google ‘June 2009 calendar printable,’ I can just print out a one-month calendar and not have to pay for it.”

Saving money success

Of course, I found plenty of web sites that offer free printable calendars for June 2009 and, of course, every other month. And with some, you don’t even have to sacrifice the fun photos and such that come with the calendars.

Not only can I save myself the cost of a calendar for my apartment, some of these printable calendar web sites make such fancy, professional-looking calendars that I could use them as gifts! I predict my Christmas shopping bill will be a lot lower this year.

Find your own printable June 2009 calendar

Here’s a list of web sites that have printable June 2009 calendars:

BuzzStock.com: This site only offers one style of calendar. It’s a very straightforward, no frills,  just boxes and numbers type of calendar.

Free EZ Calendar: This site creates professional-looking calendar pages with colorful backgrounds. However, you will have to download the software.

Smilebox.com: This site allows you to create a calendar and use your own personal photos as the artwork.

Bye-bye business

Unfortunately, for calendar makers this might mean the eventual end of the industry. People do often buy calendars simply for the artwork, but soon I am sure  you’ll be able to create a free printable calendar online that features any artwork you can imagine.

It’s sad but true. Now that I’ve found a printable June 2009 calendar, I’ll never spend money on calendars again.

I just got back from the Sunbanks Rhythm and Blues festival, a four-day music and camping event at beautiful Banks Lake near Electric City, Washington. I had to take time off from work without pay in order to go, and financially I was cutting it uncomfortably close to the wire.

It wasn’t pride so much as syntax

I’d been getting a lot of illiterate-sounding emails with names like “no faxing payday loans,” “easy loan,” “instant cash loans,” “money now,” and “payday loan yes.” I really could have used the extra cash all these payday lenders were offering. It wasn’t that I was not desperate; it was more that even though I didn’t know how I was going to pay my car insurance when I got home, I could not stoop to the orthographical level of a “cash til payday loan.”

I forgot my worries with Two Scoops Moore

So I packed up my tent and sleeping bag, put the few groceries I had in a cooler, and set off for Sunbanks with a blues-fan friend whose car had a full tank of gas. I was still thinking about emergency loans and instant money when Eric “Two Scoops” Moore took the stage. Moore is a pianist, singer, and songwriter from Seattle who spent several years on the road with Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson. He has a strong, soulful voice and a rollicking, honky-tonk keyboard style. His performance included hilariously crafted, cartoonish songs like “Big Ugly Fella,” “Big Fat Mama,” “Hamburger Time,” “Let’s Eat!” and “Big Buffet,” (”They got meat and potatoes, they got beans and rice, they got good country gravy make you go back twice . . . “).

I said “yes” to money

Two Scoops did the trick!

Listening to Two Scoops on a warm, sunny morning by the side of a sparkling, blue lake — far from “payday loans uk” and all the other ragged claws of internet babble — my money worries began to fade. Then Two Scoops sang a song with a title I didn’t catch and lyrics I couldn’t miss: “Keep a dollar in your pocket ‘cause money’s your best friend.” Right on cue, my companion with the car and once-full tank of gas handed me a one-dollar bill. I gave him back a smile and stuck the bill in my pocket. I had resisted all manner of “paycheck loans,” “same day cash,” and “quick payday loans,” but I wasn’t saying “no” to my new best friend.

Then I found a great big friend

When I got home, my friend George was still in my pocket. I was going to move him in with the ten or so other one-dollar bills I still had in my wallet and eat for a few days. Then I remembered the bag of food I’d rescued from the cooler. I unpacked it and there in the bottom of the plastic grocery bag I found a friend I hadn’t seen in a long, long time: Ben Franklin. He was dripping wet from the melted ice, but still worth a hundred Georges.

And we’ll get by till payday

I laid Ben out on the table to dry and called my blues companion to tell him that Ben would be staying with me for three weeks and then going back home to him. I have great memories from Sunbanks. I have a good friend who still has a car with half a tank of gas. I have a few festival leftovers in the refrigerator. I have George. I have George’s ten comrades. And most of all, I have Ben. Money’s my best friend, and I’ll get by without a loan till payday.

How many times have you changed cell phone plans? Or switched back and forth between prepaid phones and monthly plans? More often than not, each time you change over, you have to switch to a different phone. I know, it can mean having to take out installment loans and quick payday loans once in a while to keep up with the electronics shuffle. But having a phone is a requirement any more, isn’t it? It leaves you with the question of what to do with all the outdated phones, though. Keep them? Throw them away?

Companies like Cell For Cash (cellforcash.com) are a great option to both put money in your pocket and contribute toward a greener environment. You can trade them in for cash instead of cluttering your drawers or flinging more plastic into our landfills. It’s a simple three-step process:

1. Find your phone in the list.
2. Submit the manufacturer and model.
3. Send the phone postage free and receive cash via check in 45-60 days.

Phones range in cash value from a few dollars to “well over $100,” depending upon capabilities and demand. If you like, you can also make cell phone donations at Cell For Cash. There are plenty of organizations that can use parts for 911 phones and others outside of Cell For Cash that donate phones to soldiers in the Middle East.

Recycling cell phones – still a ways to go

According to Telephony Online, Americans discard as many as 130 million cell phones each year. It’s shocking that less than five percent of those make it to the recycling phase. That means that an extra 65,000 tons of waste are loading down our landfills each year, says the EPA. The massive waste is just one more reason that we’re going to have to find other planets to colonize… soon.

Worldwide, there are many innovative recycling programs. In Australia, there’s even a save the koalas by donating used cell phones campaign. Then there are many other cell phone recycling initiatives with a charitable bent. Many vendors take the Cell For Cash route of sending prepaid postage envelopes to consumers’ homes as well as sweetening the deal with a money or donation offer.

But is it enough to get consumers in the green frame of mind? According to the handset manufacturing giant Nokia, they have conducted studies that have found that only three percent of users are recycling today. The reason given most often is that they didn’t know such programs existed.

“That is the elephant in the room,” said David Delcourt, COO of MakeMeSustainable.com. “With all the electronics we have, we have a poor recycling system for them.”

Is it still not convenient enough for people?

Apparently that is indeed the case. Delcourt and others believe that cell phone recycling, regardless of how many Web sites like Cell For Cash that pop up, will not truly take off until consumers can toss an old cell phone into the recycling bin they bring out to the curb. Waste management companies are not currently equipped for this in America, but they need to be. The longer they take to expand their recyclable collection services, the more plastic there will be to pollute the Earth and the more toxic fumes from burnt phones that will choke the skies and water table.

“The best way for someone to minimize their footprint is to re-use and recycle their phone,” Delcourt said. “The phone’s manufacturing impact has already been spent, the waste will be zero, and you’re avoiding purchasing a new phone that comes with its own footprint. There are companies that also pay you for your old phone, refurbish them and resell them in other countries. Sent in bulk, this likely still achieves a smaller footprint with transportation costs than manufacturing new phones.”

Another option for recycling

ReCellular is another company like Cell For Cash that takes donations of old cell phones. They take in as many as 25,000 phones per day. Of those, around 70 percent still have complete functionality. Once refurbished, ReCellular sends the phones to partner merchants like AT&T, Best Buy and Page Plus to sell as discount units. As a note of its relative success, ReCellular took in over 5.5 million phones last year, which amounts to about half of the total number of cell phones recycled that year.

VP Mike Newman estimates that a mere 10 percent of phones are recycled today. This amounts to about 14 million cell phones. Beyond that, he estimates that the average consumer has two to three unused phones just sitting around the house.

“There could be as many as one billion sitting in desks,” he said. “[Consumers] know they have value, but they aren’t spending the time or effort to seek out a recycling program.”

Do people know? Depends upon who you ask

Yet according to the CTIA, knowledge of mobile phone recycling is growing, but taking action isn’t. Their recent survey found that 84 percent are aware that mobile phones are recyclable, while 69 percent are aware of specific recycling programs. But too few people take advantage, said Public Affairs VP John Walls.

CTIA happens to have its own recycling program called “Wireless…The New Recyclable.” The campaign includes in-store phone take-back programs where consumers can get rid of both handsets and accessories at participating retailers.

Most big carriers are getting involved in green efforts, too. Recently, Cricket began a handset recycling program with ReCellular. Carriers like AT&T (Cell Phones for Soldiers) and Verizon Wireless (HopeLine) have their own green programs in place. AT&T claims it has recycled “more than 2.5 million devices in the past year.”

A nationwide plan is needed

The top handset manufacturers are also recycling-minded. Nokia provides “take-back points” in 85 countries, as well as prepaid return envelopes in 12 more. LG’s programs cover at least 45 countries. LG’s Text-to-Recycle program initiates an exchange via text messaging. But there still isn’t enough consumer participation.

The EPA’s Plug-In To eCycling program is voluntary today, but the proliferation of consumer electronics waste – cell phones included – is placing pressure on state and federal government. Evan Haines, an ICF International consultant for EnergyStar’s electronics programs, feels that there must be a national strategy in place. As an example, California has a statewide recycling program that prohibits throwing away phones. It also requires manufacturers to have their own recycling programs. Both of these steps are mandatory, and other states would do well to follow the example. The cost to the environment in space and chemical damage is too great to ignore.

“Mobile phones are a huge market, so even if something on the per-device basis is not that big, when you multiple it out to the whole market, there is a huge opportunity for effecting change,” Haines said. “If manufacturers are able to commit and put into place take-back programs, there is a chance to do more than they already are trying to do.”

Whether it’s through Cell For Cash or another program, do the right thing and recycle your old cell phones. Installment loans and quick payday loans may help you get your hands on a new smartphone, but they won’t recycle your old phones for you. That’s your responsibility… and eventually it may be the law.

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We’re calling all bed-wetters and ambulance chasers.
Poor pick-pockets, bring ‘em in.
Come join the Youth and Beauty Brigade.

- From “Youth and Beauty Brigade” by The Decemberists

We’re all ambulance chasers, aren’t we? When the train wrecks, we can’t help but look. And when we do, we can’t look away. We also love the high and mighty in America; they are our royalty. But we love it even more when they fall from grace, when the train wrecks, when they plant face down on the steaming blacktop. If they need quick payday loans like we do to stagger to their feet, oh how juicy it is.

Mafia Princess Victoria Gotti is the latest member of the royal family to face hard times. Her Long Island mansion is facing foreclosure.

Even “stars” pay the piper

Lisa Colangelo and John Marzulli report for the New York Daily News that Victoria Gotti’s Old Westbury, Long Island mansion – the same one that was featured on the A&E reality TV series “Growing Up Gotti” – has barred the castle gates to its former princess. The late Gambino crime boss John Gotti’s daughter won’t get a mortgage loan modification from JPMorgan Chase. Victoria Gotti is behind $650,000 and hasn’t made a payment in two years, according to court documents.

JPMorgan Chase has been granted a summary judgment on the foreclosure. Currently, it is under consideration whether the six-acre property will be sold as one unit. The six-bedroom, seven-bath mansion is listed at $3 million. That’s after a $1 million markdown. Curse this stagnant home buying market…

“A booby prize”

Victoria Gotti blamed the troubles on ex-husband Carmine Agnello, whom she claims surreptitiously took a $856,000 loan against the castle. She became the sole owner in 2004; Agnello plead guilty to racketeering that same year. In the meantime, they defaulted on the mortgage during divorce proceedings.

“I won a house that was a booby prize riddled with debt,” Victoria Gotti said.

Make your payments

Agnello has since been released from prison, but Gotti says he still hasn’t paid alimony or child support. This is despite the fact that he is living well with a new wife.

“He still owes the federal government nearly $10 million and yet they still allow him to live this way?” Victoria Gotti said.

The yearly tax bill for the castle, which includes a stable and pond, is $92,000. Gotti says she managed to avoid foreclosure in 2005 when she paid $50,000 up front and agreed to continue paying $25,000 per month. Yet the payments stopped after a few months, which caused the banks mouth to water once more.

A new line of work

Victoria Gotti’s brother John Jr., who faces murder and racketeering charges, is also hurting for money. Thankfully a judge denied his bid for taxpayer funds to help his legal defense. Royals can only be given so much leeway. Then it’s time to get nasty.

Jessica Pressler blogs for New York Magazine that this may just be the perfect thing for Victoria Gotti. It’s all in how you work it, sister. Farsi bella; il mondo è in attesa per la sua principessa:

We know it feels like a booby prize now, but in reality this is probably a good thing for Victoria Gotti, who is, with her taut, fake-tanned skin, surgically enhanced features, and freakishly flaxen hair, the perfect spokeswoman for the overindulgence and overextension of the Boom. Really, just add some lowlights and contrition, hook her up with Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo for a couple of public service announcements (on mortgage loan modification), and it could revitalize her whole career. There really are opportunities in this market.

You had this ambulance chaser at booby prize…

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Unemployment in America has reached about nine percent, and there’s no immediate evidence that the climb will slow any time soon. People are looking for the opportunity to make a better life for themselves and their families. Quick payday loans and debt relief have become commonplace, and the tools to improve one’s financial standing are readily available. But steady employment is a key element.

Thus, President Obama’s efforts to bring more Pell Grants and educational opportunities to the unemployed comes at the perfect time. With the Web site Opportunity.gov (www.opportunity.gov), the American people can find some relief and inspiration in their career endeavors.

Training and benefits

The Associated Press (at http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/08/obama-offer-help-unemployed/”) reports that Obama wishes to roll out this plan while the jobless retain their unemployment benefits. In addition, the government will indeed pay for the training programs outlined at opportunity.gov. Obama is asking Americans to “commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training.”

“Our unemployment insurance system should no longer be a safety net, but a steppingstone to a new future,” Obama said. “It should offer folks educational opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have” and give they needed to “get ahead when the economy comes back.”

The numbers are sobering

The economy lost another 539,000 jobs in April, according to the United States Labor Department. The president acknowledges that it will “take months, maybe even years,” to pull out of the recession.

Yet he remains hopeful. “Although we have a long way to go before we can put this recession behind us, the gears of our economic engine are slowly beginning to turn.” He based this comment on signs of stabilization reported in consumer spending and home sales. Furthermore, the AP notes that construction spending has risen for the first time in six months.

Yet small businesses still lay off employees

President Obama’s $787 billion economic recovery package gave states billions of dollars to extend unemployment benefits by 26 extra weeks for those who want additional job training. Currently, 12 states have expanded benefits. Twenty more should follow soon.

A law that stopped unemployment checks if someone stopped seeking employment and returned to school has been a major stumbling block for Americans. The Obama administration also noted that previously, unemployed workers who return to school may not qualify for Pell Grants that are income based. This will change now. Unemployed workers will be eligible for Pell Grants via Opportunity.gov. Beginning in July 2009, the maximum possible Pell Grant will rise $500, to $5,350.

$200 billion in scholarships and credits

According to the White House, money from the stimulus bill and American Opportunity Tax Credit (provides a $2,500 tax credit for four years of college), would be made permanent. The windfall is expected to provide $200 billion in scholarships and credits for a decade. Moreover, Obama’s proposed 2010 budget will “ensure the Pell Grant continues to grow steadily by making it an entitlement,” say sources.

Big promises for a growing crowd of unemployed

Numbers like 539,000 more jobs lost in April can’t be ignored. That makes the nation’s current unemployment rate 8.9 percent, the highest level since 1983. The number of debt relief applicants is rising; quick payday loans for the employed who are in need are a boon, but only so long as employment is retained. In this economy, there’s no guarantee.

Will Opportunity.gov direct enough people toward the aid they need? Will the money be there? Whatever the case, the change is going to come. Both the Department of Labor and Department of Education have been told by Obama to move forward with the plan. Check out http://www.opportunity.gov to see if there is a program in place to help you in your situation of unemployment. Those who make inquiries for information will be sent a letter to describing available training opportunities and financial aid.

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And you thought it was a coincidence when the Umbrella Corporation used Raccoon City as its personal petri dish in the “Resident Evil” video game, film and comic book series? Hardly. I know for a fact not to mess with raccoons, but I haven’t had to deal with Raccoon Roundworm. I feel horribly for the unfortunate Brooklyn youngsters and their families whose lives have been changed forever by the rare affliction.

Veronika Belenkaya reports for the New York Daily News that while fewer than 30 cases of Raccoon Roundworm have been reported nationwide at this writing, the effects can be much more damaging than the swine flu outbreak that has the Centers For Disease Control and most news agencies in an artificial panic. Get a bad flu and don’t care for self treatment? Go to urgent care. If the bills are too much, consider quick payday loans and installment loans. Not much more to it than that. Unlike Raccoon Roundworm, blindness and brain damage aren’t tragic side effects.

What happened in Brooklyn?

A Brooklyn infant became brain damaged and a teenager was blinded in one eye, according to Belenkaya. In the first case, the healthy infant began having seizures and spinal problems in October 2008. The heart-wrenching prognosis has kept the child in a hospital ever since with complications resulting from diagnosed brain damage resulting from Raccoon Roundworm infection.

This past January, a Brooklyn teenager lost sight in the right eye due to an infection. The teen hadn’t left the city recently.

The city’s Department of Health is on alert for more cases of the disease, which is contracted through contact with raccoon feces. The parasitic infection can cause permanent nerve damage and death. Officials note that this condition had previously been mislabeled Raccoon Ringworm.

“Parents should closely supervise small children in areas where raccoons live to prevent possible ingestion of raccoon feces,” said Sally Slavinski of the New York State Health Department.

Symptoms and prevention

Unfortunately, you won’t know immediately if you’ve been infected. It takes anywhere from two to four weeks for symptoms to develop. These symptoms would include nausea, loss of coordination and muscle control and blindness. More severe nerve damage and death can be the result. Medical officials say that children and developmentally disabled youngsters youngsters are most prone to Raccoon Roundworm; playgrounds are particularly dangerous places where the curious can run across infected raccoon fecal matter.

“It’s terrifying. God only knows how I would react if my kids became that ill,” said Angelia Kane, mother of two. “The concern for me would be kids being kids. I have a 3-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy. When they’re slightly out of sight, they’re going to pick up something in the course of their normal behavior and put their filthy hands in their mouths.”

WASH… YOUR… HANDS

Whether it’s swine flu or Raccoon Roundworm, one of the best things you can do is to keep your hands clean. You shouldn’t keep your kids locked inside to prevent them from setting foot on a playground; you should simply take precautions. Help your children understand what animal feces look like (if they aren’t already aware), and teach them not to touch, particularly with bare hands.

“If you spend enough time reading about all the things kids can contract,” said Kane, “you don’t leave the house.”

If fecal matter is found anywhere, there is a safe way to remove it.

“Raccoon feces should be removed using gloves and disposable bags, and placed in trash to keep from children,” Slavinski said.

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Have you ever wondered if there was a way you could increase your chances of winning a sweepstakes? Well, Wendy Limauge believes you can, and on her web site Sweeties Sweeps, she promises to “help you learn how you, too, can win what you can’t afford.”

Multitasking

Sweeties Sweeps helps money-winning hopefuls using  a multi-pronged attack. First, Wendy posts the “most winnable sweepstakes.” She also promises to “teach you tips and tricks and step by step articles along the way that will help you be more of a winner.”

She encourages users before and after big wins. Sweeties Sweeps also has lots of links to free stuff and money-making tips, such as how to become a mystery shopper.

Does it work?

On Sweeties Sweeps, Wendy says she usually “wins big” three to five times per year. Besides testimonials on her own big wins, she posts a weekly winner, and readers share their stories. So if you want to replace your quick payday loans by hitting paydirt, her tips might be worth a try.

Wins, big and small

Wendy posts letters from her readers who report what they’ve won. Some of the winnings are relatively small. Dawn reports that she won “A $50 AMC gift card, a child’s movie ticket, a Le Creuset mixing bowl (this morning, worth $40!)”

However, Dawn has also won a Camaro and a trip to “American Idol.” Hannah won $5,000 from American Express. Barbara won $32,000 worth of electronics from Brooks Run Happy Place Instant Win Game.

Every little bit

Much of the site seems dedicated to winners sharing in the joy of winning. The majority of the prizes reported are of the smaller variety, such as a pair of sunglasses or some bath products. But from my perspective, this enthusiastic celebration of even small wins keeps the contest entrants going, aiming for that big win.

How to be a winner

Sweeties Sweeps has a plethora of articles on how to improve your chances of winning, including this Top 10 list:

1. Enter every day
2. Enter sweeps that have a lot of prizes
3. Enter when fewer people are entering
4. Enter restricted sweeps
5. Enter mail-in sweeps with no online option
6. Enter short ending sweeps
7. Don’t waste your time trying to enter every sweeps out there
8. Use a Form Filler program
9. Enter sweeps that have prizes you really want
10. Never give up!

Just to give you an idea for the type of results the site is aiming for, Wendy says she wins about 200 prizes a year, and three to five are big ones. Already this year she has won $5,000. For more of Wendy’s tips and tricks, check out Sweeties Sweeps.

Welcome back to “Repair Your Credit.” CLICK HERE if you missed part one of this article. You’re here because

…enough is enough!

Believe me, I’ve been there. I have receipts from quick payday loans and debt relief to show for it. One day you will awaken to find that all you are able to pay to your creditors is the minimum payments. You simply can’t do anything more, which is unfortunate, because as I’ve already mentioned in this E-book, paying the minimum is the longest, most expensive possible path to take and still be able to pay off an account. If you’re OK with it taking years longer (and costing you much more than the credit you originally used), then paying the minimum is your speed. You shouldn’t go there, however.

Minimum payments are subtle, enticing and ultimately dangerous. They are financial time bombs that will leave your money in disarray if you lean upon them. They may seem convenient and affordable, but they are neither one of those things in the long run.

But they’re convenient for someone!

That’s right – for your creditors. It’s convenient for them because your paying the minimum only amounts to a cash machine in their employ. If you have a $1,000 debt, an interest rate of 18 percent and a two-and-one-half percent minimum monthly charge on your balance, paying it all off by only making minimum payments would take you 13 years. Again, I’ve mentioned this before. You need to know how much damage you can do to your finances with simple decisions, too.

If you’re dealing with multiple debts in this fashion, you’re in trouble. You’ll be spending so much on interest that could have gone to something useful. Like a retirement account, a college fund for the kids, a future vacation… anything truly worthwhile. Don’t follow this path to bankruptcy. Wake up!

Are you bailing water from your sinking ship?

If you are up to date with all of your credit accounts but have slumped into the habit of only making the minimum payments, this E-book is for you. It’s time to take corrective action.

First of all, consider each of the debts you own. Write them down, because the visual reminder should help spur you into action. You want to write down how much you currently owe, as well as the minimum monthly payment and the interest rate they require of you.

The true cost of paying the minimum

After that, go to this calculator. With it, you’ll input the necessary figures for each of your debts. The calculator will tell you how long it will take to pay each of them off. The truth can be sobering, but you must not lose heart. What may appear to be a prison sentence is actually a road map you can and must follow to dig your way out of debt, repair your credit and build wealth. It alone is enough motivation for change.

Next, let’s talk about how to chop these ominous debts down to size. By doing so, you’ll be able to pay them off quicker, while potentially saving money – thousands! CLICK HERE to continue reading…

Welcome back. CLICK HERE if you missed part four of this five-part article. Let’s close out this chapter of the “Repair Your Credit” E-book by looking at a few more ways that you can cut down on high-interest revolving credit. The fewer credit cards and installment loans who have to depend upon, the better for your financial future.

Retirement funds

If you currently possess a 401(k) retirement account, you may be able to borrow a loan against it if you absolutely need money. Keep in mind that this should be a last resort for debt consolidation, as your 401(k) is intended to be a part of your long-term financial goals.

The nice thing about these types of loans is that you are paying interest to yourself, not the bank. Be aware, however, that if you quit your job that is providing you with the 401(k), you’ll have to pay the debt in full when you leave. Hardly the kind of thing you want to have to worry about during a recession, is it. Perhaps you shouldn’t borrow from your 401(k). Forget I mentioned it, or at least be sure you won’t be creating undue financial stress for yourself.

Your local bank or credit union

Short term loans and installment loans obtained through portals like Personal Money Store Credit unions offer immediacy and interest rates much lower than you would expect for quick payday loans. However, if you don’t need a bad credit cash advance – i.e., your credit is still decent and you have identified your need for help before defaulting on your accounts – you may be able to apply for and be approved for a loan from your bank or credit union. Since most consumer credit card accounts carry interest rates around 20 percent, you may be able to lower your monthly payment and pay your debt off quicker with such a loan, which may only carry a 10 percent rate.

Consumer credit counseling

There are nonprofit consumer credit agencies that provide debt relief counselors who work will work with you to understand your situation and tailor advice accordingly. These counselors have experience negotiating with creditors and may be able to guide you toward a solution creditors may not be willing to negotiate one-on-one with you.

Typically, these agencies will take into account your outstanding debts as well as the payments you are making on those debts. They will likely get any accrued late fees you have accumulated waived and get your interest rates lowered as well.

Negotiate with your creditors about default

Be upfront with your creditors. If you feel you are about to default on your home mortgage, credit card or other accounts, talking with your lenders could be vitally important for averting financial disaster. If you express that you are on the verge of defaulting on your accounts or going bankrupt, your creditors may be willing to work with you.

Creditors are just as aware as you of the consequence of default and bankruptcy. If you file as insolvent, they won’t be getting their money, even at least a portion of it is typically written off as unrecoverable (”bad”) debt. It can be to their advantage as well as yours if terms are extended. No matter what your means of debt consolidation are, acting quickly is essential to gaining control.