Next President Of The Philippines Refuses To Quit Smoking
May 25, 2010 by Robert Paul Reyes
Filed under Tech/Sci, Weird Stuff
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Brad and Angelina, and now John & Elizabeth?
February 1, 2010 by Garrett Godwin
Filed under Tech/Sci
Though recently separated, John and Elizabeth Edwards continues to pique the interest of the media and the public, as Elizabeth is on the cover on the latest issue of People. Elizabeth, who is currently battling cancer, where she speaks about her “breaking point”, while John finally admitted that he is the biological father of former mistress Rielle Hunter’s 2-year-old daughter. His former aide, Andrew Young, recently spoke to ABC that includes his 20/20 interview on Friday, in which he claims that Edwards tried to cover up his affair as well as tried to alter the DNA results, as he explains it all in his new book The Politician.
Young also claims that once Elizabeth knew the truth, she attempted suicide, but her spokesperson said that these statements are false allegations. He told 20/20 of a possible sex tape with John and Hunter, who recently filed a restraining order against Young and sought to have the tape returned, stating that the nature of the tape is private between two consenting adults.
The Politician and the latest People magazine is available at your local newsstands and bookstores right now.
Bailouts – Yep, There’s An App for That!
There is an application for just about everything for your cell phone including an app called Bailout News by Martian Technology. Unfortunately, it only covers bailout news for the top ten companies that accepted bailout money and doesn’t include a bailout for Americans struggling to make ends meet.
Dom Golio, the author, wants to help you understand where your hard earned money is going. Hidden taxes in gasoline, travel taxes, ‘sin’ taxes, fishing taxes, and excise taxes account for some of it, but there’s more!
* Examine your utility bills, paychecks for ‘hidden’ taxes
* Question why some states have higher taxes but get same services
* Ask representatives whose interests they really represent
* Understand why illegal immigration is a burden for the whole country
* Recognize the need to cut services
Bankrupting Joe the Taxpayer With No One to Bail Him Out
Couple Pelts McDonald’s Cashier With Coins & Safety Cones
October 9, 2009 by Robert Paul Reyes
Filed under Tech/Sci, Weird Stuff
“A brawl at a Quincy McDonald’s was allegedly the result of a French fries order-mix up.
Family’s Five-Year Frugality = 2009 PACE Award
After a five-year struggle to become debt-free (except for a mortgage), the Hillebrandt family – Russell, Kandy, twin daughters Heidi and Holly, and son Joey – of New Richmond, Wis., met their goal. They paid off their credit card balances (about $89,000 to start) and $17,00 due a family member.
Their efforts have paid off – they are the recipients of the “Professional Achievement and Counseling Excellence (PACE) 2009 Graduate Client of the Year Award.” The award “recognizes the hard work and commitment they demonstrated in repaying their debts, and their willingness to become effective managers of their money and change their lifestyle.”
The mounting debt occurred slowly. The family were not big spenders – although they did buy many items, including clothing, “new”, and kept giving 10 percent of their income (tithing) to their church. Medical expenses – diabetes, miscarriages – contributed to the problem.
How, then, did the Hillebrandts get out of debt? It wasn’t easy. They began with a “a five-year debt management plan” developed with the help of a credit counseling service. “While the schedule was daunting, the Hildebrandts signed on.”
To make the plan succeed, they cut out “discretionary spending. Kandy began buying generic food and frequenting thrift stores for clothing purchases. They stopped exchanging Christmas and birthday gifts …”
For a while they had only one car but made progress on the debt reduction. “If the money wasn’t available, they simply did without.”
The birth of their third child, Joey, now 3, meant more expenses but his mother, Kandy, says, “The joy he brought to a negative, grinding situation was the light we needed.”
What do they tell others? “Get out of debt,” Kandy says. “It’s a chokehold.”
Press, On The Hook for Unpaid Taxes
A former top executive at Chrysler can’t pay his bills!
“Jim Press, who briefly ran Toyota Motor Corp.’s U.S. operations and spent 37 years with the Japanese automaker before joining Chrysler as one of its three top executives in 2007, is facing claims of more than $1.35 million for unpaid federal taxes and a personal loan.”
“The 62-year-old auto executive … may be one of the highest profile victims of Detroit’s collapse.”
In my opinion, Press is not a victim because he could foresee his financial fiasco. Casualty, yes – victim, no!
The monetary meltdown was the result of his ignoring a basic budgeting lesson – NEVER count on bonuses to supplement your income. “Press blamed the elimination of bonuses at Chrysler for his failure to pay back the personal loan.”
Prudent people don’t spend more than what’s shown on their paycheck(s) – the net income (what ‘s left over after taxes, Social Security deductions, etc., are taken out).
Pres and his wife “purchased a multimillion-dollar, 6,900-square-foot luxury home in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham in June 2008, taking out a $2.2 million mortgage with ING Bank, records show.
“The couple, who have put the six-bedroom mansion up for sale at $3.15 million, now face a tax lien against the property for just over $947,000 related to unpaid income taxes for 2007, according to a filing in late August.”
In Press’ interview last year with the New York Times (actual date unknown), he said, “in reference to the string on his wrist: ‘This is actually from my wife’s grandfather. It reminds you that in life, you just need enough to get along. What’s important in life isn’t what you have, but how you live.’”
Perhaps Press should have tried to follow that principle.
In my opinion, someone that fiscally irresponsible was not fit to be a top executive anywhere.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090918/bs_nm/us_chrysler_press
A Plane Way To Propose
A marriage proposal in plane sight!
“Aleasha Decker, 23, said she was excited and stunned when she read the question, ‘Aleasha, marry me?’ in 20-foot, sheet plastic letters. They sat atop a harvested field in Kalida, about 60 miles southwest of Toledo in northwestern Ohio.
“New husband-to-be Jason Kahle got some help from his father, who farms the land and flies a small plane. When they took Decker into the air on Aug. 9, they said the purpose was to photograph some relatives’ houses.
“After Decker spotted the message, she turned to find Kahle with a ring.
“A June 5, 2010, wedding is now in the works.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090821/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_wheat_field_proposal
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service? Oh, Baby!
One Burger King franchise restaurant took the “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service” policy a bit too far on Sunday, August 2.
Stating that a health code required them to bar any shoeless person, the franchise, in Sunset Hills, Mo., told one family – “Jennifer Frederich, her mother and Frederich’s infant daughter, Kaylin” – to leave the restaurant because six-month-old Kaylin had no footwear. “In fact, shoelessness is not a health code violation in St. Louis County.”
The owner of that particular Burger King apologized in person to the Frederich family and “his restaurant team [is being retrained] on the proper use of the ‘no shoes’ policy.” http://www.dailymail.com/News/oddities/200908060708
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There is no indication that young Kaylin was offered lifetime meals at the Sunset Hills site.
Skinny, Single, Childless? You ARE Saving The Planet!
According to a recent study at Oregon State University, “the carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact of an extra child is almost 20 times more important than some of the other environment-friendly practices people might employ during their entire lives – things like driving a high mileage car, recycling, or using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.”
If you stay single or, if married, choose to have fewer or no children, you are more environmentally friendly than those with a bunch of kids.
“The current obesity epidemic may also be hurting the climate, because food production is a major contributor to global warming.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090803/sc_livescience/savetheplanethavefewerkids
For that, a study was needed? LOL
Jobless College Grad Wants Tuition Refund
Sometimes having the diploma isn’t enough, according to NYC resident Trina Thompson. After graduating Monroe College in April with a degree in Information Technology, she’s yet to find a job.
Her solution? Claiming the college’s “Office of Career Advancement hasn’t provided her with the leads and career advice it promises,” Ms. Thompson is seeking the return of her $70,000 in tuition.
A college spokesman says “Thompson’s lawsuit is completely without merit.
“The college insists it helps its graduates find jobs.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090803/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_jobless_grad_sues