Depending on the specific model, your car loses 1-2% fuel efficiency for every 100 pounds of extra weight in the car. That’s a surprising amount that can really add up.
Consumer Borrowing Surges in Late 2011 | AllBusiness.com
Consumers were confident enough at the end of 2011 to push borrowing levels up by $20.4 billion in November, the Federal Reserve reported late Monday.
Outstanding consumer credit rose to $2.48 trillion during that month, the Fed said. That was the highest level since November 2001, and it was more than twice the predictions of economists surveyed before the report was released.
The credit increase corresponded with healthier employment numbers; people are more likely to borrow if they believe they will have the wherewithal to pay the money back without serious penalty. So, it is likely that the December credit levels are higher than they have been for the past several years during the recession and slow recovery.
Is Increase Sustainable?
Still, the increase might not be sustainable, so small businesses shouldn’t adjust their sales forecasts just yet.
5 Reasons Why You Will Retire Broke and Unhappy | genxfinance.com
In a perfect world you will have enough money set aside so that come retirement day you have absolutely nothing to worry about. You’re free to carry out your plans without the added stress of wondering whether or not you’ll have enough money to pay the bills. Unfortunately, most people don’t have this luxury. Instead, they come to the realization that they can’t afford to retire and end up spending the later years in their life unhappy because they have to either keep working or simply don’t have enough money to do any of the things they had hoped. Here are five reasons most people will retire broke and unhappy.
‘Porn Stars Against Santorum’ Release Hilarious Inaugural Attack Ad, Endorse… Santorum? | Mediaite
They also make a series case for pornography having psychological value: “porn lets you visualize your fantasies so you don’t walk around like a tightly-wound, sexually repressed time bomb.”
Shale shocked: USGS links ‘remarkable increase’ in earthquakes to fracking | Grist
The study found that the frequency of earthquakes started rising in 2001 across a broad swath of the country between Alabama and Montana. In 2009, there were 50 earthquakes greater than magnitude-3.0, the abstract states, then 87 quakes in 2010. The 134 earthquakes in the zone last year is a sixfold increase over 20th century levels.
The surge in the last few years corresponds to a nationwide surge in shale drilling, which requires disposal of millions of gallons of wastewater for each well. According to the federal Energy Information Administration, shale gas production grew, on average, nearly 50 percent a year from 2006 to 2010.
Breaking News – Ronald McDonald Executed
HELSINKI – 04/05/12 – Ronald McDonald, beloved corporate shill and deep fried pitch man, was kidnapped by the Food Liberation Army while performing his marketing duties at a local McDonalds. When the terrorists demands were not met, they executed the pitchman, sending this photo of their dastardly deed.
Winning Your Own Lottery | Boaz Rauchwerger
Many years ago, I worked in radio and television news. A lot has changed in the broadcast news business in recent years.This past week, especially later in the week, the biggest story in the U.S. appeared to be the record $640 million up for grabs in the Mega Millions Lottery. Some people waited in line for up to 4 hours in order to buy tickets.
Even though the odds of winning the big prize were something like 170 million to 1, many people wanted to buy a chance because they thought about the dramatic changes they could make in their lives with instant wealth.
What if we could set up a process that, in time, could literally make it possible for all of us to win our own personal lottery?
Contrary to what I used to think, it’s not how much we make that makes the difference. It’s how much we keep.
Otherwise, how would you explain the story about a little old librarian in Vermont, who never earned a lot of money in any given year, who retires after 40 years with several hundred thousand dollars in her bank account?
Maybe she decided to keep some of the money she made every year.
So, what if each of us was willing to make a few changes that might make it possible to win our own personal lottery? What would it take to do that? Here are some options:
1. Live a little below our means and pay off all debts.
2. Stop charging and pay in cash. What’s wrong with saving for something instead of charging?
3. Save some money every day, even if we start with a dollar a day.
4. Prepare a sack lunch to take to work instead of buying lunch every day.
5. If possible, ride a bike to work. That’s great exercise and you’ll save the gas.
6. Make a list, for 30 days, of where every one of your dollars is going and look for ways to trim back unnecessary expenditures.
Implementing such ideas, I believe, will raise the odds on each of us ultimately winning our own personal lottery.
You are special. You are unique. You are destined for greatness! Have a powerful day!
A Personal-Lottery Affirmation
I keep more of what I make because I make good decisions with money.
Boaz Rauchwerger is a speaker, author, consultant and trainer. He is also a contributor to the Lifetime Network program,’ The Balancing Act’.www.boazpower.com
DHS Purchases 450 Million Hollow-point Bullets | WebProNews
…they put in for a “indefinite delivery” of an “indefinite quantity” of .40 caliber ammunition from defense contractor ATK.
Vermont inmates hide pig in official police car decal | Yahoo! News
Inmates working at a Vermont correctional unit’s print shop managed to sneak a prank image of a pig into a state police crest that is emblazoned on police cars, and 30 cruisers sported the design for the last year, officials said on Thursday.
Weekly Economic Update | LAEDC
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES:
- California Home Sales and Median Prices in February
- Leading Economic Indicator February Update
- International Economy
- Events of Interest
- March 28: UCLA Anderson Forecast: March 2012 Economic Outlook
- April 11: West Coast Manufacturing Conference
- April 27: LABC Sustainability Summit
- May 16: 2012 LAEDC International Trade Outlook
