Republican and Democratic congressional leaders are stepping up their war of words over a looming lame-duck session that is already being described as "chaos in Congress," as they gird for a marathon debate tackling everything from the debt ceiling to hundreds of billions of dollars in scheduled tax hikes. 

A top Obama campaign surrogate chastised the president's reelection team Sunday over its ad campaign attacking Mitt Romney's record at private equity firm Bain Capital. 

An Arizona sheriff has allegedly ignored a Pentagon rule, collecting millions of dollars’ worth of surplus military equipment that is intended for law-enforcement use and distributing some of the gear to non-police agencies.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office has asked the Arizona Republic several times to complete a story regarding our tremendous success with the program as we wanted to inform the public.  Each time the information was provided to the Arizona Republic they declined to write a story until today when this misleading story was posted. Here's is the Office's response:

The NATO alliance that has fought for a decade in Afghanistan is helping that nation shift toward stability and peace, but there will be "hard days ahead," President Obama said Sunday as alliance leaders insisted the fighting coalition will remain effective despite France's plans to yank combat troops out early. 

House Speaker John Boehner likened his restless Republican caucus to "frogs in a wheelbarrow," saying in an interview broadcast Sunday it's tough to keep them all in line on any given vote. 

House Speaker John Boehner on Sunday downplayed the supposed plan to resurrect Rev. Jeremiah Wright in an anti-Obama ad campaign, becoming the latest prominent Republican to knock down the proposal despite Democratic efforts to play it up. 

Rep. Paul Ryan, the House budget committee chairman who has emerged as a top Mitt Romney surrogate and is talked about as a possible running mate, countered the Obama campaign's fresh attack on Romney's record at Bain Capital by citing the government's failed gamble on solar panel firm Solyndra. 

Following a Rangel endorsement rally Saturday in East Harlem, the embattled congressman's campaign team made an unlikely confession to the New York Post -- they had strong-armed state Senator Bill Perkins for an endorsement. 

Thousands of protesters marched Sunday outside the NATO summit on Afghanistan, as authorities scrambled to intercept alleged plots against the Chicago gathering and investigate other disruptions. 

Plant a seed in the common ground between vegan and nonvegan:
common sense in common ground.

There’s a great interview in the Pheonix New Times with a woman named Natalie Morris. She really “gets it.” What I mean by “gets it” is that she understands the place where vegans and nonvegans share common ground. Take a look:

CB: So do you “flex” and eat meat when it’s organic or humanely raised?

NM: You could say that. I hate the label “flexitarian” or even “vegetarian” to be honest. I’m not either and don’t claim to be. I just don’t eat meat, or seafood for that matter. Most call me vegetarian because its easier for them but I have to specify; I WOULD eat meat if given the ideal opportunity. I’m not against it. For me, the ideal opportunity is having meat that I believe has been humanely raised, has not had any environmental impacts and hasn’t harmed any foodworkers in the process. But in today’s meat industry, that’s asking a lot, even of the smallest and most well-intentioned ranchers and fishermen who are tied down to the laws set forth by the USDA and other government organizations. Bottom line- I will eat meat but I want to see firsthand what’s happened on the farm, that’s just not going to happen most of the time and I’m not willing to take everyone at their word. Meat has too much of an impact on our eco-system to take these things lightly.

Personally, I would not eat animal flesh no matter how compassionately the animal was raised and slaughtered. But the fact is that many people would. And the fact is, many peole only eat animal products now because they believe that animal products are produced in ways that are not unreasonably cruel. They’re wrong about that; most animal products are the result of intense, horrific cruelty. People who eat animals need to be educated about where their meat, dairy, and eggs come from:

You can’t trust the labels because they often don’t actually address cruelty. Most food labels only indicate the conditions under which the animals are raised. They do NOT change how animals are transported or slaughtered. Moreover, these labels are often “volunteary” and are not enforced. The “organic” label is an exception and is regulated by the USDA, but that mostly refers to the animals’ feed and not actual humane treatment. Learn more at humanefacts.org/labels.htm.

The other day I was handing out Compassionate Choices leaflets on a college campus and someone asked me about “humane meat.” I told him it was admirable that he wanted to make kind choices, but I told him it’s very hard to ensure that there wasn’t animal cruelty or environmental damage that occured before he bought the meat at the grocery store or restaurant. I said to the man:

“I challenge you to find animal products that meet your standards of humane and eco-friendly. Please do the research yourself and visit the farms. Remember, if they won’t show you where your meat comes from, you can’t trust them if they say it’s humane, healthy, or eco-friendly.”

Then I reminded him that if he can’t or won’t visit the farms, the easiest way to avoid participating in farmed animal cruelty and CAFO environmental destruction is to choose to eat vegan foods instead of animal products.

It’s just common sense. If you care about animals and the environment, eat like you care.

—

Editor’s note: This above article was originally published in April of 2011. It has been republished with minor edits in order to expose the concept to a new audience.

Losing weight is something that is desired by majority of human beings. People try many ways to shed those culprit calories and achieve optimal weight. Of the many ways to lose weight, one stands out as by far the most healthful. Many weight loss plans give desired results as long as you are continuing them, and once you stop them, you are back to your original weight gain problem. Moreover, many weight loss diet plans do more harm than good. Hence, to achieve desired results of weight loss by safe and healthy means is the motto of many people. When you prepare your meals from a generous array of fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains, that is, by healthy vegan choices-weight loss is remarkably easy as well as healthy.

Healthy vegan recipes are perfectly suited for weight loss.

First of all, because of the lack of animal fats consumed which is rich in saturated fat. Saturated fat has been associated with many health issues such as heart diseases, cholesterol and obesity. While vegan food may also contain fat, but that fat is mono or poly-unsaturated fat and not harmful for the body. Weight loss by vegan diet not just helps you achieve optimal weight but also brings major improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar and other aspects of health. Hence, this approach is safe, effective, healthy and easy.

Vegan recipes comprise of adequate levels of soluble and insoluble fibre, which keeps you stomach full and maintains digestive health. Proteins from vegetarian sources such as legumes and soy products are low in fat and keep you satisfied for a longer time.

Take care of the following tips to prepare your vegan recipes that will help you in losing weight without compromising in calories:

1. Include plenty of juicy and pulpy fruits in your diet. Take variety of vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds and handful of nuts to make sure that you are getting sufficient nutrients without excessive calories.

2. Choose low-fat protein sources such as soy, beans and legumes.

3. Avoid taking packaged fruit and vegetable juices and instead prepare your fresh juices at home.

4. Incorporate healthy cooking methods such as boiling, grilling, roasting and steaming, which will keep the nutrients intact.

5. Decrease the intake of salad dressings that are rich in fat.

There are variety of vegan foods that add flavors and diversity to your weight loss vegan recipes.

You can try innovative ideas and different cooking technique to avoid eating monotonous and boring weight loss meals. Here, we will discuss healthy and tasteful vegan recipes:

Several people are under the impression that it is simple for people who live a vegan lifestyle to lose weight. In most situations, it is harder for a person who is a vegetarian to lose body fat than a person who is enduring a regular diet. There are several vegan weight loss tips that you can use as helpful guidelines to live by in order to lose weight.

The first step that you will need to take is to be aware of refined carbohydrates whith this Vegan Weight Loss Tips.

There are several vegan weight loss tips that recommend that you consume an adequate amount of carbohydrates. In most instances, carbohydrates are fine, but what matters are the type of carbohydrates that you consume. In this instance, you will want to try vegan diets that are high in wholegrain and fiber.

Learning to prepare and cook your food differently is yet another popular vegan weight loss tip that many people use to reach their target weight loss goal. In most situations, you will still be able to eat all of the foods that you are fond of, but you will have to prepare the foods differently or use different cooking agents, such as olive oil.

Other popular vegan weight loss tips suggest that you consume food in its natural state as much as possible.

Most food in its natural state will be extremely close to being raw. Foods in their natural state will be unprocessed and not be chemically altered in any way. You will be able to eat vegetables and raw fruits, but as far as beans and legumes are concerned, they will have to be cooked. In this instance, you may find that it’s easier to soak beans before you cook them, and it’s less expensive than purchasing a can of refried beans. Consuming moist beans is another option that you have, and you are able to eat these beans raw.

Eating nuts are another way that you can lose weight while enjoying a delicious treat. If you are allergic to nuts, you will definitely need to make sure that you avoid consuming any type of nut. Since nuts are extremely high in fat, you should portion the amount of nuts that you consume, but they make awesome snacks.

Aside from eating too many calories, you can also drink too many calories. This is one factor that you should keep in your mind at all times. Alcohol contributes to this issue a great deal, but there are other beverages that need to be taken into consideration. There are quite a few soy milk drinks that are flavored that are targeted at vegans and several vegetarian markets. Even though these drinks are formulated with vegetarians in mind, they contain high amounts of fat and sugar.

Another Vegan Weight Loss Tips that you should take into consideration is your sweet tooth intake.

Even though sweets are delicious and you may crave them from time to time, the best thing to do is to limit your intake of sweets as much as possible. An increase in sugar will cause your blood sugar to peak, and this is a situation that you should avoid at all costs. Read more about Vegan Weight Loss Tips here.

Today is Cinco de Mayo, a day on which the thoughts of many Mexicans in the USA turn to pride in their unique heritage, and an excellent day for all people in the United States to say ‘no’ to racism. Over the past few years, many American politicians have set a racist example in this country, targeting Hispanic peoples with hate-based new laws like Arizona’s infamous SB 1070 while media personalities have worked to develop a fear-based, negative attitude towards Mexican peoples in the public mind.

Today is a good day to conjure up your own worst mental picture of racism in history – be that Native American genocide, African-American Slavery or Jim Crow laws, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Holocaust of the 1940s, ethnic cleansing in 1990s Croatia or the modern day conditions of slavery that exist in Florida’s Tomatoland – and refuse to align yourself with the mentality that makes such atrocities possible. Our human capacity to love and learn invites us to higher things.

Frank Talk
I recently saw a bumper sticker on a California car which read:

“If you want to live in my country, learn to speak my language.”

I cringed at the lack of knowledge inherent in this 2″ x 8″ piece of propaganda, presumably leveled at Spanish speakers. Who has forgotten that Spanish was the language of power in this region, long before anyone came over the Sierras speaking English. Can it be that the racist bumper sticker manufacturer and unkind purchaser are ignorant of the fact that California was considered the property of Spain, then Mexico and then the Californios prior to war and American Statehood? Who, precisely, is surprised, then, that we hear Spanish being spoken in our neighborhoods? One could certainly argue that we should all be speaking Spanish here, as the French-Canadians do with their language in their corner of Canada, because of history and tradition.

But there were far older languages along the Pacific, and I think of them when I witness the melting-pot vision of so many Mexican faces in the streets of California towns and cities from south to north. How many Californians have heard a Pomo dialect spoken? How about Karuk, Cahuilla or Modoc? When you see the tan faces of your Mexican neighbors, remember that their warm hue most typically derives from their own Indigenous ancestry and that while you may never hear a Native Californian Indian speaking his own tongue because of the California Indian Genocide, when you encounter that person known as a ‘Mexican’, you are lucky enough to be seeing at least some type of Indigenous American walking on American soil. Think about that – if not for the insane greed of the Gold Rush, we would be seeing mostly brown-skinned, Indigenous neighbors in California. A pale complexion would be distinctly unusual.

And then there are the place names. I can’t help shaking my head at anti-Mexican sentiment in California – of all places! What towns did you visit today? San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, San Luis Obisbo, Santa Cruz. There goes El Camino Real past the car window, and San Ramon, and all of those housing developments named Alta Vista, Monte Vista and Vista Rio. Spanish, anyone? If you live in California, you are living in a Spanish language dictionary! Who, under such circumstances, can object to hearing Spanish spoken on radio stations and supermarket intercoms?

And then, there are the people themselves. No stereotyping allowed. There are individual Mexican people of every character, from outstanding to criminal, as is the case with every people in every part of the world since the dawn of man. What I have personally seen where I live is this – friendly, loving families who are trying to make good lives for themselves, just as I am doing.

I was privileged to work for some years long ago in an elementary school with a student base that was 95% Hispanic. The children there were some of the dearest and most memorably affectionate I have ever known. When I would take a walk around their schoolyard, they would run up to me and squabble over which one got to hold which of my hands. When I ran out of hands, the little ones would grab hold of an elbow or a jacket pocket, just to tag along companionably. When I visited their classrooms, they would cluster all around me, flinging their small arms around my neck, petting my head, hugging my shoes. I felt like a a tree playing host to a dozen baby koala bears! And I will never forget the unconditional friendship so freely offered by these little Mexican children, just because I was there…just because I was willing to be friends.

I remember, too, the Mexican mothers who volunteered in the school or were there for the free English language lessons being offered. Again, friendliness was all around. They tried out their English on me, and I worked hard at my Spanish. Most lastingly, I was impressed with the devotion to family I witnessed in these women. I remember how they carried their children around in their arms whenever they could, bestowing the kind of parental love I wish every child received.

So, when I hear racism on the lips of politicians, media workers and Americans, I think of the little koala bear tots and their affectionate mothers. I think of Mexican gentlemen who have held open doors for me with a respectful nod. I think of millions of pounds of food that are set on American tables every day through the work of Latino hands. I think of the opportunity to live in a bilingual culture, the opportunity to study one of the world’s finest cuisines, the opportunity to live side by side with many neighbors who have a deep spiritual and religious history, the opportunity to learn new things and meet new neighbors. And this is why I say no – no to racism.

I have room next door for Mexican neighbors. I don’t want to see any papers, any cards, any documents. I have room in my mind for two languages and more. I have room in my heart for more members of the human family. Welcome!

My Challenge
The next time you hear someone speaking ill of Mexicans (they are illegal, they are draining the healthcare system, they can’t speak English, they take our jobs, they don’t belong here), my challenge is to let the speaker know you don’t agree with race-based talk. Sure, there are political and financial issues to discuss, but let’s keep race out of this. Racism has fueled our ugliest acts. Let’s turn away from it, and look for good neighbors in the people who live beside us. In our world famous society of natives and immigrants, let us say ‘Welcome’.

It occurs to me that quitting a blog may be like suicide: some people require more than one attempt. In any case, I know I can accomplish a lot more for animals if I stop spending several hours each morning thinking and writing about stuff that distresses me.

I hope you’ll stay subscribed to this feed or join my special announcements email list. I’ve got a couple big projects underway and I’ll announce them here and on my email list the moment they’re released.

We were nearing the time for my semiannual donation drive. Obviously your donations won’t be funding my future blogging, but if you want to throw some money my way, you can do that knowing that nearly all my productive hours are being spent working on behalf of farmed animals. I took in barely more than $10,000 in reader donations last year, and this cash gave me a lot of freedom to take on a variety of work that I don’t see anyone else in the movement doing. I think I may be the best deal in town for people who want their dollars to accomplish as much for farmed animals as possible.

The work I do will continue and, with the cessation of my daily blogging, accelerate. The main project I’m working on right now is the most exciting and important thing I’ve ever done. It’ll fill a gigantic hole in the farmed animal protection movement’s offerings.

To be clear, I absolutely don’t want your donations if you’ve got credit card debt or other obligations that would make giving difficult.

If there’s one thing my past six months of blogging has made unarguable, it’s that we’re nearing a tipping point in the struggle against factory farming. I hope you’ll continue to follow my work. For the immediate future, any interesting stuff I want to share will be through Twitter. Factory farming’s days are numbered, and I hope we can work together to bring about its end.

I love you guys. The attention you’ve given my work means the world to me.

A dear reader and friend brought something to my attention this morning regarding an article published in the Chicago Tribune about Judge Judy and her sidekick Byrd. Actually the topic of the article is irrelevant,the article itself rather mundane, what is important here is the writer’s careless comment referring to the Judge as a “pit bull,” [...]

This video is a memorial tribute to the 100 sled dogs that were cruelly slaughtered in Whistler BC on April 21st and 23rd, 2010 after business slowed down and the dogs were no longer needed. The song is by Canadian singer songwriter Sarah McLachlan, a huge SPCA, WSPCA and ASPCA supporter.

Word has also come [...]

Do you get sick of hearing about people dumping pets because they’re going to have a baby? Well here you go, here’s a twist…

Looks a little different from this side of the issue, eh?

For the 100 sled dogs butchered in Whistler, we Howl again.  Our departed friends Howl along with us.  Listen to them.

Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.  ~Anne Sexton

Howl

100 Sled Dogs Slaughtered – The Investigation

100 Sled Dogs Slaughtered

Yesterday, April 20, 2012, criminal charges were [...]

After I stopped laughing I had to decide whether to post this or not. It’s hysterically funny when you really look at it. So I figured I’d post it with the disclaimer from No Kill Nation because they  about nailed it! 

“[I]t’s discussion of HSUS’s lobbing activities is a gross oversimplification. But the parts about [...]

Lorianne and Charlemagne. (Courtesty of Lorianne Pagano)

Lorianne Pagano never knew about puppy mills.  Her first experience with puppy mill dogs was the hardest.  In 2003, her husband purchased for her a little Brussels Griffon puppy from a pet store in Amityville, NY.   They were delighted with their new family member – they named [...]

The Supreme Court wraps up arguments Wednesday which could make or break the health care reform law. On the docket: an issue once dismissed by many analysts as trivial.

Creativity has taken center stage in recent years, with a slew of books, articles and TED talks extolling the virtues of imagination and exhorting young and old to go out and exercise their creative muscle.

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers questions on how the health care reform debate in the Supreme Court will affect you.

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers questions on how the health care reform debate in the Supreme Court will affect you.

The Supreme Court wraps up arguments Wednesday which could make or break the health care reform law. On the docket: an issue once dismissed by many analysts as trivial.

The Supreme Court wraps up arguments Wednesday which could make or break the health care reform law. On the docket: an issue once dismissed by many analysts as trivial.

Creativity has taken center stage in recent years, with a slew of books, articles and TED talks extolling the virtues of imagination and exhorting young and old to go out and exercise their creative muscle.

Congress’ Approval Rating Plummets, Especially Among Independents

Only 13 percent of the American public approves of how Congress is doing its job, according to a new Gallup poll. The low-water mark ties the all-time low set this past December, when Americans grew tired of the lame-duck Congress. Gallup has tracked the public’s feelings about Congress since 1974. Breaking down the current negative sentiment by political leaning, independents now have their lowest opinion of Congress on record — a new low of 9 percent approval, easily exceeding the previous low of 13 percent.

US, Mideast mediators criticize Israel

The United States and other Mideast mediators criticized Israel on Tuesday for a rush of new settlement building approvals, warning the Jewish state it won’t be able to shape a future peace agreement through unilateral construction in east Jerusalem or other lands claimed by Palestinians. The quartet of mediators said the housing units planned in the West Bank settlement of Ariel and east Jerusalem prompted a restatement of its position that “unilateral action by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community.”

Ruby Red Tape

The abstraction known as “regulation” is often invoked as a reason businesses aren’t growing or hiring fast enough, and with good reason. Anyone wondering what that means in practice should consult the epic saga of the Ruby pipeline. Last month the 682-mile Ruby started feeding liquefied natural gas from the Rocky Mountains to the growing West Coast markets. Stretching underground from Opal, Wyoming to gas interconnections near Malin, Oregon, the pipeline is one of those “infrastructure” projects that everyone in Washington claims to favor. Naturally, the regulatory state ensured that the $3.65 billion project came in 23% over budget and four months off schedule.

In the Midwest, Obama seeks his own economic help

Seeking some help from rural America, President Barack Obama on Tuesday implored Iowans to share ideas with him about how leaders can give an economic jolt to the nation’s heartland. He promised better days in a time of relentless joblessness, saying, “We’ll get through this moment of challenge.” The president pulled into this northeastern Iowa town with some modest announcements of federal support, include targeting loans to rural small businesses and recruitment of more doctors for small rural hospitals. But he seemed more intent on getting some guidance himself, and presenting himself as president who does not think Washington knows best.

Kristen Soltis: Rick Perry: National or Niche Candidate?

Since the entry of Texas Gov. Rick Perry into the Republican presidential field, there has been a great deal of airtime and ink dedicated to commenting on his viability in both the primary election and the general. When it comes to the primary, recent surveys have shown Perry doing well, coming in a close second behind Gov. Mitt Romney. As Perry’s name ID improves (nationally, he hovered around 56% before his announcement), he’s like to see a bump in those numbers.

Perry blasts Fed, Obama in noisy start to race

Texas Governor Rick Perry has only been a presidential candidate since Saturday, but the Republican hopeful has already produced some of the most inflammatory rhetoric of the early 2012 campaign. Perry seemed to threaten Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday, saying another fiscal stimulus would be “treasonous,” a sign of the political heat the central bank faces as it tries to right the stumbling economy. “If this guy prints more money between now and the election, I don’t know what y’all will do to him in Iowa, but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas,” Perry said, to laughter from supporters in Iowa, which will hold the first elections of the presidential campaign in February.

Gingrich says scrap super committee and extend payroll tax holiday

Scrap the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and focus on passing real reforms, GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich recommended Tuesday in Washington, D.C. In a speech at the Heritage Foundation today titled “A Better Approach to Deficit Reduction,” the former Speaker of the House lambasted the so-called super committee tasked with cutting the deficit by at least $1.5 trillion over 10 years. “This is a total disaster,” Gingrich said. “It’s a disaster in process, it’s a disaster in constitutional means, and it’s a disaster in solving our major problems.”

President continues bus tour in Iowa

Yesterday, the President began his three-state bus tour in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. There, he held a town hall event to discuss the Administration’s efforts to kick-start a faltering economy. The President reiterated what we’ve been saying for months – families across the country are working within budgets, why can’t Washington? President Obama remarked, “[W]e expect our political representatives to show the same level of responsibility that all of you show.  I don’t know most of you, but I can guess that you’re all working hard.

President kicks off bus tour in Minnesota

Today, the President kicks off his three-day bus tour of rural communities in Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. In a time when Americans are extremely disappointed by the way Washington has handled the most important economic issues facing the country, the tour gives the President an opportunity to explain to Americans what the White House is doing to encourage economic growth. The White House explains that the President “is traveling around the Midwest to stress the vital role rural America plays in ensuring the growth of our economy, the affordability of our food, the independence of our energy supply, and the strength of our communities.”

Guards under investigation for accepting baseballs

Security guards at the federal courthouse in Washington are under investigation for accepting baseballs autographed by star pitcher Roger Clemens after his criminal trial. The guards are not allowed to accept gifts from a criminal defendant. But the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement, first reported Tuesday by The Washington Post, that it appears up to six baseballs were given to a guard who distributed them to four or five colleagues.

President Obama Has a Huge Fan in Iowa Farm Country

During the rancorous budget deficit debate, President Barack Obama’s strategy was to position himself above the fray and be remembered for applying a guiding hand to the incorrigible children of Congress. The media dutifully played along, emphasizing the president vs. Congress scenario outlined by the president’s strategists. The end result was that cognitive-dissonance became the national policy with the creation of a “Super Congress,” which effectively assuaged all egos and put the $14.4 trillion debt problem on the shelf for another day.

Rick Perry Stirs Firestorm By Accusing Fed Chair Bernanke Of Near Treason

Texas Gov. Rick Perry only officially entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination Saturday and already by Tuesday he was raising plenty of eyebrows with his warning that he would consider it an act of treason if Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke took further extraordinary steps to boost the sagging economy. Perry made his controversial remarks Monday as he campaigned in Iowa. He was asked his opinion of the Federal Reserve.

Gang of 6 deficit effort gains momentum

Leaders of a bipartisan “Gang of Six” senators said Tuesday that they’ve reached agreement on a major plan to cut the deficit by more than $4 trillion over the coming decade in what could be a bold entry into a debate on the deficit long bogged-down by bitter partisanship. More than $1 trillion of the deficit cuts would come from tax increases reaped as Congress overhauls the loophole-choked U.S. tax code. It would also repeal a long-term health care program established under the last year’s health overhaul and force up to $500 billion in cuts from federal health care programs over the upcoming decade, according to documents provided to senators at a Tuesday morning meeting but not publicly released.

Obama to make statement on debt talks Tuesday

President Barack Obama will speak from the White House Tuesday afternoon about the status of negotiations to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. His remarks come as House Republicans move toward a vote on legislation that would raise the nation’s debt limit in exchange for trillions of dollars in federal spending cuts and congressional approval of a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. Democratic opposition means it has no chance of clearing the Senate, and even if it did, Obama has vowed a veto.

The Dangers of Being Wrong on Keynes

If you ask economists what went wrong during the Great Depression, you’ll often hear: “We hadn’t read Keynes yet.” That’s John Maynard Keynes, author of the “The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money.” After the crash, his description of economic crises — and how to get out of them — became so widely accepted that, in the 1960s, President Richard Nixon said, “We’re all Keynesians now.” Well, we’re not all Keynesians now. When you hear “Keynesian” today, it’s usually with “Obamacare” and “socialists.” It’s Republican shorthand not only for the economic theory that governed the Obama administration’s response to the crisis, but also for the general Democratic outlook.

NIH-Backed Study Examined Effects of Penis Size in Gay Community

The federal government helped fund a study that examined what effect a gay man’s penis size has on his sex life and general well-being. The study was among several backed by the National Institutes of Health that have come under scrutiny from a group claiming the agency is wasting valuable tax dollars at a time when the country is trying to control its debt. This particular research resulted in a 2009 report titled, “The Association Between Penis Size and Sexual Health Among Men Who Have Sex with Men.”

Perry Group Gears Up for Iowa Straw Poll

Rick Perry may not be ready to announce a presidential run just yet, but an advocacy group designed to bolster his increasingly likely candidacy isn’t waiting for him to make a decision: It is already laying the groundwork for him in the nation’s first voting state of Iowa. Americans for Rick Perry — a 527 group that is prohibited from having direct contact with the Texas governor — is set to open its headquarters in West Des Moines this week under a lease that will run through the Aug. 13 Ames Straw Poll.

FBI: Pakistani spies spent millions lobbying US

For years, the Pakistani spy agency funneled millions of dollars to a Washington non-profit group in a secret effort to influence Congress and the White House, the Justice Department said Tuesday in court documents that are certain to complicate already strained relations between the U.S. and Pakistan. FBI agents arrested Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, the executive director of the Kashmiri American Council, on Tuesday morning and charged him with being an unregistered agent of a foreign government. Under the supervision of a senior member of Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, Fai worked to influence Congress and develop contacts at the White House and State Department, prosecutors said.

Kucinich eyes Washington for new House seat

Rep. Dennis Kucinich has been shopping around for a new congressional district as it appears increasingly likely that he will be drawn out of his Ohio district. And he may have found a new one — in a state thousands of miles away. The two-time Democratic presidential candidate with a progressive following has visited Washington state for several political events in recent months, including a recent appearance at a Seattle conference for progressive activists where his call to bring home U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan won applause.

Boehner considers alternatives to GOP debt plan

House Speaker John Boehner says he is considering alternative budget plans even as the House takes up a GOP proposal to cap spending and eventually require a balanced budget. Speaking at a Tuesday press conference, Boehner said his preference is to pass the House GOP plan, which would increase the government’s ability to borrow but only after Congress passes a balanced budget constitutional amendment. The House is scheduled to vote on the plan Tuesday. But, Boehner said, “I do think it’s responsible for us to look at what Plan B would look like.”

Fitch becomes third to warn of credit downgrade

As Congressional negotiators work on a deal to increase the statutory debt limit and reduce the deficit, the stakes continue to get higher. Yesterday, the Fitch credit ratings agency became the third to warn it could downgrade the nation’s debt rating if an agreement isn’t reached in a timely manner. Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s have already raised similar red flags. The Hill reports: FitchRatings said it still expects Congress and the administration to strike a deal to boost the $14.3 trillion debt limit before the Treasury Department’s Aug. 2 deadline, but fleshed out what would happen to the nation’s top credit rating if a deal fell through.

In Debt Crisis, a Legislative Trick Up the Sleeve

With Republicans and Democrats still deeply divided over how to shrink the budget deficit and the national debt, the only way for them to avoid a financial crisis at this late date may be to perform a legislative magic trick. The idea, conjured by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, would allow Republicans to accede to an increase in the government’s debt limit without actually voting for it or giving in to President Obama’s demand for tax increases as part of any deal. It would give the White House a way out of the box that it is in and avert a potential deeper blow to the economy.

US vows counterterrorism support for India

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday pledged robust counterterrorism cooperation with India while assuring Indian officials that the Obama administration won’t ease pressure on Pakistan to combat extremists or allow the Taliban to regain power in Afghanistan with a precipitous withdrawal of American troops. While hailing improved U.S.-Indian ties, Clinton also called on New Delhi to ease trade restrictions keeping American firms out of India’s massive market and urged the government to quickly resolve a dispute over investments in the nuclear energy.

Gang of 6 deficit effort gains momentum

Leaders of a bipartisan “Gang of Six” senators said Tuesday that they’ve reached agreement on a major plan to cut the deficit by more than $4 trillion over the coming decade in what could be a bold entry into a debate on the deficit long bogged-down by bitter partisanship. More than $1 trillion of the deficit cuts would come from tax increases reaped as Congress overhauls the loophole-choked U.S. tax code. It would also repeal a long-term health care program established under the last year’s health overhaul and force up to $500 billion in cuts from federal health care programs over the upcoming decade, according to documents provided to senators at a Tuesday morning meeting but not publicly released.

When the fiscal meltdown took place in the United States, many inhabitants began paying more focus on cash advances. Texas is one of various states that have payday lending corporations and many people today here have become interested in case a same day cash advance is really for them. If you’re in financial difficulty and you think this really is the solution to it, listed below are some inquiries to ask yourself before going for it.

Can I repay it in the specified period?

Paying in due time is an important concern when you want to acquire a cash advance. Texas money advance agencies usually require payments in two weeks time or in 30 days with respect to the service issuing the said personal loan. For example, in case you borrowed $100 today, then you’d be looking at paying for this amount back plus interest in 14 days time, which is the typical loan timeframe. In most cases, applying for a thirty-day payday advance is likewise probable however you need to make payment for it back in the payment date offered.

Questioning yourself if you possibly could cover the obligation on a stipulated day is a big must. Many same day cash advance corporation may charge higher interests on delayed repayments made. Some may not even recognize missed repayments and would expect you to continue the borrowed funds if you’re likely to be late in paying it. A renewed loan implies more interest so it’s wise to remember this.

Do I need to take a loan via a same day cash advance company?

Funding from an enterprise consists of instantaneous legal specifications to pay therefore, the difficulty can actually mount. Several finance specialits suggest that when you can obtain a loan from other options for example a partner, a family member, or an associate, then do this as a first option.Applying for a loan coming from a same day cash advance corporation will need payments on a given time unlike borrowing money from relatives.

Individuals who trouble with coping with monetary resource must evaluate the said choices first so they won’t get in further financial woes. Imagine that unlike your friends or associates who can or will wait for payment, the lending companies may not be as sympathetic since this is a business. Loss in income like this case may cause them financial troubles that can lead to their closures.

Do I really know what I need to know about it?

Knowing all you could about the same day cash advance is important since this serves as your reference in the loan process. This lets you know your legal responsibilities to the company after you applied and got the loan. This also serves as your protection against any mistakes that could affect your loan and financial standing.

If you’ve just lately come across this type of loan, then it’s wise to take extreme caution. Being aware of which companies practice business as stated by Texas laws and offer suitable interest levels should be your first key concern. These lenders are the ones that can possibly offer you genuine help whenever you’re in dire need for financial assistance.

The mentioned questions and answers here are there to serve as a basic guide in a cash advance. Texas locals who wish to learn more should really commence getting acquainted with more about the subject for their own good. Getting the right information should help them decide on their requirements better and if a cash advance is the critical solution for it.

Visit Credit-Concern.com for more advice on how to get payment direct cash advances. Credit-Concern is a financial management agency that helps clients get the best deals in their financial transactions.

. . .

Article originally written by Michael Hughes

How I Helped Mark Cuban Make a Billion Dollars and 5 Things I Learned from Him

Mark Cuban’s company, AudioNet (later named Broadcast.com), called me up in 1997 because they desperately needed my help in order for Cuban to become the billionaire he rightfully became.  They wined me, dined me, called me up every day, until finally I granted them their wish. I don’t follow every aspect of Mark Cuban’s career. So I’m only going to discuss my own brief interactions with the periphery of his business life to explain what I’ve learned from him. Suffice to say, he’s enormously successful. He had a company Broadcast.com which he sold to Yahoo. And then Mark Cuban sold all his shares at the very top, walking away with billions, which he’s probably turned into a billion or so more.

The Puppy Black Market

Buying and selling dogs is illegal in Iran – dogs are considered “haram,” or unclean, in Islam. Until recently, keeping dogs as pets was limited to a small circle of Westernized Iranians. But access to satellite television—and American programs depicting families playing with pups—has turned dog ownership into a sign of social status in Iran. Vendors charge the equivalent of up to $10,000 for top dogs and operate so covertly that some blindfold potential buyers en route to the kennel. “It was crazy,” says Ali Shekouri, a 32-year-old businessman who pursued three dicey strategies before obtaining a local beagle. “After a while I didn’t know if I was buying a dog or dealing in an international drug trade.”

A President Who Ignores the Law

If you break the law in America, there is a good chance you will be caught and punished.  Isn’t it odd that the highest office-holder in the land, President Barack Obama can ignore the law and have it go largely unnoticed and unpunished? What do I mean? I mean the law that was passed in 2003 called the Medicare Reform Act.  It contains a provision that if Medicare’s trustees forecast that general revenues will be required for 45% or more of the program’s payouts within a 7-year period, then the president must propose legislation to correct the problem within 15 days of his next budget submission.

UK bank shares tumble as fears grow over debt problems in Europe and the US

The shares of Britain’s biggest banks saw a major sell-off today as investors fled at the prospect of a two-pronged debt crisis in the eurozone and the U.S. Bank stress test results that took place after markets closed on Friday have failed to quell concerns about possible sovereign debt defaults in Europe. Meanwhile, bitterly divided U.S. politicians remain at loggerheads about how to tackle the country’s mammoth deficit. The FTSE 100 slumped 90.85 points to 5,752.81, while Germany’s Xetra DAX is down 12.2, or 1.5 per cent, at 7,107 and France’s CAC 40 tumbled 75.88, or two per cent, at 3,650.71.

New York Is Priciest U.S. State for Mortgage Closing Costs, Bankrate Says

New York leads the U.S. as the most expensive state for mortgage closing costs, with average fees to buy a home rising 10 percent from last year, Bankrate Inc. said. Origination and title costs on a $200,000 mortgage in New York average $6,183, compared with $5,623 in 2010, according to an annual survey released by Bankrate today. Nationwide, closing costs on the same-sized loan average $4,070, up 8.8 percent from a year ago, the North Palm Beach, Florida-based company said. The rise in closing costs follows stricter bank lending and regulations imposed after the housing crisis, said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.

HSBC alerts U.S. clients to offshore tax evasion probe

A major bank at the center of an expanded federal crackdown on wealthy Americans suspected of offshore tax evasion has told Indian-American clients to “be aware” of the IRS’ offer of lower penalties for those who voluntarily disclose secret overseas assets they hold. HSBC’s former head of services for Indians living outside their homeland recently wrote to the clients confirming that the London-based banking giant had received an IRS summons seeking the names of Americans who hold accounts at the bank.

Debt Negotiations: The $4 Trillion Question

If you’re like me and almost everyone else, these numbers are numbing. I don’t have a CLUE what $4 trillion is – it’s just too big. As a point of personal privilege, I wanted to offer a bit of perspective on the relative size of the $4 trillion GRAND DEAL that is apparently too much for our government to swallow over the course of the next decade. What would the Grand Deal mean – in percentage terms – compared to what Uncle Sam is expected to spend during the next decade? The $4 trillion that was the focus of early debt deal negotiations represents about 8.7 percent of the federal government’s total projected spending between 2012 and 2021.

We’re up 100%… Does the Bull Market Have to End Now? Absolutely Not!

It might be one of the boldest things I’ve ever written. In the April 2009 issue of True Wealth, I wrote. I am extremely bullish on stocks, starting now. I believe the entire stock market could rise by 50% from its lows last week over the next 18 months. And the next seven to 10 years could be phenomenal. Predicting a 50% gain in the stock market was a foolish thing to do. The stock market never rises that much, that quickly. You have to keep in mind, March 2009 was the stock market’s bottom. Despair was thick in the air. I might have been the most bullish investor out there at the time.

Pink Underwear and Other Lessons for the College-Bound

NEXT month, many parents will drop off their children at college, laden with newly bought sheets, lamps and hampers. They’re as ready as they’ll ever be to start their new lives. That is, until the next phone call or text asking why the clothes came out of the dryer an odd shade of pink. Or why is the microwave buzzing in that weird way? Or, even more scary: what exactly does the car insurance cover? I’m a few years away from seeing my firstborn off, but in the downtime between worrying about SATs and G.P.A.’s I may as well arm my son with the skills he needs to venture out on his own.

Amazon takes the low road

Greed, we are told by the moral philosophers, brings out the worst in human beings. As Amazon.com is about to prove, the same rule applies to big corporations. Last week, the giant online retailer announced that it was backing a ballot referendum to overturn a new state law mandating that it collect the sales tax due on purchases by its California customers. That law, which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown at the end of June, was designed to eliminate the price advantage enjoyed by Amazon, and many other online retailers, over brick-and-mortar stores.

Last Week’s Biggest Head Scratchers: Netflix’s Nutty Hikes, IPO Pillow Talk, Google Rocks

Last week, video buffet provider Netflix (NFLX) surprised investors and couch potatoes alike with its move to split its flagship DVD plans from its streaming service. Come September, those who want to take advantage of both optical discs by mail and a more slender streaming selection will have to pay as much as 60% more to keep the two plans going. The move divided analysts, though the bulls seemed to gain the upper hand, given the new all-time highs the company hit last week. Still, if the old Netflix model wasn’t broken, why fix it?

Ford CEO sees good outlook for U.S., hot prospects abroad

Ford Motor CEO Alan Mulally predicts a comeback for the U.S. economy, but the booming demand in emerging markets overseas is why he’s hiring thousands of U.S. workers to ramp up production. Mulally calls manufacturing the foundation of the economy and job growth, and says tax reform and new trade policies would encourage other U.S. companies to build factories here to meet the demand abroad. Below is my conversation with the man who left the cockpit at one American manufacturing icon (Boeing) for the driver’s seat at another: Ford. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Minnesota government shutdown: Not over yet

Four days after Minnesota leaders said they reached a budget deal, the state government remains shut down. Though leaders said last Thursday that they hoped to swiftly end the longest state shutdown in recent history, they are still hammering out the details of the agreement. Several Republican lawmakers are balking at some of the deal’s provisions, according to local press reports. On Sunday evening, Governor Mark Dayton and the Republican legislative leaders issued a joint statement saying that state officials worked around the clock for three days. But it did not set a date when Dayton would call lawmakers to the Capitol to vote on a deal.

Cash In and Save Big Money When You Shop at Gov’t Auctions

When the Feds seize property from convicted criminals and sell it off, can you bag a bargain? The answer is yes! You can get some great deals at government auctions. It’s like the revenge of the law-abiding citizen. But bidder beware, because you can also catch auction fever and overpay. “Good Morning America” visited a recent government auction in Florida, where the feds were selling off the belongings of notorious Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein. Rothstein persuaded investors to pour $1.2 billion into his illegal Ponzi scheme. Now, the government is selling off Rothstein’s baubles and belongings to raise money for his victims.

Stocks take a dive; gold tops $1,600

As the Dow slumps, gold closes above $1,600 for the first time, and silver jumps 3.3%. Worries build about European banks and US budget battles. Apple hits a new high; Bank of America hits a 52-week low. IBM reports after the close. Traders came back from the weekend and hated what they saw from Europe and from budget negotiations in the United States. So they sold everything — except gold (-GC), silver (-SI) and Treasury securities. Gold topped $1,600 an ounce for the first time today, silver topped $40 an ounce for the first time since early May. And the Standard & & Poor’s 500 Index ($INX) dropped below 1,300 for the first time since June 28. But bargain hunting and short-covering were trimming the losses this afternoon.

JP Morgan, Goldman, Treasuries & Default

A commenter to one of my recent posts, pointed out, with approval, that support for a mult-trillion dollar debt ceiling extension has been voiced by both Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve and Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase.  The commenter viewed their support as being definitive and I do not.  However, I do support an extension of the debt ceiling.  It is just that I am suspicious of the motives of either luminary — Bernanke or Dimon. After all, Bernanke is the architect of Federal Reserve much-maligned quantitative easing I and II.  He has presided over an enormous expansion of the Fed’s balance sheet which holds over $1.6 trillion in Treasury securities.

U.S. Stocks Pare More Losses

Stocks continued to work off losses in late trading Monday. The NYSE composite was down 1.4%, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 were down 1.2% each. Volume was again tracking softer across the board. Checkpoint Software (CHKP) gapped up and rallied 6% to a 10-year high. Before the open, the company reported Q2 earnings of 68 cents a share, topping views for 66 cents. The company also boosted its full-year outlook for profit and revenue. Checkpoint found support at its 10-week line last week. Gulfport Energy (GPOR) rose 5% in heavy trading and cleared a low handle. The oil producer ignored a near-2% slide in crude oil prices. Gulfport also cleared a low handle.

Cramer Trades IBM Ahead of Earnings

Earnings season will pick up a pace on Monday, but Cramer plans monitor one company’s quarterly numbers in particular after the closing bell: IBM. “Big Blue” will deliver its earnings results Monday evening. The technology stock remains cheap on targets the company set for itself, the “Mad Money” host said. He is so confidant the company will meet its targets, he recommends buying shares Monday. If IBM does report strong earnings and yet the stock gets hit because of Europe’s debt troubles or otherwise, Cramer would still buy more shares. He doesn’t think the market will take the quarter in the proper way, even though it’s likely to show strong results.

Airline shares fall as investors expect fall slowdown

Shares of major U.S. airlines fell to one-year lows on Monday on uncertainty over the economy and expectations that travel will slow down in the fall. “Some of the big airlines are trading close to recessionary levels,” said Ray Neidl, a senior aerospace sector specialist with Maxim Group. “The market does look three or four months ahead to the slow fall season.” Among major airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N), Southwest Airlines, AMR Corp’s (AMR.N) American Airlines and US Airways Group (LCC.N) hit 52-week lows. Industry leader United Continental Holdings (UAL.N) was down 3.8 percent at $20.06, and the Arca airline index .XAL was down 4.7 percent.

Fan who returned Jeter’s ball needs conference at the mound with financial adviser

Advisers, Christian Lopez could stand a little coaching. The 23-year-old fan who went to Yankee Stadium on July 9 hoping to see New York shortstop Derek Jeter get his 3,000th base hit — and winding up catching that ball and returning it — has some tough decisions to make. His much-reported sacrifice — giving up a sports collectible worth as much as $250,000 on the open market — was a hit with an increasingly jaded public and has made an instant celebrity of Mr. Lopez. It’s also turned his financial life upside down. Initially, the problem was the amount of taxes Mr. Lopez would have to pay on $70,000 in gifts and memorabilia the Yankees gave Mr. Lopez as a reward for his good deed.

Debt ceiling discussions inch forward

As the August 2nd deadline for raising the debt ceiling looms, Congress continues to ratchet up the rhetoric. Frustratingly, most lawmakers agree that the limit needs to be raised, but what it should be coupled with has emerged as the major sticking point to a deal. If the U.S. doesn’t raise the debt ceiling by the deadline, the federal government will be legally unable to borrow any more money to cover its financial obligations. This poses a significant threat to the stability of the nation’s economy and our already fragile recovery.

SEC’s lease of unneeded office space subject of second hearing

House lawmakers are expected on Wednesday to grill federal regulators over a decision by the Securities and Exchange Commission to spend more than $550 million to rent office space it didn’t need. SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro and David Kotz, the SEC’s inspector general, who released a scathing report in May over the deal to lease 900,000 square feet of space before having the necessary funding in hand, will testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, the second hearing in less than a month on the matter.

GOP to recruit Hispanic statehouse candidates

Republicans hope to recruit 100 Hispanic candidates for legislative seats across the nation in 2012, looking to rebuild its bench of GOP officeholders. The Republican State Leadership Committee, a group that works to elect Republicans to statewide and legislative offices, said Monday it intends to spend at least $3 million in hopes of sending more Republican Hispanic leaders to statehouses while making inroads with women voters and voters under age 30. Hispanics accounted for more than half of the U.S. population increase over the last decade and Republicans said the demographic trends would have a major influence on the political landscape over the next decade.

Debt ceiling discussions inch forward

As the August 2nd deadline for raising the debt ceiling looms, Congress continues to ratchet up the rhetoric. Frustratingly, most lawmakers agree that the limit needs to be raised, but what it should be coupled with has emerged as the major sticking point to a deal. If the U.S. doesn’t raise the debt ceiling by the deadline, the federal government will be legally unable to borrow any more money to cover its financial obligations. This poses a significant threat to the stability of the nation’s economy and our already fragile recovery.

Senate to meet every day until debt hike passes

The leader of the Senate says the chamber will meet every day — including weekends — until Congress sends President Barack Obama legislation to make sure the government doesn’t default on its obligations. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said there’s no more important task than ensuring the U.S. pays its obligations, including Social Security checks. Congress faces an Aug. 2 deadline to raise the debt limit to avoid a market-rattling, first-ever default on U.S. obligations. “The Senate has no more important task than making sure the United States does not fail to pay our bills,” Reid said in a statement.

Obama May Be Hoover Instead of FDR

The disappointing employment report made public on July 8 provided fresh evidence that economic growth is slowing and the state of the economy will be the central issue in next year’s presidential election. As if in anticipation of the jobs report, David Plouffe, senior political adviser to President Obama, said shortly before the bad news was released, “The average American does not view the economy through the prism of GDP or unemployment rates or even monthly jobs numbers. People won’t vote based on the unemployment rate; they’re going to vote based on: How do I feel about my own situation? Do I believe the president makes decisions based on me and my family?”

Boehner, Cantor back at table with Obama

President Barack Obama and the two top House Republican leaders held an unannounced meeting at the White House Sunday, trying to get debt talks back on track with just two weeks left before the threat of default. Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor were both part of the discussions which come even as the House GOP has scheduled floor votes Tuesday on a newly revised debt ceiling bill that is remarkable for its total absence of compromise at this late date and represents a real shift to the right.

A debt ceiling recap

The debt ceiling debate is nearing its climax. After weeks of tense negotiations, we’re quickly nearing the August 2nd deadline. If an agreement isn’t reached by then, the U.S. loses its ability to borrow more money to cover its financial obligations. With all the twists and turns of the talks, it’s difficult for anybody to keep up with the latest developments. To do our part, we’ve created a series of products to break down the most impactful aspects of the debate. Today, we’re recapping these products to provide a refresher on the debt ceiling debate fundamentals.

Murdoch’s Empire in Crisis

On July 19, Rupert Murdoch is scheduled to sit before a U.K. parliamentary committee investigating the phone hacking and corruption scandal engulfing his media empire. For Americans the setting may be exotic, but the structure of the drama will feel familiar. An executive stares down grandstanding legislators and makes a choice: a tight-lipped defense of conduct or an apology for prior sins. Murdoch—the Oxford-educated son of an Australian newspaper man—did not forge himself into the chief executive officer of the 21st century’s dominant global media empire by issuing apologies. This time he might want to make an exception.

General Petraeus’ Next Battle

The young man peered into a basement office at the White House, where a pair of military officers sat talking. “Does anyone know where General Petraeus is?” he asked. “I’m right here,” the general answered, raising his hand. “They want you in the Oval, sir,” the aide said. This was June 2010, and Gen. David Petraeus was in charge of Central Command, one of the supreme jobs in the U.S. armed forces. But that was about to change. Minutes before, the president had fired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the commander in Afghanistan.

Senate to meet every day until debt hike passes

The leader of the Senate says the chamber will meet every day — including weekends — until Congress sends President Barack Obama legislation to make sure the government doesn’t default on its obligations. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said there’s no more important task than ensuring the U.S. pays its obligations, including Social Security checks. Congress faces an Aug. 2 deadline to raise the debt limit to avoid a market-rattling, first-ever default on U.S. obligations. “The Senate has no more important task than making sure the United States does not fail to pay our bills,” Reid said in a statement.

Obama threatens to veto ‘cut, cap and balance’

The Obama administration says President Barack Obama would veto the “cut, cap and balance” plan proposed by tea party-backed House Republicans if it lands on his desk. In a statement, the Office of Management and Budget says that setting arbitrary spending levels and a balanced budget amendment are not necessary in order to achieve financial stability. The so-called “cut, cap and balance” plan is favored by some Republican freshmen in the House. It would allow the government to borrow an additional $2.4 trillion, but only after big and immediate spending cuts and adoption by Congress of a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget.

To improve your credit score can seem like an impossible task. The scoring model seems to factor in tons of information and makes it seem as if you have no control over your score.

Well they are wrong. No matter how bad your credit score is you can take a couple easy steps and improve it.

1.  Disputing and removing bad credit items on your report. You can do this yourself or hire a service but it will help your score the most.

2.  Pay off any verified bad credit item on your report. In exchange for your payment have the lender remove the item from your credit report.

3.  Pay your bills on time. It is estimated that missing a payment can damage a good score by up to 50 points.

4.  Open a new line of credit. Your score will receive the most benefit if you have a revolving line of credit. We suggest an unsecured credit card.

This will also help you build a positive payment history by paying your monthly bill. However if you can not qualify for an unsecured credit card then open a secured card, but make sure it reports to all 3 bureaus.

Your score will get a bump if you can keep your balance at approximately 10% of your credit limit. This shows that you do use your credit and that you use it responsibly.

5. Pay down you large debts. This will help your ratio of available credit to debt. The bureaus want to see that you are not in over your head and the best way to show this to them is by having available credit.

These are the five factors you should focus your efforts on. There is however one last factor that is surrounded by controversy.

6. Piggyback credit, this is where you become an authorized user on a high credit limit credit card. The benefit is this account is now reported on your credit report and adding a tremendous boost.

This tactic has been widely abused and the scoring model has adjusted its formula to discount authorized users. However there is a debate over if this change has occurred yet or not.

In sum, focus on steps one through five and you are on your way to a 700 credit score. You don’t have to live with bad credit you can increase your score and your quality of life.

Visit Credit-Concern.com for more advice on how to get a loan even with a low credit score and how to use it to repair your credit history. Credit-Concern is a financial management agency that helps clients through their financial problems by offering bad credit loans and other services for improving credit score.

Consumer Confidential: Freeway fun, airline fees, Barbie boosts Mattel

It’s “Carmageddon” day in Los Angeles as the city braces for closure of a section of the 405. But a number of businesses are seeing opportunity amid crisis. The freeway-adjacent Sherman Oaks Galleria, for example, is holding an “I Survived Carmageddon Weekend Celebration” for shoppers brave enough to make it to the mall. Restaurants at the Galleria are offering two-for-one drinks promotions, free food samples and other incentives to lure neighborhood customers who may otherwise have been scared off the roads. Two movie theaters near the freeway will also reward customers with free popcorn.

Documents you need before you die

Your family members will need to know how to handle your affairs after your passing. To do so, they’ll need essential documents that you’ve prepared for them. It isn’t enough simply to sign a bunch of papers establishing an estate plan and other end-of-life instructions. You also have to make your heirs aware of them and leave the documents where they can find them. Consider: At least 10 states have been investigating whether some of the country’s largest insurers are failing to pay out unclaimed life policies to beneficiaries. California and Florida have held public hearings on the issue recently.

Obama: I’ll Veto Any Bank Regulator Budget Cuts

President Obama’s administration warned on Wednesday that it will recommend the president veto any budget that strips funding from federal bank regulators like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. As the budget fight escalates and Republicans tangle with the president on ways to trim billions from the federal budget to prevent the government from defaulting on its debt, the administration’s letter indicating that some cuts are off limits came like a shot across the bow to House Republicans. Cutting such important agencies “undermines core government functions, investments key to economic growth and job creation, as well as national security,” according to the four-page letter.

Proposal to Protect Children’s Identities Sparks Debate Among Privacy Advocates

This week I had the opportunity to attend a fascinating forum in Washington, DC, to explore the myriad issues surrounding child identity theft, including foster care identity theft (a particularly cruel malady foisted upon children who already begin life behind the eight ball) and identity theft within families. The event was sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission and the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, and was attended by victims, businesses and representatives from federal and state governments, law enforcement, educational institutions, consumer advocates and legal service providers.

How to Get Your Boss Fired

It’s one thing if your boss doesn’t deserve you. It’s another thing if you and your coworkers don’t deserve your boss. Getting rid of a poor-performing overling isn’t easy, but start here:

Document, document, document. If you have a host of complaints about your manager, document them—not just as a list of faults but as a list of examples. So you don’t write “Manager is rude.”

Talk directly to HR. Don’t rely on an aggrieved coworker to relay information. And don’t assume the HR person will come to you if she wants to hear your side.

Make sure you are direct and clear. People tend to downplay the problem when asked directly. So when you go to the HR person, say clearly, “This is not about a conflict between the boss and Tanya.”

Be prepared for nothing to change. The manager’s manager isn’t taking care of the problem. If she acknowledges that this manager is an idiot, she has to acknowledge that she made a poor hiring decision. People don’t like to admit their faults, so they tend to ignore this type of problem as long as possible.

5 cities where home prices will rise this year

Despite recent price improvements nationally, only five markets in the country are expected to see home-price gains for the remainder of 2011: Washington, New York, Orlando, Dallas and San Francisco. That’s right, Orlando, Fla., where prices have fallen 63% from their peak. This is according to Clear Capital’s home data index forecast, released Friday. The company provides real-estate valuation and risk assessment information for financial institutions. Granted, prices are expected to be up only 0.7% through the remainder of the year in Orlando, said Alex Villacorta, director of research and analytics for Clear Capital.

Seeking Investment Flexibility In a 401(k)

In a perfect world, we could buy whatever investments we wanted for our 401(k) or similar workplace retirement account. But instead, most of us get a menu of mutual funds that our employer has chosen for us. Many of the people who decide what goes into their colleagues’ plan do a great job. Others, however well-meaning they may be, end up selecting expensive, mediocre investments. Over the last couple of months, I’ve outlined the case for putting low-cost index funds in workplace retirement plans and chronicled one man’s epic, decade-long quest to improve his small company’s investment lineup.

Americans Digging Out of Their Debt Dilemmas

Michael Busick, a Charlotte, N.C., math teacher, says his credit union “was shocked” to discover his credit score was 812 of a possible 850 when he applied for a $19,500 new-car loan. The loan officer told him he rarely saw scores so close to perfect, says Busick, 33, who added he pays bills on time and doesn’t overextend. He got the loan. The average U.S. credit score — a predictor of the likelihood lenders will be paid back — rose to 696 in May, the highest in at least four years, according to credit reporting bureau Equifax. Delinquencies on consumer loans have dropped 30 percent in two years, according to Federal Reserve data.

Can you invest in Groupon before it sells shares in an IPO?

Groupon is an online coupon service that tempts consumers to buy things. But investors are already tempted to buy the company itself. Groupon filed to sell shares to the public, in an initial public offering, in June 2011. Filing a preliminary prospectus for investors is an important first step to selling shares. The document describes the company’s business, risks and opportunities. However, as another reader asked about, just because a company files for an IPO doesn’t mean the shares are available anytime soon. It’s just the first step. The company will need to get approval from regulators, meet with investors and conduct other business before it can actually sell shares and start trading.

Yet Another Reason for Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Ticketmaster this week blamed a”processing error” for twice-charging buyers for tickets to the 2012 Olympic games in London. Approximately 700 sports fans were affected by this unfortunate computerglitch. The error came to light as ticketholders began to notice discrepancies in their bank accounts. A spokesman for Ticketmaster has apologized for the unfortunate incident and asserted that the second charges were refunded as soon as the error was reported. Unfortunately, problems such as this do occur. More often than not, they are due to some computer malfunction, or some number cruncher running the same program twice, but always they are scary to the cardholder.

Google, deal talk mask market stresses

The Dow struggles to a 43-point gain. Energy shares jump on BHP’s bid for Petrohawk Energy. Wall Street cheers Google’s earnings. But the US debt ceiling fight and weak economic reports hold the market back. If you’re a bull, there were two stories to cheer about today: Google (GOOG) and deals. The rest of the stock market wasn’t much to write home about. Google’s blowout earnings sent its shares up 13% to $597.62 today and were responsible for more than half of the Nasdaq-100 Index’s ($NDX.X) gain.

Debt Negotiations: The $4 Trillion Question

If you’re like me and almost everyone else, these numbers are numbing. I don’t have a CLUE what $4 trillion is – it’s just too big. As a point of personal privilege, I wanted to offer a bit of perspective on the relative size of the $4 trillion GRAND DEAL that is apparently too much for our government to swallow over the course of the next decade. What would the Grand Deal mean – in percentage terms – compared to what Uncle Sam is expected to spend during the next decade? The $4 trillion that was the focus of early debt deal negotiations represents about 8.7 percent of the federal government’s total projected spending between 2012 and 2021. The Office of Management and Budget says Uncle Sam will spend $46 trillion in the next decade.

Google scores a plus as investors toast results

Shares of Google Inc (GOOG.O) surged 14 percent on Friday, a day after blockbuster results and early signs of success in newer initiatives revived hopes that the Internet giant is getting back on the growth track. The shares shot up to $600.25, climbing back to pre-2011 levels on Nasdaq. If the gain stands by the end of Friday, it would mark the biggest single-day gain for Google shares since October of 2008. “We are witnessing signs of increased competitive advantage for Google, particularly in Display and Local, with Search showing no signs of slowing,” Evercore analyst Ken Sena said.

U.S. Stocks Rise Friday, But Drop For The Week

The major indexes gained ground Friday in mixed turnover, but still finished down for the week. The Nasdaq composite rose 1%, the S&P 500 0.6% and the NYSE composite 0.4%. Volume decreased from Thursday’s level on the Nasdaq, but increased on the NYSE, helped by a surge in trading for buyout target Petrohawk Energy (HK). Options expirations didn’t appear to provide much of a boost. For the week, the Nasdaq lost 2.5%, while the NYSE shed 2.2%. The S&P 500 fell 2.1%. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 managed to end the week above their 50-day moving averages, but the NYSE closed below that key support level. IBD’s market outlook continues to be “uptrend under pressure.”

Will Clorox Clean Up?

Clorox investors are cleaning up today following an unsolicited bid by activist investor Carl Icahn. But higher bids may not be forthcoming. Icahn, the company’s largest shareholder, has submitted a bid to buy Clorox (ticker: CLX) for $10.2 billion, or $76.50 per share. Icahn, who values Clorox at $12.6 billion including debt, also suggested the company seek a strategic buyer. Clorox shares were up 7.4% at $73.57 in midday trading.

4 Big Risks To Your Investments Now

Too many individual investors, and even professionals, get into trouble by underestimating or ignoring what could go wrong.

Ris #2. Risks you can’t anticipate: disasters, war, political and economic upheaval. Even the biggest geopolitical events — those “black swans” that cause widespread disruption — typically don’t leave a lasting mark on financial markets. For instance, when Asia’s fastest-growing economies went into a skid in July 1997, investors feared that the contagion would spread worldwide and they scurried for safety. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA +0.34%   took one of its worst drubbings ever on Oct. 27, 1997, losing 554 points, or 7.2%, but the index recovered and ended that year up more than 22%.

Pros: The Energy Trade of the Future

On Friday the Fast Money pros were closely watching the energy trade, after BHP Billiton made a big bet on nat gas here in the US with the acquisition of Petrohawk Energy for $12.1 billion – a 60% premium to Petrohawk’s closing price. Trader Brian Kelly takes the deal as ‘tell’ involving the future of the industry. Specifically, he sees it as confirmation that nat gas will become an even more desired energy source in the future. “Eventually we’re going to have natural gas powered vehicles, especially in the trucking sector,” he says. Kelly is placing his bets long Clean Energy Fuels. But CLNE is far from the only related play.

Why Google Just Jumped to the Top of My Radar Screen

When the CEO of a company you own shares in is called before Congress to testify, you should be worried about a disaster… right? Not me… especially if that company is a World Dominator. For the past five years or so, my readers have been making steady, safe returns in the world’s highest-quality companies… companies that gush free cash flow, sport huge profit margins, grow steadily, and generally dominate their industries. Some of these companies own such a huge market share, the government regularly reviews them for “unfair” business practices. And while most mainstream investors get worried when something like this happens to a stock, I actually love to see it in a stock I own… or am interested in buying. That’s why I’m getting interested in Google.

Social Security IRAs: A Partial Fix to the Reform Problem?

While Congress and President Obama battle over ways to “fix” Social Security, the Association of Mature American Citizens sees a possible solution to part of the reform brouhaha — a Social Security IRA. In a recent poll, 80% of the members of the small group that bills itself as “the conservative alternative to AARP,” said they support the idea of a Social Security IRA being part of a comprehensive Social Security reform package. Those AMAC members surveyed backed the notion of younger people being able to have a tax deductible Social Security retirement account that they could start drawing upon between the ages of 62 and 65.

S&P sees a 50 percent chance of downgrade for US credit rating

Standard & Poor’s says there’s a 50 percent chance it will downgrade the credit rating for U.S. debt in the next 90 days. The credit ratings agency announced Thursday that it was preparing to downgrade the nation’s debt, saying that the ongoing political standoff over raising the $14.3 trillion debt limit has increased the odds the nation’s AAA credit rating will be knocked down a peg. The agency had put the nation’s debt on negative watch back in April as the debate to raise the debt limit began in earnest. Since then, actions in Washington have only made the raters more pessimistic.

Government shutdown dries up Minnesota

In a victory for teetotalers, prohibitionists, and defenders of the defunct 18th Amendment, alcohol sales will be sharply curbed in Minnesota as a result of the state’s government shutdown. But the coming drought may be avoided, if the Republican-held legislature accepts Gov. Mark Dayton’s (D) compromise to bridge the $5 billion budget deficit, offered earlier today.  His newest plan accepts most of the Republican proposal from late last month, but includes some caveats that may hold up an agreement.

Economic outlook grim if no debt deal reached

Horror stories are flying about the damage that might be wreaked should Congress and President Barack Obama fail to cut a deal by the Aug. 2 deadline to increase America’s borrowing limit. Nearly every American is in harm’s way, either directly or indirectly. Absent a deal by then, the government would find itself tight on cash and unable to borrow — and have to start deciding which of the 80 million bills due in August it should pay and which it should put off. Tough decisions would come immediately: On Aug. 3, some $23 billion in Social Security benefit payments are due to be processed.

Palin raises $1.6 mn as non-candidate

Sarah Palin, the darling of the conservative Tea Party, has raised $1.6 million in campaign donations even though she has not yet said she will run for president and has already spent a huge chunk of the funds, documents showed. The Federal Election Commission report released Thursday showed the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, had taken in $1.6 million in contributions in the first half of 2011. But she had also spent $1.5 million, leaving her an estimated $1.4 million remaining in the coffers of her “SarahPAC” committee. The fundraising is dwarfed by President Barack Obama’s $86 million haul and Republican front-runner Mitt Romney’s $18.25 million over the same period.

Michele Bachmann’s husband in unwanted spotlight

One of Michele Bachmann’s closest advisers during her rapid political rise was her husband, Marcus. He also was one of the least visible, happy to stand in his wife’s shadow even as her career took her to Washington. These days, both Bachmanns are finding there’s no escape from the scrutiny that follows a candidate who rockets into the top tier of Republican presidential hopefuls, and Marcus Bachmann has been forced to defend his Christian counseling business from claims its therapies include “curing” people of being gay. In an interview with the Minneapolis Star-Tribune published Friday, Marcus Bachmann did not deny he and other counselors at Bachmann and Associates Inc. have attempted to convert gay patients. But he said it’s not a special interest of the practice and would only be attempted if a client requested it.

Obama warns US ‘running out of time’ for debt deal

US President Barack Obama pressed polarized lawmakers Friday to avert economic “Armageddon” by quickly forging an elusive deal to prevent an early August debt default with ruinous global consequences. “We’re obviously running out of time,” Obama warned at the White House, as Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives met separately to discuss the way forward and Senate leaders worked on a last-ditch compromise. Obama renewed his preference for a “grand bargain” slicing deep into spending, cutting entitlement programs dear to his fellow Democrats, but Republicans have flatly rejected his call for higher taxes on the rich.

Advocacy group blasts Lady Gaga for rolling onstage on wheelchair

Lady Gaga’s bizarre antics don’t seem so funny to the Life Rolls On Foundation.  The advocacy group for disabled persons recently condemned Gaga for rolling out onstage in a wheelchair during one of her concerts. “Since this isn’t the first time she has used a wheelchair in her performances, I invite her to learn more about the 5.6 million Americans who live with paralysis,” Life Rolls On Foundation founder Jesse Billauer told RadarOnline.com. “They, like me, unfortunately, don’t use a wheelchair for shock value.” (Lady Gaga’s new single ‘Judas’ outrages Catholic community).

Various options to resolve debt showdown

President Barack Obama, House Republicans and Senate leaders Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Harry Reid, D-Nev., have competing ideas about how to handle the need to increase the government’s borrowing limit and cut the budget. Highlights include:

The president has proposed three separate plans:

(1) A large-scale measure cutting $4 trillion from the deficit over 10 years through more than $1 trillion in cuts to Cabinet agency operating budgets, $1 trillion or more in new tax revenues through a comprehensive tax code overhaul, curbs to the growth of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and cuts to farm subsidies, federal retiree pensions, and many other programs; (2) A medium-size deal of approximately $2 trillion in deficit cuts, including largely identical cuts to agency operating budgets. But no cuts to Social Security and smaller changes to Medicare. Tax increases would be in the $400 billion range, including limits on tax deductions for the wealthy and tax breaks for oil and gas companies; (3) A smaller deal in the $1.5 trillion to $1.7 trillion range, mostly comprised of agency operating budget cuts in the $1 trillion range. Modest Medicare cuts, if any, and no tax increases.

Liberal group threatens to pull Obama support

A liberal group upset over potential cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security delivered pledges Friday to President Barack Obama’s national campaign headquarters threatening to pull its support. About a dozen people representing the Progressive Change Campaign Committee delivered what they said were 200,000 pledges from people who will refuse to donate or volunteer for Obama’s re-election campaign if he cuts the entitlement programs. “It’s not a question of who they’re going to support for president, they’re going to vote for Barack Obama. It’s a question of where their time and money is going to go,” spokesman T. Neil Sroka said.

Dems afraid McConnell’s debt ceiling plan will make them look bad

Democrats, afraid Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s plan to raise the debt ceiling will hurt their party’s image, are expressing distaste for the proposal. The Hill reports Democrats don’t like that McConnell’s plan, which gives President Obama the power to raise the debt ceiling in three steps over 17 months, would make the president and his party look like they support unpopular fiscal policy. (August 2nd no hard deadline on debt limit). “McConnell is a very clever guy,” Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) said of the Republican senator. “He set up an intricate, multi-tiered trap to deliver on his promise to get Obama out of office and devastate the Democrats.”

Powers: Boost Libya Rebels Turn Up Pressure on Kadhafi

Western and regional powers on Friday boosted Libyan rebels battling Moamer Kadhafi by designating them as the country’s legitimate rulers, a move that gives them access to vital funds. The fourth meeting of the Libya contact group in Istanbul saw a fresh call on Kadhafi to go after more than four decades in power. With Kadhafi hanging on in Tripoli despite four months of NATO-led bombings, the rebels Friday stepped up an offensive on the oil town of Brega, hoping to dislodge loyalist troops and win a strategic victory. The contact group recognised the National Transitional Council (NTC), based in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, as “the legitimate governing authority in Libya” until an interim government is formed, a statement said.

Chuck Wolfe: Will DC’s Old Boy Network Block First Openly Gay U.S. Senator?

Early money is often a strong predictor of success in electoral politics. That’s why the impressive second quarter fundraising numbers just released by Rep. Tammy Baldwin give many people hope that she will become America’s first openly LGBT senator next year. With more than $500,000 raised in Q2 — most of it in June alone — and an impressive $1.14 million in the bank, Baldwin has proven she can raise the money necessary to win the open Wisconsin Senate seat long held by her friend, Sen. Herb Kohl, who announced his retirement last May. The LGBT community, women’s groups and progressive allies across Wisconsin and America will have Baldwin’s back in this fight, but some political elites in Washington are casting about for an alternative, unconvinced an out lesbian can win. They’re wrong to wonder, and it’s time we called out that kind of political homophobia.