MY SPORT BAR AT HOME.
In an effort to “cut back”, we will be staying home more and also doing more of our entertaining there. I decided to create my own sport bar in an extra room. I would like to share it with you, and you might want to realize a similar savings.
Last week I was upstairs in our “teen room” watching my Monday night football. The 6:30 PM evening news was coming on and I had the dilemma of wanting to watch the football game and the NBC evening news.
I looked around the room and realized there was an old TV that was unplugged and sitting there collecting dust.
I accessed my computer, video, and audio accessories drawer and found the components that I thought might let me accomplish what I wanted, but wasn’t sure if it would work.
I found a 2-WAY SPLITTER and two TV Cables I had bought from the 99 Cents store awhile back, simply because I could not resist the low price.
I disconnected the cable that came from the wall that went to the cable box. I then connected it to the IN outlet on the 2-WAY SPLITTER, connected a cable from the 2-WAY SPLITTER that said OUT to the back of the cable box. The cable that goes from the cable box to the existing TV was connected and I left that alone. I turned on the TV on and I still had cable with the existing TV. Then I connected a cable to the 2 WAY-SPLITTER that said OUT and connected it to the extra TV that was sitting in the room. I plugged that TV in and I had pictures on both sets.
Now the existing TV had cable channels with all the programs, and the old spare TV had the basic channels that were coming in. I moved the TV on the desk top (that runs the entire length of the room) next to the existing TV and put one on football and the other on NBC evening news. I was watching football and learning all about the state of the nation. Talk about multi-tasking!
I thought how nice it would be if we had 3 TV’s instead of 2, since we’re never satisfied with what is at hand. I founf another TV in he garage that wasn’t and hauled it upstairs. I stopped at Wal-Mart, bought a 4-WAY SPLITTER, and that evening I put 3 TV’s, a VCR, and the DVD player together and created my HOME MADE SPORTS BAR.
Thursday night Football was great. I had Football on one, news on another and an old TMC movie on the 3rd. I am sure you all have old TV’s sitting around collecting dust. A visit to the 99Cents store can turn your room into a exciting SPORT BAR at home just like ours at a very minimal cost.
This past Saturday, I had 3 College Football games on at the same time on the 3 TV’S and it was heaven on earth.
Take note, before creating this outstanding fun, check with your spouse or companion and make sure you are not going to get in trouble doing it. I do not want it to be HAZARDOUS to your relationship.
NEXT: A FOURTH TV and maybe a Mini Bar to finish it off!
2-Way 2 Splitter
3 Way Splitter
4 Way Splitter
Showing posts with label 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
I’M LOVING IT
BUT DOES MCDONALD’S LOVE ME?
Slogans are meant to be remembered. They are meant to mean something to the individual/group to whom they are directed. McDonald’s has us all saying, “I’m loving it!”
McDonald’s is an international institute which is loved by all. It is a representation of fun and freedom throughout the world. We all love to enjoy the taste of food we have known from childhood.
BUT!! AMERICA IS GETTING FAT. McDonald’s could help by being a friend to it’s customers by giving us an awareness of our OVER-eating, which is why the population is getting heavier by the year. We usually have no idea what we are eating. I realize that the bottom of the McDonald’s boxes have the food nutrition/fats listed, but does anyone look under the box? I don’t think so.
It is time to print the numbers where we can see them and make us conscious of our food intake calories. McDonald’s could be in the forefront of this movement.
One simple way is to update each McDonald’s cash register by having each entry print the calories for each food item as you order it, and giving us a running total. This concept would be similar to when we go to the grocery store where as each item is entered, a running total appears on the cash register along with the individual prices. In the case of fast food ordering, as the items are entered by the cashier, the calories for that item with the corresponding price would brought up so you could see how many total calories you will actually be consuming. These figures would also appear on your written receipt in case you are a calorie counter. Maybe if we had this information at the time of ordering (before we pay the bill), we might think about “deleting” the fries, or changing our order to a “regular size” rather than a “super-size”. (See sample receipt attached).
In this way, the receipt would document McDonald’s concern regarding it’s customers health and well being so they can stay healthy and longer to “Love it” longer.
LET THEM SHOW THEIR LOVE.
I think other fast foods would follow, which would indicate that they all LOVE us too.
TERMINAL 1 CON B OHARA
CHICAGO, IL 60604
THANK YOU
MCDONALDS TEL#(773)686-1130
02 KS#04 FEB. 03, 09(TUE) 17:47
STORE# 17277 S#2
Order #402 TO GO
CALORIES PRICE
AC 540 $ 3.75
1 QRT POUNDER 410 $2.49
1 DBL CHEESE BRGR 440 $1.00
1 SMALL FRIES 209 $1.25
I LARGE FRIES 500 $2.19
SUB TOTAL $10.68
TAKE OUT TAX $1.25
TOTAL 2,099 CAL $11.95
CASH TENDERED $20.00
CHANGE $8.05
BUT DOES MCDONALD’S LOVE ME?
Slogans are meant to be remembered. They are meant to mean something to the individual/group to whom they are directed. McDonald’s has us all saying, “I’m loving it!”
McDonald’s is an international institute which is loved by all. It is a representation of fun and freedom throughout the world. We all love to enjoy the taste of food we have known from childhood.
BUT!! AMERICA IS GETTING FAT. McDonald’s could help by being a friend to it’s customers by giving us an awareness of our OVER-eating, which is why the population is getting heavier by the year. We usually have no idea what we are eating. I realize that the bottom of the McDonald’s boxes have the food nutrition/fats listed, but does anyone look under the box? I don’t think so.
It is time to print the numbers where we can see them and make us conscious of our food intake calories. McDonald’s could be in the forefront of this movement.
One simple way is to update each McDonald’s cash register by having each entry print the calories for each food item as you order it, and giving us a running total. This concept would be similar to when we go to the grocery store where as each item is entered, a running total appears on the cash register along with the individual prices. In the case of fast food ordering, as the items are entered by the cashier, the calories for that item with the corresponding price would brought up so you could see how many total calories you will actually be consuming. These figures would also appear on your written receipt in case you are a calorie counter. Maybe if we had this information at the time of ordering (before we pay the bill), we might think about “deleting” the fries, or changing our order to a “regular size” rather than a “super-size”. (See sample receipt attached).
In this way, the receipt would document McDonald’s concern regarding it’s customers health and well being so they can stay healthy and longer to “Love it” longer.
LET THEM SHOW THEIR LOVE.
I think other fast foods would follow, which would indicate that they all LOVE us too.
TERMINAL 1 CON B OHARA
CHICAGO, IL 60604
THANK YOU
MCDONALDS TEL#(773)686-1130
02 KS#04 FEB. 03, 09(TUE) 17:47
STORE# 17277 S#2
Order #402 TO GO
CALORIES PRICE
AC 540 $ 3.75
1 QRT POUNDER 410 $2.49
1 DBL CHEESE BRGR 440 $1.00
1 SMALL FRIES 209 $1.25
I LARGE FRIES 500 $2.19
SUB TOTAL $10.68
TAKE OUT TAX $1.25
TOTAL 2,099 CAL $11.95
CASH TENDERED $20.00
CHANGE $8.05
SUNFLOWER SEEDS
SUNFLOWER SEEDS
A few weeks ago I was touring our local Persian Grocery store that carries anything and everything that you can find in any store in Iran and more, with prices that are unbelievably low. There are more customers who are not Iranian shopping there, because of the freshness of the fruits and vegetables due to the high turnover. There are food items and spices that I remembered seeing in our home in Iran when I was growing up. The one aisle I am quite fond of is the huge nuts section. On one of my earlier visits I had bought some unsalted sunflower seeds that are fun to crack and eat while watching TV. Sunflower seeds always remind me of my childhood. It’s amazing how such small, insignificant items (sometimes visual, a sound, or even the smell of something) can trigger memories that have seemingly been lost for a long time.
I left Iran when I was fourteen years old, so seeing those sunflower seeds took me back to those days while living there and remembering how simple life was. There was no TV, computers, games on PC and all the “gismos” kids have now that require no imagination.
In the summer time we use to get up early, have breakfast together as a family, and then all of my the neighborhood friends would meet on the street corner across from our house with bikes. We would spend the day riding, traveling around the neighborhood and the city have a great time getting in some trouble, but nothing major. We also played soccer or stick ball, and sometimes cards. We all went home for lunch and had a nap, which we never really did but only pretended that we slept. The reason everyone took a nap was because the summer heat in the afternoon was like being in an oven, so anything physical could have been harmful.
Around 4-5 PM we were back out with friends and were having fun. When the sun had gone down and we were exhausted, we would buy a bag of sunflower seeds and sit on the front step of our house. We would sit there, cracking the seeds while trying to see what cars we could name with their brand. In those days there were only a few manufacturers, so it wasn’t that difficult. It was not like now where GM, Ford , Chrysler, and all the other companies each have so many versions. By the time we were ready to go home and call it a day, the ground by the front step was totally covered with the sunflower seed shells. The street cleaner would always clean it up by the next morning.
As I was cracking my sunflower seeds the other day, I decided to find out the nutritional value. To my surprise, I found the following on the computer, and thought I would share this with you. Not only is it fun to eat them, but they are actually good for you. So read and maybe you will want to get cracking. Who knew as kids we ate something that was good for us!
Information from: National Sunflower Association.
4023 State Street • Bismarck, ND 58503 • 701-328-5105 • FAX: 701-328-5101
Good things come in small packages. Nutrition scientists are realizing that we should pay more attention to our daily intake of complex plant foods like seeds, nuts and whole grains. A move towards whole foods, like sunflower seeds, will add nutrients to your diet in a flash. Mother Nature has created a nutritional power pack that is hard to beat in sunflower seeds. Healthy unsaturated fats, protein and fiber, plus important nutrients like vitamin E, selenium, copper, zinc, foliate, iron and phytochemicals come wrapped up in this small and perhaps unsuspected package – a sunflower seed. Just one ounce of these seeds every day can improve the nutritional quality of your diet.
Finding foods that are full of nutrients and fitting them into your daily eating plan isn’t always easy. While most of us get enough calories everyday (and sometimes too many), many of us fall short on important nutrients. Calorie for calorie, nutrient-dense foods like sunflower seeds will give you more bang for the buck when it comes to nutrition. . New nutrient data shows that sunflower seeds also contain a good amount of beneficial plant chemicals, or phytochemicals, thought to be advantageous to health.
ds are power packed with healthy
Sunflower seeds and oil contain both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat – the types of fat that may protect the heart. Clinical studies show that higher unsaturated fat diets may be preferable even to low-fat diets because they lower total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol, and triglycerides, while maintaining beneficial high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is needed to carry the “bad” cholesterol away.
• Almost 90% of the fat in sunflower seeds is good, unsaturated fat.
Protein supplies amino acids, the building blocks that build, maintain and repair body tissues.
• Sunflower seeds are a good source of plant protein, providing 6 grams or 12% of the Daily Value per ounce. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may protect against heart disease by getting rid of harmful molecules called free radicals that can lead to atherosclerosis. Sunflower seeds are the best whole food source of vitamin E)
• Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E. Just one ounce of sunflower seeds provides 76% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin E.
Selenium works with vitamin E as an antioxidant and protects cells from damage that may lead to cancer, heart disease, and other health problems. Although there is no Daily Value for selenium, nutrition scientists recognize its importance to health and a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) has been established.
• The selenium in one ounce of sunflower seeds provides about 24% of the RDA for men and 31% of the RDA for women.
Copper helps your body carry oxygen to red blood cells and produce energy in the cells.
Copper is also a vital part of some antioxidant enzymes in the body, thus protecting you from oxidative stress. While a copper deficiency is rare, this trace mineral is essential to an energy-rich life.
• You’ll find about 25% of the Daily Value for copper in one ounce of sunflower seeds.
Folate, a B vitamin, plays an essential role in making new body cells by helping to form the DNA and RNA that contain each cell’s “master plan” for reproduction. This is why folate is so important for pregnant women and the development of babies. Folate also pairs with vitamin B-12 to help form hemoglobin in red blood cells, which allows them to carry optimal amounts of oxygen. Folate is involved in the removal of homocysteine, an amino acid thought to promote heart disease, from the blood. A large population study from Harvard University shows an association between higher intakes of folate and lower risk of heart disease.
• Sunflower seeds are a good source of folate, supplying 17% of the Daily Value in a one-ounce serving. Other B vitamins are essential for producing energy from food.
• A one-ounce serving of sunflower seeds contains 20% of the Daily Value for
pantothenic acid, 11% for vitamin B6, 6% for thiamin and 6% for niacin.
Zinc is a mineral that is vital for keeping your immune system strong, fending off infections and healing wounds.
• A one-ounce serving of sunflower seeds is a good source of zinc, providing 10% of the Daily Value.
Iron is essential in carrying oxygen from your lungs, through your blood, and to every body cell. Iron deficiency, which can lead to anemia, fatigue and infection, is more common among women who experience regular menstrual loss.
• One ounce of sunflower seeds is a good source of iron, providing 10% of the Daily Value.
Fiber – the indigestible part of plant foods – promotes good health by helping to lower blood cholesterol, manage blood glucose, and prevent constipation. While the American
Cancer Society recommends consuming 20 to 35 grams daily, most Americans fall short on fiber, averaging only 11 grams per day. • Sunflower seeds are fiber-filled foods with 2 grams of fiber per one-ounce serving, putting you well on your way to your daily fiber goal.
Phytochemicals, or beneficial plant chemicals, may inhibit cancer growth, protect against heart disease, and offer protection from colon, prostate and breast cancer. Research from
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University suggests that sunflower seeds are high in many phytochemicals like choline, lignan, phenolic acids, and betaine, as well as
the amino acid arginine. Currently there is no set Daily Value for phytochemicals, but nutrition scientists recommend eating more whole foods, like sunflower seeds, that are abundant in these beneficial plant chemicals.
Glossary of Terms:
DVs (Daily Values):A dietary reference term developed by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) that appears on all food labels. It is made up of two sets of references, DRVs and RDIs.
DRVs (Daily Reference Values):A set of dietary references that applies to fat, saturated fat,
cholesterol, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, sodium, and potassium.
RDIs (Reference Daily Intakes):A set of dietary references based on the Recommended Dietary
Allowances for essential vitamins, minerals, and protein.
RDAs (Recommended Dietary Allowances): A set of estimated nutrient allowances established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences. It provides as specific nutrient advice as possible based on age and sex for different vitamins and minerals and is updated periodically to reflect current scientific knowledge.
Tips for Everyday Living
For big nutrition, use a small amount of sunflower seeds throughout the day. r
Sprinkle sunflower seeds on your salad for extra nutrition and crunch.
A few weeks ago I was touring our local Persian Grocery store that carries anything and everything that you can find in any store in Iran and more, with prices that are unbelievably low. There are more customers who are not Iranian shopping there, because of the freshness of the fruits and vegetables due to the high turnover. There are food items and spices that I remembered seeing in our home in Iran when I was growing up. The one aisle I am quite fond of is the huge nuts section. On one of my earlier visits I had bought some unsalted sunflower seeds that are fun to crack and eat while watching TV. Sunflower seeds always remind me of my childhood. It’s amazing how such small, insignificant items (sometimes visual, a sound, or even the smell of something) can trigger memories that have seemingly been lost for a long time.
I left Iran when I was fourteen years old, so seeing those sunflower seeds took me back to those days while living there and remembering how simple life was. There was no TV, computers, games on PC and all the “gismos” kids have now that require no imagination.
In the summer time we use to get up early, have breakfast together as a family, and then all of my the neighborhood friends would meet on the street corner across from our house with bikes. We would spend the day riding, traveling around the neighborhood and the city have a great time getting in some trouble, but nothing major. We also played soccer or stick ball, and sometimes cards. We all went home for lunch and had a nap, which we never really did but only pretended that we slept. The reason everyone took a nap was because the summer heat in the afternoon was like being in an oven, so anything physical could have been harmful.
Around 4-5 PM we were back out with friends and were having fun. When the sun had gone down and we were exhausted, we would buy a bag of sunflower seeds and sit on the front step of our house. We would sit there, cracking the seeds while trying to see what cars we could name with their brand. In those days there were only a few manufacturers, so it wasn’t that difficult. It was not like now where GM, Ford , Chrysler, and all the other companies each have so many versions. By the time we were ready to go home and call it a day, the ground by the front step was totally covered with the sunflower seed shells. The street cleaner would always clean it up by the next morning.
As I was cracking my sunflower seeds the other day, I decided to find out the nutritional value. To my surprise, I found the following on the computer, and thought I would share this with you. Not only is it fun to eat them, but they are actually good for you. So read and maybe you will want to get cracking. Who knew as kids we ate something that was good for us!
Information from: National Sunflower Association.
4023 State Street • Bismarck, ND 58503 • 701-328-5105 • FAX: 701-328-5101
Good things come in small packages. Nutrition scientists are realizing that we should pay more attention to our daily intake of complex plant foods like seeds, nuts and whole grains. A move towards whole foods, like sunflower seeds, will add nutrients to your diet in a flash. Mother Nature has created a nutritional power pack that is hard to beat in sunflower seeds. Healthy unsaturated fats, protein and fiber, plus important nutrients like vitamin E, selenium, copper, zinc, foliate, iron and phytochemicals come wrapped up in this small and perhaps unsuspected package – a sunflower seed. Just one ounce of these seeds every day can improve the nutritional quality of your diet.
Finding foods that are full of nutrients and fitting them into your daily eating plan isn’t always easy. While most of us get enough calories everyday (and sometimes too many), many of us fall short on important nutrients. Calorie for calorie, nutrient-dense foods like sunflower seeds will give you more bang for the buck when it comes to nutrition. . New nutrient data shows that sunflower seeds also contain a good amount of beneficial plant chemicals, or phytochemicals, thought to be advantageous to health.
ds are power packed with healthy
Sunflower seeds and oil contain both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat – the types of fat that may protect the heart. Clinical studies show that higher unsaturated fat diets may be preferable even to low-fat diets because they lower total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol, and triglycerides, while maintaining beneficial high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is needed to carry the “bad” cholesterol away.
• Almost 90% of the fat in sunflower seeds is good, unsaturated fat.
Protein supplies amino acids, the building blocks that build, maintain and repair body tissues.
• Sunflower seeds are a good source of plant protein, providing 6 grams or 12% of the Daily Value per ounce. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may protect against heart disease by getting rid of harmful molecules called free radicals that can lead to atherosclerosis. Sunflower seeds are the best whole food source of vitamin E)
• Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E. Just one ounce of sunflower seeds provides 76% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin E.
Selenium works with vitamin E as an antioxidant and protects cells from damage that may lead to cancer, heart disease, and other health problems. Although there is no Daily Value for selenium, nutrition scientists recognize its importance to health and a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) has been established.
• The selenium in one ounce of sunflower seeds provides about 24% of the RDA for men and 31% of the RDA for women.
Copper helps your body carry oxygen to red blood cells and produce energy in the cells.
Copper is also a vital part of some antioxidant enzymes in the body, thus protecting you from oxidative stress. While a copper deficiency is rare, this trace mineral is essential to an energy-rich life.
• You’ll find about 25% of the Daily Value for copper in one ounce of sunflower seeds.
Folate, a B vitamin, plays an essential role in making new body cells by helping to form the DNA and RNA that contain each cell’s “master plan” for reproduction. This is why folate is so important for pregnant women and the development of babies. Folate also pairs with vitamin B-12 to help form hemoglobin in red blood cells, which allows them to carry optimal amounts of oxygen. Folate is involved in the removal of homocysteine, an amino acid thought to promote heart disease, from the blood. A large population study from Harvard University shows an association between higher intakes of folate and lower risk of heart disease.
• Sunflower seeds are a good source of folate, supplying 17% of the Daily Value in a one-ounce serving. Other B vitamins are essential for producing energy from food.
• A one-ounce serving of sunflower seeds contains 20% of the Daily Value for
pantothenic acid, 11% for vitamin B6, 6% for thiamin and 6% for niacin.
Zinc is a mineral that is vital for keeping your immune system strong, fending off infections and healing wounds.
• A one-ounce serving of sunflower seeds is a good source of zinc, providing 10% of the Daily Value.
Iron is essential in carrying oxygen from your lungs, through your blood, and to every body cell. Iron deficiency, which can lead to anemia, fatigue and infection, is more common among women who experience regular menstrual loss.
• One ounce of sunflower seeds is a good source of iron, providing 10% of the Daily Value.
Fiber – the indigestible part of plant foods – promotes good health by helping to lower blood cholesterol, manage blood glucose, and prevent constipation. While the American
Cancer Society recommends consuming 20 to 35 grams daily, most Americans fall short on fiber, averaging only 11 grams per day. • Sunflower seeds are fiber-filled foods with 2 grams of fiber per one-ounce serving, putting you well on your way to your daily fiber goal.
Phytochemicals, or beneficial plant chemicals, may inhibit cancer growth, protect against heart disease, and offer protection from colon, prostate and breast cancer. Research from
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University suggests that sunflower seeds are high in many phytochemicals like choline, lignan, phenolic acids, and betaine, as well as
the amino acid arginine. Currently there is no set Daily Value for phytochemicals, but nutrition scientists recommend eating more whole foods, like sunflower seeds, that are abundant in these beneficial plant chemicals.
Glossary of Terms:
DVs (Daily Values):A dietary reference term developed by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) that appears on all food labels. It is made up of two sets of references, DRVs and RDIs.
DRVs (Daily Reference Values):A set of dietary references that applies to fat, saturated fat,
cholesterol, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, sodium, and potassium.
RDIs (Reference Daily Intakes):A set of dietary references based on the Recommended Dietary
Allowances for essential vitamins, minerals, and protein.
RDAs (Recommended Dietary Allowances): A set of estimated nutrient allowances established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences. It provides as specific nutrient advice as possible based on age and sex for different vitamins and minerals and is updated periodically to reflect current scientific knowledge.
Tips for Everyday Living
For big nutrition, use a small amount of sunflower seeds throughout the day. r
Sprinkle sunflower seeds on your salad for extra nutrition and crunch.
TV CONVERTER BOXES
TV Converter Boxes
The day of converting and converter boxes for digital TV has finally arrived, ready or not.
In our California lunch room we have an old TV that is about 25 years old. It belonged to my Mother when she was watching it at her home many years ago. I guess they used to make them last! This TV had reception of only 8 channels in our lunch room. We do not have cable so it operated on RABBIT EARS. These 8 channels were sometimes even compromised and hard to view. Some of you might remember the good old days of adjusting the rabbit ears or sitting in a particular place in the room so there would be a better reception. That’s what our employees had to do to watch this thing.
Some of the employees who work Saturdays at the office and have lunch, they watches the so- called TV in the lunch room. They called me last Saturday and told me that there were no channels on the TV, only white snow. Last year when Government was giving away the vouchers for converters, I was able to get a few knowing they would be necessary for the year to come. I purchased the boxes for the “D” Day.
In these challenging economic times, we discovered that this might be a blessing in disguise, and a savings for all of us (but at the same time, a loss for the CABLE companies). I will explain our situation as it happened.
I brought a converter box from home and had it connected it to this old TV. You would not believe how amazed we all were to see how simple it was to install. But more than that, we could not believe the vivid pictures we were experiencing on the screen. And that was only the beginning! We now have 99 perfect channels that can be watched on this old TV that was showing only 8 channels before. We could not believe how sharp the picture is and how we can surf through the channels. The instructions said to set our TV on channel 3 or 4 and then with remote that comes with the unit, we change the channels on the converter box. The channels are compressed. In other words, when you go to channel 18, you have 18-1, 18-2, 18-4, 18-5, so you have to select the one you want to watch. All channels are there. Now we just have to figure out what channels our favorite shows are on.
Now for the savings! You can get rid of your cable company that is charging you $39.00 - $49.00 per month for basic cable, go with your converter box, and you are watching quality TV free.
I think the cable companies lost on this one. For a change, we have something that works and is free. Pass the word around, but test it first at your home without the cable coming from the wall. Use the converter box to make sure it will work for you before telling the cable company to take a hike. The converter box with the voucher costs you a one time $25.00 - $39.00 depending where you are shopping.
I suggest that even if you do not need one now, get a voucher from the Government and buy a converter box just in case you might need one in the future. These will not be available for long. To get your Coupon/voucher go to: https://www.dtv2009.gov. Apply for the TV converter box coupons while supplies last, until July 31, 2009. Applications for coupons will continue to be accepted online, by phone, by mail and by fax until 12 midnight Eastern Time.
The day of converting and converter boxes for digital TV has finally arrived, ready or not.
In our California lunch room we have an old TV that is about 25 years old. It belonged to my Mother when she was watching it at her home many years ago. I guess they used to make them last! This TV had reception of only 8 channels in our lunch room. We do not have cable so it operated on RABBIT EARS. These 8 channels were sometimes even compromised and hard to view. Some of you might remember the good old days of adjusting the rabbit ears or sitting in a particular place in the room so there would be a better reception. That’s what our employees had to do to watch this thing.
Some of the employees who work Saturdays at the office and have lunch, they watches the so- called TV in the lunch room. They called me last Saturday and told me that there were no channels on the TV, only white snow. Last year when Government was giving away the vouchers for converters, I was able to get a few knowing they would be necessary for the year to come. I purchased the boxes for the “D” Day.
In these challenging economic times, we discovered that this might be a blessing in disguise, and a savings for all of us (but at the same time, a loss for the CABLE companies). I will explain our situation as it happened.
I brought a converter box from home and had it connected it to this old TV. You would not believe how amazed we all were to see how simple it was to install. But more than that, we could not believe the vivid pictures we were experiencing on the screen. And that was only the beginning! We now have 99 perfect channels that can be watched on this old TV that was showing only 8 channels before. We could not believe how sharp the picture is and how we can surf through the channels. The instructions said to set our TV on channel 3 or 4 and then with remote that comes with the unit, we change the channels on the converter box. The channels are compressed. In other words, when you go to channel 18, you have 18-1, 18-2, 18-4, 18-5, so you have to select the one you want to watch. All channels are there. Now we just have to figure out what channels our favorite shows are on.
Now for the savings! You can get rid of your cable company that is charging you $39.00 - $49.00 per month for basic cable, go with your converter box, and you are watching quality TV free.
I think the cable companies lost on this one. For a change, we have something that works and is free. Pass the word around, but test it first at your home without the cable coming from the wall. Use the converter box to make sure it will work for you before telling the cable company to take a hike. The converter box with the voucher costs you a one time $25.00 - $39.00 depending where you are shopping.
I suggest that even if you do not need one now, get a voucher from the Government and buy a converter box just in case you might need one in the future. These will not be available for long. To get your Coupon/voucher go to: https://www.dtv2009.gov. Apply for the TV converter box coupons while supplies last, until July 31, 2009. Applications for coupons will continue to be accepted online, by phone, by mail and by fax until 12 midnight Eastern Time.
BANKS AND CREDIT CARDS
BANKS AND CREDIT CARDS.
There is not a day goes by that the newspapers, radio and television are bombarding us with news regarding banks and the trouble they are in. Then we hear that they made zillions of dollars in profit. What are we to believe? The TARP money was given to the banks to loan out to consumers to get the economy going. What they did was park the money with the Federal Reserve at a 2% interest rate and then took it back at a profit. Some of them paid it back to the government so they can be free of the rules, and now they are free to mess up the economy all over again.
The other day something caught my ear listening to the radio while driving to work. The news was that the banks are losing money on credit cards, so there will be another problem to look us in the face again. Then I remembered the mailings we have all been receiving from our banks/credit card companies that they have reduced our line of credit and increased our interest rates to almost 30%.
I would be glad to tell them why they are losing money and how to solve it. Let's create an imaginary credit card where we have a balance of $4,825.00 and our current rate is 12% with credit limit of $10,000.00. We have been making payments on time and have never been late. This balance would have a minimum payment requirement of the current month’s interest for $48.25. Now let’s assume we are to pay an additional $50.00 toward the principle so our payment would total $98.25. This is something that we have budgeted for and we could keep up with.
Then we get the love letter from our bank and they decrease our credit limit to $8,000.00 and increase our interest rate to 28%. Now we have less access to the cash that we all need in this NO-BANK/CREDIT WORLD and our payments are changed.
Now your monthly interest increases to $112.58 and that alone is more than what you have in your budget to pay for the monthly payment. You have been budgeting and paying $98.25 per month and now interest alone is $112.58 which is $14.33 more that what you have been paying for both interest and principle.
This is what happens: People take a look and recognize that at this rate all they are paying is less than amount of the current monthly interest charge. Since this credit card will never get paid off, they completely stop paying, and this account becomes a bad debt for the banks. Banks have not woken up yet to realize that instead of helping people in this economy and in turn helping the economy turn around, their institutions have created another stupid situation that is worse than the prime loan episode…and they are wondering why they are losing money on their credit card business. Duh! Wake up you smart Harvard Graduate Geniuses who are trying to find the next scheme to make money. It does not take a rocket scientist to see this, but these people in charge are so smart that they have gone blind to realty. I am surprised that none of them have thought of opening a new bank called Capone Bank. At least Al Capone did you in if you did not pay rather than torture you to death.
If they would reduce the interest rate rather than increase it, more people would pay their credit card payments, and this would place more money in the banks. They would have more money to lend rather than steal TARP money to make money on us. Now back to our imaginary credit card situation. If they reduce the interest rate to 7%, we would all pay less interest and our payment would be $25.14 interest and let’s say we pay the $50.00 we have been paying toward the principle. This would make our total payment $75.14. What happens is from original total payment of $98.25 to $75.14, we have an extra $23.11 to spend which we would put in the economy to get it back on its feet. I know $23.11 does not look like very much money, but if this multiplied by the millions of open credit card accounts, we’re talking real money on a monthly basis. Let’s look at the statistics listed below for 2008. There was total of 798.55 Billion Dollar credit card debt balance. If the 5% reduction in the interest rate is applied to this amount, we would have a savings of 39.93 Billion Dollars for the consumers, which would be spent in the economy and give it a good start to recovery.
However, the banks’ greed will not let them do this. You think the politician will do it? Their campaigns are financed by banks and they are in the bank pockets as well. It is time for the public to bring it up and ask questions. We need to ask why are they doing this, and let them know that we know what they are doing.
EXISTING TERMS
BALANCE INTEREST RATE MONTH INTEREST ADD PYMT. TOTAL PYT. CREDIT LIMIT
$4,825.00 12% $48.25 $50.00 $98.25 $10,000.00
NEW TERMS
$4,825.00 28% $112.58 $0.00 $112.58 $8,000.00
$4,825.00 7% $25.14 $50.00 $75.14 $8,000.00
CREDIT CARD ISSUER STATISTICS
Market share
Top 15 issuers of general purpose credit cards for 2008 based on outstanding balances:
1. Chase - $183.32 billion
2. Bank of America - $166.32 billion
3. Citi - $106.74 billion
4. American Express - $88.02 billion
5. Capital One - $60.08 billion
6. Discover - $49.69 billion
7. Wells Fargo - $36.36 billion
8. HSBC - $29.97 billion
9. US Bank - $18.53 billion
10. USAA - $17.48 billion
11. Barclays - $11 billion
12. Target - $8.65 billion
13. GE Money - $7.51 billion
14. Advanta - $5.02 billion
15. First National - $4.93 billion
(Source: Nilson Report, March 2009)
This morning I was reading the business section of my newspaper, and the main article was titled “Fixed Rate Cards Topple”. As though we didn’t have enough problems with the Credit Card companies being allowed to go rampant with our money, now it looks like we can kiss the fixed-rate credit cards goodbye! Bank of America and Chase stated they would be “switching some fixed-rate cards to variable rates to ‘manage costs’ in light of the sweeping new reforms to the credit card industry.” The interest rate will be tied to the rise and fall of the prime rate, and it will start in August for both banks. How is the consumer supposed to “manage” his money when his monthly payment will change on a monthly basis?
When the government told the credit card companies that there had to be limits on how much they could charge for interest, rules put in place for how many times a credit card could change it’s payment due date, etc, the credit card companies were given almost 2 years to “get ready” for these changes. How long is the notice that they are giving the card holders for this latest fiasco? Today’s paper is dated 7-20-09. August 1st is 11 days away. Card holders have no chance to pay off any existing charges on their cards in 11 days to avoid the higher interest rates, and the banks are well aware of this. Again, the consumer is the victim here, and there is no one to rescue them.
There is not a day goes by that the newspapers, radio and television are bombarding us with news regarding banks and the trouble they are in. Then we hear that they made zillions of dollars in profit. What are we to believe? The TARP money was given to the banks to loan out to consumers to get the economy going. What they did was park the money with the Federal Reserve at a 2% interest rate and then took it back at a profit. Some of them paid it back to the government so they can be free of the rules, and now they are free to mess up the economy all over again.
The other day something caught my ear listening to the radio while driving to work. The news was that the banks are losing money on credit cards, so there will be another problem to look us in the face again. Then I remembered the mailings we have all been receiving from our banks/credit card companies that they have reduced our line of credit and increased our interest rates to almost 30%.
I would be glad to tell them why they are losing money and how to solve it. Let's create an imaginary credit card where we have a balance of $4,825.00 and our current rate is 12% with credit limit of $10,000.00. We have been making payments on time and have never been late. This balance would have a minimum payment requirement of the current month’s interest for $48.25. Now let’s assume we are to pay an additional $50.00 toward the principle so our payment would total $98.25. This is something that we have budgeted for and we could keep up with.
Then we get the love letter from our bank and they decrease our credit limit to $8,000.00 and increase our interest rate to 28%. Now we have less access to the cash that we all need in this NO-BANK/CREDIT WORLD and our payments are changed.
Now your monthly interest increases to $112.58 and that alone is more than what you have in your budget to pay for the monthly payment. You have been budgeting and paying $98.25 per month and now interest alone is $112.58 which is $14.33 more that what you have been paying for both interest and principle.
This is what happens: People take a look and recognize that at this rate all they are paying is less than amount of the current monthly interest charge. Since this credit card will never get paid off, they completely stop paying, and this account becomes a bad debt for the banks. Banks have not woken up yet to realize that instead of helping people in this economy and in turn helping the economy turn around, their institutions have created another stupid situation that is worse than the prime loan episode…and they are wondering why they are losing money on their credit card business. Duh! Wake up you smart Harvard Graduate Geniuses who are trying to find the next scheme to make money. It does not take a rocket scientist to see this, but these people in charge are so smart that they have gone blind to realty. I am surprised that none of them have thought of opening a new bank called Capone Bank. At least Al Capone did you in if you did not pay rather than torture you to death.
If they would reduce the interest rate rather than increase it, more people would pay their credit card payments, and this would place more money in the banks. They would have more money to lend rather than steal TARP money to make money on us. Now back to our imaginary credit card situation. If they reduce the interest rate to 7%, we would all pay less interest and our payment would be $25.14 interest and let’s say we pay the $50.00 we have been paying toward the principle. This would make our total payment $75.14. What happens is from original total payment of $98.25 to $75.14, we have an extra $23.11 to spend which we would put in the economy to get it back on its feet. I know $23.11 does not look like very much money, but if this multiplied by the millions of open credit card accounts, we’re talking real money on a monthly basis. Let’s look at the statistics listed below for 2008. There was total of 798.55 Billion Dollar credit card debt balance. If the 5% reduction in the interest rate is applied to this amount, we would have a savings of 39.93 Billion Dollars for the consumers, which would be spent in the economy and give it a good start to recovery.
However, the banks’ greed will not let them do this. You think the politician will do it? Their campaigns are financed by banks and they are in the bank pockets as well. It is time for the public to bring it up and ask questions. We need to ask why are they doing this, and let them know that we know what they are doing.
EXISTING TERMS
BALANCE INTEREST RATE MONTH INTEREST ADD PYMT. TOTAL PYT. CREDIT LIMIT
$4,825.00 12% $48.25 $50.00 $98.25 $10,000.00
NEW TERMS
$4,825.00 28% $112.58 $0.00 $112.58 $8,000.00
$4,825.00 7% $25.14 $50.00 $75.14 $8,000.00
CREDIT CARD ISSUER STATISTICS
Market share
Top 15 issuers of general purpose credit cards for 2008 based on outstanding balances:
1. Chase - $183.32 billion
2. Bank of America - $166.32 billion
3. Citi - $106.74 billion
4. American Express - $88.02 billion
5. Capital One - $60.08 billion
6. Discover - $49.69 billion
7. Wells Fargo - $36.36 billion
8. HSBC - $29.97 billion
9. US Bank - $18.53 billion
10. USAA - $17.48 billion
11. Barclays - $11 billion
12. Target - $8.65 billion
13. GE Money - $7.51 billion
14. Advanta - $5.02 billion
15. First National - $4.93 billion
(Source: Nilson Report, March 2009)
This morning I was reading the business section of my newspaper, and the main article was titled “Fixed Rate Cards Topple”. As though we didn’t have enough problems with the Credit Card companies being allowed to go rampant with our money, now it looks like we can kiss the fixed-rate credit cards goodbye! Bank of America and Chase stated they would be “switching some fixed-rate cards to variable rates to ‘manage costs’ in light of the sweeping new reforms to the credit card industry.” The interest rate will be tied to the rise and fall of the prime rate, and it will start in August for both banks. How is the consumer supposed to “manage” his money when his monthly payment will change on a monthly basis?
When the government told the credit card companies that there had to be limits on how much they could charge for interest, rules put in place for how many times a credit card could change it’s payment due date, etc, the credit card companies were given almost 2 years to “get ready” for these changes. How long is the notice that they are giving the card holders for this latest fiasco? Today’s paper is dated 7-20-09. August 1st is 11 days away. Card holders have no chance to pay off any existing charges on their cards in 11 days to avoid the higher interest rates, and the banks are well aware of this. Again, the consumer is the victim here, and there is no one to rescue them.
DRIVING IN OTHER STATES
DRIVING IN OTHER STATES.
When traveling frequently to other states, one is more aware of the surroundings and especially what is happening on the road. Driving is the most prominent. Certain states come across as having more aggressive drivers who insist on speeding and driving right on your tail.
I thought driving in California was bad. No way! There is more traffic on the road, and as a result you do not have the dare-devil driving as much as you see in other states. In the Carolinas, the roads are narrow and not many street lights to help you see where you are going, which slows the traffic. In Nevada, they have heavy traffic but the roads are in good shape, new, organized, and easy to drive on. In California the drivers are semi-courteous and you do get many dirty looks and finger gestures if you are holding up the traffic.
Now for Wisconsin. I find it very uncomfortable to be on the freeway. The drivers are all speed drivers who drive right up to your back bumper and keep it there following you, even if the next lane is open. I noticed they do not change lanes to take advantage of the open, traffic free situation, and they use cell phones freely, since it obviously is not mandatory to have hand-free phones. During my visit in August of 2009, I was going to work in the morning on Hwy 41. Two girls in the car behind me were laughing and talking on the cell phone. The traffic was heavy during that time of the morning, and they were right on my tail. At the exit for Wal-Mart, they are adding a lane. I was in the slow lane when the car in front of me suddenly hit the brake. At that point of recognition, I had only 3 car lengths left between us. I had to raise my arm to let them know to slow down. They almost hit me because they were too close and not paying attention.
When I got home in the evening, I decided to find out what states have the worst drivers by rank. To my surprise, Wisconsin was number 13 of the best drivers on the list, North Carolina was 22, California and Connecticut 33, Nevada 39, and South Carolina was 40. The best drivers are in Kansas.
For a complete list of all the states to see how your friends’ and relatives’ states are ranked go to: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/GMAC-Insurance-National-Drivers-Test-Rankings/
My apology to Wisconsin for thinking they would rank lower, but I still think they are the most aggressive drivers.
Remember, your family loves you and needs you as well as your fellow employees at the company. The next time you are on the road, please do not use the phone without a hands-free device, pay attention to your driving, respect the other drivers around you, and drive safely. Taking a few extra minutes to get to where you are going is far better than a serious injury or death. “Better late than never”…. We do not want to “miss” you because of an unfortunate driving accident.
When traveling frequently to other states, one is more aware of the surroundings and especially what is happening on the road. Driving is the most prominent. Certain states come across as having more aggressive drivers who insist on speeding and driving right on your tail.
I thought driving in California was bad. No way! There is more traffic on the road, and as a result you do not have the dare-devil driving as much as you see in other states. In the Carolinas, the roads are narrow and not many street lights to help you see where you are going, which slows the traffic. In Nevada, they have heavy traffic but the roads are in good shape, new, organized, and easy to drive on. In California the drivers are semi-courteous and you do get many dirty looks and finger gestures if you are holding up the traffic.
Now for Wisconsin. I find it very uncomfortable to be on the freeway. The drivers are all speed drivers who drive right up to your back bumper and keep it there following you, even if the next lane is open. I noticed they do not change lanes to take advantage of the open, traffic free situation, and they use cell phones freely, since it obviously is not mandatory to have hand-free phones. During my visit in August of 2009, I was going to work in the morning on Hwy 41. Two girls in the car behind me were laughing and talking on the cell phone. The traffic was heavy during that time of the morning, and they were right on my tail. At the exit for Wal-Mart, they are adding a lane. I was in the slow lane when the car in front of me suddenly hit the brake. At that point of recognition, I had only 3 car lengths left between us. I had to raise my arm to let them know to slow down. They almost hit me because they were too close and not paying attention.
When I got home in the evening, I decided to find out what states have the worst drivers by rank. To my surprise, Wisconsin was number 13 of the best drivers on the list, North Carolina was 22, California and Connecticut 33, Nevada 39, and South Carolina was 40. The best drivers are in Kansas.
For a complete list of all the states to see how your friends’ and relatives’ states are ranked go to: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/GMAC-Insurance-National-Drivers-Test-Rankings/
My apology to Wisconsin for thinking they would rank lower, but I still think they are the most aggressive drivers.
Remember, your family loves you and needs you as well as your fellow employees at the company. The next time you are on the road, please do not use the phone without a hands-free device, pay attention to your driving, respect the other drivers around you, and drive safely. Taking a few extra minutes to get to where you are going is far better than a serious injury or death. “Better late than never”…. We do not want to “miss” you because of an unfortunate driving accident.
KEEP OUR ROADS CLEAN
KEEP OUR ROADS CLEAN.
The United States is one of the most fortunate countries to have the best transportation systems which includes freeways, highways, streets and even back roads. We can travel to any point on the map and find civilization by driving on the roads. The scenery is impressive and sometimes breathtaking.
During the last 2 months of my travel in the US and Canada, I have noticed how disrespectful some people are to our roads. Look around the next time you are out driving and observe the sides of the roads and freeways. Note how much trash is obviously being thrown out of the car windows. It makes you wonder how safe our freeways are if drivers are dining while they are driving and then disposing of the trash on our roads. Where is the respect, and do they do the same at home by throwing their trash on the floor after they are done eating? Unfortunately, no matter what state you are in, you can see trash that has been thrown out of some car. Why can’t they just keep it in the car and drop it in a trash can at home or a public one that we all have available at some corner mall or store. Another thing that bugs me is the sneaky way that the smokers try to get rid of their cigarette butts by hiding it in their hand and dropping it slowly like we do not notice this while driving right behind them. How sad to think how many fires they have caused.
Everyone knows there is a fine for throwing trash on the road, but they still do it. I would be glad to see them get fined. I'm sure they think that it was just a little trash, but a little trash from every car becomes large amounts to ruin our roads.
A prime example of seeing the magnitude of this problem is when we see all the ORANGE BAGS on the side of the road that have been filled. Since our jails in our legal system are so crowded, and many of the "offenders" cannot pay their fines, these people have the option of doing "community service" which means we see many of them filling these bags on the weekends. Thankfully, this does help. But if everyone took care of their own trash properly, the counties could use these labor hours for other important and much needed services. Please keep your trash in your car and dispose of them properly. Consider the roads as being our exterior homes which should be respected.
And another issue....The next time you use a shopping cart/buggy, please return it to the area reserved for them. I try to take care of my cars, and it's not fair that some lazy person or someone who doesn't feel he/she has 30 seconds to return their cart, is responsible for dings and dents in my car and feels no responsibility for the damages. Let's keep our outside homes as beautiful as our inside residences. It all begins with us.
The United States is one of the most fortunate countries to have the best transportation systems which includes freeways, highways, streets and even back roads. We can travel to any point on the map and find civilization by driving on the roads. The scenery is impressive and sometimes breathtaking.
During the last 2 months of my travel in the US and Canada, I have noticed how disrespectful some people are to our roads. Look around the next time you are out driving and observe the sides of the roads and freeways. Note how much trash is obviously being thrown out of the car windows. It makes you wonder how safe our freeways are if drivers are dining while they are driving and then disposing of the trash on our roads. Where is the respect, and do they do the same at home by throwing their trash on the floor after they are done eating? Unfortunately, no matter what state you are in, you can see trash that has been thrown out of some car. Why can’t they just keep it in the car and drop it in a trash can at home or a public one that we all have available at some corner mall or store. Another thing that bugs me is the sneaky way that the smokers try to get rid of their cigarette butts by hiding it in their hand and dropping it slowly like we do not notice this while driving right behind them. How sad to think how many fires they have caused.
Everyone knows there is a fine for throwing trash on the road, but they still do it. I would be glad to see them get fined. I'm sure they think that it was just a little trash, but a little trash from every car becomes large amounts to ruin our roads.
A prime example of seeing the magnitude of this problem is when we see all the ORANGE BAGS on the side of the road that have been filled. Since our jails in our legal system are so crowded, and many of the "offenders" cannot pay their fines, these people have the option of doing "community service" which means we see many of them filling these bags on the weekends. Thankfully, this does help. But if everyone took care of their own trash properly, the counties could use these labor hours for other important and much needed services. Please keep your trash in your car and dispose of them properly. Consider the roads as being our exterior homes which should be respected.
And another issue....The next time you use a shopping cart/buggy, please return it to the area reserved for them. I try to take care of my cars, and it's not fair that some lazy person or someone who doesn't feel he/she has 30 seconds to return their cart, is responsible for dings and dents in my car and feels no responsibility for the damages. Let's keep our outside homes as beautiful as our inside residences. It all begins with us.
WATCH DIESEL FUEL PRICES.
WATCH DIESEL FUEL PRICES.
Every day we hear a different analysis of our economy and the world regarding when we will be out of this stubborn recession. Experts each have their ideas and give us all the economic models they have to predict the recovery.
I was on my 8 mile walk one Sunday morning at our neighborhood park. The park I walk at is on top of a very high hill. One section of the park has a total view of the freeway from above. On this particular Sunday, the weather was so great that I stopped to watch the traffic moving on the freeway. What caught my eyes was the number of the trucks on the road going both directions on the Santa Ana freeway, a major freeway called the “5”. I remembered from my college days in the economics class when we were told “Mobility is Prosperity”. Many trucks were moving down there, and I remembered that what drives prices is demand. What do trucks use to move? Diesel Fuel!
As soon as I got home I went on the internet and looked at the price history of the diesel fuel. Look at the chart below. From April 2007 when our economy was expanding and goods were moving, trucks were moving, using diesel fuel. The prices were rising due to the high demand, up until August 2008 just when we had reached the height of the growth and just before the Prime Loan CRASH. Then, as the chart shows, the prices plummeted because goods stopped moving via the trucks. As a result, prices that had reached $4.80 per gallon of diesel fuel took a steep nose-dive to $2.00 per gallon, indicating a 59% price drop, reflecting the recession that is affecting us all.
Now step forward to May 2009 and see the chart showing prices that are moving steadily up from the low of $2.00 to $2.60. Prices are moving up and that should be an indication that we are moving toward recovery slowly but surely. It is not going to be an overnight happening, but slow is good.
Who needs economists to tell us what the economy is doing. On your way to work every day as you pass the gas station, check out the diesel fuel prices on display. You have your own economic gauge of what is happening and how things are getting better. As the diesel fuel prices rise, more goods are being shipped. That means prosperity is back via mobility and the recession is retiring. Now I have my own economic gauge and can check it out on my morning drive.
Every day we hear a different analysis of our economy and the world regarding when we will be out of this stubborn recession. Experts each have their ideas and give us all the economic models they have to predict the recovery.
I was on my 8 mile walk one Sunday morning at our neighborhood park. The park I walk at is on top of a very high hill. One section of the park has a total view of the freeway from above. On this particular Sunday, the weather was so great that I stopped to watch the traffic moving on the freeway. What caught my eyes was the number of the trucks on the road going both directions on the Santa Ana freeway, a major freeway called the “5”. I remembered from my college days in the economics class when we were told “Mobility is Prosperity”. Many trucks were moving down there, and I remembered that what drives prices is demand. What do trucks use to move? Diesel Fuel!
As soon as I got home I went on the internet and looked at the price history of the diesel fuel. Look at the chart below. From April 2007 when our economy was expanding and goods were moving, trucks were moving, using diesel fuel. The prices were rising due to the high demand, up until August 2008 just when we had reached the height of the growth and just before the Prime Loan CRASH. Then, as the chart shows, the prices plummeted because goods stopped moving via the trucks. As a result, prices that had reached $4.80 per gallon of diesel fuel took a steep nose-dive to $2.00 per gallon, indicating a 59% price drop, reflecting the recession that is affecting us all.
Now step forward to May 2009 and see the chart showing prices that are moving steadily up from the low of $2.00 to $2.60. Prices are moving up and that should be an indication that we are moving toward recovery slowly but surely. It is not going to be an overnight happening, but slow is good.
Who needs economists to tell us what the economy is doing. On your way to work every day as you pass the gas station, check out the diesel fuel prices on display. You have your own economic gauge of what is happening and how things are getting better. As the diesel fuel prices rise, more goods are being shipped. That means prosperity is back via mobility and the recession is retiring. Now I have my own economic gauge and can check it out on my morning drive.
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