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The spikey red foliage shrub, a yellow gerbera and the white allysum were already there. I added pink Shizanthas (poor man's orchid), one pink petunia and one purple one, the orange (ganzia?) flower, and a cute little blue violet.
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Hang tight!
Recipe by SMILEYBLAKE
"This is a quick and easy morning or afternoon snack. I use the regular size muffin pans but fill them enough 1/3 full, but may adjust the amount of filling to suit your taste."
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1/2 pound ground pork sausage
12 eggs, beaten
1/2 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers, drained
1 small onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
Good recipe. I left out the chiles and garlic powder. Used bacon and ham, added 1/2 cup shredded cheddar, 1 diced tomato (fresh from the garden), hot sauce, 2 green onions (instead of yellow) and topped with parmesan cheese. Next time I'd leave out the salt (plenty in the meat and cheese). Nice change for breakfast. Made one dozen regular muffins, and 24 mini muffins.
These were just ok. They were missing something... maybe adding some cheese and salsa would have given them that extra flavor to make them great.
89 Ratings
I tried this recipe and it came out pretty good. The only thing I will definitely add next time is more cheese. I also added some milk to the recipe to give it a fluffier consistency. Other than that, will try again. What I like most about this recipe is that it can be tweaked to my specifications, add bell pepper or mushroom, use bacon instead of sausage. I will keep in the recipe box for future use. Thanks!
Yum! I'm on a low carb diet and was looking for something to snack on or take for a light lunch. These turned out really good. They took a little longer to bake, about 30 minutes. I used green onion instead of yellow onion and added about 2 tbsps of salsa instead of the chile peppers. I added a splash of hot sauce too. These would probably be even better with some cheese sprinkled on top!.. Gotta try that next time!!
A really easy, great tasting idea for breakfast. I used a spicy sausage to give it more flavor. It was a huge hit with my two non-stop eating sons.
After reading other reviews I changed this up a little myself. I used bacon instead of sausage (my husband likes bacon a lot more).. I added some shredded cheddar cheese (about 1/2 c), hot sauce (2 tbsp), and instead of eggs I used the southwestern egg beaters (3 c = 12 eggs).. I had a little left over after I filled the muffin tins but I just scrambled them up and fed them to my husband. It was delicious!
Just an update...these where a huge hit! I've made them over and over again. I put out bowls of shredded cheese, salsa, and melted nacho cheese sauce...I've also drizzled them with hollandaise sauce. This is my no fail breakfast for overnight guests...THANKS!!
SO much fun and so easy!! I made these in a mini muffin pan so they were easier to eat and made a fast breakfast on the run!! They really reheat well, and I look forward to experimenting with the ingredients next time by adding bacon and ham!! Thanks for a great breakfast recipe!!
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Sausage Egg Muffins
Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe Servings Per Recipe: 12 Amount Per Serving Calories: 155 Calories from Fat: 113
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A cheesy egg casserole with a simple crescent roll crust.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: The Houston Studio served unofficially as state government photographer and many of the photographs in this collection (c. 1921-1963, 15 cubic feet) are government related. Subjects include legislative groups (1931-1963), state government buildings (especially the State House), and state employees at work. There are many photos of governors (c.1928-1944) participating in various events and activities (signing bills, helping with the WWII civilian effort). Other subjects include airports and airplanes, automobiles, trucks and service stations, churches and church groups, fraternal orders, bands and orchestras, businesses and buildings, New Deal projects (CCC, WPA, NYA, VERA), town views, and Mount Mansfield. The photographs are taken primarily in Montpelier, Stowe and Waterbury. There are panoramic photos (c.1929-1937) of legislators, a summer camp, and landscapes.


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Topic: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score? (Read 36181 times)
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Getbig V
Posts: 7935
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #100 on:
October 31, 2010, 08:17:17 PM »
I shake my head when people talk about paying only the minimum payment on their credit cards while continuing to make large purchases
my arrangement is that my credit card is completely paid off every month automatically from the same account into which my pay is deposited
this works great when I'm out of the country or not paying attention to the calendar
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #101 on:
November 07, 2010, 11:27:49 AM »
Credit scores to be revised amid soaring mortgage defaults
Changes in consumer behavior mean that borrowers who were once considered outstanding credit risks may no longer be so today.
By Kenneth R. Harney
With foreclosures soaring and homeowners with unblemished payment histories abruptly walking away from their houses with no warning to lenders the two major producers of credit scores have begun changing how they evaluate consumers' risks of default. The revisions could affect you the next time you apply for a loan.
In late October, both Fair Isaac Corp., developer of the FICO score, which dominates the mortgage field, and VantageScore Solutions, a joint venture by the three national credit bureaus and marketer of the competing VantageScore, outlined modifications they were making to handle the vast credit disruptions caused by the housing bust, the recession, high unemployment and behavioral changes by consumers.
Overall, credit industry experts agree, consumer creditworthiness has deteriorated in the U.S. since 2006 especially among what used to be considered the credit elite, people with the highest scores. For example, a study this year by VantageScore found that the probability of serious delinquency defined as nonpayment for 90 days or more had increased 417% among "super-prime" borrowers between June 2007 and June 2009. Default risk during the same period rose 406% for the second-highest-rated category of "prime" consumers, and nearly doubled for those at the "near prime" scoring level.
The driving force behind the score revisions, according to Sarah Davies, VantageScore's senior vice president for analytics and research, is the "significant change in consumer credit repayment behavior" that began during the housing bust and recession.
Not only are borrowers who previously were rated outstanding credit risks far more likely to default today, she said, but many homeowners are defying long-standing credit industry assumptions by going delinquent on their first mortgage payments while continuing to pay their credit card balances and second mortgages on time. Strategic defaults, or walkaways, by high-score borrowers also have been an unexpected development, she said.
To adjust its statistical models to these new realities, VantageScore says it conducted intensive research on 45 million active credit files obtained from the databases of its joint venture partners, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The research examined the same files with personal identifiers removed during set time periods between 2006 and 2009 to capture emerging behavioral patterns associated with defaults on various types of credit accounts. The resulting VantageScore 2.0, which is expected to be rolled out nationwide to lenders in January, focuses on the subtle warning signs of credit stress that might have been missed earlier and penalizes or rewards consumers with higher or lower risk scores than they would have received before.
Joanne Gaskin, director of mortgage scoring solutions for Fair Isaac, said her company's new FICO 8 Mortgage Score was based on similarly exhaustive research into consumer credit behavior changes over the last four years. When used by a lender to rate the risk of new applicants or existing mortgage customers, Gaskin says, the Mortgage Score is likely to be 15% to 25% more accurate in detecting signs of future default compared with the standard FICO model.
Though she would not discuss proprietary details about the early warning signs the new score monitors, Gaskin gave an example of how the new score might work: Say a borrower with a 720 FICO score has average balances on a first mortgage, home equity lines and other accounts that are higher than norms pinpointed by the revised scoring software. A 720 FICO is considered a good score by most mortgage lenders, often qualifying for favorable rates and terms. However, the same applicant might rate just a 680 FICO or lower if the lender used the new Mortgage Score. The lender would then have a choice: Reject the applicant, quote a higher interest rate on the mortgage or require a larger down payment.
Gaskin said the reverse could also occur: The FICO 8 Mortgage Score could come in higher than the standard FICO indicating lower risk for the future in situations where formerly troubled borrowers manage to put themselves back on a healthier credit track.
Experts in the credit industry say the new scoring efforts by Fair Isaac and VantageScore should prove to be a net positive for the housing and mortgage industries if they can do what they claim: spot subtle risk patterns and nascent hints of improvement.
But as a mortgage applicant you should know that your next score might not look anything like the score you thought you had. You might end up getting a better deal or worse than you wanted when lenders quote you rates and terms.
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Getbig II
Posts: 48
I'm a llama!
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #102 on:
November 15, 2010, 02:45:29 PM »
I love how everyone in this country is conditioned to care about their FICO score and how some company "rates" you in life, like they're some moral judge on your character. I used to be that way until you realize that having good credit is highly overrated. Many people will ruin their finances trying to "afford" a good credit score. Aside from gaining employment, all that having good credit does is allow you to go in debt. Pay for your stuff with cash, you'll be way better off.
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #103 on:
November 15, 2010, 11:39:51 PM »
If you choose to believe having a good credit score is overrated that is your prerogative, but your choice will not change the fact that the credit score you generate is based on your repayment history and use of the credit you already have. It also tells potential creditors something about you that they really want to know: how likely is it that this person will repay me in a timely manner?
As explained previously in this thread, the credit score does not just determine whether or not you will be extended credit (for a car, home, boat, cell phone, credit card, etc.), it also determines
how much
credit you will be extended and how much interest you will be charged for that credit; if you have a low score you will be charged more.
Similarly, employers now often screen job candidates via their credit score. People with low scores are often rejected in favor of people with higher scores. Finally, many other services that you never think about are tied to your credit score. Car insurance is just one example; if you have a good score your insurance rates are lower. Insurance companies don't talk about this, but it is true; it is true for a number of other vendors as well.
Computers have enabled the examination of conjunctive histories and all manner of number crunching; for better or worse the credit score is not going away. It will be used more and morenot less. You can acknowledge this reality and act accordingly or stick your head in the sand. The choice is yours. You and Thin Lizzy appear to be of the same mind. Perhaps you can start a club (for people in credit score denial).
Quote from: Thin Lizzy on February 25, 2008, 09:55:49 AM
Credit scores were the primary determining factor for giving out sub-prime loans. How'd that work out?
Going forward, I think you're going to see your beloved credit scores not meaning squat.
As for paying for your stuff with cash, if you ever plan to own a decent car, a home, or other significant amenities, well, good luck with that.
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Getbig II
Posts: 48
I'm a llama!
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #104 on:
November 16, 2010, 10:29:41 AM »
I do understand and agree with some of your points on having good credit. My main point is that most people should be less concerned with whether or not they can borrow money from "potential creditors" and rather learn to pay for things on their own. A lot of people are far more worried about having a great credit score vs actually living within their means.
As far as a house/car/etc... You can buy a house without using credit whatsoever - it's not easy but their are programs out there. And for a car? Save up money and buy a car outright. You shouldn't have to spend 5-7 years paying off a depreciating asset. If you have to, then you aren't living within your means.
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #105 on:
November 16, 2010, 05:17:25 PM »
Given its potential to save or cost you money, people should indeed be worried about having a great credit score. Paying attention to your score and living within ones means are not mutually exclusive.
As for buying a house without credit whatsoever . . . good luck with that.
Save for the ultra wealthy, I do not know anyone who has done that. Certainly, no one visiting a site like getbig is likely to do that so whom exactly are you trying to convince?
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Time Out
Getbig IV
Posts: 1395
I love myself a lot.
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #106 on:
November 17, 2010, 03:11:37 AM »
hot chix = bad credit
like law of gravity
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Getbig II
Posts: 48
I'm a llama!
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #107 on:
November 17, 2010, 11:00:59 AM »
I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, but it is definitely possible to buy a house without using credit. You sound like you're in the credit repair business or something along those lines. How about every time you see the word "credit", just replace it with "debt". All of your posts on here seem to emphasize the same idea: that people need to stress out and make sure their credit score is high enough so that they can go in debt.
Having good credit is similar to fat people taking high blood pressure medicine. All they're doing is going after the symptoms, rather than the problem - losing weight. If people actually saved their money and planned for expenses, they wouldn't need to borrow money, put "emergencies" on a credit card, finance a car, etc. Now I don't advocate that people not pay their bills and try to have a BAD credit score, but all the energy and focus that you/society puts on having a GOOD score would be better used to go towards learning how to budget and save and not rely on creditors and banks loaning you money.
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #108 on:
November 19, 2010, 08:05:05 AM »
Five Best Strategies to Protect Your Credit Score Over the Holidays
When most of us do our holiday shopping, we're thinking about how to score that hot doorbuster deal on Black Friday, or we're trying to remember which size the kids are these days. What we're probably not thinking about is our credit score.
But your credit score is one of the most important components of your financial life, and it pays -- literally -- to guard it carefully, since the rates you pay on credit cards, car loans and even your mortgage are determined by that number. As a consumer, there are certain things you can do and choices you can make during the holiday shopping season that can keep your credit score from taking a beating.
"It's a very emotional time for a lot of people," points out Laura Creamer, financial education specialist at credit counseling group CredAbility in Atlanta. "They forget healthy [credit] habits from before," she says. But the financial choices you make when the malls are bedecked with festive accents and twinkling lights can have an impact on your credit score long after you've hauled that dried-out Christmas tree to the curb.
If you want to keep your credit score as healthy as possible this holiday season, take a look at these five ways you can do just that.
Know your limits
"Be sure you know what your credit limits are," advises Natalie Lohrenz, director of counseling at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County in Santa Ana, Calif. "A lot of people have had their credit limits lowered because the banks have all pulled back quite a bit." Unless you check your statements carefully, you might not have noticed that your credit limit's been lowered.
Keeping your limit in mind can help you keep your utilization low (more about that in the next section) and keep you from going over your credit limit, potentially incurring big charges as well as dragging down your credit score. You can get all your current credit information by ordering a copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), MyFICO.com or annualcreditreport.com (provided you haven't used this free service within the last year).
Don't max out your cards
A full 30% of your credit score is calculated based on your utilization ratio, which is basically how much of your available credit -- on each card individually, as well as in total -- has been spent at any given time. Having high utilization, or cards that are either near their limits or already maxed out, takes a steep toll on your credit score.
While some experts say you can get away with a utilization ratio of 30%, Barry Paperno, consumer operations manager for MyFICO.com, says the actual number for an optimal credit score is far lower. "On average, 7% is the ratio for high FICO achievers," he says.
When you're debating which card to use for a holiday purchase, Paperno says your utilization ratio should be a factor, especially if you plan to pay the balance in full (which would free you from being as concerned about the APR). If you're going to drop $500 on your purchases, all other things being equal, you want to reach for the card with the $5,000 worth of available credit instead of the one with just $1,000 of available credit.
Watch out for those store cards
Thinking about giving in to that store cashier's request to open a store credit card? "Keep in mind that if you're saving 10% on the purchase but you're paying 30% interest over six months, you're not going to be saving any money," says Paperno.
It's advice that can be easy for many of us to forget in the rush to finish our shopping and rack up as many discounts as possible. In the case of store cards, those discounts can hurt you a few ways. First, they might tempt you to overspend, and higher - and low limits, which means it's easier to max out the card and skew your utilization ratio into a score-unfriendly zone. And even if you don't get it, just applying for a card can ding you by a few points, adds CredAbility's Creamer, and a new credit account will pull down your score for around six months. If you sign up for a store card to get that discount, ask yourself this: Will you be wearing that scarf or playing with that electronic gadget come June? That's how long opening that card will impact your score.
Do big-ticket shopping in one fell swoop
We're all familiar with the commercials that show a person presenting a loved one with the keys to a shiny new car topped with a bow. If a grand gesture like this is in your plans for the year, do all your rate shopping within a two-week period to avoid lowering your credit score, says Creamer. That's because your score takes a slight hit every time you request credit, which includes asking for a rate from a bank, credit union or car dealership. The formula is "smart" enough to figure out that if you have a slew of requests at the same time for the same size loan, you're probably rate shopping, and it combines them into a single inquiry. But if you scatter those rate requests over a lengthier period, they'll each count individually, which could lower your score and hurt your chances of getting the best rate on those new wheels.
Avoid the payment-skipping option
Maybe you think your credit card issuer is being generous when it offers to let you skip a payment over the holidays. In reality, says Lohrenz, this action could wind up costing both you and your credit score big. When issuers offer this deal to you, they're not really cutting you a break; they're just racking up even more in interest charges that you'll owe them down the line.
If you're already right at your credit limit, this seemingly "helpful" offer could put you over your limit, triggering both fees and a negative impact on your credit score because your utilization ratio for that card will be upside-down. "Obviously, that's costing you money," Lohrenz says. Skipping payments might seem like a freebie, but it's not.
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #109 on:
November 24, 2010, 07:55:02 AM »
Your Credit Score Matters More Than You Think
by Jim Wang
In many of my recent columns I've been writing a lot about credit reports and credit scores. Most of us don't need to be reminded of the importance of reviewing credit reports and fixing any errors, we know that keeping a clean and accurate credit report is important.
If you're one of the many Americans who already own your home and a car (or don't plan on buying either in the near future), you probably think that your credit score itself isn't that important. If you aren't getting a loan in the near future, why should you worry about your score? Unfortunately,
your credit score is more important than you think and is being used by many institutions to help make decisions about you.
You "borrow" from a lot of institutions without explicitly borrowing money and those institutions often check your credit to decide if they want to do business with you. If you are currently renting where you live, your landlord almost certainly checked your credit history and used that to decide whether or not to rent to you.
If you have a good credit score, they probably asked for a smaller security deposit or reduced other fees. If you had a weaker score, or no score, they may have asked for more to offset the additional risk. If you're wondering what you borrowed from them, you borrowed the right to live in that home. The worst case for a landlord is to not be able to collect rent and be forced to go through the eviction process, which in some states can take many months. That's a risk they try to avoid and a credit report helps them do that.
If you're looking for a job, some employers are allowed to use your credit history to determine how safe of a candidate you are. While it's been shown that there's no relationship between a bad score and being untrustworthy, some employers, unless barred by law, are still using it to help them decide whether or not to hire a candidate. The last thing you want to do is have a missed payment cost you a job.
Those are just a few of the unexpected ways that a bad credit score can hurt you but fortunately you can do something about it. Be diligent about reviewing your credit reports and fixing any errors and inaccuracies. If you've been checking regularly and have seen no errors, keep up with it. Sometimes errors appear when you least expect them.
I've been reviewing my credit report for years and only just recently did I see a major problem (an unrelated account, which was behind on payments, appeared in my Experian report earlier this year), so stay on top of it. You can check your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
If you're curious, there are ways for you to check your credit score for free if you're willing to sign up for some trials. I would avoid dealing with companies that aren't Fair Isaac Corporation (makers of the FICO score) or one of the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). Fair Isaac's consumer facing company is MyFICO and you can often find plenty of MyFICO promotion codes.
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Getbig II
Posts: 156
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #110 on:
November 29, 2010, 01:56:23 PM »
Some suckers are willing to get pussy out of debt only to get fucked themselves in the end. Meaning, you'd be broke yourself before you ever get laid.
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #111 on:
January 24, 2011, 01:46:03 PM »
New Twist: Your Credit Score Is a 'Ranking,' Not a 'Rating'
by Diane Tuman
If you're a responsible consumer and pay your bills on time, you don't run up exorbitant credit card debt, and you have a healthy credit mix, you probably assume your fabulous credit score of say, 760, is solid and safe. That is, until you go to apply for a home loan, or car loan and see that your credit score is actually more like 720 now. Or, maybe your credit score hasn't changed, but you are now denied a loan that you were able to get a year ago with that same, fabulous score.
So, what happened?
Yuliya Demyanyk, a senior research economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, provides this fascinating finding about credit scores:
Your credit score is not a
of your credit worthiness, but rather a
of your credit worthiness compared to the rest of the U.S. population at a specific point in time.
In other words, when your credit score changes even if your credit behavior doesn't change it's because your rank order compared to the rest of the population has shifted. For example, if the rest of your fellow Americans are paying more of their bills faster than you, this will affect your rank and your score. Conversely, if your fellow Americans slip in their payments, your credit score and rank will rise. So, even if you do everything right, you are thrown into the mix with the rest of the population and your score/ranking is affected by what everyone else is doing.
Hidden Data Point Credit Risk vs. Credit Worthiness
An additional component of your credit score is your credit worthiness. This is a data point that predicts the likeliness that you will pay your bills on time or fall behind in payments. You won't see this number since it's part of a credit-reporting bureau's secret, credit-scoring model, but this is important to lenders who make the assessment of whether to loan you the money. Like it or not, it is an indication of your level of risk to a lender: "What kind of track record does this person have in paying loans on time?"
Another thing to understand is that the relationship between credit score and credit risk is dynamic and changes over time. So the risk associated with a 700 score last year is not the same as the risk with a credit score of 700 this year. And it's risk that the lender fundamentally cares about, not the score.
Also, even though your credit score and credit worthiness might be stable, conditions beyond your control market conditions, a bad recession could affect everyone's credit worthiness, not just yours. This is certainly true today in our financial crisis that has affected major aspects of our economy namely, jobs and housing. So, that fabulous credit score that got you loans in the past may have changed as the "bar" for a good score shifts upwards and out of reach as lenders pull in and loan less.
How Your Credit Score Is Calculated:
For the most part, credit scores are generated from one of three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Each of these bureaus collects credit information on you and then applies a statistical algorithm to calculate your credit score (the Fair Isaac Corporation was the first to create such a score which is why credit scores are still oftentimes referred to as FICO scores). Each of the bureau's scores will vary slightly because they each have their own proprietary methods to track customer credit behavior and use different methods for collecting data on you. Recently, the three bureaus have gotten together and created a common score call the VantageScore, which is common across the three bureaus.
Factors That Affect Your Credit Score:
35% Payment history
Lenders look at your payment history on all your accounts; the length of your positive credit history and how long you have gone without a negative item; whether there are any severe unpaid debts like bankruptcies or foreclosures; and the number and severity of delinquencies in your credit history.
30% Amounts Owed
Too many credit accounts and a high ratio of credit balances to credit limits can affect your score. Also affecting your score is the amount of debt on each account and the level of debt paid off on term accounts.
15% Length of Credit History
Longer credit histories result in higher scores. Important factors incorporated into credit scores are: length of credit history, length of time specific accounts have been open, and the duration of time since each account was last used.
10% New Credit
Credit scores track consumers who suddenly take on new debt and potentially overextend themselves, by checking to see when the last time a consumer opened an account and how many accounts were opened and by looking at the number of inquires on the consumer's credit reports.
10% Types of Credit Used
The type of credit you have plays an important role in determining your credit score. A "healthy mix" of installment loans (mortgage payment, auto loan) and revolving credit from banks is considered better for your score.
What's a good credit score?
Scores may range from around 300 to 900 (VantageScore) with the average credit score in America being around 720. Here is an approximate range of how credit scores are judged:
Excellent credit = 720 and above
Good credit = 660 to 719
Fair credit = 620 to 659
Poor/bad credit = 619 and below
For anecdotal evidence of your good credit standing, if you notice you are receiving a lot of zero percent credit card or lines of credit offers, you are probably in pretty good shape.
In conclusion, having a high credit score is still very important in getting the best mortgage rate, and you should be guided by the factors that make up your credit score. But, since you are ranked against the rest of the population and financial conditions also impact credit worthiness, improving your credit score is not always within your control.
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #112 on:
February 21, 2011, 08:01:29 PM »
Healing a Wounded Credit Score
By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD
Millions of consumers have fallen out of favor with the credit scoring gods.
Some lost their jobs or were just overwhelmed by mounting debt. Others got caught up in the real estate bubble or had major medical bills. Whatever the reason, the rising number of foreclosures, short sales, late credit card payments and the ultimate credit sin bankruptcies have left black marks on credit reports most everywhere.
So what can these people do to repair their credit?
The simple answer is to focus on the information that is used to generate the all-powerful FICO score the measure used most frequently by traditional lenders to determine creditworthiness. Its scale runs from 300 points to 850 points; the higher the score, the better your credit standing. FICO is still the 500-pound gorilla, said John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com. In 2011, the best way to get credit from the mainstream lenders is to have a good FICO score.
Consumers can hope that the banks will eventually consider alternatives to the traditional FICO score, which was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation and has been in wide use for about two decades. After all, as banks regain their appetite for lending, they will be looking for ways to differentiate between borrowers with the same scores, some of whom are temporarily struggling and others who chronically have trouble with money.
For now, though, the FICO score reigns. The best antidote to a poor score is time. Still, there are a half dozen ways to speed the process, or, at the least, avoid even more credit trouble.
What to Do...
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #113 on:
May 03, 2011, 04:57:10 PM »
New FICO tool claims ability to ID borrowers who may walk away from mortgages
By Kimberly Miller
Homeowners who strategically default on their mortgages hope to fly under the radar, living payment-free while their foreclosure wends its way through the courts a years-long process in some cases.
But the nation's leading credit-scoring company says it has developed a better way to identify borrowers who can afford to pay their mortgage but choose foreclosure instead.
FICO's new analytical tool, which combines such factors as spending habits, changes in a person's debt and housing depreciation, is heralded as a way to ferret out borrowers making a business decision to walk away versus homeowners who truly can no longer afford their mortgage. FICO claims to be able to make this distinction before a borrower is even in default.
For banks, identifying strategic default borrowers early can help them make decisions on how to handle the delinquencies, including what kind of language to use during phone calls, and whether to pursue deficiency judgments.
A study released in March by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that 35 percent of mortgage defaults in September were strategic, compared with 26 percent in March 2009.
"It's critical for the mortgage servicer to understand the motivation, particularly while the borrower is still current on the loan, so they can take preventative action," said Joanne Gaskin, FICO's director of mortgage markets. "It's important to make sure the consumer understands the implications of walking away. They might not be aware of the continued liability."
A hit of 150 or more points to a person's credit score can be expected from foreclosure, FICO estimates. Also, in Florida, a lender has five years to file for a deficiency judgment and up to 20 years to collect.
A Palm Beach Post analysis of deficiency judgments showed only 133 claims were filed between April 2006 and November 2010 on foreclosed residential properties in Palm Beach County. But experts said more may be coming as banks work through the bulk of foreclosures or even sell the claims to debt collection companies.
Mark Stopa, a Tampa-based foreclosure defense attorney and proponent of strategic default, said financial institutions are just trying to scare homeowners, discouraging strategic defaults by convincing borrowers they are easily identifiable targets.
"Strategic default is a sound business decision for many people," Stopa said. "Bankers try to make it about morality, but they have to realize that there is an overwhelming incentive at this point for people to strategically default."
That's because home values have sunk so much from their boom-time prices. In Palm Beach County, the median price for an existing home in March was $186,500, down 52 percent from the March 2006 median price of $393,700, according to Florida Realtors reports.
Traditionally, banks have used only the degree of home price depreciation when determining whether a default is strategic. FICO said its new tool considers other characteristics and looks for someone with a good credit history and a low credit-card balance who has lived a short time in the home and has opened new credit in the past six months.
West Palm Beach resident Anthony Armenti, 59, fits some of those characteristics. He also has seen his home value plummet from his 2006 purchase price of $274,100 to a total market value today of $77,000.
Retired, Armenti can afford the payments, but he's also scrimping a little on other things and using coupons.
"I never had to live like that before," said Armenti, who has considered a strategic default. "I don't really need a credit score anymore. It would mean $1,600 in my pocket every month."
But Armenti said he won't walk away.
"I won't do it because it's not the right thing to do for the United States," he said.
But banks are preparing for people who don't share Armenti's sentiment.
Gaskin said loan servicers are grooming teams of employees on how to deal with strategic defaulters.
"Specialists should be trained to engage in a pragmatic, rational discussion that corresponds to and joins with the thinking process in which these customers are already engaged," said a FICO report about its new product. "They can help work through the alternatives and trade-offs to make a decision that potential strategic defaulters regard as less of a moral nature than a purely financial one."
The result of more strategic defaults is a continued decrease in home values, Gaskin said.
Howard Dolginoff, a member of the homeowners association board for the Grand Isles community in Wellington, has a stake in home values stabilizing. He knows of 18 homes in foreclosure in his neighborhood.
Selling for more than $500,000 in 2005, some homes are now valued at less than $300,000. Dolginoff said he understands why someone would strategically default.
"I try not to be too judgmental about this stuff," said Dolginoff, who bought in 2000. "I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't recommend it. I don't know if it's a moral thing or just personal pride."
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #114 on:
May 16, 2011, 06:10:41 AM »
Credit Error? It Pays to Be on V.I.P. List
By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD
The credit rating bureaus, whose reports influence everything from credit cards to mortgages to job offers, have a two-tiered system for resolving errors one for the rich, the well-connected, the well-known and the powerful, and the other for everyone else.
The three major agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, keep a V.I.P. list of sorts, according to consumer lawyers and legal documents, consisting of celebrities, politicians, judges and other influential people. Those on the list and they may not even realize they are on it get special help from workers in the United States in fixing mistakes on their credit reports. Any errors are usually corrected immediately, one lawyer said.
For everyone else, disputes are herded into a largely automated system. Their complaints are often electronically ferried to a subcontractor overseas, where a worker spends, on average, about two minutes figuring out the gist of the matter, boiling it down to a one-to-three-digit computer code that signifies the problem account not his/hers, for example and sending a dispute form to the creditor to investigate. Many times, consumer advocates say, the investigation translates to a perfunctory check of its records.
The legal responsibility of the credit reporting agencies and of the creditors is well established, said Leonard Bennett, a consumer lawyer in Newport News, Va. There is a requirement that they do meaningful research and analysis, and it is almost never done.
Consumers who have trouble fixing errors through the dispute process can quickly find themselves trapped in a Kafkaesque no mans land, where the only escape is through the court system.
You are guilty before you are proven innocent in a situation like this, said Catherine Taylor, 45, of Benton, Ark., who said she had been denied employment and credit because her filing was mixed up with a felon who had the same name and birthday.
Judy Johnson of Bossier City, La., was confused with a less creditworthy Judith Johnson, with a similar address and Social Security number. For nearly seven years, Judy Johnson, a 63-year-old credit manager for a building supply company, said she tried to remove the black marks from her credit report. But when she was denied a credit card, she knew the problem had returned a third time. This time, I was livid, she said.
She ultimately brought a suit against one of the bureaus, and recently settled for an amount she cannot disclose. But the problems still linger. A deputy sheriff recently came to her door to serve her papers for a debt she says she does not owe.
The credit rating bureaus, private-sector companies that each attempt to track all American consumers credit use, have grown much more powerful over the last couple of decades as credit has become a crucial cog in the nations financial system. Their reports are used to formulate the all-powerful credit score, which lenders use to determine creditworthiness.
But as the bureaus work has become more important, consumer advocates say, regulation has not kept up, in large part because their overseer, the Federal Trade Commission, lacks broad authority. That could change once responsibility for the credit bureaus shifts to the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which will be able to write rules and examine the credit agencies policies.
The bureaus, meanwhile, do not have an economic incentive to improve the system, consumer advocates say, because their main customers are the creditors, not consumers.
There is no neutrality in the credit reporting agencies, said John Ulzheimer, who has been an expert witness in more than 80 credit-related cases and is president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com. They work for the lenders who buy credit reports from them, and anyone who suggests otherwise is not being intellectually honest.
When asked about the V.I.P. category, TransUnion said all consumers have the ability to speak to a live representative. Equifax said consumers who received a free copy of their credit report were provided with a number for customer service.
Experian denied that it had V.I.P. lists. But a spokeswoman did say that prominent people deemed high risk like politicians in an election year might have their credit files taken offline so that creditors or other companies making inquiries could not get access without the bureaus permission. Experian said those people did not receive any other special handling.
David Szwak, a consumer lawyer in Shreveport, La., who has handled dozens of credit cases, said that the V.I.P. designation and preferential treatment did exist at Experian, and he provided sworn testimony from former Experian employees that the category existed.
Estimates of credit reports with serious errors vary widely, anywhere from 3 to 25 percent. A recent study, paid for by the Consumer Data Industry Association, the trade group for the bureaus, found potential errors in 19.2 percent of reports, but said that less than 1 percent of them had disputes that, when settled, resulted in a meaningful increase in scores. Even 1 percent translates into millions of consumers, since there are at least 200 million files at each of the bureaus.
The F.T.C. is expected to deliver a nationwide study on credit report accuracy next year that could provide more clarity. It could also include recommendations for legislative action.
The volume of disputes has been rising as consumers borrow more and gain greater access to credit reports. The automated system was a response to that. A spokesman for the trade group said most consumers received an answer within 14 days.
Experian is the only bureau that still processes disputes in the United States, experts said, though most complaints wind their way through the same online system unless the dispute involves a V.I.P.
They get a lot more high-end treatment, said Mr. Szwak, the lawyer, who has read the bureaus internal procedure manuals and deposed or cross-examined employees. The biggest difference at TransUnion and Equifax, lawyers said, is that V.I.P.s disputes are specially handled domestically. Regular consumers files, meanwhile, may get priority treatment if they involve a time-sensitive issue, like a mortgage pending, or if the consumer is represented by a lawyer or dealing with fraud.
Last year, new rules went into effect to strengthen existing regulations on the accuracy of reports. The rules also allow consumers to dispute errors directly with the creditor. But critics say the rule lacks any teeth because consumers dont have the right to sue the companies. (Individuals can, however, sue the bureaus and creditors after lodging a dispute through their system.)
But the problem, advocates say, is that consumers cannot vote with their feet. They cannot remove their information from the bureaus, said Chi Chi Wu, a staff lawyer at the National Consumer Law Center, who wrote a report on the automated dispute process in 2009, or take their business elsewhere.
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #115 on:
August 05, 2011, 04:23:52 PM »
This is really scary!
Extreme debtors
The government isn't the only one with a debt problem. These seven people are drowning in debt and many don't see a light at the end of the tunnel.
So many people are drowning in debt these days with no prospect of ever getting out from under it. Something's got to give.
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Getbig V
Posts: 16796
Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #116 on:
April 01, 2012, 10:40:29 PM »
Senior citizens continue to bear burden of student loans
By Ylan Q. Mui
The burden of paying for college is wreaking havoc on the finances of an unexpected demographic: senior citizens.
New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that Americans 60 and older still owe about $36 billion in student loans, providing a rare window into the dynamics of student debt. More than 10 percent of those loans are delinquent. As a result, consumer advocates say, it is not uncommon for Social Security checks to be garnished or for debt collectors to harass borrowers in their 80s over student loans that are decades old.
That even seniors remain saddled with student loans highlights what a growing chorus of lawmakers, economists and financial experts say has become a central conflict in the nations higher education system: The long-touted benefits of a college degree are being diluted by rising tuition rates and the longevity of debt.
Some of these older Americans are still grappling with their first wave of student loans, while others took on new debt when they returned to school later in life in hopes of becoming more competitive in the labor force. Many have co-signed for loans with their children or grandchildren to help them afford ballooning tuition.
The recent recession exacerbated this problem, making it harder for older Americans or the youths they are supporting in school to get good-paying jobs. And unlike other debts, student loans cannot be shed in bankruptcy. As a result, some older Americans have found that a college degree led not to a prosperous career but instead to a lifetime under the shadow of debt.
A student loan can be a debt thats kind of like a ball and chain that you can drag to the grave, said William E. Brewer, president of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. You can unhook it when they lay you in the coffin.
Sandy Barnett, 58, of Illinois thought she was doing the right thing when she decided to pursue a masters degree in clinical psychology in the late 1980s. She had worked her way through college but said she took out a loan of about $21,000 to pay for graduate school so she would have more time to focus on her studies.
But even after earning her masters, Barnett struggled to find a job that paid more than $25,000 a year and soon fell behind on her payments. She suffered through a layoff, a stretch of unemployment and the death of her husband while her student loan ballooned to roughly $54,000.
Barnett filed for bankruptcy in 2005, but she couldnt get out from under her student loan debt. She said a collection agency began garnishing the wages from her full-time job as a customer service representative a year ago, and now money is so tight that she must choose between buying gas and buying food. An air conditioner for her mobile home is an unimaginable luxury.
I shake my head every day at the thought that Im working for nothing, Barnett said. Its really a black hole because theres no end in sight.
A college degree has traditionally been viewed as a virtual guarantee of a better-paying job and a higher standard of living. And on the whole, that remains true. The unemployment rate for Americans with only a high school education is 9.2 percent more than double the rate for those with college degrees. The median weekly earnings for high school graduates last year was $638, according to government data, compared with $1,053 for college grads.
But with the recent recession prompting layoffs at white-collar law firms and investment banks as well as auto plants and construction companies, more Americans are finding themselves out of work and deep in debt. At a Senate subcommittee hearing last week, Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said the cost of higher learning should reflect the quality of education received.
Many students havent been able to earn a return that justifies the expense, he said.
Over the past decade, the cost of college rose between 2 and 6 percent per year, depending on the type of institution, according to the College Board.
Meanwhile, the New York Fed estimates that Americans owed $870 billion in student loans during the third quarter of last year, significantly outpacing credit card debt or auto loans. Borrowers age 60 and above accounted for 5percent of that debt. The share for Americans age 50 and older is 17 percent.
In some cases, student debt has been a burden for even financially responsible older Americans.
Maxine Bass, 60, of Minnesota said her granddaughter dreamed of going to college since she was a child. But her mother could barely afford to provide her lunch money, much less pay for tuition. Bass had good credit and a steady job.
So when her granddaughter was accepted into St. Catherine University to study biology, Bass said she gladly co-signed for a $38,000 loan with her. But when the granddaughter fell behind on the payments as she hunted for a job with a decent salary, Basss own finances took a hit.
I went into a panic, like, what was I gonna do? Bass wondered.
Because of late fees and missed payments, Bass said she and her granddaughter owe about $69,000. They are now contributing monthly, but Bass is worried she wont be able to catch up.
Many parents who thought they were headed to retirement with a college-educated child end up continuing to work because of student debt that cant be paid, Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said at last weeks hearing.
Durbin has introduced legislation that would allow private student loan debt to be discharged in bankruptcy, though borrowers would still have to pay off any federal loans. Sallie Mae, one of the nations largest private student lenders, as well as consumer groups support all types of student loans being forgiven during bankruptcy. Last year, President Obama addressed the issue by easing the repayment requirements for federal student loans. The new rules allow borrowers to pay 10 percent of their income for 20 years before the loan is forgiven.
Still, the bill would only address one aspect of what many believe is a more fundamental problem: the cost of college. Until that is solved, Suzanne Martin, an attorney with Consumers Union, said she anticipates older Americans share of student loans will only increase.
This current generation of borrowers is going to be a generation of seniors who are burdened with debt, she said.
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Getbig V
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Re: Would you seriously date someone who you knew had a bad credit score?
Reply #117 on:
July 06, 2012, 09:12:49 AM »
Lou Gehrig baseball is nice, student debt isn't: Start the auction
By Tina Susman
NEW YORK -- Like most medical students, Michael Gott has a lot of student debt. Unlike most medical students, his family possesses the baseball that Yankees slugger Lou Gehrig hit for a home run during the 1928 World Series. Not for long, though, because Gott's mother is selling the ball to help pay off her son's loans.
By early Friday, bidding for the famous ball had reached more than $33,000, but Hunt Auctions of Exton, Penn., which is handling the sale, expects to fetch $100,000 to $200,000 for the ball, which flew into the bleachers on Oct. 5, 1928, in the second game of the series.
"It should be in the hands of someone who really loves it and has a passion for it," Gott's mother, Elizabeth Gott, told the Associated Press. "Right now we have a passion for my son and his career."
According to a description of the ball on the Hunt Auctions website, the ball is extraordinarily valuable for a number of reasons: It has been in the hands of the same family for 84 years. It comes with accompanying newspaper articles detailing the famous hit and the manner in which the ball fell into the hands of a young man named Buddy Kurland, who was Elizabeth Gott's great-uncle. And it involved some of baseball's most legendary players.
Babe Ruth was among the Yankee teammates on base when Gehrig hit the three-run homer, helping the Yankees to a 9-3 victory over St. Louis. New York went on to win the series, but Gehrig's career was cut short when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the disease that killed him in 1941 and that is now referred to commonly as Lou Gehrig's disease.
For years, the baseball sat on display in the window of Buddy Kurland's shop in South Manchester, Conn., but eventually it ended up in a drawer in Elizabeth Gott's Stamford, Conn., home. With her 30-year-old son's medical school loans nearing $200,000, she said, it seemed like the right time to sell the ball.
While valuable, the ball isn't nearly as pricey as some other bits of baseball history. According to Hunt, its sales in recent years have included a 1933 All-Star Game inaugural home run baseball that sold for $805,000, as well as Babe Ruth's 702nd home run ball from 1934, which fetched $264,500 at auction.
I think what we enjoy about handling pieces like this is they really bear the significance of baseball within American culture in the last 100-plus years, Hunt president David Hunt told the AP. "Unlike any other sport, baseball has that just unbelievably storied history.
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On behalf of Chairman Dr. Ali Oliashirazi, welcome to Marshall Orthopaedics. Our staff and faculty are dedicated to providing compassionate and innovative care to patients within the Tri-State area and beyond.
Our surgeons are subspecialists in the full spectrum of orthopaedics, including:
For three consecutive years, Cabell Huntington Hospital has been named a Five-Star Recipient for Overall Orthopedic Services by Healthgrades. As the exclusive provider of orthopaedic physician services to Cabell Huntington Hospital, Marshall Orthopaedics' continuous dedication to our patients has shown in our results.
On a scale of 1-10, 92% of our patients rate their overall experience at our office as a "9" or "10." If you are suffering from an orthopaedic injury or ailment, call our office today to schedule a timely appointment with one of our physicians.
At Marshall Orthopaedics, we have made convenient access to our physicians one of our top priorities. To ensure convenience, Tri-State residents now have access to the following Marshall Orthopaedics' clinics:
Marshall Orthopaedics' Walk-In Clinic
Monday through Thursday 9:00 - 11:00am & 1:00 - 3:00pm and Friday 9:00 - 11:00am at the School of Medicine Office.
Marshall Orthopaedics' Evening Clinic
Tuesday evenings from 4:00 - 6:30 at the School of Medicine Office.
Marshall Orthopaedics' Free Sports Medicine Screening Clinic
Saturday mornings from 8:30 - 10:30 at the School of Medicine Office.
Marshall Orthopaedics' Free Marshall University Rec. Center Screening Clinic
Various evenings and afternoons at the Marshall University Rec. Center. Please visit the Marshall Orthopaedics' information table in the Rec. Center lobby for more information.
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Marshall Orthopaedics in the News
Dr. Felix Cheung Receives Award for Teaching Excellence
Dr. Frank Shuler Discusses Senior Fractues on WSAZ
Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon Joins Marshall Orthopaedics
Marshall Orthopaedics' Dr. Shuler Named Top Doctor in Orthopedic Surgery
Marshall Orthopaedics Sponsors 2013 Valor Run
Antibiotic-Like Actions of Vitamin D
Free Saturday Morning Sports Medicine Screening Clinic
Free MU Rec. Center Orthopaedic Evaluation Clinc


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redhound I-Spy & Hawaii 5-0 Dog Collars
Two amazing patterns from redhound. I-Spy is an organized jumble of graphic symbols from skulls and monkeys to numbers and airplanes. This ultra cool pattern speaks to everything urban, hip and now. Hawaii 5-0, with its distinct hibiscus pattern, is the perfect compliment.
Both I-Spy and Hawaii 5-0 are screen printed on full-grain leather with antique nickel-finished hardware.
I-Spy: Deep Blue
I-Spy: Red & Black
Hawaii 5-0: Black & White
Extra Small: 9-12" neck, 1/2" width
Small: 11-14" neck, 1/2" width
Medium: 13-17" neck, 1" width
Large: 16-20" neck, 1" width
Extra Large: 19-23" neck, 1" width
Matching leads sold separately. Leads are 5' long and available in 1/2" or 1" widths.


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Female? There are signs up all up and down Grayson New Hope Rd. for a Chihuahua Mix named…Read More"Br odie" Check for the big posters....I bet that is her!


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The owner of this 25,000-square-foot home in Fort Worth, Texas, had high hopes for the unfinished lower level. He envisioned a space with a dedicated theater, as well as a batting cage (he's a professional baseball player, who asked to remain anonymous), a bar, and plenty of room for a billiards area, poker table, and an arcade nook. And no matter where you happened to be in the multi-faceted entertainment room, you'd be able to play music and watch TV.
Unfortunately, this last idea never came to fruition—at least the first time around. The company originally hired to design and install the home's electronic systems went under well before the project could be completed. The custom electronics (CE) professionals had managed to route the necessary low-voltage wiring behind the walls and connecting a few in-wall touchpanels, however. This was accomplished during the final phases of the home's construction. Sadly, the backbone was in place, but nothing, including all the fun stuff like TVs and speakers, nor a video projector or screen, had been hooked into it.
Another design and installation company would need to be hired, and quickly. While the house was being finished, the builder, Luis Jauregui of Jauregui, Inc., contacted Chris Pearson of Service Tech Audio Visual, Cedar Park, Texas, to resume where the previous CE pros had left off.
Based on the homeowner's request to have music and video audible and visible from every nook and cranny, a solid distribution system and an intuitive user interface were crucial, says Mattie Horn, Service Tech's marketing and user interface design pro. Horn and the rest of the Service Tech team employed a heavy-duty Crestron matrix switcher to route high-def signals from a variety of A/V sources to five displays and 12 Sonance in-ceiling speakers in the fun room, as well as to other TVs and speakers located elsewhere in the house. Service Tech packed the system with tons of entertainment options. From any area, the owners have instant access to five DirecTV satellite receivers, five Kaleidescape media servers, Apple TV, Sony Blu-ray Disc player, 10 IC Realtime surveillance cameras, Autonomic media server, two iPod docks and FM and SirusXM Radio.
With so much content from which to choose, a well-designed user interface was imperative, and Service Tech delivered, creating a Windows 8-like experience for the homeowner, where commands Audio, Video, Lighting and other electronic systems would be organized under separate "user tiles" to be displayed on various Crestron touchpanels and as well as their iPads.
Service Tech designed the user interface so that the homeowners can get a quick overview of the entire system by glancing at the home page, then choose a tile to see what's happening (the temperature, lighting status, A/V equipment being used, for example) within a particular zone of the house (like the poker area). After choosing a zone within a particular user tile, the homeowners are free to control the music, video and other settings. For example, within the Audio tile, the homeowners could view what may already be playing in the poker area, view the other music choices and switch to a new source.
Video works the same way. Or, if the homeowners are hosting a party, they can enter the Advanced tile to select all zones to play the same song or video throughout the entire house. At any point, they can go to the tile to rearrange the night's entertainment. "You can be playing poker with friends while watching the ballgame, while others are at the bar watching or listening to something completely different," Horn explains.
Follow Electronic House on Facebook and Twitter.The 6-driver Paradigm soundbar includes Bluetooth with aptX streaming and several audio modes.
High-performance audio upgrades topped this homeowner's renovation and home automation to-do list.
Save money and make your home smarter? Here are the latest Z-Wave and Wi-Fi thermostats we're warming up to.


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American gothic juxtaposed with the war on drugs.
Image created with photoshop.
June 2008
To add items to your wishlist, simply click the "Add to Wishlist" link from any product page.
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Collect your choice of gallery quality Giclée, or fine art prints custom trimmed by hand in a variety of sizes with a white border for framing.
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Marijuana profits: Who stands to loose and gain?
tagged cannabis, drug war, drugs, Economy, Gov. Ritter, marijuana, medical marijuana, SSDI and war on drugs
With the economy making what seems to be in it's final death rattle, unemployment steadily rising and Mexico's drug cartels killing and kidnapping citizens in border and southern states one wonders why all the resistance in Washington to making baby steps towards the eventual legalization of Cannabis.
Why not just sit down with major organizations and activists and have a logical, reason and fact driven dialogue instead of dismissive attitudes without so much as any articulate able reason against the idea. Generally speaking the answer may be as simple as the love of money.
In fear of loosing their position of power, money and perks, some politicians campaign on the platform of fear and misinformation while at the same time alleviating those fears by promising the eradication of marijuana, winning the "War on Drugs" and saving our children; a political Munchausen's Syndrome by proxy. Have you noticed when a moral hot topic emerges in the public discourse those against it cry we oppose this because it would cause harm to our children?
When elected they enact legislation increasing penalties for marijuana "crimes" which results in increased funding for Federal agencies, Courts, public defenders, additional prisons treatment facilities and the list goes on and on. Just who stands to gain for the continuation of a failed policy? Besides the drug cartels who sell junk cannabis, the same Federal agencies, Courts, public defenders, prisons and treatment facilities.
The rest of the countries financial problems having finally caught up Colorado Gov. Ritter is shutting down two prisons, not a bad idea for non-violent simple possession marijuana offences but not a good idea for murders, rapists and child molesters and of course the seniors get the shaft with suspending property tax breaks and fire department principalities are charging $200.00 for responding to motorists involved in fender benders whether or not you call them. Oh at the Federal level, let's not forget that SSDI individuals will not see a cost of living increase the next three years. I am wondering if Ritter would consider releasing all the non-violent simple possession marijuana offenders in the Colorado penal system thus saving additional tax payer monies. But I digress.
Consider this in 2000 .021% of Colorado's inmates were for Marijuana possession or 1207. The same year it is estimated that Colorado spent $19.48 Million for police budget, $35.86 million judicially, and $8.2 million for corrections in regards to marijuana posession. Totaling $64 million dollars.
Jeffrey Miron visiting professor of economics at Harvard University in his 2005 study "The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition" breaks down the States and Federal expenditures as follows. $1.71 Billion for state police budget. $2.94 Billion for Judicial and $484 Million for corrections totaling a whopping $5.1 Billion. Federal expenditures for 2002 was estimated at $2.6 Billion. This is not to mention a total of $2.6 Million gained from seizures of property and fines for marijuana crimes by the DEA and the U.S. Customs Service.
No one is suggesting that legalizing taxing and regulating marijuana would solve all the countries financial needs but if we are talking about cutting state and Federal budgets let's be consistent and look at other areas.
cannabis» drug war» drugs» Economy» Gov. Ritter» marijuana» medical marijuana» SSDI» war on drugs»


text:
42 min ago | CFRB
Real Estate Association trims sales outlook for 2014
Canadian Real Estate Association has trimmed its sales forecast for this year even as home sales in February rose slightly compared with the previous month.
Trending on the Topix Network
3 hrs ago | Witney Gazette
Schemes boost house builder shares
An extension in taxpayer support for the property sector helped Britain's biggest house building firms add to share gains which have in some cases seen them double in value since the start of last year.
4 hrs ago | Reuters
RPT-FEATURE-US retirees return to reverse mortgages, big banks stay away
U.S. baby boomers desperate for retirement income are increasingly turning back to a financial product that, after the housing bust, had been left for dead: the reverse mortgage.
9 hrs ago | Wall Street Journal
Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Make a Comeback
Adjustable-rate mortgages, one of the main culprits of the housing crisis, are back in vogue.
The price of their Fillmore, Calif., home rose enough in the past few months for Owen and Wana Klasen to get an equity line of credit to fund upgrades.
Fannie, Freddie bill leaves status of private shareholders to courts
The 442-page draft from the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and the panel's top Republican would keep in place current terms of the government's bailout of the two companies that require them to sweep all their profits into the U.S. Treasury.
A second mortgage has both pros and cons
Because you are putting your house up for collateral, the stakes are even higher than a traditional loan.
Man admits role in $40.8M mortgage loan fraud
Robert Serao faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine when he's sentenced June 24. The 48-year-old Berkeley Township resident pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Thousands of new homes planned
George Osborne said a new garden city is to be built in the Thames estuary and the Government's controversial Help to Buy scheme for home purchasers is to be extended until the end of the decade Plans for tens of thousands of new homes have been unveiled by George Osborne with the development of a garden city on the Thames estuary and a A 6 billion ... (more)
Mortgage bailouts too little for some
Already, nearly 30 percent of those who qualified for relief have defaulted again.
Veteran's family receives mortgage-free home
After being separated for three years, a Gallatin veteran and his family are together and have one less thing to worry about.
Savers suffer slew of rate cuts
Instant access and cash Isa accounts have suffered around 20 rate cuts a month on average over the last year and a half, consumer group Which? has found.
Women at the helm of Central City Credit Union Mortgage Center
Buying a home can be a stressful, complicated process, but the ladies at Central City Credit Union's Mortgage Center hope to build a better buying experience.
Housing shortage hitting local workers
The housing shortage in Bedfordshire is pushing house prices and private rents out of reach for local workers, according to a new report - with the crisis set to get even worse by 2020.
Overseas Treasury Holdings at Fed Post Record Drop
U.S. government bonds held at the Federal Reserve for foreign central banks and other overseas investors plunged by a record $104.5 billion in the latest week, a drop that rattled some investors and sparked speculation about who might be doing the selling or transferring.
Capitol Alert: Brown, Chiang sued for diverting $369 million in mortgage money
Gov. Jerry Brown and Controller John Chiang unlawfully redirected $369 million in homeowner relief secured by Attorney General Kamala Harris, according to a lawsuit filed in Sacramento Superior Court on Friday morning.
Fed bond purchases sent nearly $80 billion Treasury's way in 2013
The Federal Reserve's controversial bond-buying program, designed to stimulate the U.S. economy, generated interest income of $90 billion in 2013, an audit of the central bank confirmed Friday.
Lawsuit says California mortgage money mishandled
Several community assistance organizations are suing California, alleging the state improperly diverted nearly $370 million that was intended to help homeowners struggling with foreclosures.
Mortgage support must be cut: Balls
The Government's programme of taxpayer-funded support for first-time home buyers should be cut back amid fears rising house prices could push up interest rates, shadow chancellor Ed Balls has said.
Owning home 'cheaper than rent'
The cost of owning a family-sized home in the UK is now almost A 1,500 a year cheaper than renting, according to research.


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Uk Champs 2012: Finals
A Skateboarding video by Route-one - 2,673 views
Highlights from the 2012 Vans UKSA Champs at the XC, Hemel Hempstead. Featuring Kris Vile, Chris Oliver, Korahn Gayle, Manhead, Dave Snaddon, Manny Lopez, Rob Smith, Ben Grove, Keith Walsh, Harry Lintell, Jake Collins & many more.
1st Kris Vile
2nd Keith Walsh
3rd Chris Oliver


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GCI Relay 2013 – Scenes from the inaugural event
Check out what you missed so you can be sure to not miss it again! Featuring the awesome song, avec mes mecs, by the Humans.
Fox10 TV Covers GCI Relay
View scenes from the finish line of the inaugural 2013 GCI Relay, covered by Fox10 TV!
2013 GCI Relay Video Trailer
Watch the relay video trailer below for the inaugural GCI Relay that happened April 4-6, 2013. The only race in the country where you choose your sport: Run OR Ride. The Gulf Coast Interstate Relay is a weekend consisting of two simultaneous events – a cycling relay and a running relay across the Gulf Coast. 263 miles from New Orleans to Pensacola Beach. View footage of the start, the course and the finish. Registration will be opening soon so rally your team now!
Have your own sweet video of a past race – be it adventure race, marathon, running relay, cycling relay, or other fitness event? Share it with us here!
Video courtesy of Dana Ruth.


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Unlimited Zoo Entry Across Australia
As well as unlimited entry to Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Zoo Friends membership also entitles you to FREE admission for 12 months to Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth Zoos.
A Great Range of Discounts
- Parking at Taronga Zoo costs just $7 per day!
- 15 per cent discount in all Zoo Shops.
- 10 per cent discount at Zoofari Lodge.
- 10 per cent discount at Roar & Snore at Taronga Zoo on select days.
- Exclusive pre-sale opportunities and ticket discounts for our best events including Taronga's New Year's Eve party.
Exclusive Member-Only Events
Zoo Friends membership is your entry ticket to member-only events, including our fantastic annual Christmas night at Taronga Zoo and access to member-only behind-the-scenes activities. Find out more.
All The Latest News
Our quarterly Award winning publication Wild Life, gives you the inside scoop on everything happening in and around our Zoos plus insights into our conservation work.
If you provide us with your email address we can also keep you up-to-date on the very latest goings on through our monthly member e-newsletter.
Start making the most of these fantastic benefits.
Join Online Here
Please note, this link will re-direct you to our Zoo Friends membership site.
What Taronga Stands For
We believe in a shared future for wildlife and people. Find out about For The Wild.


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"The degree to which you're able to dress up and counterfeit yourself as this person, that's as good as you are as a writer. I'm pretty good at it, which leaves me tremendous doubts about my own personality." – Joe Raposo, songwriter for The Great Muppet Caper and "Bein' Green" |
"We see ourselves in the Muppets. They are a group of people who never stop hoping for the best." — James Bobin |
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The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life.
Oct 06, 2005
A new report finds that while 25 states will require the use of paper trails in time for the 2008 presidential election, so far only 14 states currently plan to use them as the official record in a recount of votes. How or if they would be used in recounts – and how difficult that process might be – are questions many states still need to answer.
Those findings are part of "Recounts: From Punch Cards to Paper Trails," a new study analyzing recount procedures from across the country and the 12th such briefing produced by electionline.org, the nation's leading source for election reform news and information.
Pew is no longer active in this line of work, but for more information, please visit electionline.org.


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The Ceremonies
Cardiff University holds several graduation ceremonies each year, marking an annual highlight in the University's calendar.
All ceremonies are held in St David's Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff. They last for approximately 2 hours. Graduates should arrive at St David's Hall one hour before the start of their ceremony. A mandatory rehearsal for Graduates takes place during this time.
Graduation on the big screen
The University's graduation ceremony will be broadcast live to the city on the BBC big screen, located outside St David's Hall.
Members of the public as well as friends and families of graduates will be able to watch the degree congregations as they happen.
Information for Staff
Log in here to find out about your role as a staff member during the ceremony.


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10.5: Solve a repair permissions issue after 10.5.8 update
I never repair permissions. There is no need and I never have problems. If permissions are screwed up, it is user error.
re: incorrect permissions exclusively due to user error
I agree that there is a great deal of paranoia surrounding this issue, but what you are saying is just not true.
re: incorrect permissions exclusively due to user error
The Quark 7 (and possibly 6, I don't remember) installer was horrible in that it reset the permissions on every file in the folder enclosing the new Quark folder, which, in most cases, would be your Applications folder. I actually had a Quark representative on site when I discovered this, and his eyes got real big when I showed it to him (the permissions repair after that took 30-40 minutes of constant scrolling in the Repair Permissions window.) The workaround was to make a new, empty folder and then tell Quark to install inside of THAT folder, then after installation, move the newly-created Quark folder into the main Applications.
10.5: Solve a repair permissions issue after 10.5.8 update
nice answer. Do you say the same thing if you get a flat tire on your car? |
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A decade to remember
By Elburn Herald on March 11, 2010
Heather Espe of Hughes Creek Golf Course (right) awarded Sam Bradberry a crystal plaque for 10 years of dedicated service to the golf course. Bradberry continues to work as the Hughes Creek golf pro. Courtesy Photo
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Police advise vigilance after 2 break-ins
SOUTHBURY — Police advise homeowners to lock their doors after two recent burglaries, including one Wednesday when a girl interrupted a break-in at her home after she got off the bus.
The girl, who lives on Sky View Drive, got off the bus around 2:35 p.m., walked inside, and saw a man running around the front of her house, police said. The man was believed to be in the house when she got home, but ran outside when he heard a door open.
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