Americans will spend more than $50 billion on their animals this year.
Mary Louise Mills has a says her three dogs are spoiled rotten 9-year-old shih tzu named Annie Lulu after Mills’ grandmother, and two Pekingese — 7-year-old Miss Daisy May and 4-year-old Elmer, whom she sometimes calls Fudd. And she says her all three of her dogs are spoiled rotten.
Continue reading… “Spending on pets in the U.S. increases during recession”
A growing problem.
Reclamations, a journal published by University of California students, has published a special, timely pamphlet called “Generation of Debt,” on the trap of student debt in America. Young people in America are bombarded with the message that they won’t find meaningful employment without a degree (and sometimes a graduate degree).
Meanwhile, universities have increased their fees to astronomical levels, far ahead of inflation, and lenders (including the universities themselves) offer easy credit to students as a means of paying these sums (for all the money they’re charging, universities are also slashing wages for their staff, mostly by sticking grad students and desperate “adjuncts” into positions that used to pay professorial wages; naturally, the austerity doesn’t extend to the CEO-class administrators, who draw CEO-grade pay).
Continue reading… “Essays on the trap of US student debt”
Will he be tossed soon?
If one Florida legislator gets his way, “Big Brother” will no longer trample the freedom of Floridians to enjoy a good old fashioned dwarf tossing contest…
Continue reading… “Will ending the ban on dwarf tossing improve the economy”
Stress has become number one cause of long-term illness.
The pressure of the recession is taking it’s toll as stress becomes the number one cause of long-term absence from work for first time, figures show. Research in almost 600 organizations also showed a link between job security and mental health issues, with employers planning redundancies ”significantly” more likely to report problems among their staff.
Brownsville, Texas
When it comes to affordability you can’t mess with Texas. Major metropolitan areas in the Texas reign supreme on Kiplinger’s annual ranking of the least expensive places to live in the U.S. All of the picks are cities located either in Texas or the heartland of middle America.
Continue reading… “10 cheapest places to live in the U.S.”
Citigroup and Bank of America were the reigning champs of finance in 2006.
The reigning champions of finance in 2006 were Citigroup Inc. (C) and Bank of America Corp. (BAC). As home prices peaked, they were leading the 10 biggest U.S. banks and brokerage firms to their best year ever with $104 billion of profits.
Continue reading… “The aristocracy on Wall Street got $1.2 trillion in secret loans”
The increase in the number of foreclosure actions could be the beginning of a new trend.
Banks are stepping up their actions against homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments and setting the stage for a fresh wave of foreclosures.
Continue reading… “Mortgage default warnings surge setting stage for new foreclosure wave”
U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahue
U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahue prepares to testify at Senate hearing on the the U.S. Postal Service’s fiscal crisis on Sept. 6 Senate. The postal service’s 7,500 job cuts announced in March rank No. 5 on outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas’s list of 2011 announced workforce reductions.
Continue reading… “5 biggest job cuts announcements in 2011”
U.S. poverty rate hits 15.1%
Income fell for the third straight year in 2010 in the typical American household. The poverty level rose up to its highest leve since 1993 as the aftermath of the latest recession continued to take a toll.
Continue reading… “Household income falls, poverty rate hits highest level since 1993”
Many Americans have to postpone retirement.
Many Americans are reaching their 60s with so much debt they can’t afford to retire. Before retiring most people would pay off their debts. But as wages have barely kept up with rising prices over the past 35 years Americans have pushed debt higher, living beyond their means. Now, people are postponing retirement, cutting living standards or both.
Continue reading… “Debt problems plague older Americans”
Lake Las Vegas, Nevada
Lists of the best place to retire in the United States are easy to find. AARP has one; so do Forbes, U.S. News and a host of retiree-oriented websites. The same cities and states tend to appear on each list — Tucson, Ariz.! Austin, Texas! — in part because the things that matter most as people pick a place to retire — proximity to good medical care, tax advantages for seniors, nice climate and safe streets — never really go out of style.
Continue reading… “Top 5 worst places in the U.S. to retire”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.
