Custom Homes

I've finally made my decision - I want to have my own home built. Now, here's my problem... there are about a million different options to consider. I think I'm going to need to call in some professional help. I'm currently doing a lot fo research online at pages like this review of Schumacher Homes. Companies like this look promising, I just need to get my land situation squared away first.

Tags: homes, home building, custom homes, real estate

Classy Mantel Clocks

The girlfriend and I are going through the transition of moving in together, and we're compromising on a lot. One of the things I put my foot down about was my office... aka the "guest bedroom". At least, she wanted a guest bedroom. I vetoed that one, and used up all my... veto-powers on that one room. Ah well, it'll be worth it. I'm going through now and picking up a seth thomas mantel clock for the shelf thats directly across from my desk. The desk is going to be shit - the desk doesn't matter though. I'll spend $50 on a bare-bones desk, and then drop $700 on the best chair I can get my hands on. The chairs really all that matters... the desk just needs to have legs and a flat surface. The chair is what I'm going to be sittin in for hours on end. Thoughts?

new loan blog

I'm in the market for a new house, so I've been looking around for some info and tips about applying for, and getting a home loan. I found this blog that has a ton of info on the topic. Take a look!

Car Crashes Cost $160 Billion per Year

The damage is equal to $1,000 for every American.

The Anti-Obama Playbook [Cartoon]

Any more tips to add to this 2008 playbook? I'm sure the Obama haters out there would know a few more sneaky tactics.

Bush: Americans ‘Ought To Say Thank You’ To Telecoms

Bush is implying that Americans who oppose telecom immunity are unpatriotic. But the American people don’t owe the telecoms any gratitude. These corporations chose to break the law and profited greatly from doing so.

The World's Most Expensive Rental Markets

Thinking of renting a home overseas? These prices might force you to reconsider.

Clinton Is Urged to Drop Out if She Loses on Tuesday

Some top Democrats are putting pressure on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to bow out unless she scores clear victories in the crucial big-state primary contests. “I just think that D-Day is Tuesday,” said Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, a former Democratic presidential candidate who has yet to throw his support behind either candidate.

Fists Tighten Around Expense Accounts

Business travelers are getting a universal message: Trim expenses.

High-Speed Rail Coming to America...South America

High-speed rail is finally coming to America. However it's Argentina and not the United States that will be the first "New World" country to build a high-speed rail system and join the modern age of transportation.

16 Ways to Save $100

#13 - "Skip the service contract." - Extended warranties on electronics are rarely a good deal. According to Tom Garman, a Virginia Tech professor of consumer affairs, most product breakdowns occur in the first year and are covered by the manufacturer's warranty...

Obama: Clinton didn't have the "experience" to read the NIE

She didn’t read the National Intelligence Estimate, Jay Rockefeller read it, but she didn’t read it. I don’t know what all that experience got her because in my experience if you have a National Intelligence Estimate and the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee says, 'You should read this, this is why I’m voting against the war.'

Obama cabinet would include Chuck Hagel as SecDef

Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war, and Richard Lugar, leader of the Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee.

High Court Says Suing Your 401(k) Is OK

The Supreme Court is allowing retirement plan participants to sue over losses.

Alaska Is Bigger Than I Thought

Bush's stay there this past weekend with the the Danish prime minister marked Bush’s 70th visit as president. President Ronald Reagan, one of the modern presidency’s most “famous vacationer[s],” spent just 335 days at his ranch in Santa Barbara, CA.

Show Some Love Diggers: Wikileaks is Back Online!

A federal judge on Friday allowed whistle-blower site WikiLeaks to resume operation in the United States.

What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart?

Finland's teens score extraordinarily high on an international test. American educators are trying to figure out why.

America's Rogue 'French' Trader

Friends say the trader at the center of a $141M scandal is a smart, kind man.

Texas caucus hardball

The Dallas Morning News gets hold of Clinton caucus "training materials," in which supporters are instructed to fight for procedural control of caucuses."The materials say in part, 'DO NOT allow the supporter of another candidate to serve in leadership roles.'"

Love can hurt — your bank account

From the first date until the time you finally head down the aisle, you can easily have spent more than $40,000 on vacations, jewelry, wedding expenses, and meals out, according to BusinessWeek's calculations .

Obama wins on civil liberties

NY Times editorial says our privacy rights not as big a priority for Clinton

Get Money Back From Your Credit Card

You may qualify for a check for excessive foreign-transaction fees.

Surprise! "Iran" Nuke Laptop Data Likely Came From Israel

Tehran has denounced the documents on which the charges are based as fabrications provided by the MEK, and has demanded copies of the documents to analyse, but the United States had refused to do so. There are some indications, moreover, that the MEK obtained the documents not from an Iranian source but from Israel's Mossad.

Answer Desk: A hostile takeover playbook

If Microsoft has the cash to buy rival Yahoo, why can’t it just call up a stock broker and? buy? all of Yahoo's stock? The Answer Desk, by msnbc.com's John W. Schoen.

Trading Scandal Hits U.S.

MF Global Ltd. blames Memphis employee for $141M losses in wheat trades.

Sharper Image : The Future Was Then

For all of its flaws as a business, nobody can accuse the Sharper Image of over-promising. Then the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced it would close 90 of its roughly 180 stores "as soon as possible." ...What are we losing? A world of luminescent safety leashes, hideaway gyms, telescoping ladders --

Not lovin' it any more - McDonald's ad guru kills himself

Ad exec Paul Tilley apparently jumped from an upper floor of the Fairmont Chicago Hotel Friday, and his death was ruled a suicide by the Cook County medical examiner's office. In his career, he led creative teams that came up with Dell's "Dude, You're Gettin' a Dell" campaign and advertising in McDonald's "I'm Lovin' It" effort. RIP

Prince Harry fighting Taleban, MoD says

Despite earlier not being sent to Iraq - and getting a lot of flak for it, prince Harry has been reported to have been on the front line in Afganistan

Wall Street woes a drag on FTSE (FT.com)

FT.com - Yell was hit by heavy selling again Thursday after a US rival reduced its earnings forecast because of the weakening domestic economy.

Republican Makes Ass of Himself on MSNBC

GA Republican Jack Kingston bashes Barack Obama for not wearing a flag lapel pin without remembering to wear one himself.

Too Much Whining Ruined Whatever Points Clinton Scored

Too Much whining ruined whatever points Hillary clinton Scored.

What the Fed's big rate cut means to you

If you’ve been investing for a while, you’ve lived through the '87 crash and the tech-stock collapse , but that doesn’t make this year’s plunge easy to stomach. So, what’s it mean to you ?

L Ron Hubbard Plagiarized Scientology

"Evidence that L. Rob Hubbard plagiarized Scientology from a 1934 German book called "Scientologie." The text seems to map to various hoo-haw from the cult's official doctrine, too."

Have You Had to Borrow from Your 401(k)?

Tell your story to ABC News.

John McCain Says He Could Lose Over Iraq War

"Let me not put it that stark," the likely GOP nominee told reporters on his campaign bus. "Let me just put it this way: Americans will judge my candidacy first and foremost on how they believe I can lead the county both from our economy and for national security. Obviously, Iraq will play a role in their judgment of my ability to handle security

Where Does That Oil Go?

A look at what's inside a barrel of oil and what products come from it.

Scientists Predict When World Will End: Good News / Bad News

Scientist have nailed down how and when Earth will cease to exist.The sun will expand into a red giant, pushing Earth farther out into space, but not far enough. Our planet will be snagged by the sun's outer atmosphere, plunging to its doom inside the fiery stellar furnace. The good news: This won't happen for another 7.6 billion years. Bad News:

Why is Wal-Mart Thriving in an American Recession?

The nation's largest retailer, which caters to working-class customers, seems to have something of a sweet spot. The stock closed Tuesday at $51.40—its highest close since March 2005. Given the economic headwinds, one would think that a retailer catering to lower-end consumers would be doubly slammed.

Fly First Class at Coach Prices

Learn how to get luxury treatment in the air while paying economy prices.

Digging For Hitler's Gold

Treasure hunters believe there are almost 2 tons of Nazi gold and possibly clues to the whereabouts of the legendary Amber Room, a prize taken from a Russian castle during World War II.....

Clinton Gets Caught Again on NAFTA

I want to remind folks who claim Hillary Clinton never praised NAFTA that, in fact, she did praise NAFTA - repeatedly.

401(k) Loans: Lifesavers or Money Pits?

There are at least three ways you could lose out when taking a 401(k) loan.

Government frees Freddie, Fannie reins despite huge losses (Reuters)

Reuters - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could have
billions of dollars more to fund home purchases after the
government on Wednesday lifted caps on the two largest U.S.
mortgage finance companies to ease a housing crisis.

16-yo has Sex w/13-yo, now registered sex offender for life

When Ricky was 16, he went to a teen club and met a girl named Amanda, who said she was the same age. They hit it off and were eventually having sex. Two years later, Ricky is a registered sex offender, and his life is destroyed. Amanda turned out to be 13. Ricky was arrested, tried as an adult, and pleaded guilty. Is Ricky really a sex offender?

The most overpriced suburbs in America

While many of the nation's homeowners are worried about falling home prices, others would argue they're not falling fast enough.

Supreme Court allows retirement plan suits

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that individual participants in the most common type of retirement plan can sue under a pension protection law to recover their losses.

U.S. Economy Chills Canada

Canadians grapple with fears over their economy as Americans buy fewer exports.

The Phone Companies are still spying for the White House

"We learned last night after sending [the original] letter that . . . new surveillances under existing directives issued pursuant to the Protect America Act will resume, at least for now [despite it's legal expiration]...we appreciate the willingness of our private partners to cooperate despite the uncertainty" ...Wow. just Wow.

More people are tapping their 401(k) for cash

Trent Charlton knew the risks when he borrowed $10,000 from his 401(k) and cut his retirement savings in half.

Obama Responds to Clinton's Scolding - 2/23/08

Foxnews.com article and video. Sen. Barack Obama defends mailers sent out to Ohio voters last week on Hillary Clinton’s NAFTA and healthcare records, after Hillary Clinton scolded him (Shame on you, Barack Obama!) for distributing them.

Delta, Northwest shares fall amid merger doubts (Reuters)

Reuters - Delta Air Lines Inc and
Northwest Airlines Corp shares fell more than 5 percent
on Monday on concerns their merger talks may fail.

Early Voting Wave as Reaction to Systemic Disenfranchisement

Texas Republicans have worked overtime to make it harder for key Democratic voting groups to vote and be represented fairly. The redistricting games they’ve played are infamous. And for the Prairie View A&M University precincts, they put the early-polling place more than seven miles from the school. So what did the students in this video do?

Lowe's posts lower 4Q profit (AP)

AP - Lowe's Cos., the nation's second biggest home improvement retailer, said Monday that a softer U.S. housing market helped drive its fourth-quarter earnings down 33.4 percent.

Top 10 Cubicles that are Cooler than Yours

After hearing “You forgot to put the Cover Page on on the TPS report” a hundred times, the inhabitants of cubicle world need to have a little fun. They practically live in these 8 X 8 boxes so everyone needs to add a little of that little touch of home.

Pakistan blocks YouTube!

Pakistan has blocked access to the popular YouTube website because of content deemed offensive to Islam. (sigh)

Over Half of Britons Claim No Religion

The report also calls for the disestablishment of the Church of England. The role and privileges of the established Church are challenged because they do not reflect “the religious demography of the country and the rising proportion of other Christian denominations.”

Seldom-read home loan docs must change: experts (Reuters)

Reuters - The papers that U.S. borrowers sign
when buying a house are piled so high that few people read them
all, and even fewer absorb the information.

10 Tips: What to do with tax rebate?

Under a federal government stimulus plan, checks would be sent out in amounts ranging from $300 to $1,200 per household. How should you spend it?

Enron Scandal Yields New Jailbirds

British bankers each sentenced to 37 months in prison in an Enron-related case.

Talk of bond insurer rescue spurs late stock rally (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. stocks rallied late on Friday on
news that banks were near an agreement to bail out bond insurer
Ambac Financial, a deal that could prevent further damage to
the banking industry and credit markets.

No Oil, No Peace, No Problem

In 'Fuel of War,' players can have fun as an oil shortage spurs a new world war.

Amtrak's New Look: Screeners, Dogs, Guns

Amtrak says new procedures won't hold up the flow of passengers.

Turkey invades northern Iraq

The Turkish military says it launched a ground operation in northern Iraq against Kurdish rebels. The incursion, backed by the Turkish air force, began around 7 p.m. Thursday and is going after specific Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets in Iraq.

CNN picks up on Hillary's plagiarism

CNN rightfully ridiculed Clinton's plagiarism attacks and showed that she herself lifted phrases from John Edwards' speeches.

Economy - Friday (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - Price pressures could build even if the economy slows further, said Dallas Fed chief Richard Fisher, who voted against the central bank's half-point 14terest-rate cut Jan. 30 due to inflation fears. U.S. growth is "anemic" but the economy should avoid a recession, Fisher said. He questioned "whether inflation expectations are well anchored."

Rick Renzi Indicted: McCain Co-Chair Hit For Fraud, Etc.

Republican Rep. Rick Renzi (REN-zee) has been indicted for extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other charges related to a land deal in Arizona. (Straight Talk express goes off a cliff & explodes in fiery wreck)

Information will be free: Wikileaks still up, despite order

After unflattering and apparently internal documents from the Swiss banker Julius Baer appeared on Wikileaks, the bank filed a federal lawsuit in the US. A judge has now ordered Wikileaks.org scrubbed from the DNS system, but it's hard to eradicate a website.

MSNBC Poll: Should Hillary Clinton call it quits?

At this point in the primary campaign, with delegates apportioned the way they are, should Hillary Clinton call it quits?

Morgan Stanley ups Discover Financial (Reuters)

Reuters - Morgan Stanley upgraded Discover Financial
Services and said the credit-card firm would outperform
rivals Capital One Financial and American Express
on benefits from moderate credit losses, leverage to
lower interest rates, and strong liquidity.

Two Sleeping Pilots, One Plane?

The FAA is investigating if two pilots fell asleep on a Go! Airlines flight

Why Bread, Pasta Will Cost You More

Rising demand for ethanol is sending wheat prices through the roof.

Fired officer: Woman's black eyes, broken teeth from 'fall'

After Angela Garbarino was arrested in Shreveport, Louisiana last November on suspicion of drunk driving, she wound up lying on the police station floor in a pool of her own blood with two black eyes, a broken nose, two broken teeth, and other cuts and bruises. Garbarino says that Officer Wiley Willis beat her up after turning off the police video.

NY Times: McCain had possible relations to Female Lobbyist

Mr. McCain, 71, and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, both say they never had a romantic relationship. But to his advisers, even the appearance of a close bond with a lobbyist whose clients often had business before the Senate committee Mr. McCain led threatened the story of

Fed slashes growth forecast for US economy (AFP)

AFP - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday slashed its 2008 US economic growth forecast by a half percentage point, citing a housing slump, tight credit and higher oil prices.

Oval Office Eats for Just $500

Enjoy dishes created for past presidents; plus recipes to cook them yourself.

In Recessions, Doing the Job Is Not Enough

Career coach says no job is safe, and the workplace is no place for modesty.

FTSE edges higher as Barclays pleases (FT.com)

FT.com - Shares in business travel company Hogg Robinson gained 7 per cent to 61p Tuesday because of rumours it could be a takeover target for BCD, a family-owned rival with a large presence in the US travel market.

HP shares rise as profit beats Street targets (Reuters)

Reuters - Hewlett-Packard Co on
Tuesday issued a quarterly earnings report and forecast ahead
of Wall Street targets as it cut costs and sold more PCs and
server computers, sending its stock up 5 percent.

Bernanke: "There's No Housing Bubble to Go Bust" -2005

I know its an old story but ..... Ben S. Bernanke does not think the national housing boom is a bubble that is about to burst, he indicated to Congress last week, just a few days before President Bush nominated him to become the next chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Delinquencies rise at Countrywide (AP)

AP - Countrywide Financial Corp. said Friday home loan delinquencies and foreclosures rose in January as more borrowers struggled to make their mortgage payments.

Barack Obama - "Just Words?"

Tonight in Wisconsin Barack Obama responded to the charges by the Clinton campaign that his candidacy is just based upon "words and hopeful ideas" and that he lacks the "substance" that would enable him to be an effective leader. From C-SPAN. Vote Obama on Tuesday and make it 9 straight victories!

Smugglers Return iPhones to China

SHANGHAI — Factories here churn out iPhones that are exported to the United States and Europe. Then thousands of them are smuggled right back into China.

Clinton's attacks on Obama's oratory called into question?-

...some party strategists who have been involved in many presidential campaigns think the attack strategy is ineffective at best and self-defeating at worst because it seems to smack of a self-acknowledgement that Mr. Obama has better communications skills — a chief requisite for an effective presidency...

Media Begins its Attacks on Obama with "Cult" Label

Passion + politics = cult?We haven't seen anything like this since RFK, and the media (and the Clinton campaign) must stop it.

Anonymous Japanese Get involved- 2nd address to scientology

Here is their version of the Second Address to Scientology. It advertises the next protest for March 15th.For anyone who missed the first video in Japanese, in all its Death-Note-esque glory:http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=4aKwPRYRmk8

A Penny Saved, Is $10.7M Earned

A penny saved is not necessarily just a penny earned: One man's collection of rare American cents has turned into a $10.7 million auction windfall.

US Dollar - Biggest Weekly Drop for 2008 - Prognosis Bad

The dollar has lost 5 percent against the euro since Sept. 18, when the Fed lowered its benchmark for the first time since 2003. ``Lower interest rates are hurting the dollar,'' said Axel Merk, who helps manage $285 million assets at Merk Hard Currency Fund in Palo Alto, California. ``Why put the money in the U.S. where all kinds of negative "

Danger - Proof that American Economy & Dollar WILL Collapse

Watch the GAO Accounting office for the government on 60 minutes, telling you what the real deal is? Watch and stand up....research you candidates....each one..... Hillary, Ron Paul, Obama, Huckabee, McCain take a look at each one's views and platforms(Look for yourself dont just watch the news) and see who makes the most sense. PLEASE!

MSM Sources: REAL Reasons to Vote for Barack Obama

News sources on Barack Obama's record and why he is the better candidate.

Insight: The next crisis will be over food

what is really catching the attention of Goldman Sachs now is the outlook for agricultural prices. Or as Jeff Currie, head of commodities research at the US bank, says with disarming cheer: "We think we could go into crisis mode in many commodities sectors in the next 12 to 18 months?.?.?.?and I would argue that agriculture is key here."

How “Flat Earth” News is Killing Journalism

For hundreds of years everyone knew the Earth was flat. Indeed it was a heresy to challenge that statement. Eventually someone, Galileo or Copernicus, bothered to check and discovered they were wrong. But if you look at the way the mass media functions today you’ll see we are riddled with “flat earth” statements.

10 Tips front page

A reader wonders which businesses do well when the economy heads south.? The Answer Desk, by msnbc.com’s John W. Schoen.

Some U.S. Cities Smarter Than Others

A new ranking identifies the 25 best-educated cities in the U.S.

Wal-Mart drives another nail in HD-DVD coffin (AFP)

AFP - Top US retailer Wal-Mart on Friday drove another nail a coffin for Toshiba's HD DVD video disks by announcing it would shift to exclusively selling Japanese rival Sony's format Blu-ray.

GOP stages walkout; Ron Paul follows Constitution

Once again Ron Paul proves he is not ruled by party loyalty or petty politics but by the Constitution and the rule of law. Any president that thinks he or she is above oversight must consider themselves a dictator.

Clinton & Obama have given superdelegates over $800,000 cash

Elected officials serving as superdelegates have received about $890,000 from Obama and Clinton in the form of campaign contributions over the last three years the Center for Responsive Politics reported today.

Luxury Hotels Boom in the Middle East

Palace-style hotels combine ancient aesthetics with modern indulgences.

U.S. Trade Deficit Shrinks for the Year

Despite a record deficit with China, the total deficit dropped 6.2 percent.

Hillary Ready To Take 'Incendiary' Steps To Counter Obama

With every delegate precious, Mrs. Clinton’s advisers also made it clear that they were prepared to take a number of potentially incendiary steps to build up Mrs. Clinton’s count. Top among these, her aides said, is pressing for Democrats to seat the disputed delegations from Florida and Michigan.

Answer Desk: How much will my rebate be?

What could be simpler than handing out tax rebates? Alas, with all things related to the U.S. tax code, the question of who gets what turns out to be not so simple.

US Gov to Use Spy Satellites Domestically-Big Brother Coming

After months of delay from privacy and civil liberty advocates, the U.S. is now moving forward with its plan to use spy satellites for law-enforcement and domestic security missions.

Morgan Stanley cuts 1,000 mortgage jobs (Reuters)

Reuters - Morgan Stanley will slash 1,000
jobs, scale back its U.S. home-lending business and shut down a
British mortgage unit as new management takes a hard look at
the continued deterioration in mortgage markets.

Congress eyes bond insurers amid housing crisis (Reuters)

Reuters - The widening U.S. housing finance
crisis prompted calls in Congress on Thursday for new scrutiny
of bond insurers and credit raters, while Senate Democrats
offered a rescue plan for troubled homeowners.

We Need a Constitutional Party

The US Constitution and the principle that no one is above the law suffered a numbing setback, Tuesday, when every Republican Senator, Independent Joe Lieberman and 18 faux Democrats voted to gut the Constitution's Fourth Amendment, one of the most important bulwarks again tyrannical government since 1789.

Hillary is getting desperate...

Bush on terrorist surveillance: "In order to be able to discover enemy — the enemy's plans, we need the cooperation of telecommunication companies. If these companies are subjected to lawsuits that could cost them billions of dollars, they won't participate; they won't help us; they won't help protect America."

Comcast resumes dividends as profit rises (Reuters)

Reuters - Comcast Corp said on
Thursday it would resume annual dividend payments and set a
2009 target to complete its $7 billion stock buyback program,
addressing investors' demands to boost its beleaguered share
price.

New Bill To Allow Police Misconduct Be Hidden From Public

A new bill proposed at the legislature would allow for police to withhold misconduct reports from the public. Supporters of the bill believe that police misconduct should be kept secret from the public so to not discredit police testimony. Others say that a forthright police unit is essential to the community.

Smoke? Not at the Sheraton

Sheraton bans smoking across 300-plus North American hotels and resorts.

Drop in Consumer Confidence Now Its Second-Steepest on Record

Fall in confidence is surpassed only during the 1990-91 recession.

Don't Get Fat While Waiting for Your Flight

From "guiltless salmon" to tapas: How to find healthy food at the airport.

Mexico's President with David Rockefeller & Fed's President

Why is the President of Mexico meeting with New York Federal Reserve president Timothy Geithner? What's the relationship between the Fed and Mexico's government? And why is he also meeting with David Rockefeller? Don't get me wrong, I do not believe in conspiracy theories. But I am sure David Rockefeller does pull a lot of strings.

Feel the 'Crunch'? Head to the Pawn Shop

More Americans appear to be selling gold and jewelry to pay their mortgages.

Barbara Walters Tells Hillary to "Drop" the Pimp Scandal.

76 year old Barbra Walters apparently understands young slang more than the entire Hillary campaign: "... he's getting suspended, he apologized, MSNBC apologized. Drop it already! It's OK. He made a mistake."

Clinton not ready to release tax returns

Resisting calls from Barack Obama to release her income tax returns, Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday she would only do so if she secures the Democratic presidential nomination (SHOCKING)

Why Silicon Valley is digging Digg

"Digg attracts 24m unique users a month from a demographic dominated by 18-40-year-old tech-savvy males with money to spend. Advertisers are salivating, traditional news companies are looking over their shoulders and Silicon Valley bankers are tipping Digg as one of the big takeover targets of this year." DIGG takeover or M&A? Only in their dreams!

Obama's Average Vote Share is 16% Higher Than Clinton's

Obama has shown an ability to clobber Clinton in state contests, whereas Clinton simply edges Obama in the larger states. Who is a more viable candidate? Amazing that the mainstream media has not covered this analysis.

Political Cartoon - Obama v. Billary

Bill attempts a fairly risky looking body-slam on Obama.

10 Tips: Frugal Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day sure can pack an unexpected financial punch. Consider these tips for dreaming up an approach to this year’s celebration that is both meaningful and economical.

17yo Obama Supporter Helps 50,000 Others Vote in MD Primary

A 17 year old Obama supporter in Maryland paved the way for herself and 50,000 other teens to vote in the the upcoming Feb 12th primary.

How AOL Strangled Time Warner

Why Google might buy AOL, the once-dominant, now dormant name on the Web.

Yahoo Rebuffs Microsoft Bid as Inadequate

As expected, Yahoo formally rejects Microsoft's $44.6 billion as inadequate.

Anonymous London Protest - 10 Feb 08

Anonymous protest and others protest outside the Scientology & Dianetics Centre on Tottenham Court Road, London on 10th February 2008.

Sad, self-absorbed shoppers spend more

If you’re sad and shopping, watch your wallet: A new study shows people’s spending judgment goes out the window when they’re down, especially if they’re a bit self-absorbed.

Job Interview Secrets

Learn how companies find the best employees and what they are looking for.

Obama sweeps Saturday's Democratic contests

Today Barack Obama won all Democratic party caucuses and primaries being held in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington State. Go Obama!

Mrs. Clinton is losing this thing.

She is having trouble raising big money, she's funding her campaign with her own wealth, her moral standing within her own party and among her own followers has been dragged down, and the legacy of Clintonism tarnished by what Bill Clinton did in South Carolina.

Air Rebel: 'Any Publicity Is Good Publicity'

Irish airline's Ryanair's cheeky ads draw censure, but get everyone talking.

What This Recession Nonsense Really Means for Us

Recession, shmecession. Everyone keeps blathering on about the dwindling dollar, the deflating markets, and an economy that is sure to dissolve into something obscenely dire any day now. But what does that all really mean and what exactly are we supposed to be doing about it?

EXPOSED: FBI program preparing businesses for martial law

A public-private partnership program on infrastructure preparedness and protection run by the FBI (InfraGard) allegedly has briefed its corporate members on the possibility of martial law and the use of lethal force, according to an exclusive report in the magazine The Progressive.

Are Muscle Cars Uncool?

Makers of the Camaro and the Challenger now cringe at the term "muscle car."

Obscenity: In the Eyes of the Beholder?

Charges dropped against A&F for mall posters of scantily clad youth.

Global stock markets lost $5.2 trillion in January: credit agency (AFP)

AFP - Global stock markets were walloped with a collective loss of 5.2 trillion dollars in the month of January as investors scurried for cover in the face of economic uncertainty, a report showed Friday.

is this a typical Obama supporter?

Interviewer realises that his preconceived notions about Obama supporter is nothing but that. This kid answers every question that's thrown at him/

Ultra-Romantic Trips For Two

Special ways to celebrate Valentine's Day where every wish can be fulfilled.

CIA: Attack on White House planned

Senior al Qaeda leaders are increasing preparations for an attack on the United States, keeping true to Osama bin Laden's request in 2005 to initiate an attack on the White House or other large-scale public venues, senior intelligence officials told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today.

Your 2008 Plan for Success

It's a new year, and 2008 can be the best year ever for you and your business.

McCain introduced bill to extend US health care to Mexico...

Unbelievable as it may seem, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005 contained a provision giving insurance companies the right to help devise a plan for extending US health care to Mexico (BINATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND HEALTH INSURANCE).(Bill: http://opensourceactivist.org/content/legislation/S1033/text.php#sec1004)

Israel's Energy Cuts Violate the Laws of War

"Israel views restricting fuel and electricity to Gaza as a way to pressure Palestinian armed groups to stop their rocket and suicide attacks, but the cuts are seriously affecting civilians who have nothing to do with these armed groups, and that violates a fundamental principle of the laws of war."

Planning for Your Company's Future

Ensure that your company is headed in the right direction with these few steps.

United, Continental in early talks: source (Reuters)

Reuters - United Airlines and
Continental Airlines Corp are in the "very initial
stages" of merger talks, a source familiar with the matter said
on Thursday.

The Politico: Obama claims delegate lead

Clinton’s opponent captured more states and, by the latest network counts, more delegates.

Raunchy poster taken down due to its use of 'sexual imagery'

"A SAUCY poster advertising a lap dancing club has been taken down - after locals were shocked by its cork-popping sexual imagery. The advert, for club Grace of Brighton, showed a scantily-clad model holding a foaming bottle of champagne with its cork flying through the air."

Confidence Slides to 14-Year Low

Poll shows decline similar to start of 1990-91 and 2001 recessions.

Fed Cuts Interest Rate - Again

How the Fed's latest rate cut impacts credit cards, mortgages and student loans.

A Message From The American Corporate Plutocracy, Thanks!

Thank you for your attention. We return you now to your previously scheduled anti-depressant commercial and to the rest of the countless advertisements and programs on this and any of the other 154 stations we have generously created for your endless diversion, brainwashing, marketing, and indoctrination. Yours in Eternal Thought Control.

New Guantánamo court can silence captives who tell secrets

A new court at Guantánamo would allow the U.S. military to keep its secrets by cutting off terror suspects' testimony from the ears of observers at the flick of a switch.

Why is the Fed so worried about inflation?

If the U.S. economy is slowing down, why is the Federal Reserve? still worried about inflation??? The Answer Desk, by msnbc.com’s John W. Schoen.

Lawrence Lessig on Barack Obama

Lessig gives a 20 minute talk on why he supports Obama for president. Very lucid and informative arguments!

10 Tips: Fix credit-report errors

Have you ever been horrified to discover errors on your credit report? Such inaccuracies can and should strike fear into any conscientious consumer’s heart. Here are some helpful tips.

Google Warns Against Rivals' Megadeal

Google fears a Microsoft/Yahoo deal will block 'openness and innovation.'

Corporate Express denies buyout talks with Staples (Reuters)

Reuters - Dutch office supplies firm Corporate
Express said Tuesday it was not in talks to be bought
by U.S. rival Staples , denying a newspaper report and
halving a sharp rise in its shares.

In uncertain times, invest in the long-term

While Wall Street debates whether the U.S. is headed for recession, investors don't have to wait for an answer — they can take steps to limit their risks.

Source: Breakthrough in Writers Talks

Breakthrough Reached Between Hollywood Studios, Striking Writers, Source Says