Military recruits accepted with waivers for past criminal conduct
By CNN News – April 30, 2008 … 
Army and Marine recruits accepted with waivers for past criminal conduct get promoted faster, earn more medals for valor, re-enlist at higher rates, and stay in the military longer … would you like to know more? …
WASHINGTON (AP) - Soldiers who need special waivers to get into the Army because of bad behavior go AWOL more often and face more courts-martial.
But they also get promoted faster and re-enlist at a higher rate, according to an internal military study obtained by The Associated Press.
The Army study late last year concluded that taking a chance on a well-screened applicant with a criminal, bad driving or drug record usually pays off.
And both the Army and the Marines have been bringing in more recruits with blemished records.
Still, senior leaders have called for additional studies, to help determine the effect of the waivers on the Army.
On the brighter side, those with waivers earn more medals for valor and tend to stay in the Army longer.
IMO, we would do better by placing hard-core criminals into military service
Wachovia Bank – caught laundering drug money
By CNN News – April 26, 2008 … 
When Wachovia Bank isn’t busy losing billions of your dollars in bad lending, they midnight as a drug-money laundromat …
Was that wrong? …
Should they not have done that? …
The bank is being investigated by prosecutors as part of a probe into alleged drug money laundering by Mexican and Colombian money-transfer companies, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Wachovia Corp. is being investigated by Federal prosecutors as part of a probe into alleged drug money laundering by Mexican and Colombian money-transfer companies, according to a Wall Street Journal report Saturday morning.
A Wachovia official said the bank is cooperating in the probe, which is also scrutinizing several other large U.S. banks, according to the newspaper.
The bank severed its ties to these money transfer firms in December and January, when the investigation began.
*** AHA! … in other words, you got caught red-handed back then and are trying to squirm out of the picture by offering such a dumbass statement! … ***
The U.S. banking industry has pursued a foothold in the remittance industry, which transmits more than $50 billion from the U.S. to Latin America annually – primarily on behalf of immigrants sending money back to their families.
The industry charges high fees to transfer these funds.
The probe comes at a difficult time for the bank, which announced on Friday that it will pay $144 million to settle federal charges that it failed to stop telemarketers from taking advantage of thousands of elderly consumers.
If you bank with them now, run as fast as you can and close your accounts!
Superdelegates should select Hillary over that Idiot Barack
By Right Wing News – April 25, 2008 … 
WOOHOO … I agree with this Author 100%! … c’mon, John McCain … jump in there and slap both of them down! …
Although I’m supporting John McCain for President in 2008, I have to admit that I’d rather see Hillary Clinton as his opponent.
That’s not because I think she’d be a weaker candidate … it’s because I’d love to see that smug tin god, Barack Obama, humbled and forced to taste bitter defeat at Hillary’s hands.
Ironically, just a few months ago, I would loved to have seen Hillary beaten by Barack because she seemed to have such a sense of entitlement about the Democratic nomination … so now, the shoe is completely on the other foot.
Come to think of it, that may be Barack Obama’s only significant accomplishment … he has been the first Democrat who has ever made conservatives see any good at all in Hillary Clinton.
Here are his top 10 reasons – suck it up Barack Obaba-Yo-Mama
Gas-guzzling SUV’s – Dealers won’t accept them as trade-ins now
By Associated Press – April 26, 2008
This is amusing to me, especially since so many women just HAD TO HAVE AN SUV … most of them can’t see over the steering wheel, much less park one CENTERED between 2 white stripes on any parking lot … As gas prices rise, trade-in value of SUVs drop … you’re going to have to drive that thing into the ground …
For used-car dealer Ivan Hoyos, accepting a sport-utility vehicle as a trade-in is no longer good business.
“Nobody is buying used SUVs,” said Hoyos, 35, who stopped accepting them six months ago.
“The truth is more and more dealers are staying away from used SUVs and large trucks … it doesn’t pay; you can’t have a unit sitting on the lot forever.”
Economy is so bad – Ebay to start auctioning Real Estate
By Barbara E. Hernandez – Mercury News – April 25, 2008
Remember how everyone scoffed when eBay started car auctions?
Well, soon they might be your realtor …
Two auctions in the East Bay next week show that developers and builders are eager to sell off their slow-moving homes.
Vista Del Mar’s neighborhoods range from 1,560 to 3,665 square feet and feature fireplaces, tile entry ways, master suites and walk-in closets. Homeowner association fees are $132 a month for the Villages only.
Minimum bids start at $265,000 for 1,560-square-foot homes at the Villages. The homes were priced previously from $470,990 to $836,044.
Builders will continue to start new homes on a very limited basis
Internet to hit it’s “full capacity” by 2010
Doom-filled warnings arrive from AT&T this week.
The company says that without substantial investment in network infrastructure, the Internet will essentially run out of bandwidth in just two short years …
Blame broadband, says AT&T.
Decades of dealing with the trickle of bandwidth consumed by voice and dialup modems left AT&T twiddling its thumbs.
The massive rise of DSL and cable modem service in the 2000s has had AT&T facing a monstrous increase in the volume of data transmissions … and that’s set to increase another 50 times between now and 2015.
That’s enough, says AT&T, to all but crash the system … Yahoo Tech News
Route 66 – America’s Last Frontier Most Have Never Seen
*** Admin’s Note *** … CLICK THE IMAGE FOR A CLOSER VIEW!
How many of you can name the original actors of Route 66 from this photo … “Tod” and “Buzz”?
Yeah; it’s Nostalgia time for this old fart … Historic gas station on Route 66 re-opens
WOW … I remember I was riding a Triumph 500 Motorcycle from Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton, CA to Las Vegas on the week-ends, passing thru these small towns along the way … so much of America’s open landscape and open highway’s have changed so much since then!!!
Before you miss a very important part of America’s history … the next time you get 2 – 3 weeks of vacation time from work … do yourself and family a huge favor before it’s completely gone forever…
1. Put your cellphone away unless you absolutely need it!
2. Grab your video camera instead!
3. Stop at numerous “out-of-the-way” places as often as you can … these will offer the largest, juiciest hamburgers that have ever hit your lips!
Are you ready to go traveling across America by vehicle?
Have you ever gone thru actual American Ghost Towns?
If you’ve never gone thru this awesome experience … check out this other story about … Roy’s Gas Station
After that, I hope you check out this awesome website about Ghost Towns of the American West
Saudi Arabia and Middle East Oil – America say’s Good-bye!
*** Admin’s Note *** … with over 32 yrs in the Petrochemical industry, and working several times in Venezuela, I’ve harped to numerous oil companies to drill in this region.
Now that we’re in an alleged “oil crisis”, it amuses and amazes me that they’re just now “discovering” what I told them over 20 years ago … ***banging head on keyboard*** …
By Bloomberg News – April 24, 2008 … 
Brazil’s discoveries of what may be two of the world’s three biggest oil finds in the past 30 years could help end the Western Hemisphere’s reliance on Middle East crude …
Brazil’s discoveries of what may be two of the world’s three biggest oil finds in the past 30 years could help end the Western Hemisphere’s reliance on Middle East crude, Strategic Forecasting Inc. said.
Saudi Arabia’s influence as the biggest oil exporter would wane if the fields are as big as advertised, and China and India would become dominant buyers of Persian Gulf oil, said Peter Zeihan, vice president of analysis at Strategic Forecasting in Austin, Texas.
Zeihan’s firm, which consults for companies and governments around the world, was described in a 2001 Barron’s article as “the shadow CIA.”
Brazil may be pumping “several million” barrels of crude daily by 2020, vaulting the nation into the ranks of the world’s seven biggest producers, Zeihan said in a telephone interview.
The finds they’ve got so far are just the tip of the iceberg
D.O.T. To Double Denied Boarding Compensation
The Department of Transportation in a final rule released today said it will double the maximum amount airlines must compensate involuntarily bumped passengers. Though the ruling came amid fierce opposition from air carriers, DOT said it would go into effect in 30 days.
Under the rule, passengers who are involuntarily bumped would receive compensation equal to their one-way fare up to $400 if they are rescheduled to reach their destination within two hours of their original arrival time for domestic and four hours for international flights, and $800 if they reach their destination after those times.
“It has been 25 years since the rule was last revised, and the existing $200 and $400 limits on the amount of required denied boarding compensation for passengers involuntarily denied boarding have not been raised since 1978,” DOT said in the filing. “The Department has received recommendations from various sources that it reexamine its oversales rule and, in particular, the maximum amounts of compensation set forth in the rule.”
DOT said it also would make the rules applicable to aircraft that seat between 30 and 60 people, which previously had been exempt from the denied boarding standards.
According to DOT figures, denied boardings steadily have increased since 2001, reaching a record high last year of 1.12 for every 10,000 passengers. President George W. Bush last year proposed to raise denied boarding compensation caused by airline oversales following mounting public outcry over airline service.
U.S. Airways To Charge For Window, Aisle Coach Seating
U.S. Airways beginning May 7 will charge customers at least $5 per leg for window and aisle seat assignments “in the first several rows of the coach cabin,” but said it would offer them free of charge to its elite frequent flyer members, who “also have exclusive access to exit row seats.”
Others, though, would have to pay for the assignments exclusively through online checkin, as they are not available at the time of booking or via the carrier’s airport checkin kiosks. US Airways on its Web site said, “Choice Seats will be assigned free of charge at the airport if no other seat assignments are available.”
US Airways said the Choice Seats comprise about 8 percent of coach seating, as “the remaining 92 percent are assigned free of charge any time after purchasing a reservation.” That carrier said the policy would not affect its shuttle flights or those operated on Saab 340 aircraft.
Northwest Airlines in 2006 launched an “open-ended” test to see if travelers would pay a premium for reserved aisle, window and exit row seats in the United States. The carrier since has expanded the program to international routes, charging up to $50 for transpacific and some transatlantic flights, though the domestic charge ranges from $5 to $35. Northwest on its Web site says the Coach Choice assignments are available on about 5 percent of its inventory.
Many carriers have sought out new forms of revenue by unbundling services that once were included in the price of a ticket, from checking a second piece of luggage to providing inflight meals, among many others.
“I’ve got to believe they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel already,” Bob Brindley, vice president of the Americas for Advito, BCD Travel’s consulting division, said this week prior to US Airways’ announcement. “I’ve seen a couple of comedy sketches where they charge for extra oxygen on the airplane, so you can take this to the absurd. They’ll keep looking and pushing the envelope.”
Detroit Airport To Open New Terminal In September
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport will replace two older terminals with a single more modern and efficient facility set to open in September, officials said.
The new North Terminal will replace the Smith and Berry terminals. It will house all of the airport’s airlines except for SkyTeam alliance partners, said Scott Wintner, spokesperson for Wayne County Airport Authority, which operates the airport. The opening will be phased, as flights gradually move from the older terminals.
“The way the terminal is placed between two existing terminals, we will need to demolish some of the old terminal spaces before we can finish some of the exterior tarmac work. The ramp, the facilities where the airplane can park—that portion on the south end won’t be completed until we tear down some of our older facilities, but in order to tear down, we have to move our airlines into the newer,” Wintner said.
Funds for construction, which began in 2006 and which Wintner said is estimated to cost $431 million, came from bonds and a $4.50 passenger facility charge.
“The airport can definitely benefit from the renovation,” said Renee Monforton, spokesperson for Metro Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Carol Galle, president of Special D Events, a Michigan-based corporate event management firm, added: “It is something that is desperately needed.”
The new construction was due to the age of the original terminals, said Tom McCarthy, deputy director for North Terminal redevelopment. Smith Terminal was built in 1958.
The terminal will have 26 gates and is capable of handling 7 million passengers annually, although the airport is anticipating approximately four million passengers during the first year of operation, Wintner said. “It really isn’t going to increase capacity on the airport so much. What it will do is be much more efficient than our current terminals,” he said. McCarthy added that there is an opportunity to expand to 31 gates if needed.
The facility will have a linear concourse, eliminating the alleyways created by the branching concourses of the Smith Terminal, which allowed only one airplane to pass at a time. “By creating a linear design where every airplane has direct access to the taxiway, it will help reduce taxi times for aircraft,” Wintner said.
The terminal itself will have “an increased amount of ticketing positions,” more efficient security checkpoints and a centralized baggage system with complete inline screening system, McCarthy said.
BAM! – Emeril Lagasse closes his restaurants
By Meridith Ford – Atlanta Journal-Constitution – April 22, 2008
Emeril begins closing namesake restaurants … don’t let the overpriced food and poor service bam you on the way out …
The rumors have been flying for several months, but Emeril’s has finally pulled the plug on its Atlanta location.
How could a restaurant with the kind of big-money, corporate backing and star-chef recognition of Emeril Lagasse’s empire fail?
The super-chef’s presence was missing far too often in Atlanta
Gas prices – why are you spending so much?
* ADMIN’S NOTE * … I don’t know why so many people can’t grasp this simple concept of soaring gas prices and how to beat the oil companies down, so I’m going to spell it out for you … pay close attention, as this is what I’ve been doing for years … if you follow my plan below, we can force oil companies to drop their prices…
1. STOP putting in $80 – $125 a week in your tank … oil companies love stupid people who do this!
2. Fill your tank ONCE ONLY.
3. Stop in EVERY OTHER DAY and only put in $10 into your tank … you’ll always have a full tank.
4. You’ll use more fuel when the tank is between half-full and empty, because it takes more energy to get the fuel to the carburetor.
If millions of driver’s follow this simple plan, here’s what happens quickly …
1. Refineries will begin to have large stockpiles of gasoline they need to get rid of, and they can only do that by dropping the prices.
2. Their huge oil tankers will be waiting off-shore to unload their oil.
3. Oil companies can’t afford to have those tankers sitting off-shore for days or weeks.
See how simple that is?
Pass this info to friends and family thru email, etc … the rest of the story is shown below…
By Ron Scherer – Christian Science Monitor – April 20, 2008
New York – Americans cannot avoid the soaring price of oil.
They pay for it at the pump, with gasoline at a record $3.42 a gallon.
They get hit by fuel surcharges when they book airline flights.
Higher fuel prices are a major reason for rocketing food prices – in part, because corn is being diverted from the food supply to make ethanol, in part because of higher fuel costs to produce and transport food.
Now, rising energy prices – oil hit records above $115 a barrel this week – are causing concern about the potential damage to the economy.
Americans are spending a larger share of their income on energy than at any time since 1986.
That has crimped pocketbooks and helped dampen consumer sentiment. Purchases of everything from cars to clothing are falling.
“We are all worth less and earning less than a year ago,” says economist Mark Zandi of Moody’s Economy.com … “That is why consumers are pulling back, and judging from the confidence numbers they are in a panic mode.”
The price of gasoline is expected to continue rising through Memorial Day
Economy is really bad – Teenagers are learning hard lessons
By Anne D’Innocenzio – Associated Press – April 19, 2008
NEW YORK - The souring job market and rising costs of the usual teenage indulgences — a slice of pizza, a drive to the mall, the hottest new jeans — are causing teens to do something they rarely do … be thrifty.
It’s a far cry from the freewheeling spending of recent years, when teens splurged on $100 Coach wristlet handbags, $60 Juicy Couture T-shirts and $80 skinny jeans from Abercrombie & Fitch.
Now jobs for teens are less plentiful, and parents who supply the allowances are feeling the economic pinch themselves.
The stalwart retailers of teen apparel, such as Abercrombie, based in the Columbus, Ohio, suburb of New Albany, and American Eagle Outfitters Inc., are reporting sluggish sales, defying the myth that teen spending is recession-proof … it holds up longer, but can eventually fold.
Victoria Bradley and her friends head for the thrift store or just browse at the mall
CitiGroup – 9,000 more Americans lose their jobs
By Bradley Keoun – Bloomberg News – April 18, 2008
Citigroup announces $5.11 billion quarterly loss, cuts another 9,000 jobs, stock price soars … hooray for capitalism …
April 18 (Bloomberg) — Citigroup Inc. posted a $5.11 billion first-quarter loss, less than analysts’ most pessimistic estimates, and cut 9,000 jobs, sending its shares higher and sparking a rally in U.S. stocks and the dollar.
Citigroup, the biggest U.S. bank by assets, reported almost $16 billion of trading writedowns and increased bad loan reserves as customers fell behind on home, car and credit-card payments.
The New York-based company’s net loss of $1.02 a share compared with an estimate of $1.66 by Merrill Lynch & Co.’s Guy Moszkowski, Institutional Investor’s top-rated brokerage analyst, who had predicted an $18 billion writedown.
Homeowners predicted to be in foreclosure within 2 years
One in 33 homeowners predicted to be in foreclosure within two years.
EVERYBODY…
A) Panic?
B) Blame the government for not doing anything?
C) Make sure you qualify for a mortgage within the next two years when those homes are dirt cheap?
For those of you hoping that foreclosure crises has hit bottom, we’ve got some bad news.
A new report released by the The Pew Charitable Trusts says that 1 in 33 homeowners is expected to be in foreclosure over the next two years, due primarily to subprime mortgages made in 2005 and 2006.
The report goes into detail about how each of the states is dealing with the mortgage meltdown.
Everyone is affected … even those without risky mortgages.
More than 40.6 million homes across America are projected to lose value because of subprime foreclosures in their communities, and foreclosures may cost neighboring properties up to $356 billion in home value over the next couple of years, says the report.
Also sobering is the news that foreclosure starts involving prime adjustable-rate mortgages increased 158 percent in one year.
The Consumerist spells out the doom-n-gloom for America’s Subprime Meltdown
U.S. Customs To Pilot International Registered Traveler Program
U.S. Customs and Border Protection this summer plans to pilot a voluntary expedited entry process for U.S. travelers willing to pay a $100 application fee, submit to a background check and provide the government with biometric data.
CBP on Friday said it would begin taking applications from U.S. citizens on May 12 and launch the Global Entry program on June 10 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental and Washington Dulles International airports.
CBP said it is working in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, with plans to “to foster close ties among Global Entry and other vetted populations, such as TSA’s Registered Traveler Program, where appropriate.”
Those agencies also are seeking bilateral coordination with other governments to allow for similar expedited passport control when U.S. travelers go abroad or foreign travelers come into the United States.
CBP said the program, which automates passport control, would be available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have clean criminal, customs and immigration records … when arriving from international travel, a Global Entry member would bypass any lines for customs agents and scan the passport into a kiosk, where a photo is taken, declaration questions are fielded and the traveler is asked to submit fingerprints to be matched against those on file .. CBP said the kiosk then prints a receipt, which the traveler must present to a CBP officer upon leaving the inspection area.
The National Business Travel Association today praised the program and encouraged a rapid expansion. CBP did not identify any other airports to which it would expand the program, though it said any expansion would be detailed in the Federal Register.
NBTA executive director and COO Bill Connors stated, “Many other countries have seen the value of international registered traveler programs like Global Entry, and we will work with governments and private sector players around the globe to establish a network of trusted traveler programs to make international travel as secure and efficient as possible.”
Frontier Airlines Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
Frontier Airlines today said it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, claiming its primary credit card processor increased the share of customer receipts it would hold.
Frontier said its “principal credit card processor,” which it did not identify, “very recently and unexpectedly informed us that, beginning on April 11, it intended to start withholding significant proceeds received from the sale of Frontier tickets.”
The carrier said it expects to continue normal operations and planned to honor all reservations, maintain its frequent flyer program, continue to compensate employees and “pay suppliers for goods and services received during the reorganization process.”
The carrier in filings said it plans to honor agreements with ARC, bank settlement plans, travel agencies and global distribution systems, expecting no disruption in those systems.
Frontier’s announcement follows bankruptcy filings among several smaller U.S. carriers — Aloha Airlines, ATA Airlines and SkyBus — that also, unlike Frontier, ended operations.
Frontier president and CEO Sean Menke in a statement today said, “To be clear, we filed for very different reasons than those of other recent carriers, and our customers and employees can be confident that we intend to keep on flying and providing outstanding service and products.”
Menke in a statement today said the credit card processor’s “established practices would have represented a material change to our cash forecasts and business plan.
Unchecked, it would have put severe restraints on Frontier’s liquidity and would have made it impossible for us to continue normal operations.
The automatic stay provision of the bankruptcy code prohibits the credit card processor from increasing its holdback, and we are prepared to litigate this issue if necessary.”
AirTran Adopts $10 Second-Bag Fee
AirTran Airways this morning became the latest airline to introduce a fee to check a second bag, though the carrier plans to charge $10 compared with the $25 fee adopted by most legacy airlines.
AirTran said it plans to assess the charge for travel beginning May 15.
AirTran said the fee would not apply to business class passengers or holders of elite status in its frequent flyer program.
“The airline will continue to allow passengers to check additional bags for a $50 fee per additional bag,” the carrier said in a statement. “As with the previous policy, weight and size restrictions apply.”
Continental Airlines earlier this week became the fifth legacy carrier to adopt the $25 charge for a second bag, while American Airlines remained the only holdout among its legacy peers.
Linens ‘n Things files bankruptcy – going out of business
By JEFFREY MCCRACKEN – Wall St. Journal – April 11, 2008
Linens ‘n Things to become Linens ‘n Bankruptcy Protection Things …
Linens ‘n Things Inc., a home-furnishings retailer caught by an increasing debt load and shrinking housing market, is expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy-court protection by Tuesday, several people familiar with the matter said.
A Linens ‘n Things filing would mark one of the first major retailers to seek bankruptcy protection in this economic downturn.
The New Jersey retailer, which sells home products like towels, bath rugs and kitchen appliances, has about 590 stores in 46 states and employs 17,000 people.
They lost $62 million on sales of $962 million in the fourth quarter of 2007
The Lord is God – Follow Him
Soon after entering the promised land of Canaan, the children of Israel forgot about God and all He had done … they soon began to worship the false gods of Baal and the love-goddess, Asherah … it seemed like every generation from that time forward was tempted into worshipping these false gods.
About five hundred years later, God rose up Elijah to be His chosen spokesman – His prophet.
The Israelites were still being enticed to worship other gods, and the time had come for a direct confrontation between Elijah and the many false prophets of Baal … “Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal” (1 Kings 18:19).
Elijah and the false prophets were to pray to their respective gods, with the “winner” determined by how the prayers were answered … “You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire – He is God” (1 Kings 18:24).
But prior to calling on the Lord, Elijah gave a challenge for the people of Israel to make a commitment.
1 Kings 18:21 … “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
Elijah prayed, and God answered with enough fire to remove any and all doubt … the people clearly saw the hand of the Lord and readily made their choice … “The Lord – He is God! The Lord – He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39).
We face the same challenge today … however, instead of two or three choices, we now have many gods which continually entice us into worship – many gods who desire our time and energy.
The world offers a long list of “worthy” candidates – television, money, power, prestige, sex, drugs, food, sports, internet, education … the list goes on … “These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens” (Jeremiah 10:11).
Who (or what) is truly worthy of our worship?
The challenge today is simple … if we have recognized our sinful condition, repented of our sin and asked Jesus to be our Savior, we must continue by being transformed into His likeness – we must follow Him.
We cannot allow the “distractions” in life to become our god … we must devote our heart, soul, mind and strength to loving our Heavenly Father, and commit ourselves to whatever tasks He has given us to accomplish.
Our choice is clear, and our response must be boldly decisive … the Lord is God – Follow Him!
Guided By Closed Doors
As we continue our search for God’s direction – patiently waiting and actively seeking His presence – we ought to rejoice with every single step He reveals … as we draw closer to Jesus, we will desire, more and more, to only take steps which are aligned with His will … therefore, ANY direction from God – no matter which way He leads and no matter what method He uses to direct – should be a reason to rejoice.
During his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul received specific direction from Jesus … “get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:6) … a few years later, the Spirit of God specifically directed Paul to begin his first missionary journey … “Set apart for me Barnabas and {Paul} for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2).
Midway through his second journey, God directed Paul with peace and assurance … “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you” (Acts 18:9-10) … and at the end of his third journey, Paul once again received specific direction … “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem” (Acts 20:22).
God often leads us by opening doors and lighting a path for us to follow … but there are also many times when God directs by simply telling us where NOT to go.
Acts 16:6-7 … “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.”
Paul was still walking with God – still being directed by His Spirit – but now God’s direction was in the form of closed doors … Paul never appeared to get discouraged when God closed a door, he simply allowed himself to be redirected toward whatever door God opened.
So much of our Christian growth is a process of relinquishing control and trusting God to completely direct our life.
He alone is in control of the doors … “What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open” (Revelation 3:7).
It’s a mixture of pride and foolishness which causes us to continually push on doors which God has closed.
Our Heavenly Father is constantly guiding and calling us to trust Him more … He opens doors which require us to step through in faith, and closes doors which require us to patiently wait.
His guiding hand is always a reason to rejoice – even when we are lovingly guided by closed doors.
John McCain – Lenders Should Fix Mortgage Mess
Drawing a sharp distinction between himself and the two Democratic presidential candidates, Senator John McCain of Arizona warned Tuesday against vigorous government action to solve the deepening mortgage crisis and the market turmoil it has caused, saying that “it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers.”
Mr. McCain’s comments came a day after Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York called for direct federal intervention to help affected homeowners, including a $30 billion fund for states and communities to assist those at risk of foreclosure. Mrs. Clinton’s Democratic opponent, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, has similarly called for greater federal involvement, including creation of a $10 billion relief package to prevent foreclosures.
As the foreclosure crisis has rippled across the economy, it has thrust itself to the forefront of the presidential race, with Democrats seizing on the issue in urging forceful government steps to alleviate the crisis. Mr. McCain’s remarks Tuesday, to a group of Hispanic businessmen here, signaled a sharpening divide between the two parties’ candidates, with the senator warning against quick, costly government fixes to a crises rooted in the private sector.
“Rampant speculation” on both sides is the root cause of the crisis, Mr. McCain said. He placed part of the responsibility for the mortgage mess on lenders, who he said had grown “complacent” in a rising market and as a result acquired a “false sense of security” that caused them to “lower their lending standards.”
His Calm Within The Storm
Waiting for God’s direction and blessing can be a great test of our faith, but waiting on God for our rescue can be an even greater challenge … there are three great storms detailed in the New Testament … the first occurred when Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee with His disciples.
Jesus was asleep when the storm began, and the disciples became afraid and woke Him … “Lord save us! We’re going to drown!” (Matthew 8:25).
Jesus rebuked the disciples for their fear and proceeded to calm the storm … “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matthew 8:26).
The second storm occurred immediately after the miraculous feeding of over five thousand people … this time, Jesus sent the disciples across the sea by themselves.
When the storm rose up, Jesus went out to meet them … walking on the water.
As Jesus again calmed the storm, He spoke the same message against fear … “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).
The last storm occurred about thirty years after Jesus was crucified. Paul had proclaimed the gospel through much of the Roman empire and was being transported by boat to stand trial in Rome. A storm arose which blew the ship terribly off course. The ship was battered and tossed for several days … “We finally gave up all hope of being saved” (Acts 27:20).
It must have been difficult to trust God’s timing as the storm continued through the many long days and sleepless nights. But as hope was fading away, God sent an angel to Paul with a familiar message.
Acts 27:23-24 … “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid.’”
There may be times when our ability to trust is severely tested … but our faith in God – in His ability to hold us secure – must be independent of the force of the wind.
Though the winds may blow, we remain in His hands and must not fear … “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, but even if He does not…” (Daniel 3:17-18).
Most storms last longer than we prefer … but our Heavenly Father is leading us to the place where we can have peace, contentment, and even joy, whether the sun is shining or the storm is raging.
He is calling us to be free of fear; calling us to trust Him more and experience His calm within the storm.
Suburban Warfare – are you prepared for it?
Duck and Cover – it’s the new Survivalism for America …
By By ALEX WILLIAMS – NY Times – April 6, 2008
Survivalism hits the suburbs, as yuppies and soccer moms stock up on organic MREs and designer ammo in preparation for the breakdown of society …
The traditional face of survivalism is that of a shaggy loner in camouflage, holed up in a cabin in the wilderness and surrounded by cases of canned goods and ammunition.
It is not that of Barton M. Biggs, the former chief global strategist at Morgan Stanley. Yet in Mr. Biggs’s new book, “Wealth, War and Wisdom,” he says people should “assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure.”
“Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food,” Mr. Biggs writes.
“It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc … think Swiss Family Robinson … even in America and Europe there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily completely breaks down.”
Great Depression of 2008 – 2009 and how to survive the doom
By Bob Hoffman – Political Gateway – April 4, 2008
[ Admin's Note ... hopefully, everyone will take this seriously ... be sure and read what Bob Hoffman say's about fighting foreclosure on your home; his advice is what I did back in the late 80's when I lost my new home to foreclosure and it worked, as I stayed in my new home for over a year and didn't make a single payment until I finally had to move out as ordered by the Court ... ]
Deerfield Beach, Florida — In 2004 and 2005 I suggested to people to sell their homes immediately and to rent.
I told them the prices of homes were not true, they were not real … I implored them and even wrote a few articles about the coming land bust.
It was a bit worse than I thought it would be.
No other TV, online writer, or business entity was even in the ballpark back then.
My articles were correct and the bust started in 2006, shortly after the last article … at the time I wrote those pieces, people were standing in line for days to buy a condo.
Job losses continue to mount – recession looming larger
By Joanne Morrison – Reuters News – April 4, 2008
Economy sheds 80,000 jobs in March … just in time for bikini season …
WASHINGTON — Employers cut payrolls in March for a third straight month and the jobless rate jumped to a 2-1/2-year high, further evidence that a housing downturn and credit crisis may have pushed the economy into recession.
The Labor Department on Friday said nonfarm employment fell by 80,000 jobs in March, more than expected and the biggest drop in five years. Financial markets saw this as reinforcing the need for further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
It was the first time the U.S. economy had shed jobs for three consecutive months since a five-month string in 2003, when the economy was mired in a recovery from the 2001 recession which created few jobs.
The numbers drew calls from Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for aid to families facing foreclosure on their homes, while Republican candidate Senator John McCain said tax cuts and streamlining burdensome regulations were needed to foster growth.
During the first quarter, job losses averaged 77,000 a month
Now that the housing lenders have reamed us raw
By ANDREW TAYLOR – Associated Press – April 2, 2008
The borrowers are asking us to grab our ankles …
WASHINGTON — Senate leaders announced an agreement today on legislation to ease the slumping housing market and help millions of families threatened by foreclosure.
The scaled-back proposal released by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky contains an amalgam of ideas aimed at boosting demand for housing and helping homeowners saddled with subprime mortgages avoid foreclosure.
For instance, the plan contains $4 billion in grants to local governments to buy and refurbish foreclosed homes, new authority for states to issue bonds to be used to refinance subprime mortgages and a $7,000 tax credit for people buying new homes or properties in foreclosure.
“It is a robust package,” Reid said. “This is good news for the American people.”
Yeah, right … Senate leaders agree on bill to ease housing crisis … filling whose pockets?
-
Recent Comments
-
Archives
- June 2008 (4)
- May 2008 (15)
- April 2008 (29)
- March 2008 (1)
-
Categories
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
Fuel prices rising – I wasn’t off by far according to this forecast
By Dan Dorfman – New York Sun – April 28, 2008
Analysts predict that market factors with drive gas prices up to $7 to $10 a gallon … and most likely higher than that …
>>>>> For those not as familiar with the oil / Petrochem market as I am, I’ll explain this in easy-to-understand terms …
The prices are high due to the fact of the recession in the United States and the economic crisis which has touched several countries, a situation which has an effect on the devaluation of the dollar, and therefore each time the dollar falls one percent, the price of the barrel rises by $4, and of course vice versa.
If the dollar strengthens by 10 percent, it is probable that (oil) prices will fall by 40 percent … <<<<<
Get ready for another economic shock of major proportions — a virtual doubling of prices at the gas pump to as much as $10 a gallon.
That’s the message from a couple of analytical energy industry trackers, both of whom, based on the surging oil prices, see considerably more pain at the pump than most drivers realize.
An Arco gas station in San Mateo, Calif., has already raised its price to a sky-high $4.62.
These increases are taking place before the all-important summer driving season, signaling even higher prices ahead.
Translating this price into dollars and cents at the gas pump, one of our forecasters, the chairman of Houston-based Dune Energy, Alan Gaines, sees gas rising to $7-$8 a gallon.
The other, a commodities tracker at Weiss Research in Jupiter, Fla., Sean Brodrick, projects a range of $8 to $10 a gallon.
This would undoubtedly create considerable global economic distress
April 28, 2008 Posted by Admin | Commentaries, In the news, Oil and Gas News | | No Comments Yet