Countless numbers of Postal service closings announced for 2011

To cut costs, the USPS has announced that it will close 2,000 facilities this year. Because a law forbids postal service closings to cut budgets, the USPS said the closures would technically only impact rural stations and branches. Slashing costs to stem losses has not worked so far for the Postal service, which lost billions past year and is expected to lose billions more in 2011. They have been hanging on by a thread and could possibly be looking into short term loans to remain afloat. Resource for this article – Thousands of Postal Service closings announced for 2011 by MoneyBlogNewz.

Having a difficult time with the Postal service

With almost 500 postal closings under way, the Postal service has set a goal to close a total of 2,000 this year. There is expected to be the exact same amount of service in the United States to every part of the community. This is what the USPS is needed to do by law. In 2010, the agency lost $8.5 billion though. It was asked for an increase postage rates by the Postal Regulatory Commission. This was rejected though. The USPS cited the recession and Internet competition in the request, but the commission said the agency's problems were from poor management and waste. Just since 1999, there has been a cut of about 1/3 of USPS employees. To cut costs, dropping Saturday delivery and closing smaller postal locations are on the table.

Searching for postal strengthen alternatives

With 2,000 postal locations in line for the chopping block in 2011, The Postal service is re-evaluating another 16,000. There are deficits in several of these post offices currently. About 50 percent have this problem. Congress has had to hear a lot from the agency. The agency has asked that there be a change to the law that states post office closings can only take place when you find maintenance problems or expired leases. Losing the postage strengthen battle didn't stop the Postal service from trying other things. It is trying to convince politicians that 32,000 locations are too many. These buildings were created when there was no e-mail, FedEx and United Parcel Service to replace it.

Conclusion of the postal period

The amount of mail is what the Postal service needs more of. This is the only way survival will happen. Companies hardly send junk mail anymore, bills are paid online mostly and nobody writes letters anymore. It seems the only answer to the issue is to get the buildings shut down. Small towns and politicians think this is absurd and shouldn't happen. The argument is the USPS shouldn't be able to shut down the mail system, and that it should stop giving so many benefits to employees first.

Information from

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704881304576094000352599050.html

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2011/01/24/news/economy/postal_service_close/?npt=NP1

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/01/us-postal-service-set-to-begin-closing-2000-post-offices/1

Consumer Confidence Index at greatest level in eight months

The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) level for January is the greatest measured in 8 months, accounts the Associated Press. An increase from 53.3 in Dec. to 60.6 in Jan was observed in the CCI by the Conference Board, a global non-profit that monitors economic performance. Lower unemployment and improving business climate are factors that are believed to have led to an uptick in consumer spending and saving habits. Individuals even seem to be additional comfortable getting pay day loans when in need of them, because they’re additional confident their career will nevertheless be around on their next payday.

It might not be a balanced Consumer Confidence Index although it’s better

Ninety is where the CCI ought to be if it’s balanced when it comes to the use of short term credit for instance payday loans and the consumer confidence in this. It has risen to 60.6 recently though. The way people feel about the U.S. economy is measured by the Consumer Confidence Index. The blog, Banker Notes, explained that 5,000 households are surveyed for this figure. The CCI hasn't been above 90 since December 2007.

May 2010, when the United States economy was expected to get normal again, there was a 62.7 mark CCI while now, January's 60.6 CCI seems high. The economy was really slow this summer though. The CCI changed due to this. The joblessness levels have not returned since the drop in 2009 while it also got to the highest it has been since the 1930s in the U.S.

More jobs in the future

The number of businesses that are preparing on hiring is at a 12 year high right now, which the AP reports the National Association for Business Economics reported. This coincides somewhat with the reaction consumers gave to a Conference Board survey concerning the state of the career market, as the percentage of respondents who feel work are too hard to come by is down to 43.4 percent. From December, that has dropped three percent. The Conference Board survey also asked which individuals though there would be additional work becoming available within the next six months. From Dec. to Jan, that number went up from 14.2 percent to 16 percent.

Joblessness goes down while spending goes up for consumers

Sales went up faster than they have in six year with the 2010 holiday buying season. There are also Social Security tax cuts. This means additional money could be accessible for spending. With only 103,000 new work created in the United States, the joblessness nevertheless went down from November to Dec. 0.4 percent.

Information from

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41251437/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/?ns=business-eye_on_the_economy&from=toolbar

Banker Notes

bankernotes.blogspot.com/2006/10/financial-term-glossary.html

Plunkett Research on U.S. retail

youtube.com/watch?v=FrgCCfVqPSs

New and used vehicles reverse roles in transforming auto market

In an economy turned upside-down, a brand new auto loan has become more affordable that buying used. Interest rates and incentives for new autos have created situations where time-honored advice on vehicle purchases might not apply. Depending on the make and model, there are some automobiles that actually cost less over time when bought brand new instead of used. This makes it easier than for those who take out installment loans for their vehicles.

What all of the free financing auto loan companies are offering

It is sometimes a better idea to get a brand new vehicle loan than a used vehicle loan unless you’ve quick money to pay. The recession brought on loan rates to go down a lot. That means that they are nevertheless just as low for new vehicles. In Dec., the average rate for a car loan was 4.16 percent. This is what Edmunds.com reports. Over 15 percent of auto loans do not even have interest though. General Motors, which is showing signs of life after a notorious government bailout, offers 0 percent funding on 50 percent of its auto loans. However, 0 percent funding isn't for every person. Strong credit is needed to qualify for such a sweet deal, to the tune of a FICO score of at least 650 and sometimes above 700.

Having cheaper brand new automobiles than used cars automobile

There are about 8 percent interest rates for used automobiles at this time although brand new cars are around 4 percent. There have been several reasons leading to there being less of a price gap between brand new and used automobiles too. There was a "cash for clunkers" program that took about 700,000 automobiles off the industry. This was in 2009. The amount of used vehicles being traded in has been affected by the financial crisis. With the way a new car is made to have such cheap deals with a five year loan, a one year old car is probably going to be more expensive than a new model.

How do I know which new cars are less expensive?

To make a list of brand new automobiles that are cheaper than used vehicles, Edmunds.com compared the average used vehicle rate of interest of 7.7 percent with a 0 percent brand new car loan accessible for certain models. There were several incentives added with auto loans being in five year terms. On the list it showed the Audi S4 Premium Plus Quattro Sedan saving $1,020, the savings of $1,320 with the Honda DR-V EX and the saving of $1,320 with the Toyota Motors FJ Cruiser base model.

Information from

Market Watch

marketwatch.com/story/story?Guid=94f611d3-aa3c-4b21-b432-90910a50e8e0

Money Watch

moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/cars-money/flash-new-cars-cost-less-than-used-cars/460/

Edmunds.com

edmunds.com/car-news/new-vs-used-car-buying.html

Smith pays $20 for legal rights to his very own Red State film

Hollywood is all about commercialism. Risky, creative works from directors with distinctive perspectives cannot purchase a green light from big-time distributors. That is why noted independent movie-director Smith of "Clerks" and "Dogma" fame is bucking the system and releasing his next movie himself, says the Hollywood Reporter. After the first public screening of "Red State," an intense thriller based upon controversial Pastor Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, Smith held a mock auction in which he purchased his very own film’s distribution legal rights for a token $20. At that price he did not even have to take out a payday advance.

The 'Red State' journey strategies

The protests from the Westboro Baptist Church is the main concern that Smith has when it comes to allowing "Red State" to get in the hands of an advertising machine. That is why he instead has decided to travel the U.S. in all of 2011 in order to show his film to "any smart exhibitor" who’s willing to let the movie show there starting March 5. The Associated Press reports that before the Oct 19 theatrical release, Smith plans on making up some of the $4 million budget the film had. He hopes to replace the normal pre-release movie sector with this on the highway exhibition.

“What we need to prove is that anyone can release a movie,” Smith told the debut audience at the Eccles Theater in Logan, Utah. "Indie film isn’t dead, it just grew up. We sell our movies ourselves."

The Hollywood machine is the issue

Kevin Smith wants to tell stories. He describes himself as a "fat…stoner" though. Hollywood has been one of those things the "Red State" director has never liked. That is why he has been trying to keep the movie out of the hands of the machine. The Eccles audience spoke with Smith who said that creativity is killed with commercialism even though it may bring in money.

The way for 'Red State' to get protested

Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, an institution known for its extreme anti-gay agenda, have taken offense at Kevin Smith’s portrayal of Pastor Abin Cooper and his fundamentalist church in "Red State.". Smith has admitted that Phelps was indeed his "muse" when he wrote Cooper’s character, although the actions of Cooper’s church – carrying out the murders of homosexual individuals, instead of simply protesting with offensive signs – is more extreme than what the Westboro Baptist Church has done.

Articles cited

Green Field Reporter

greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/05f6e79698074e70b6c44e9a810a5019/US–Film-Sundance-Kevin_Smith/

Hollywood Reporter

hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/risky-business/sundance-red-states-kevin-smith-74829

‘Red State’ teaser trailer

youtube.com/watch?v=6I0caLF2Q2c

Desolate man getting an apartment after winning fantasy football

Homeless individuals are making the news over and over this year. Probably the most recent story is of Mass. resident Harrington. While homeless, Harrington has won the 2011 ESPN fantasy football competition. The $3,500 Best Purchase gift card prize has been sold, and Harrington intends on using the money to find a rental. This will be easier than trying to take out a payday loan to achieve this. Article source – Nathan Harrington – Homeless man wins ESPN fantasy football 2011 by MoneyBlogNewz.

The story on Nathan Harrington that you need to know

Thirty three year old Nathan Harrington lives in Salem, Mass. This is where he has his family. In 2009, Harrington was in a vehicular accident that caused serious nerve damage. He was not able to go back to work. He worked with marketing. Then, Harrington was evicted from his home with his fiancée and three year old son. The management said rat extermination had to happen. All of their stuff got sent to storage.

Seeing winner of 2011 ESPN fantasy football being desolate

The Internet, computer access, or even a home was all things that Nathan Harrington and his family weren't able to get. Nevertheless, the 2011 ESPN fantasy football contest was one he participated in. He did anything from using the library computer to asking for time on the computer at his father’s nursing home. He called to ask friends to change things to his roster occasionally. This was if there were no other computers for him to find. By 0.8 points, his team won the Fantasy Football game as the Boston Beatdowns. Only 0.8 points had him winning.

ESPN fantasy football 2011 helps desolate male get a future

A $3,500 Best Buy gift card was what the fantasy football winner was to be awarded. This is what Nathan Harrington ended up receiving. He did something better than going to an electronics store on a buying spree. He sold, for $2,500, the gift card to his mom in order to move to a better apartment without rats. Several he can be able to get some kind of job that is really great because of the homeless man wins ESPN fantasy football 2011 headlines.

Articles cited

Good Men Project

goodmenproject.com/newsroom/homeless-man-wins-espn-fantasy-footballs-top-prize/

Hathaway playing Catwoman within the Dark Knight Rises

The next Batman installment, "The Dark Knight Rises," will showcase Hathaway as Catwoman. Hathaway rose to prominence largely featuring in Disney teen comedies. Tom Hardy has also been cast as the character "Bane" within the film. This is the last trip out for Nolan and Bale as Batman however, as Nolan has said that this is the final one. He won't be applying for any more personal loans to produce more films. Post resource – Anne Hathaway confirmed as Catwoman in the Dark Knight Rises by MoneyBlogNewz.

Nolan casts Hathaway as Catwoman

Entertainment Weekly explained that it was confirmed the next "Batman" filmed by Christopher Nolan could have "Catwoman" played by Anne Hathaway. Nolan will not be directing anymore after this final one with the title, “The Dark Knight Rises". Hathaway is best known for her roles in Disney teen automobiles, for instance “The Princess Diaries” series, however has recently started branching out into more significant fare. She will take the role of Selina Kyle, the alter ego of the sometimes-villain character Catwoman, and generally the love interest of Bruce Wayne/Batman in the comic series. The last time "Catwoman" was in a film, the film didn't do well and several were disappointed. However, Halle Berry played the role.

The movie has Hardy as a bad guy

English actor Tom Hardy was team as “Bane,” the masked strongman who breaks Batman’s back within the comic canon. "Inception" is a Nolan movie. Tom Hardy's role in it’s probably what he is best known for. Also, he was known for the lead in "Bronson" about the British pioneer, "Rock and Rolla" by Guy Ritchie and "Layer Cake" by Matthey Vaughn. Hardy is also rumored to be taking over the role of Mad Max in the next movie within the Mad Max series.

Announcement from Nolan this will be his final Batman

Nolan won’t be making anymore Batman films after this one which will be released in 2012. Christian Bale plans on stopping in the Batman franchise as well. He will be returning as Bruce Wayne/Batman for this movie though. Of the final ten years, hit final 2 were some of probably the most successful.

Citations

Entertainment Weekly

insidemovies.ew.com/2011/01/19/batman-hathaway-catwoman-hardy-bane-dark-knight-rises/

Escalating unrest in Tunis will cause Tunisian leader to run away

Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, President of Tunisia, has fled the main city city of Tunis and his office as protests have paralyzed the city. There has been increasing unrest in the city for some time. Protests have been growing steadily about political corruption, large joblessness and expenses of products. The PM has taken about the reins of government. Chances are that Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, didn’t have to take out a payday loan to flee with how much cash he probably had set aside. Article resource – Escalating unrest in Tunis causes Tunisian president to flee by MoneyBlogNewz.
Causing difficulties as Tunis loses President Ben Ali
Frustrated Tunisians have been taking to the streets of Tunis in droves to protest failures of the federal government and President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who has occupied the office since 1987. The Tunisians are upset because there seems to be more unemployment, rights abuses and government corruption than ever, says CNN. They’re also mad that sugar prices and other essential goods' prices are going up. As a concession to demonstrators, the Tunisian security forces were directed by President Ben Ali that no live ammunition could be used on protestors unless necessary. He ended up ordering the federal government to dissolve as it wasn't enough. The North African nation can be seeing Ben Ali now. Tunis is now under the control of Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi.
Emergency control
Al-Jazeera explains that Prime Minister Ghannouchi said he will fight runaway inflation after taking emergency control of Tunisia. Supposedly, the laws could be respected by him. All the high unemployment and inflation could be fought. The Tunisian army has taken control now. The Tunis airspace is closed w while the main airport in Tunis has been shut down. Gatherings of three or more people in the streets have been banned. The Tunisians continued to fight, despite President Ben Ali tried to lower food prices to make it better. Apparently having Ben Ali in the presidency for 27 years was too much for the country.
A month of protests happen
The stability of Tunisia crumbled. This was because in Tunis, there have been constant protests and demonstrations for about a month. It started with the death of Mohamed Bouazizi, a college-educated street vendor who had been selling fruit from a cart to pay the bills. He protested by setting himself on fire after authorities took his cart.
Citations
CNN
cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/14/tunisia.protests/index.html
Al Jazeera
english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/01/2011114172228117723.html

Angels to protect Tucson mourners from Westboro Baptists

In certain corners of the United States of America, individuals still recognize how to take a stand against hatred motivated by ignorance. A collection of good folks in Tucson, Ariz., in which the nightmarish Safeway shooting happened Saturday, will join together to shield mourners from the hateful reach of Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church. Mourners could be guarded by angels’ wings. Regardless how large of a payday loan the Westboro Baptist Church takes out, they won't be able to buy their way into the funeral. Source for this article – Tucson angels to shield mourners from Westboro Baptists by MoneyBlogNewz.
Tucson is planning ‘angel action’ against hate
"Angel action" is the action that Tucson is taking against the Westboro Baptist Church that is going to picket all the Jared Loughner victims' funerals. CNN spoke with Christine Gilmer who said the city is a "caring, living, peaceful community" which makes sense. A Colorado resident Romaine Patterson came up with the idea of angel action. This was after a protest that the Westboro Baptist Church did at the funeral in 1999 of a gay man that was beaten to death in Wyoming named Matthew Shepherd.
Angel action in the works
Select volunteers will wear 8- by 10-foot angel wings during the funeral in order to physically shield mourners from Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church’s hate messages. This provides "a peaceful haven" for anyone with love in their hearts, CNN reports. This is what Gilmer said as the angel action organizer.
Seeing help from others
Tucson's angel action is getting a lot of support from political representatives. Facebook pages entitled "Build Angel Wings for the Westboro Funeral Counter-Protest and Meeting" and "Show Support for the Families of the Tucson Shooting Victims" have attracted thousands of fans. Some have even donated money and material to help construct the wings. Gilmer explains where the donations will go. They will help pay for the victims' funerals of the Tucson funeral.
Still seeing no counter protest
Chelsea Cohen, a 20-year-old senior at Tucson’s University of Arizona who started the "Show Support" Facebook page, told CNN that the activities of the support groups are not specifically intended to be a counter-protest. The Westboro Baptist Church is doing it for attention. She said that is not the reason why she is doing it. The funeral is not something they want to disrupt.
”We wanted it to show support for the families and to show that Tucson is there with love and support,” Cohen explained.
Citations
CNN
edition.cnn.com/2011/US/01/11/arizona.funeral.westboro/?hpt=C2
Drop the politics and think of the children, Westboro
youtube.com/watch?v=vzCedbzyOls

Spokane payday loans bust budget trouble

Whether you’re headed to Dick’s for a bag of burgers or playing in Hoopfest, unexpected spending budget busters can easily place you in need of Spokane payday loans. From a bad radiator to a broken bone, it can get costly – but a Spokane cash advance will help. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week, you are able to apply online for Spokane personal loans to fit nearly any kind of emergency. And you don’t even have to worry about credit checks or faxing documents.

Stay in your pajamas while you apply for your Spokane payday loan}

It sounds like a cliché, but it's true: with Spokane payday loans, you don't have to leave home to apply. If you're at least 18, have a job that generates regular income that you deposit into an active bank account and have valid identification, you can hop online and apply for Spokane short term loans. You don't have to get up and get uncomfortable by leaving home for the application. Think cold, hard cash that's easy to apply for. That's what Spokane payday loans are all about. You don't have to have great credit. You may be considered anyway. You have to accept all terms and conditions from your Spokane cash advance lender before anything is final.

The personal loans that Spokane offers to you

People in Spokane can get personal loans; it's a fact. Whenever living in the margins of a paycheck, it is important to know that there is somewhere we can go for help with our budget. Is your bank going to be overdrawn? Well a Spokane installment loan can help you avoid that. The 1,000 APR that comes on a $1 NSF fee that sits for a few days is much worse than the 15 to 30 percent of your loan, or 300 to 400 APR, with a Spokane short term loan. You want convenience, not pain – and Spokane payday loans can deliver.

If you need your car fixed, a Spokane cash advance can really help

The online application form is easy to use and the wait period before you know if your application has been accepted is just minutes. Don't go knocking on big bank's door for a loan unless you like bureaucratic red tape, including copious documents and lots of thumb twittling. Once you are approved and have accepted your Spokane personal loan, you can get your loan in as little as two hours. Fix that car or pay that ER bill before the bank even gets around to your application paperwork. There is also flexibility that a Spokane installment loan gives to you. You can choose to make payments on the loan or get it all paid off at once. What are you waiting for? You should apply!

Jared Loughner catastrophe puts Arizona gun laws on trial

Jared Lee Loughner’s rampage in Tucson, Ariz., in which State Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others were shot, has emboldened competitors of Arizona’s gun laws. Specifically, critics point to Governor Jan Brewer’s signing of Arizona Senate Bill 1108, which eliminated the need for a concealed carry permit. Some feel things are as they should be with background checks, but critics of AZ gun laws see the concealed carry issue has a dangerous oversight. You can bet that people will now be getting huge installment loans to fight both sides of the gun law battle.
The ways the Arizona gun laws work
Arizona's concealed carry system was shown perfectly when Jared Lee Loughner used the Glock-19 for his Arizona shooting. Arizona gun owners can carry their guns in vehicles, in restaurants and other public places. Jared Lee Loughner was able to carry around the weapon wherever he went without a permit. This is something all the mentally unstable are allowed to do.
Gun control activists believe that only tighter federal controls via tougher background checks and bans on assault weapons can protect people from gun violence. Investigating is Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik who believes that the shooting of many including Gabrielle Giffords happened because of the concealed carry law. Dupnik believes that if Arizona wants to be viewed as the wild west, the state is well on its way.

"We’re the ‘Tombstone’ of the United States of America," Dupnik told the Los Angeles Times.

Effectiveness of background checks
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System has criminal and mental health records in it, the NRA explained. The background check wouldn't have identified Jared Lee Loughner as a threat anyway. The Pima Community College campus police run-ins never ended with a mental health clearance he should have received.
How to defend yourself
Individuals are given the right to bear arms because of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. There will continue to be a long debate on gun controls that the Tucson shooting may play a role in. The NRA may just convince Washington to leave things along though. Then there's Robert A. Heinlein's opinion. He said, "An armed society is a polite society."
Articles cited
LA Times
latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-0110-glock-gun-control-20110110,0,4072287.story
Talking Points Memo
tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/government_too_scared_of_nra_to_stop_mexican_border_gun_trafficking_atf_doj.php
Concealed carry in places of business
youtube.com/watch?v=R4UsDSstFps

Jared Loughner set to be arraigned for Tucson shooting

A court date is set for Loughner, the alleged perpetrator of the Tucson shooting spree. Loughner will appear in court on Jan. 10. He can be charged with multiple charges, including attempted murder and murder. Loughner has invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, and isn’t cooperating with investigators. He is likely to be getting a huge pay day loan to pay for his legal team.

Court appearance for Jared Loughner for arraignment

The man accused of carrying out the deadly Tucson shooting spree in Arizona, Jared Loughner, is set to appear in federal court for arraignment on Jan. 10. The New York Times reports that five federal charges including murder and attempted murder will be what 22 year old Loughner is facing. State charges may be pending, and Robert Mueller, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has not ruled out filing charges of terrorism. Loughner has the right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment. That means police and investigators haven't gotten information from him. Judy Clarke, who defended Tim McVeigh of the Oklahoma City bombing, Ted Kaczynski "Unabomber," and even Zacarias Moussaoui who was a 9/11 conspirator, is the federal public defender who will be defending Loughner.

Behavior in past is disturbed

Outbursts and strange behavior are in Jared Lee Loughner's history. He was suspended from Pima Community College for disruptive behavior. He had at least five instances of unruly behavior that involved campus police. He had a former professor that came forward after hearing of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords that had Loughner involved somehow. CBS reports this. After Loughner didn't get full credit for one late assignment, there was an incident that Debbie Scheidemantel recalled on "The Early Show". He then said that he deserved full credit for any late assignment. His First Amendment rights dictated it, he said. Campus police ended up pulling him out of class. Loughner also has a number of videos on his YouTube page, which are odd, to say the least.

May face death penalty

The arraignment will take place in the federal courthouse in Phoenix. The death penalty is on the table for Loughner. If he gets convicted, it is a possibility. Another that Clarke defended was Timothy McVeigh. He ended up getting the death penalty in 2005 for his crimes.

Information from

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/01/10/us/10giffords.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

CBS News

cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/10/earlyshow/main7230271.shtml