Invested In A Scam Project? That?s Not Kickstarter?s Problem

Kickstarter is a platform that lets artists and inventors go straight to consumers with their ideas, and let the marketplace decide which ones are worthy of becoming reality. Supporters pledge money, and if the project reaches its goal, the project is funded, and the creator receives the pledged money--minus Kickstarter's 5% cut--to go off and [...]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/06/invested-in-a-scam-project-thats-not-kickstarters-problem.html

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Boehner: Congress Oh-So Close To Extending Lower Student Loan Interest Rates

The clock is ticking on the June 30 deadline for Congress to agree on a way to extend subsidies for federal Stafford student loans that would keep the interest rates from doubling to 6.8%. Now Speaker of the House John Boehner has said lawmakers are tantalizingly close to coming to an accord on the matter. [...]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/06/boehner-congress-oh-so-close-to-extending-lower-student-loan-interest-rates.html

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Here's What To Expect From The Supreme Court's Big Obamacare Ruling

Barack Obama

The entire country is waiting with bated breath for tomorrow's Supreme Court ruling on President Barack Obama's signature healthcare legislation, a decision that will have wide-ranging effects on politics and the markets, not to mention the multibillion healthcare industry and the millions of people who aren't insured.

But the Supreme Court's ruling will hardly be the end of Washington's Obamacare battles. In fact, it is almost certain to be just a starting bell for yet another round in the protracted and rancorous debate over how best to reform the country's broken healthcare systems. And it will likely set in motion an unpredictable string of political events that could have unforeseen ramifications on the 2012 elections.

Opinions vary widely about how the potential rulings could shake out politically and policy-wise. Here's a look at some of the more likely fallout scenarios: 

The Supreme Court upholds all of Obamacare 

Legally, this outcome obviously benefits the Obama administration, vindicating the President for his most hard-fought legislative achievement. It would mean that the federal government could move forward with implementing the provisions of the law, most of which are scheduled to go into effect in 2014. It would also mean that Republican governors who have so far resisted complying with the law will have to start scrambling to set up state-run health insurance exchanges by 2014. 

But an outcome in favor of Obamacare could be the most politically complicated, refueling partisan rancor and putting even more pressure on Republicans in Congress to repeal the law. 

While it may seem counterintuitive, this scenario could actually be the best outcome for Republicans. Nothing has united Republican voters like their disdain for Obamacare, and a ruling in favor of the law would likely reignite the party's conservative base for the 2012 election. 

The Supreme Court strikes down the individual mandate — but upholds the rest of the law 

While this outcome would be a superficial blow to the Obama administration, it actually wouldn't change much in terms of the law itself. 

Insurance companies would be the real losers in this scenario. The individual mandate was basically a way to insure the majority of Americans while keeping premiums affordable. Without the mandate, companies will still be required to accept anyone, regardless of age and health conditions. In this scenario, premiums will likely skyrocket, with the expectation that people will wait until they're sick to buy insurance. 

A ruling that strikes down only the individual mandate would likely send Congress back to the drawing board to figure out another way to cover the uninsured while keeping premiums low. 

But there is little political will to re-legislate this aspect of healthcare reform  before the 2012 election. The individual mandate is the least popular provision of the Obamacare law — by far — so any ruling that overturns the mandate will likely suck the political energy out of the healthcare issue. 

Republicans have indicated that they plan on sticking to their strategy of trying to repeal the whole law, but don't have any plans to introduce legislation that would replace the Obama administration's efforts in this session of Congress. Without some Republican support, it would be impossible for Democrats to pass anything to replace the individual mandate, and party leaders aren't too keen on putting the Obamacare albatross back around their necks. 

The Supreme Court overturns the individual mandate and other parts of the law 

To prevent the problems caused by overturning just the individual mandate, it is possible that the court will also overturn the provisions of the Obamacare law that requires insurance companies to cover everyone and charge the same rates. 

This ruling would basically render the Obamacare law irrelevant, although it would save Obama the political shame of a full overturning of the law. It would also make it a lot easier for Republicans to repeal the rest of the law — or at least pretend to while keeping the more popular provisions of the law in place. 

The Supreme Court overturns all of Obamacare 

This would be a potentially devastating blow to Obama, killing the signature domestic legislation of his first term and opening him up to attacks from opponents who believe that he wasted three years on a failed law when he should have been focused on the economy. It would also be hugely demoralizing to Democrats, at least in the short term. 

Republicans are almost certain to bask in the victory, but are unlikely to introduce any legislation to replace the healthcare reform law, at least until after the 2012 election. 

The wild card in this scenario is the American public — while the individual mandate is widely reviled, other provisions of Obamacare are quite popular, and it is not clear how public opinion will change if those provisions are overturned as well. 

The Supreme Court punts the decision

There is an outside chance that the Supreme Court will delay making a decision until the individual mandate goes into effect in 2014. The justices could also rule on part of the case, and then send the other parts back down for decisions in lower court. 

The fallout from either scenario is totally unpredictable, although both cases are almost certain to add to uncertainty in the healthcare market 

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/STwXyqwUZCI/obamacare-supreme-court-health-care-reform-congress-republicans-democrats-obama-2012-6

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Joining Together Credit Card Bills The Correct Way

Bringing together consumer debt comes into play a new range of shapes and forms. Absolute confidence the things your overall pacificdebt.com|pacificdebt consolidation|pacificdebt|pacificdebt loansoverall credit score is therefore how very good involving credit debt you have, you’ll be able to obtain a lending product which can suit your specifications. The following are some frequent strategies that [...]

The post Joining Together Credit Card Bills The Correct Way appeared first on legal debt help online.

Source: http://www.legaldebthelponline.com/2012/06/27/joining-together-credit-card-bills-the-correct-way/

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3 Options for Overcoming an Underwater Mortgage

Here's The Insane Catch By A Rookie That Has The Baseball World Buzzing

Mike Trout has been turning heads this season with his impressive numbers at the plate. The 20-year old rookie for the Los Angeles Angels was hitting .335 with seven home runs and 21 stolen bases entering today's action.

But the true 5-tool outfielder has baseball fans buzzing today with one of his other talents, his glove.

In the first inning again the Baltimore Orioles, Trout robbed a home run off the bat of JJ Hardy with a leap that would make many NBA stars envious.

Here's the video...

 

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/91fe1cAwNko/video-incredible-catch-mike-trout-los-angeles-angels-2012-6

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Money Etiquette: 6 Mistakes to Avoid

Why are some people so clueless about money etiquette?

Really, you don?t have to have a lot of money to understand basic, common courtesy when it comes to finances. This isn?t difficult stuff.

So why do some people refuse to leave a decent tip, and why do other people feel like they must tell everyone in their church group how much they make?

These, dear readers, are financial faux pas?the worst of the worst etiquette mistakes people make with their money.

Don?t find yourself falling prey to one of these dubious mistakes. Here are six financial faux pas to avoid:

Tipping poorly.

Dear Ms. Bad Tipper: Nothing says, ?Thank you for taking my order, bringing my food, refilling my drinks, and providing good overall service,? like that $1.56 tip you left on your $20 order. Just think: If your server invests that $1.56 tip in a 12% growth stock mutual fund, they?ll have $17.20 in 20 years! How fancy! In all seriousness, here?s a tip about tipping: Unless your server cursed at you and threw grilled eggplant at your wife, tip him 15?20%. Is that really too much to ask for someone who helped you put food in your belly?

Talking about how much money you make.

Unless you?re calling into Dave?s show to make your debt-free scream, your household income really isn?t relevant information in everyday conversation. Usually, people who freely share this type of personal information are high-earners, so it only comes across as bragging. Every conversation is a new opportunity to share their income: ?Hey Jim. What about that storm last night? Thought a tree might fall on my house, but I make 250k a year, so we could?ve handled it. How?s your wife??

Talking about how much you give.

This one is just as bad as talking about how much you make. No doubt that building wealth and finding financial peace is all about giving to others and changing your family tree. But that doesn?t mean you should broadcast the amount you tithe and give to charity like it?s a tattoo on your forearm. Genuine givers are humble and even secretive when it?s called for. If you?re giving in hopes that one day you?ll have a county bridge named after you and a statue in town square, then you?re giving for the wrong reasons.

Bumming off your friends all the time.

Every group of friends has one. The bum. The mooch. The guy who always realizes he?s ?forgotten? his cash right when the check arrives. Don?t be that guy. Here?s the thing: You might save a couple of dollars here and there, but at what cost? Everyone in your group of friends knows what?s up. They aren?t stupid. You?ve been labeled as the ?group mooch.? And, before long, you won?t get invited to dinner, and then you?ll become ?the guy who invites himself to dinner,? in addition to being the group mooch. Then you?ll become a social pariah and never score another date?all because you weren?t willing to pay for a $3 taco.

Making unreasonable offers when negotiating.

One of the quickest ways to end a negotiation is to make a ridiculous offer. It shows the seller that you aren?t serious about buying and you think they?re stupid. You?re saying, ?Hey idiot. You obviously have no concept of the cost of physical objects that exist on this Earth. But, tell you what, I?ll humor you and offer you 40% of your asking price. You?re welcome. Dummy.?  How do you know if you?re making an unreasonable offer? Put yourself in their shoes. Would you take $150,000 for a house that?s listed for $275,000? Would you take a quarter for a lamp that?s priced $10 at a garage sale?

Putting business over friendships.

Dave says all the time that business partnerships are a bad idea. Why? Because business and friendships rarely mix. There are too many complications and emotions involved. But good friends part ways all the time because someone decided to throw business into the mix. It?s the guy who thinks his buddy with a nice office job is obligated to make a spot for him. It?s the guy who gets into a multi-level scheme and proceeds to badger all of his friends to ?not miss this opportunity!? It?s the athlete who signs his first big contract and feels like all of his childhood friends deserve a cut. A business opportunity may improve, but a friendship will soon end. You can count on that.

So please, whatever you do, no matter how much or how little you make, don?t be a financial faux pas repeat offender.

Slip up once or twice? That?s okay. But don?t become the ?group mooch? or the ?poor tipper? or the ?income bragger.? Those are well-earned labels you want no part of.

Don?t let a $3 taco ruin your friendships.

Have you or anyone you know made these mistakes? Would you add any money-etiquette mistakes to this list? Share your stories by leaving a comment below.

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Source: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/money-etiquette-6-mistakes-to-avoid/lifeandmoney_other

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A Wealthy San Francisco Couple Did Something Drastic For Unobstructed Views Of The Bay

Mansion Demolition California

Normally we associate demolition with the destruction of beauty, but in San Francisco recently, a massive bulldozing led to just the opposite.

Construction crews there demolished a $4.2 million home not to make way for a new mega-mansion, but to open up the skyline and create a garden for a wealthy couple that owned a nearby $19 million home who felt their views had been tarnished by the neighboring property, according to NBC News.

The couple, Clark and Sharon Winslow, bought the knock-down after its original owners fled, and it fell into foreclosure, according to the Marin Independent Journal. It had been valued at $7.1 million prior to being auctioned off.

The Winslows were reportedly happy to regain the panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge, and their neighbors were pleased with the demolition as well.

Click here for stunning photos of a Hawaiian island that Larry Ellison just bought > 

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/N3dTjBBxrJQ/san-francisco-mansion-demolished-2012-6

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Look What Citigroup Employees Got For The Bank's 200th Birthday

In every family, there's a relative who gives the weirdest gifts. In the Citi family, that would be Uncle Vik (CEO Vikram Pandit) himself. 

Citigroup, which celebrated its 200th birthday earlier this month, gave each of its employees a small commemorative porcelain bowl with the following inscription:

"Thank you for your valued contribution to our rich heritage and our bright future"

Nice message. But we do have one question — is it an ash tray? According to our sources at Citi, that's what everyone's been calling it. 

Either way, we're curious—what would you store in your porcelain Citi box?

(We're not going to lie, we'd prefer UBS' 150th anniversary swatch)

Update: One employee is already selling their box on Ebay. It's all yours for $49.99. 

citi box

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/sl_t7kwE-nM/citi-employees-receive-small-commemorative-porcelain-bowls-2012-6

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