Its Got 2 Be You

Mortgage rates hit year's low point

2007-03-09T15:24:00Z

Mortgage rates hit year's low point
By Bankrate.com

After drifting downward for more than five months, mortgage rates have hit the lowest point all year, and that has ignited a refinancing boomlet.

The benchmark 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell for the sixth week in a row, this time by 9 basis points, to 6.08 percent, according to the Bankrate.com national survey of large lenders. A basis point is one-hundredth of 1 percentage point. The mortgages in this week's survey had an average total of 0.25 discount and origination points.

The 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell 8 basis points to 5.83 percent. The 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage tumbled 6 basis points to 5.95 percent.

That put the 30-year rate at its lowest level since Oct. 5, 2005, when it was 6.07 percent.

Mortgage rates have drifted generally downward for more than five months since they hit the year's high on June 28, when the 30-year fixed stood at 6.93 percent.

Weekly national mortgage survey

	30-year fixed	15-year fixed	5-year ARM
This week's rate:	6.08%	5.83%	5.95%
Change from last week:	-0.09	-0.08	-0.06
Monthly payment:	$997.76	$1,377.26	$983.96
Change from last week:	-$9.60	-$7.09	-$6.36

The investors whose trades set mortgage rates have been pushing rates down, chiefly on the belief that the higher gas prices and the cooling of the housing market were slowing the economy down enough to keep inflation tame. That would, in turn, be enough to spark rate cuts from the Fed.

Consumers have noticed the lower rates -- not enough to re-ignite the sagging housing market, but enough to get those who wanted refinancing into their local mortgage broker's office.

300 The Movie

2007-03-09T13:38:00Z

300

Release Date: March 9, 2007

Run Time: 1 hr. 57 min.

Rating: R - graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity

Caught the midnight showing so I'm at work exhausted, but it was totally worth it. The movie was brillant, a visual masterpiece. I had read the reviews early this week that claim it to be "Gladiator on steriods", "Matrix meets Gladiator" and they were right for a change.

I can't say this movie is for everybody, Please don't take your Kids

What I must say is this has to be the single greatest Epic warfare film ever made. With stunning visuals, original style and direction and simply the guts of greatness. This movie has an amazing story of Love, Sacrifice and the pursuit of freedom, all preached and followed through extremely well in this tale. I love the fact that it's based on historical events although exagerated and was great to watch. Makes you want to go home get your sword and fight your wife & her friends for your freedom, Just playing. The acting also lends itself well to this. Gerard Butler and all his castmates truly brings the story to life and there are even some humorful moments that are very much enjoyable. Everything about this movie screams greatness just as the story it tells does. "300" is nothing short of incredible and genious. See it now!

Cingular 8525

2007-03-07T20:22:00Z

Cingular 8525

If you're a cingular customer I believe this is the Hottest phone in the Market right now, but I'm open to opinions. It should be availabe for other networks within the next 6 months

Overview

Cingular Exclusive! Check out North America's first 3G UMTS/HSDPA Pocket PC with multiple mobile email options. It is interchangeable on both 3G UMTS/HSDPA and traditional GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks for global coverage. Use this all-in-one global handheld for email, simultaneous voice and data, and other wireless application needs at broadband speeds. Its high powered 400 MHz processor and industry leading email options will keep you on top of your game. It includes Microsoft Windows® Mobile 5.0 with Direct Push Technology, Bluetooth® v2.0, and even Wi-Fi. If you feel the need for mobile speed this is one Pocket PC you won't leave home without.

Included Features

Cingular Exclusive - Ultra fast 3G UMTS/HSDPA Pocket PC
Single integrated device for simultaneous voice, data, and email
Microsoft Windows® Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC with Messaging & Security Pack
Microsoft Direct Push Technology - Email, calendar, contacts & tasks
Go global with Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA and Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
Good Mobile Messaging, ActiveSync, & Xpress Mail
Music, MP3 and video support - Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
Sliding QWERTY keyboard with trackwheel for easy navigation
Microsoft Office® Mobile - Access Word, Excel, PowerPoint files
Bluetooth 2.0® wireless connectivity -use multiple accessories simultaneously
2 MP camera with video and flash
Tethers to your laptop as a high-speed modem
Multimedia, text and instant messaging
Integrated Wi-Fi (802.11 b.g) and infrared connectivity
Voice command and voice dialing

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

2007-03-06T20:43:00Z

This is an older book that I would love to get peoples feedback on feel free to comment and perhaps I'll put it on the forum.

"Learning the game of power requires a certain way of looking at the world, a shifting of perspective," writes Robert Greene. Mastery of one's emotions and the arts of deception and indirection are, he goes on to assert, essential. The 48 laws outlined in this book "have a simple premise: certain actions always increase one's power ... while others decrease it and even ruin us."

The laws cull their principles from many great schemers--and scheming instructors--throughout history, from Sun-Tzu to Talleyrand, from Casanova to con man Yellow Kid Weil. They are straightforward in their amoral simplicity: "Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit," or "Discover each man's thumbscrew." Each chapter provides examples of the consequences of observance or transgression of the law, along with "keys to power," potential "reversals" (where the converse of the law might also be useful), and a single paragraph cleverly laid out to suggest an image (such as the aforementioned thumbscrew); the margins are filled with illustrative quotations. Practitioners of one-upmanship have been given a new, comprehensive training manual, as up-to-date as it is timeless.

IRS Filing Deadlines Impacted by District of Columbia Emancipation Day

2007-03-06T17:46:00Z

Under a federal statute enacted decades ago, holidays observed in the District of Columbia have an impact nationwide, not just in D.C. Under recently enacted city legislation, April 16 is a holiday in the District of Columbia. The IRS became aware of the intersection of the national filing day and the local observance of the new Emancipation Day holiday after most forms and publications for the current tax filing season went to print.

Any IRS form, instruction or publication that currently shows an "April 16, 2007" due date should now be read as "April 17, 2007." The extended time to file and pay is because April 15 falls on a Sunday in 2007 and the following day, Monday, April 16, is Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia.

Other tax-filing and payment requirements affected by this change are described in IRS Publication 509, Tax Calendars for 2007

Watches are the New Hand Bags

2007-03-06T04:18:00Z

By Patricia S. PAO

Sadly, we have bid farewell to the handbag as THE self-expressive accessory. And shoes, a worthy option, have always played second-fiddle. That being said, we are constantly searching for the next "it" item.

Key factors are that it must be:
1) universally worn (e.g. not size dependent),
2) easy to wear, be self-identifying (e.g. worn or carried by the user), and
3) outwardly and obviously visible to friends, family and, better yet, strangers.

Watches, have long been recognized by men to fit the above criteria. Now, we are finding the trend increasingly being adopted by women. Tag Heuer, launched its women's division less than two years ago and is finding it to be their fastest growing category. As a result, they are embarking on an aggressive strategy to promote watch-wardrobing to their female customers.

Interestingly, it's a new kind of watch, which is making the biggest splash. Eschewing the typical ladies watch, women are opting to wear men's watches, preferring the larger face, and bolder styling and detailing.

Personally, I have always been a big fan of wearing men's watches as I find women's watches to be a little "sissy." I predict we will see an increasing number of entrants into this category. The question is, can manufacturers keep up with growing demand? There is a shortage of skilled watch makers and already high-end manufacturers such as Rolex are reporting difficulties in supplying forecasted demand.

Nine Ways to Get Ahead

2007-03-05T00:54:00Z

Read this article and thought it was really good. Thanks to Kiplinger.com

STARTING OUT

Nine Ways to Get Ahead

Here's smart financial advice for young adults, from the older and wiser. Some of it may surprise you.

By David Benjamin

Thanks to their father, college students Andrew and Eric Carlberg have an edge over their peers when it comes to financial security. No, they don't have a trust fund waiting for them when they graduate. Instead, they have good savings habits and money-management know-how instilled in them at an early age by father Scott Carlberg.

Carlberg, 54, of Charlotte, N.C., knew his sons' generation was going to have a harder road to financial security and wealth -- a road that he hoped didn't end in up in his basement. So Carlberg passed on some of the financial life lessons he learned while becoming a corporate professional and entrepreneur.

He started his sons saving early by having them get receipts for baby-sitting income and then matching it dollar for dollar to start IRAs. Later, he linked the cereal they ate and the toys they played with to stocks of the companies that made those products. Son Andrew bought shares of General Mills and son Eric bought Toys "R" Us.

Now Andrew, 22, and Eric, 20, who are students at the University of North Carolina, look back on their father's help with gratitude. Carlberg's financial planner, John Gugle of Alpha Financial Advisors, says he often sees great financial lessons passed from generation to generation. So in the interest of passing along intergenerational wisdom about money, we've assembled nine things parents and planners recommend to Gen Y.

1. Build a network. A good network of business contacts and friends can help advance your career, a business and your personal life. This skill is recognized to be so important that many business schools have classes to teach networking.

The key to networking? Don't expect it to be a one-way street. Bringing skills and talent to the table is essential, says Monte Ford, chief information officer at American Airlines and the father of twins Anthony and Arius, 17, and Derek, 14. "The best way to view networking is as a mutually beneficial exercise." He also recommends that before you start networking, make sure your communication skills are polished.

2. Learn to cook. You will save a small fortune on groceries, fast food and even dating. After you've impressed a date with an expensive dinner out, try a cozy dinner you've cooked yourself. No fair getting a caterer.

3. Live below your means. "Whatever you make, spend less," says Jean Fullerton of Lodestone Financial Planning. Getting into that habit early means having money to invest rather than going into debt and paying interest on things like credit cards and car loans. If you already have a load of credit card debt, pay it off before starting to save. If you don't, the interest paid on those high rate cards will more than cancel out the interest earned on other investments.

Remember: Earning interest versus paying interest always means a quantum leap in lifestyle.

4. Start a Roth IRA. With a Roth, you don't get a tax deduction for your contribtuions up front as you would with a traditional IRA, but the money invested won't be touched again by the taxman, even when you withdraw it. And you can withdraw contributions without penalty at any time, not just after you reach retirement. The compounded interest you earn in such a tax-free account "will provide a significant boost" to your investments, says planner Emily Sanders of Sanders Financial Management.

If you contribute $4,000 (the limit for 2006) each year starting at age 25, assuming an 8% return, you'll have more than $1 million in your account when you reach 65. For more, see Why You Need a Roth IRA.

5. Marry wisely. Says Avani Ramnani of Lighthouse Financial Advisers: "You and your partner make the most important team of your lives. If your team works well together and has similar financial values, it will make you much more likely to achieve financial success." Partners in a good marriage also have openness in their relationship and are less likely to lie about financial issues, Ramnani says.

Washington, D.C., architect Thomas Marable tells his teenage boys to "make sure there's more to love about your partner than physical attributes. If you do that, you're likely to have a lasting marriage and avoid divorce, he says. Divorce not only takes an emotional toll, but also it can be a financial disaster. "There are expenses such as legal fees, child support and selling property," he points out. When all those bills mount, you'll be hearing the smooth sounds of Johnnie Taylor singing, "It's cheaper to keep her."

6. Buy a starter home. Building equity in a house is like a having a savings account, while renting is spending money you'll never see again. Plus, you can deduct the mortgage interest and property taxes on your income tax. So that money you've saved by living below your means can help toward a down payment on a house. If you amass a 20% down payment, you can avoid extra costs, such as private mortgage insurance, and can get a lower rate on your mortgage. See Why You Need a Down Payment.

7. Get health insurance. No matter how healthy you are, an accident or serious illness can devastate your finances if you're not insured. So when you're in your 20s, the first insurance priority usually should be health insurance. Fortunately, rates are cheaper for the young and fit.

Janet Bodnar, deputy editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and Money Smart Kids columnist helped her son John get a policy after he graduated from college. As a short-term solution, Janet bought John health insurance with a high deductible and low premium until he had his first job after college that provided insurance.

Once he had such a job, Bodnar advised him to go with a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan versus a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan. True, an HMO requires you to go to doctors within the plan, but it's cheaper, and he didn't already have a relationship with any particular doctor.

If you're a college student graduating soon, consider a student health insurance policy to help avoid a gap in coverage between graduating and landing a job that provides health insurance benefits.

8. Don't rush to pay off low-interest student loans. Student loans are typically long term (10 to 20 years), have flexible payment arrangements and are tax deductible for most taxpayers (see IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education. Instead of paying off these loans, you should make other financial moves that will benefit you more, such as saving for a house down payment or paying down high interest credit cards.

9. Make a financial plan. Henry "Bud" Hebeler is a retired Boeing executive who is an expert in retirement issues and has passed along some pearls of wisdom to his children and grandchildren. First among these is making a financial plan. The plan doesn't have to be complicated, but it should take into account how much you make and pay for living expenses and taxes. Use the plan to help you start an emergency fund, to insure you're debt free and to save. "Get to the point where you can buy an automobile without a loan or replace your roof from savings," he says.

Our Deepest Fear

2007-03-03T21:26:00Z

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure about you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

-Marianne Williamson

2007 Daylight Saving Time Changes: What You Need to Know

2007-03-02T15:08:00Z

This year, Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the U.S., Canada and Bermuda will begin on Sunday, March 11, 2007, three weeks earlier than normal. It will end on Sunday, November 4, 2007, one week later than normal.

Where's My Refund - IRS.gov

2007-03-01T17:52:00Z

Where's My Refund - IRS.gov

You filed your tax return and you're expecting a refund. You have just one question and you want the answer now - Where's My Refund?

Whether you split your refund among several accounts, opted for direct deposit to one account or asked IRS to mail you a check, you can track your refund through this secure Web site. You can get refund information even if you filed just to request the telephone excise tax refund.

To get to your personal refund information, be ready to enter your:

Social Security Number (or IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
Filing status (Single, Married Filing Joint Return, Married Filing Separate Return, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er))
Exact refund amount shown on your return

If you don’t receive your refund within 28 days from the original IRS mailing date shown on Where’s My Refund?, you can start a refund trace online.
If Where’s My Refund? shows that IRS was unable to deliver your refund, you can change your address online.
Where’s My Refund? will prompt you when these features are available for your situation.

Okay now, Where's My Refund?

Note: If you have trouble while using this application, please check the Requirements to make sure you have the correct browser software for this application to function properly and check to make sure our system is available.

This is whole Purpose for GOT2BU -The courage to be you

2007-03-01T13:30:00Z

You are unique, with your own special beauty and value to give to life. What a terrible shame it would be if you were to let that beauty be hidden behind your fears.

When you worry that you're not good enough, you allow others to control you, and their domination will soon make you miserable. Or when you fool yourself into thinking you're superior to everyone else, you deny yourself the exquisite joy of offering your own special gifts to life.

It takes courage and faith, effort and initiative to be who you are. And it is so very much worth the effort.

Though no one else can do it for you, you have what it takes to be magnificently successful at being you. From the deepest secrets of your soul to the face you put forward to the world, every bit of you is meant to be the authentic and original person you are.

Listen to that quiet, persistent voice inside that you know is always right. This is your opportunity to fulfill and express the real and lasting joy of being you.

Let the beautiful person inside of you come more fully to life as each moment passes. Let yourself, and the world around you, know the joy and fulfillment that is meant just for you to express.

-- Ralph Marston