Kudos to Students with Familes

Since I have been given this forum to discuss issues that I think are important to me, I would like to extend kudos to all of the students that are working full time jobs and have families with small children in their care. I do not know how you do it, it must be fortitude and determination that keep you going. My hat is off to you! My advice is "keep the faith and keep moving in the direction of your goals." You make me proud be your classmate.

Minnie

Digital TV Mandate

On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels.

Suppose some of us like our TV's just the way they are; what happens then? Is America actually a free country; 'home of the brave and the free?' What happen to our choices, our options? I am one of those people that like my tv just the way it is. In fact, I don't really have time to watch tv anyway. So why should I have to pay to have my tv changed over, if I so decided to watch it sometimes?

The same thing happened in our school district. A couple of years ago everyone employed by the system had to have their checks automatically deposited into a bank account, whether you wanted to or not. I feel that if you work hard and earn your money, you should be able to choose where it goes at the end of the pay period; whether in your pocket or to the bank.

"Our Next President?"

“Lord, Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.”

What is your opinion of our presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee? Does he have spunk, or what? Last week he held courts with some of the highest rulers in the land, Kings, Prince, Heads of State and the such. And from the reports I am receiving, he did an excellent job of discussing world issues with world leaders.

Prices are Soaring

Prices at the pump fall to seven-week low
Crude oil tumbles below $123 a barrel

updated 2:12 p.m. CT, Fri., July. 25, 2008
NEW YORK - Oil prices sank to their lowest point in weeks Friday as investors questioned whether crude has cooled enough to reflect a serious deterioration in demand. Prices at the pump eased to nearly $4 a gallon, and AAA said a gallon of gas could cost as much as 25 cents less by Labor Day.
Light, sweet crude for September delivery fell $2.23 to settle at $123.26 a barrel in on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier the contract dropped as far as $122.50, its lowest point since June 5.
In the latest sign that Americans continue to struggle with soaring energy prices, filling station operators hungry for business ratcheted down the average price for a gallon of regular by 2 cents, according to auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express.

With gas prices soaring, foreclosures going through the roof, the exorbitant cost of food, banks closings, what is a person to do?

Bank Foreclosures:

When homeowner or mortgage loan borrower fails to make three consecutive installment payments the lender is legally entitled to require the borrower to pay off the entire principal unpaid balance.Foreclosures experienced a startling rise this year - up 72 percent since the beginning of 2005, according to RealtyTrac.

FDIC takes over Nevada bank
By BRENDAN RILEY, Associated Press Writer
Friday, July 25, 2008

(07-25) 19:36 PDT CARSON CITY, CA (AP) --
Twenty-eight branches of 1st National Bank of Nevada and First Heritage Bank, operating in Nevada, Arizona and California, were closed Friday by federal regulators.

Bill Uffelman of the Nevada Bankers Association said Friday the FDIC action "is a reflection of the times for the banks. It's a poor economy." He described 1st National Bank of Nevada as being in the top half of banks in the state.
Uffelman cautioned against the sort of consumer concern that prompted many customers of IndyMac Bank branches to wait for hours in line to withdraw funds across Southern California last week after that bank was seized by federal regulators. He noted that all FDIC-insured bank deposits are guaranteed by the FDIC up to $100,000.
The closure is one of seven FDIC-insured bank closures around the country this year.

Worldwatch Institute

Food Prices Surging, Raising Hunger Concerns

by Alana Herro on June 6, 2007
The prices of farm commodities like wheat, corn, milk, and oils are rising.
The growth of biofuels, the impacts of climate change, and the rising prosperity of developing nations are all driving retail food prices to their biggest annual increase in 30 years, according to the Financial Times (FT). Experts worry that the continuing climb of wheat, corn, milk, and plant-oil prices are indicative of long-term inflation. “There is growing concern within the food industry that the present upswing in soft commodity prices is structural rather than cyclical,” John Parker, food analyst at Deutsche Bank, told the FT.

How is the average to below average wage earner going to survive in this type of economy? Blog me back, I would like to hear your comments on the subject.

The Price of Gas

Hello My fellow World Citizens,

In this blog, I will discuss gasoline prices of today and gasoline prices of 3 years ago.

This is a picture of a refinery of the Libyan/Swiss-owned Tamoil company. It is located in Collombey in southern Switzerland. It was taken on July 24, 2008.

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member Libya is halting oil shipments, including both crude oil and refined petroleum products to Switzerland in protest at the arrest of Hannibal Gaddafi a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Gaddafi was released on bail after he and his wife were charged with ill-treatment of two domestic employees. Gaddafi denied the charges, his lawyer has said.
REUTERS/Denis Balibouse (SWITZERLAND)

I included this story because I thought it to be ludicrous and I thougtht that the readers of this blog probably would think so also.

OPEC says it has lost control of oil prices
Cartel producers say they can't keep up with strong global demand
By John W. Schoen
Senior Producer
MSNBC
updated 4:13 p.m. CT, Wed., March. 16, 2005

Despite a pledge by OPEC ministers to increase oil production, don't expect much of a break on oil prices. With crude oil prices hitting a record $56 a barrel Wednesday, OPEC ministers meeting in Iran have been grappling with a problem they haven’t confronted in the cartel’s 45-year history. In the past, OPEC tried to cool overheated prices by pumping more when supplies got too tight. But most OPEC producers say they’re already pumping as fast as they can. And despite the high cost of a barrel of crude, world demand shows no signs of slowing.
To help stop the surge in prices, OPEC ministers agreed to pump an extra half million barrels of oil a day beginning April 1. OPEC said it would consider pumping more later if the extra oil doesn't push prices lower. But even before the decision was announced, some ministers had openly expressed doubts that the move will do any good, saying they’ve run out of options in trying to rein in the price of crude. Global oil demand has taken up most of the slack in extra OPEC capacity. Consumption is now believed by many analysts to be pressing up against the limits of what the world can produce.

This articles was printed a little over 3 years ago. OPEC had lost control then; what is your opinion now? Gas prices have about triple in the past 3 years. It highest price ever was reached in July of this year. It reached $147. 27 per barrel.


Editor: Mu Xuequan
Oil prices slide below $124
NEW YORK, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Crude oil resumed its slide and settled below 124 U.S. dollars Friday on falling fuel demand caused by a slow economy and supply increase from the OPEC countries.
Light, sweet crude for September delivery dropped 2.23 dollars to settle at 123.26 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures touched 122.50 dollars a barrel during the trading session, the lowest intraday price since June 5. Price has tumbled more than 24 dollars since the all-time peak of 147.27 dollars a barrel was achieved on July 11.
The U.S. Energy Department's report this week showed that the U.S. domestic fuel demand dropped to a lowest point since January 2007 with average 19.9 million barrels a day, signaling that the weak economy and high energy prices have curbed demand.
The OPEC will produce 32.9 million barrels a day in July, 200,000 barrels up from June, according to the preliminary estimates from an oil industry consultancy Petro Logistics Ltd.
The dollar strengthened against the euro on Friday also helped to bring down the crude oil price.
In London, Brent crude for September delivery fell 1.92 dollars to settle at 124.52 dollars a barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange. 　

The price of gas is causing everything, from groceries to household items to increase in price. Do you think that gas will ever go down to where it was 3 years ago; to around $56 dollar a barrel? It causes a little over $100 to fill up my vehicle now days as compared to 3 years ago; it costed a little over $60. I have noticed more bicycles and motorcycles on the road lately. I believe that this is one of the effects of higher oil prices. I believe that the higher oil prices will also cause an increase in violent crimes.