Link of the day - Who else wants to get a free copy of our internet "Business-In-A-Box" ?
NEW YORK weird facts - A Russian circus performer and his son are alleging in a lawsuit that their ex-managers stole methods for teaching felines to perform.
Yuri Kuklachev and his son, Dmitri, accuse father-and-son Mark and Yanis Gelfman of applying for a trademark for methods they stole to create a cat circus in New York City. The lawsuit was filed in a Brooklyn court, the Daily News reported Monday.
Kuklachev's attorney, Gary Tsirelman, says the Gelfmans are ``trying to steal'' his client's identity.
A spokesman for the Gelfmans, James Woods, says the lawsuit should be tossed. He says the Moscow Cats Theater, which features felines performing acrobatic tricks, was created by the Gelfmans.
[Via - Sun Sentinel]
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Russian circus performers sue ex-U.S. managers, alleges theft of cat training tricks | Weird Facts
How to Choose a Debt Management Program
A debt management plan may help, but do your research and consider all your options first.If your finances take a turn for the worse and you find yourself drowning in debt, a debt management program may help you keep your head above water.
Advices by: Debt Consolidation LoanSteps:
1. Do it yourself. The best kept secret in the debt management industry is that you can do most of the things debt management agencies do, and if you do it yourself, you can save yourself a lot of money in fees. Make a budget, cut unnecessary expenses, prioritize your debts, and call your creditors to ask if they'll waive your late fees, reduce your interest rates, and/or work with you on a payment schedule. You may even be able to get them to "re-age" your account, which means that they report your past-due account as current. There's no guarantee that they will, but there's also no guarantee they will if you go through a debt management agency, so you've got nothing to lose by trying. Many times creditors will be happy to work with you if you make a good-faith effort to pay them.
2. Find a good credit counselor. Almost all debt management programs are administered by consumer credit counseling agencies--so much so, in fact, that the terms "credit counseling" and "debt management" are often used interchangeably. They're not the same, though. You can and should get real credit counseling before you commit to a debt management program, and a credit counselor can and should help you make a budget and explore other options (such as self-help methods or consolidation loans) with you instead of just pushing you into a debt management program. Thoroughly researching the agency is the most important thing to do before deciding to enroll in their debt management program.
3. Look for a licensed, accredited, non-profit agency, and be sure to verify that they are currently licensed in your state (unless you're in a state that doesn't require licensing), have current accreditation and that they do indeed have non-profit status. Understand, however, that while these measures can help establish a firm's legitimacy, they are no guarantee, and you still need to research the agency.
4. Find out exactly how the program works. The terms "debt management," "debt consolidation," and "debt negotiation" are often used interchangeably, sometimes in an effort to confuse or deceive people and sometimes quite innocently. They do, however, refer to three different options, so regardless of what a program is called, find out what it is. For more information on the differences between these options, check out the article on how to consolidate loans.
5. Make sure the company requires complete information from current statements before giving you a quote. The debt counselor will need you to provide all your current credit card and loan statements before they can tell you how much your monthly payments will be or how long it will take to complete the program. Beware of anyone who gives you a quote without thoroughly researching the following first:
* your account statuses
* creditor names
* balance transfer, cash advance and large purchase activities
* minimum payment amounts
* interest rates
6. Avoid outrageous upfront fees. A small initial fee (up to $50 or, in rare cases, as much as $100 if you have a lot of debt or high income) is normal, but large upfront fees are out of line. If any agency asks for a fee (or donation) make sure that you know what it will cover, and get it in writing. Find out if you'll have to pay any additional fees to start the program. Don't get tricked into paying one "consultation fee," and then an "application fee" or "an enrollment fee." If you're truly unable to pay, look for an agency that is willing to waive the fee or spread it out (without charging additional fees for doing so).
7. Avoid high monthly fees. Most debt management plans charge a nominal monthly fee to cover the administrative expenses. Depending on the number of creditors you have, the monthly fee may vary, but it generally should be between $2-5 per creditor or, at most, not more than $50 per month. Make sure the agency doesn't charge any other maintenance fees (i.e. an annual fee) in addition to monthly fees.
8. Find out how payments will be disbursed to your creditors. Debt management companies are notorious for sending payments late and getting their clients into trouble with creditors. Make sure the agency will send your payments to creditors on time and within the correct billing cycle. Ask how soon they will disburse your payment after they receive it, and find out how you can track the payments made. They should send you a statement each month or have some way for you to look it up online.
9. Find out how your personal information will be protected. When you enter a debt management program, you have to share some of your most sensitive financial information with the counseling agency. You'd better make sure they won't sell it to others or disclose the information to anyone except the creditors you've agreed to include in the plan. Get a written privacy policy from them, and ask what safeguards they have in place to protect your information.
10. Accept a plan only if you can fulfill your requirements. If you can't make the monthly payment the program requires, don't enroll. Ask if they can get it any lower, contact your creditors yourself, and/or check with another debt management agency. Also, be aware that many debt management plans require you to avoid taking on any additional debt or at least any additional revolving credit debt (i.e. credit cards, store charge accounts). Understand the terms and conditions, and make sure you can follow through on them.
11. Get everything in writing. Before enrolling in a plan, make sure you get a contract. Get all verbal promises in writing, and read the contract very carefully to make sure the terms are the same as those you discussed. Watch very carefully for hidden fees. If a company won't send you a contract before you make your first monthly payment, don't pay them and go elsewhere for help.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Whoops. Antibacterial Wipes Can Spread Bacteria | Weird Facts
Link of the day - What if you had a gun to your head and had to make a $1000 in 48 hours or less ?
weird facts - Antibacterial wipes used to disinfect surfaces at hospitals may actually spread bacteria, according to a new study.
Researchers at the Welsh School of Pharmacy at Cardiff University said the antimicrobial wipes don't work well after the first use.A news release about the study pointed out that disinfecting surfaces is important in stopping the spread of bugs such as the hard-to-kill Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA.
Dr. Gareth Williams said the research was meant to answer the question, "Are we confident that these organisms are susceptible to the germicides used in our hospitals?"
The results showed that some wipes can remove higher numbers of bacteria from surfaces than others. However, the wipes tested were unable to kill the bacteria that they removed.As a result, they transferred high numbers of bacteria to other surfaces.
[Via - Local6.Com]
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Sunday, June 1, 2008
Japanese woman arrested after living undetected in man's closet for a year | Weird Facts
weird facts
TOKYO - Police say a homeless woman who sneaked into a man's house and lived undetected in his closet for a year was arrested in Japan after he became suspicious when food mysteriously began disappearing.
Police found the 58-year-old woman Thursday hiding in the top compartment of the man's closet and arrested her for trespassing.
The resident of the home installed security cameras that transmitted images to his mobile phone after becoming puzzled by food disappearing from his kitchen over the past several months.
One of the cameras captured someone moving inside his home Thursday after he had left, and he called police believing it was a burglar.
However, when they arrived they found the door locked and all windows closed.
The woman told police she had no place to live and first sneaked into the man's house about a year ago when he left it unlocked.
[Via - CBC]
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Thursday, May 29, 2008
Duo tries to break world handshaking record | Weird Facts
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SAN FRANCISCO -- Kevin Whittaker and Cory Jens deserved congratulations after attempting to set a new world record, but they probably didn't want any handshakes.
That's because the pair shook hands with one another Monday for 9 1/2 hours, trying to beat a handshaking record of about nine hours set by two Germans.
The Guinness Book of World Records still must confirm the feat, one that Whittaker, 31, and Jens, 30, felt pretty confident they had achieved.
"I looked up what some of the weakest records were," Whittaker said. "I'm not going to break the 100-meter dash record, but I thought I could break this record."
The rules from Guinness appeared easy enough: Handshakers are not required to look each other in the eye or exchange pleasantries; they simply must grip palms and continuously move their hands up and down.
The historic day began at 2:07 p.m. outside the city's Ferry Building, where the duo endured the discomfort of sweaty palms, arm cramps and, of course, bathroom breaks. By nightfall, the two decided to continue their quest for greatness at a hotel bar, where they found warmth, comfortable seats and alcoholic beverages.
The effort culminated at 11:38 p.m. with a bottle of bubbly - and some much-needed space.
"It's not that fun, believe me," Whittaker said. "I'm a little tired. My shoulder is tired. In fact, it's extremely painful."
[Via - SeattlePI.Com]
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How to Choose the Right Bank As a Teenager
As a teenager there are several factors to consider when choosing a bank. Saving money is an important skill to learn early in life; it provides you with a sense of purpose, an ability to interact with the commercial side of life and an opportunity to develop self-discipline about saving and spending money. Choosing the right bank when you are a teenager should be about complementing your needs and meeting your needs with the least amount of hassle, red tape and loss of funds through fees.
My personal choise: Savings Account
Steps
1. Consider the purpose for your account. The purpose for an account will impact on they type of account that you are looking for and it will also influence your decision whether to use a bank for short-term savings or for longer term investments. Consider such questions as:
* Do you have a summer/after school job that you need a bank account for?
* Do you want a checking account, or a savings account?
* Do you want to save your money, or just keep it safe until you spend it?
2. Do your homework. Check out the banks in your area, and research which ones offer better packages for an account. One bank might give you a check account complete with a check book; yet another might give you a special credit line. The important things to look for include:
* What are your spending and saving needs? Does the bank match these?
* Are the options offered by the bank likely to encourage saving or discourage it?
3. What are the bank's fees? These can sometimes be an awful surprise - know in
advance and match the fees to your likely use of the bank. Most banks will start charging the more you use the bank - ATM fees, check fees, teller fees etc.
* Does the bank offer a youth or student package that is relevant to you? Often such packages come with better fee deals and sometimes good interest.
* What are the interest rates?
* Is there a possibility of a combined account structure? For example, one such structure could be some savings, some spending but both contributing to interest building.
4. Make comparisons. You have done the homework. Now do the comparing and ask such things as:
* Which bank has the best fees for what you are seeking?
* Which bank has the package that you are seeking?
* Which bank has special deals for young people? Compare them.
5. Think about location. Location is very important. Some banks are very localized and it may be difficult to find branches or shared branch locations elsewhere in your country or even overseas. This is where you might think of having online Savings Account If you are about to graduate from high-school, you may be studying somewhere else than your local region, so keep this in mind when choosing a bank.
Online Savings benefits & features:
# Free Online Banking (required)
# Free Electronic statements (required)
# If you maintain a minimum balance of $ each day of the monthly statement cycle you can even avoid the monthly service charge amount of $
6. Find a credit union. Credit unions are financial institutions that compete with banks, except that they are non profit. Credit unions don't have stockholders to pay, and therefore often give better interest rates with lower fees.
8. Ask your parents. Have a parent help you look at and compare different banks, as well as helping you to select the most suitable one. As a teenager, unless you are 18, you may not be able to open an account without a parent's name or permission, depending on your country's rules. Whatever the rules, it is always a wise solution to seek your parent's cooperation - many a parent will be more than happy to help add savings to your account when you demonstrate the initiative and self-responsibility to open a bank account.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
You Could Be Put In Jail If You Walk Away On Your Mortgage | Weird Facts
Link of the day - Weird facts made social
weird facts - Despite objections from consumer advocates, in the last two weeks California judge Jed Clampbet has sent 142 delinquent homeowners to state prison for up to three years each, for failing to honor their home mortgage obligations.
Most of the former homeowners were shocked to find they could be suddenly locked up for employing the common “walkaway” strategy, where homedebtors whose no-money-down adjustable-rate teaser mortgages are about to reset to full actual interest rates simply stop making payments but continue living in their homes rent-free for up to eight months before being evicted, then try to skip town leaving the bank holding the bag.
Under the anti-fraud provisions of the 1969 California Real Estate Loan Statute, section 7, chapter 13, such behavior is indeed criminal and can be prosecuted. Until recently the law had not been actively enforced, but due to the tidal wave of foreclosures the district attorney is now cracking down hard on mortgage scofflaws.
Banks generally applaud the stepped-up enforcement. “These folks thought they could just scam the system and get away with it,” admonished mortgage industry spokesman Snidely Wachovia. “Now they’re finally getting what they deserve.”
Consumer rights groups are organizing protests across the state, trying to stop or at least slow down the impending prosecution of an estimated 20,000 additional delinquent homeowners. “These people are completely unaware of what is about to happen to them,” claimed Shirley Yewghest of the California Delinquent Homeowners Protection Association. “Yes, they did receive foreclosure warning letters in the mail, but very few actually read the fine print. They hear people telling stories of walking away without getting caught, and they think they can get away with it too. By the time they realize that they are in fact criminals, it’s too late, and they find themselves behind bars.”
All the news is not negative, however. Apparently spring is in the air in the California state prison system, bringing along with it dozens of whirlwind romances between newly-jailed former homeowners and long-time inmates. And thanks to the new ruling legalizing same-sex marriages in California, wedding bells have been ringing non-stop.
Lifetime inmate Bubba “Whoppa” Johnson found new love with Cornwell Sooie, a San Diego real estate investor caught up in the recent sting operation targeting delinquent homeowners. Back in 2006 Mr. Sooie was sitting atop a mini real estate empire worth nearly $8 million on paper. When the housing bubble collapsed, he lost it all.
Those fast-paced days of real estate deal-making are butt a distant memory now, as Mr. Sooie settles in to his new married life in prison. While nuptial bliss is no substitute for the thrill of easy real-estate riches, at least it will keep him busy for the next three years.
[Via - WallStreetExaminer.Com]
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