This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you remember, 2009 provided first time home buyers with tax incentives. The idea, of course, is to get our economy moving again, and with home prices at all-time lows, those who have been saving for that “it’s all mine!” home were (and still are) in a prime position. The government was set to help you into your first home.

2010 promises even more with the interesting news that there are 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits available! And the best part is that these homebuyer tax credits now extend to help even more people (not just the first time buyer). Here is what’s new: (more…)

It’s a rant day today. Actually this has been ranting around in my brain for more than a day and today just happens to be the day it comes pouring out.

I am SO angry at the manipulation of insurance and pharmaceutical companies and the inherent opposition to any proposed solution to bail this country out of the HUGE mess the former President and Company put us in – and yes it was him do not even try to tell me otherwise – that I am hoping, nay praying, that for those of you thinking health care reform means “pulling the plug on your grandmother” or some such idiotic nonsense, that you’ll be SENSIBLE ENOUGH to actually watch this.

In fact, all you Fox News fans, I dare you to watch this clip:

The most sensible thing I’ve read lately is this Letter to the Editor written by a local Henderson woman. I am quoting it in its entirety because for god’s sake all of us just waiting for things to magically happen for us (isn’t that what got us in this mess to begin with thanks to Bush, Cheney, and company?!? yes!), and for those who amazingly seem to believe anything their party tells them (yes I’m talking to Republicans or at least some – and remember I’m actually a registered Republican but that’s another story and NO I did not go the McCain/Palin way more than a half year ago) listen up because this woman, in a nutshell, expresses everything even our elected officials (and this time I’m talking to all you USELESS Democrats elected to office overwhelmingly this term, you bunch of idiots!!!) don’t have the GUTS to pull off (and here 70+ percent of the country believed YOU would make a difference – HA!):

Angry at industry’s misguided pawns

I hear there is “angry opposition” to health care reform.

Well, I’m angry, too, because these so-called angry opponents, in their zeal to “break” President Barack Obama at any cost, risk cheating themselves and the rest of us out of needed change and our very survival.

Please don’t refer to the town hall spectacles as “vigorous debate.” Unlike serious people who have real questions, concerns and suggestions, the “disrupters” have only been manipulated by the status quo forces (the insurance/pharma companies and lobbyists) to disrupt town meetings and unnerve legislators, to keep legitimate concerns and issues from being discussed. They prefer to scare people with outright lies.

If you don’t want your doctor to be reimbursed for counseling you on “end-of-life” decisions, then execute a living will yourself to make your wishes known.

If you don’t want “socialized medicine,” protest the Veterans Affairs system, our only health service that is in fact owned and operated by the U.S. government.

If you want fewer insurance benefits for more money, oppose a public option that would keep your insurance company honest and efficient.

The disrupters don’t seem to fear losing their insurance with their jobs, or worry that their employers will stop subsidizing their insurance, or that an insurance company bureaucrat will tell them they can’t have a procedure, or that a preexisting condition will disqualify them for coverage, or that high premiums and co-pays will force them into bankruptcy.

If we lose this chance to fix health care in America, it will be because the disrupters put their narrow political interests and the profits of insurance and pharmaceutical companies ahead of the best interests of the American people. We cannot let them!

(For privacy’s sake I am not putting in the woman’s name)

With 10% (or more most likely because a lot of people have run out of benefits) unemployment in this country and more states so underwater we’ll all need diving bells in the very near future just to breath, I am inflamed that so few can influence the outcome for so many.

How dare you Democratic’s sit there in Washington cringing and crippling not only yourselves but the rest of the country and LETTING THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN.

Frankly, I HAD faith that the current President and his staff and Congress could finally pull off fixing the biggest challenges our country faces and put us back on course. Now, I sit here ashamed FOR THEM for not sticking to their guns. At the moment to hell with “bi-partisanship!” Just do what you were elected to do.

This country needs SERIOUS help willingly given by SERIOUS people. For god’s sake open your eyes and think and act with the brain given to you!

Here’s one more quoted Letter to the Editor (again written to our local paper by another local woman with a brain on her shoulders – and no I’m not putting in her name – though I’m sure neither of them would mind if I did):

Obama’s critics have selective memory

Many people are upset with President Barack Obama over the current conditions. Wow, what short memories!

Where was the anger in 2002 when the previous administration took a trillion-dollar surplus and began squandering it on tax breaks for big oil companies posting unprecedented profits, then started a war that was suppose to be paid for with Iraqi oil revenue?

The result of these actions was the precipitous rise in the price of oil (almost 400 percent) while the U.S. Treasury was drained of its surplus and plunged into debt by the cost of this unjustified war. The war cost is ongoing and the total treasure expended in lives is, as the commercials say, “priceless.”

Now the anger and the blame for the busted economy and tanked real estate get heaped on the current administration while it tries to right the ages-old wrong of poor, costly and unfair health care in this country. For many of us, this anger is eight years too late.

I’ll leave my rant – for now – with just this… ALL YOU TEMPORARY PUBLIC SERVANTS IN WASHINGTON – THE PRESIDENT INCLUDED WAKE UP AND DO YOUR PROPER AND RIGHTFUL DUTY TO THIS COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE.

I’m disgusted with the lot of you!

Today I’ll deviate slightly and present a mixture of current news you really need to know, along with a bit of economic projections, and a touch of energy saving. How’s that for really mixing it up

PHONY LOCKSMITHS

First, our local Channel 8 Las Vegas News team wants everyone to be aware of a huge (I should write HUGE) locksmith scam going on – not only here in the Vegas area but across the country.

“The scam emanates from New York and Florida and appears to be a highly organized criminal enterprise that flaunts local laws and has been known to use threats and intimidation against customers who are invariably in vulnerable situations.”

Phony locksmiths are popping up all over.  Many of these fake locksmith outfits take out large yellow page-type ads to appear more legitimate.

…legitimate locksmiths are appalled by the invasion of Las Vegas and other large cities by shady, unlicensed locksmith operators who are little more than a phone number. They take out huge ads in the Yellow Pages, have dozens of numbers under single listings, and essentially take over the market.

There are no background checks or work cards for the employees. Taxes aren’t paid and the whole operation seems to be routed back to a central dispatch in New York. “It’s millions of dollars. It’s big. That’s why they are doing it,” said Esposito. (Editors Note: Esposito is a legitimate locksmith)

…few, if any, of the companies have actual offices. Search Google for Las Vegas Locksmiths and hundreds pop up, but the addresses are bogus. They’re actually the addresses of fast food joints, Caesars Forum Shops, the Mandalay Events Center, or McCarran Airport. The office that sent out two of the men who were busted is, in fact, a locksmith shop but it’s been closed down for many months.

One of the bogus companies listed the address of its office and it seemed very familiar to our I-Team producer Ian Russell. That’s because it is his home address. He assures us there is no locksmith operation in his apartment.

To make sure you don’t become a mark for this type of scam – where that $30 fee to get you into your car turns into $50 or $100 or instead of $150 to change the locks in your house, the bill turns into $600 and the person won’t leave until you pay, check with AAA, your insurance company, and (as News 8 puts it) “know the signs of a scam.”

THE ECONOMY

Projections indicate that come next week the market will slow up as it traditionally does in August. With numerous variables thrown in, the key (as we’re all aware) still remains the unemployment crisis.

It is to be hoped that corporations are finally understanding/realizing that when you lay so many people off, you’re decimating your own target marketing – the very people who buy stuff WHEN they have money, but do not purchase if they are unemployed (how stupid can they really be?) . Kenneth Wink of SummitFC writes:

“I think it’s important to take a step back and realize that the market is rejoicing in what is corporate cost cutting. Firms need a real revenue stream. And they’ve been cutting so many workers, who are also consumers too that won’t be consuming. Employment will be taking a more important role.”

Who knows… while the rest of us pray “they” come to their senses, the question remains… will they?

AND A BIT OF GREEN

Going green thankfully is turning more into a habit then a trend, and there are plenty of bargains out there – in terms of tax credits. Just be sure as you “go green” that the equipment, etc., you are choosing is “certified” so you can take advantage of the multiple tax credits and rebates being offered.

While this section is written specifically for U.S. citizens, perhaps your country is also offering added incentives to go green. Check.

Here are a few “qualifying expenditures” worth investigating starting with big ticket items and working downward:

o Solar water heating equipment – residence and vacation home(s)

o Solar electricity-generating equipment for your residence and vacation home(s)

o Wind energy equipment, agains primary or vacation homes

o Fuel cell electricity generating equipment but only for your primary residence.

One thing to keep in mind is investments in ways to heat your pool or hot tub do not apply.

o Replacing windows, skylights, and storm windows and doors

o Insulation designed to reduce heat gain or loss

o Metal and/or asphalt roofs that include heat reduction components

o High-efficiency central air conditioners

o Furnaces, water heaters and water boilers that run on natural gas, propane, or oil.

o Electric heat pumps and electric heat pump water heaters.

o Circulating fans used in natural gas, propane and oil furnaces.

o Biomass fuel stoves used for heating or hot water.

Again, these are just some of the green items to keep in mind that not only save the planet, but in many cases, money out of your wallet (sometimes over time).

For more information on going green and green living, visit the Forcedgreen blog written by Linda Rembowski.

Til next time!

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I’m sure you’ve got comments and opinions. Don’t be afraid to comment. You also gain a valuable do follow link for the search engines!

If you missed this earlier post about Susan Boyle then I’d say you’ve been living under a rock, but I’d mean it kindly. Susan has the entire world on the edge of its collective seat, and last night was her second chance to shine on Britain’s Got Talent.

If you haven’t heard her sing yet, start by listening to her audition first.

That one they didn’t enable embedding, so you will have to head to YouTube, but do it’s really worth it. Even if you’ve heard her already, hearing it again will just make your heart sing.

And last night, while I agree that someone (I hear coaches from Britain’s Got Talent?) tried to influence the way she does her thing, it only took a stanza for her to get back inside herself, dig deep, and pull out what we all were waiting so breathlessly to hear… SUSAN singing.

To rate Susan’s second time on the show you’ll have to click the link to get over to YouTube.

In the meantime, they have let people have access to this second round, so for your viewing pleasure on this wonderful Memorial Day, we present the talented Susan Boyle singing “Memory” from the musical Cats.

THE EMBEDDED VIDEO USED TO SIT HERE – they disabled the streaming so just use the link above (the voting one) to get to Susan Boyle’s semi-final video.

Before you leave – or better yet look around for marketing and advertising helps, tips, and how to’s on this blog – there is a reason (besides her voice) that Susan is bringing so much hope to so many. And a reason as to why this post is up today.

With the world in the shape its in, yes the entire world, don’t we all appreciate a moment, that little ray of sunshine that says everything is going to be okay?

Susan Boyle is also a living example that you should pursue your dreams be they online or offline without hesitation. It took her 47 almost 48 years to get where she is right now.

Those online thinking it will be or should be a breeze to riches, think again. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens overnight. Nothing happens without putting in the time, putting forth tremendous effort over and above anyone else in your chosen niche or product promotion.

For those looking to make a living online, use Susan Boyle as your example. Remember to stay the course, remain true to yourself and your goals, and work you arse off to get what you want… success!

Happy Memorial Day to those in the U.S. and a wonderful upcoming week to all!

Breaking (and lucky!) news for folks living in the St. Louis area… Charter is providing internet users in the St. Louis area the ability to connect to the internet at the fastest internet speed possible, yes even faster than cable (gasp!)!

However, the rest of us shouldn’t despair. Charter is planning on rolling their new “phatband internet speed” to other parts of the country throughout 2009.

What makes “phatband” so unique? Well for anyone still on dial up, I don’t even need to explain, but those on DSL (or even cable) will be shocked. Charter’s Phatband has “turned DSL into the new dial-up internet service.”

I remember when we had dial up, and also when DSL became available in the tiny town where we moved. It was like receiving a gift from heaven. Then, about a decade later, we moved here to Las Vegas, and voila! cable was available. We grabbed it and were/are thrilled.

So, I’m really excited to see what this new phatband internet speed service will be! But, like the rest of the country, we’ll have to wait our turn.

If you think about it, it sounds almost like having your very own T1 line – it’s that super fast.

In the meantime, you can head to Charter’s Ultra60 Information Page for more details. Satisfy your curiosity, and potentially find out how long it will be before it becomes available where you live.

Now that I’ve told my son, an avid game player (rabid is more like it) that hardcore web gamers in St. Louis are already in love with PhatBand’s ability to “download patches in record time,” and virtually eliminate their lag in their gaming, you KNOW I’ll be hounded until we, too, can upgrade.

(Don’t tell him, but I, too, am looking forward to this newest way to connect to the internet to hit Las Vegas.)

Dial up had its day. DSL fit where we lived (and was our only other choice). Cable is serving its purpose, but… I love speed, the faster the better!

You can stay in touch with Charter and its progress by adding Charter’s Twitter Feed to your Twitter. This way you just may get the heads up even quicker!

Come on Charter! Those of us in Las Vegas eagerly await our turn