Nov
10
Google giving free WiFi in 47 airports
November 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Well the season for giving is approaching and Google has a great gift for you. They are planning to foot the bill for WiFi at 47 of the nation's airports for the rest of the year.
The free WiFi is available right now through January 15 2010. Some of the major airports include Las Vegas, San [...]
Oct
9
Airlines add surcharge for holiday travel
October 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment
More airline news that's bad for your pocket. The number of days passengers must pay extra for flying during busy holiday periods has jumped. Several airlines are now charging a $10 "peak-travel" surcharge per flight on 13 days around Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays.
American Airlines started the trend on Sept. 23, when it instituted the [...]
Oct
9
More air travel nightmares on the way
October 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment
As the economy improves, air travel will as well. That means more delayed flights. More headaches.
Air travel has been declining since way back in 2008, but it is expected to pick up next year, resulting in all the familiar problems, according to a study released Thursday. The study from the Brookings Institution said the downturn [...]
Oct
1
AmEx ends gift card fees
October 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment
After complaints from customers, American Express will stop deducting monthly fees on gift cards that go unused. The change takes effect immediately and includes gift cards already purchased by consumers. Previously the company had deducted $2 each month a year after an active gift card went unused from the card's value.
Complaints were only a part [...]
Sep
18
Small used cars aren't big sellers when gas is cheap
September 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Car buyers are looking at big cars again. Used small cars are taking the biggest hits on value in the resale market.
"It's part of a larger trend that's been happening all year," says Alec Gutierrez, a senior market analyst for KBB. "Some of the weakest segments are subcompact, compact and hybrids."
The trend reflects the fact [...]
Jan
14
If the Treasury Secretary Can't Figure Out His Taxes, How Can We Do It?
January 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Obama's pick for Secretary of the Treasury has a problem. He didn't pay his taxes. How can a guy that heads up the Treasury (you know the department that contains the IRS) not pay his taxes?
According to various news sources Timothy Geithner didn't pay self employment taxes while working for the International Monetary Fund.
[N]ewly released [...]
Jan
8
Billionaire's Poker
January 8, 2009 | 1 Comment
..or why that German billionaire jumped in front of a train:
Adolf Merckle, one of the world’s richest men, committed suicide yesterday by throwing himself under a train, Bloomberg reports. Financial difficulties, and particularly great losses he suffered on Volkswagen stock, are being cited as the key reason he ended his life:
[Merckle's company] VEM was caught in [...]
Dec
10
Congress Doesn't Know Where $700,000,000,000 Is Going
December 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The congressional committee that oversees the financial bailout package doesn't know where the money is going. With $335,000,000,000 already spent, Treasury Secretary Paulson is about to ask for the other $350,000,000,000.
Congressman Barney Frank is upset with the Treasury Department. Frank claims the Treasury isn't doing enough to oversee the distribution of the money. Frank wants the [...]
Nov
26
SEC Shuts Down Prosper
November 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The SEC has issued a cease and desist letter to online lender Prosper.com. I lend money on Prosper so I have a vested interest in the outcome.
The problem is the SEC claims that loans Prosper facilitates are actually securities (stocks/bonds) not just loans. When you sell securities there are a whole host of byzantine rules [...]
Oct
22
Fed Chief Pushes for Another Stimulus Package
October 22, 2008 | 7 Comments
Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve (the bank's bank) told Congress he supports another stimulus package. What does this mean for you?
In testimony before congress Bernanke said that he supported another stimulus package. President push also supported another stimulus package. However, Bush wants the new package to be "targeted, temporary and timely."
What is the [...]