Equitable Outcome for Debt-Ridden Pension Holders
July 18, 2008
Equitable Life promised money that it couldn’t afford, building a house of cards that would capitulate in 2000. Throughout the 1990s, the life insurance company promised so much and would eventually deliver so little when the company’s assets were valued at 3 billion pounds less than the customers’ policies. Ann Abraham, Parliamentary Ombudsman for the Equitable Life debacle has declared that the government should admit negligence for their part. The government is accused of not... Read more »
Save Food, Save The World
July 9, 2008
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stated that the average household in the UK is wasting around 8 pound sterling per week on unnecessary food bills. Brown’s suggestion that the British public should think more carefully about their food shopping in an attempt to reduce the horrifying effect of the credit crunch seems laughable. With the cost of oil soaring and the cost of living up by a reported 9.5 per cent, it seems like a drop in the ocean to have two sausages for dinner instead of... Read more »
So What’s New? 2008 Energy Crisis
July 8, 2008
America had an energy crisis starting in 1973 with the Arab oil embargo. Unfortunately we didn’t seem to take it all that seriously as it was fairly short lived. Certainly the United States didn’t learn much from it. The 1970’s energy crisis led to greater interest in renewable energy and spurred research in solar power and wind power. It also led to greater pressure to exploit North American oil sources, and increased the West’s dependence on coal and nuclear power. The... Read more »
Will We Need Health And Safety Training To Breathe Next
July 4, 2008
And once again we have health and safety madness at its true British best! Illegal raves that cause disruption to nearby residents, where illegal drugs are sold and consumed by many and where the countryside is trashed by people who couldn’t give a damn, will NOT be broken up by police because they have not had the necessary health and safety training in the dark. We all know what a health and safety risk the dark is! Police have also raised concern that if they break up the raves, party goers... Read more »
Councils Refuse Our Refuse Requests
July 3, 2008
We’re all well aware of the benefits of recycling but who, in all seriousness, has the time or inclination to do so? Most households now have their solitary green recycling bin duly supplied by their local council but if plans to cut down to once a month rubbish bin collections goes ahead, how will this little recycling bin be enough? The whole issue surrounding recycling is very confusing but rules have been clamped down on even before anyone understands fully what can and can’t be achieved.... Read more »
Tom Kalin Interview: Savage Grace
July 1, 2008
“I was eating a tomato at teatime the other day and it occurred to me that mummy is not dead at all, just very, very mysterious.” Tony Baekland. Based on the book by Natalie Robins, Savage Grace is a deeply disturbing, psychologically-charged film about Barbara Baekland (played by Julianne Moore), and her only son, Tony (played by Eddie Redmayne). Beginning with a mother’s birth to her beloved child and following their years together, which leads to a tragic ending, this true story... Read more »
Mortgage Interest Rates: Up Up And Away
June 30, 2008
Up up and away. Mortgage interest rates continue on their upward trajectory. 30 Year mortgage rates went from 6.32 to 6.42. 15 year notes rose from 5.93 to 6.02 and 5 year arms rose almost 20 basis point going from 5.7 to 5.89. 1 Year arms rose this week from 5.09 to 5.19. But unlike the other mortgage products (which are higher) 1 Year Arms remain about where they were a month ago. As we have talked about for the last several months since the FED is no longer cutting rates we can expected... Read more »
What Happens to America With Expensive Energy?
June 27, 2008
What happens to an America built on cheap energy when energy is no longer cheap? It’s a question that most Americans do not want to confront. Especially the slick talking politicians. The fact is that most of the way America was built depends upon cheap energy supplies. The love for the automobile, the vast suburbs that surround America’s majors cities, the neglect of a high speed railway system, huge suburban shopping malls and office parks, American agriculture with its dependence upon... Read more »
Austin Hipness Moves South
June 25, 2008
For decades, bumper stickers have adorned cars all over central Austin, proudly proclaiming “78704 More Than just a Zip Code.” The South Austin lifestyle originated there, but as Austin real estate prices rose, and fancy restaurants and shops re-energized South Congress, a migration of hip-ness began. Now, a new bumper sticker is gaining in popularity, reading “78745 the new 78704.” This is the perfect area for a young couple to start off. The area is roughly bordered by Westgate... Read more »
Consumers Reported To Be Feeling The Heat From Rising Energy Costs
June 25, 2008
With Britons continuing to struggle with money, it is important that they take steps to ensure the heat on their financial situation is not turned up even further. Such is the claim of uSwitch, which reports that despite a series of price increases occurring earlier in 2008, consumers should prepare themselves for at least one more round of hikes in the cost of gas and electricity. According to the price comparison firm, experts believe that the cost of energy bills are set to surge by up to 40 per... Read more »
