WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Money College: College students on a budget change thinking on family brandshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/07/money-college-college-students-on-a-budget-change-thinking-on-f/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/07/money-college-college-students-on-a-budget-change-thinking-on-f/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/07/money-college-college-students-on-a-budget-change-thinking-on-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

carChildren are known for being curious. They remember the products you purchase, use extensively, and take special note of the items you loathe and throw away with disgust.

All of these observances come in handy when they head off to college and/or start life on their own. But the real question is whether or not students on a budget will purchase the cherished brands that have been used by their parents, or choose the more affordable store brands.

Generally there is a bias among young shoppers when it comes to staple products like cleaning, hygiene, and food. If you grew up with a particular brand of soap, chances are that you will continue to use it; even if there is a cheaper alternative.

Continue reading Money College: College students on a budget change thinking on family brands

Money College: College students on a budget change thinking on family brands originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>family brandsFamilyBrandsfoodorganicDamanick DantesSun, 07 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTWill a handgun make you feel safer in a national park?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/25/will-a-handgun-make-you-feel-safer-in-a-national-park/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/25/will-a-handgun-make-you-feel-safer-in-a-national-park/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/25/will-a-handgun-make-you-feel-safer-in-a-national-park/#commentsFiled under: ,

National Parks are reserves that display America's natural beauty to the public. Some people find them places of solitude, where they can go sightseeing, vacation, and camp out in the wild. A visit to a national park is considerably cheaper than the conventional family-of-four vacation. But while protecting your wallet, you might also want to protect yourself.

Being alone or even with a small group out in the wild can be frightening. Considering the many violent events that have and can occur in national parks, and also to honor current rights according to visitors' home state, Congress recently lifted a ban on loaded guns in national parks which lasted for two decades. This new law took effect Feb. 22.

Current state laws will determine how the new regulation will be implemented in each park. Some states may allow handguns only in certain areas of the park. Other states that overlap with a national park such as Wyoming and Idaho will have to designate specific areas limited to the state border line that allow handguns. This will be a tricky process to work out, and will require interstate cooperation.

Continue reading Will a handgun make you feel safer in a national park?

Will a handgun make you feel safer in a national park? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>handgun national parkHandgunNationalParknational parksNationalParksDamanick DantesThu, 25 Feb 2010 09:00:00 ESTAffordable housing faces a shortfall as contracts expirehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/22/affordable-housing-faces-a-shortfall-as-contracts-expire/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/22/affordable-housing-faces-a-shortfall-as-contracts-expire/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/22/affordable-housing-faces-a-shortfall-as-contracts-expire/#commentsFiled under: , ,

affordable housingWith the current recession coming to an end, housing is still one of the main topics of discussion. In particular, affordable housing faces a serious shortfall in the next four years.

Many existing Section 8 developments have government contracts that are approaching expiration, which allow the landlords to increase rent at market rate, forcing the poor and middle class to either stay and pay or go elsewhere.

According to the National Housing Trust, about 75% of these units in New York and Massachusetts are close to expiration, and in California, Texas and Washington, 85-90% are nearing Section 8 conclusion by 2014.

This is a very serious problem, and development can only last for so long (land will run out). We need to create incentives for the existing landlords as well. So the question remains - what do we do to prevent Section 8 landlords from opting out of their contracts upon expiration?

Continue reading Affordable housing faces a shortfall as contracts expire

Affordable housing faces a shortfall as contracts expire originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>affordable housingAffordableHousingSection 8Section8Damanick DantesMon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:00 ESTAdvice for jobless teens and employers who view them as lazyhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/10/advice-for-jobless-teens-and-employers-who-view-them-as-lazy/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/10/advice-for-jobless-teens-and-employers-who-view-them-as-lazy/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/10/advice-for-jobless-teens-and-employers-who-view-them-as-lazy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

teensSociety's negative perception of teenagers is a disadvantage to the young and hopeful in search of a job. Hollywood often portrays teens as being caught up in their social life and getting into trouble.

It seems as though hard work does not fit into their vocabulary; unless there's an acronym to describe it - perhaps FML? The stereotypes have found their way into the professional arena, and teens are forced to bear the brunt of defying these labels.
Many employers think teens are too lazy and unfocused to hire. It is important to realize that age does not define one's individual behavior. Sure, there are teens that are lazy, but you should not avoid all of them because of a negative stereotype.

Continue reading Advice for jobless teens and employers who view them as lazy

Advice for jobless teens and employers who view them as lazy originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>jobsteensunemploymentDamanick DantesWed, 10 Feb 2010 17:30:00 ESTAshley Madison is no excuse to have an affairhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/12/09/ashley-madison-is-no-excuse-to-have-an-affair/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/12/09/ashley-madison-is-no-excuse-to-have-an-affair/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/12/09/ashley-madison-is-no-excuse-to-have-an-affair/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

AshleyMadison.com isn't your typical online dating service. It is centered on the theme of adultery. However, it's easy to see that this is purely a marketing strategy designed to shock people and gain their attention. After all, users aren't forced to cheat on their spouses.

All of the site's 4,875,000 members (at the time of this publication) are listed as anonymous, its racy ads feature couples embarking on a wild adventure with a significant other, oh, and their tagline is "life is short, have an affair."

Some, like Mike Galanos of CNN Prime News, would argue that AshleyMadison is an evil site that's exploiting adultery and ruins families to better their bottom line. I think its absolutely ridiculous to make such a claim; this goes to show who is weak enough to fall under control of a business.

Continue reading Ashley Madison is no excuse to have an affair

Ashley Madison is no excuse to have an affair originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>adulteryaffairaffairsAshley MadisonAshleyMadisonmike galanosMikeGalanostiger woods affairTigerWoodsAffairDamanick DantesWed, 09 Dec 2009 13:30:00 ESTWhy we must keep the virtual experience alivehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/why-we-must-keep-the-virtual-experience-alive/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/why-we-must-keep-the-virtual-experience-alive/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/why-we-must-keep-the-virtual-experience-alive/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Looking back at my childhood during the 1990s, I now realize that the Internet and I have a pretty good relationship - we grew up together.

As trite as this may sound, the Internet targeted everyone, but more specifically generation Y. I remember rushing home from school to plug the modem into the phone jack, creating a dead line that blocked all incoming phone calls, all to get connected to the Internet.

I lived for that free flow of information and connectivity to the world outside of my enclosed bedroom. That AOL voice that said 'Welcome' opened the doors to a central nucleus in which I was granted access to everyone from around the world at my fingertips.

The good thing was that it was all free. Even as a child, I understood that these "free" Web sites made money from those pop-up and banner ads that appeared everywhere. I knew that I was being targeted by outside companies, but I understood the value of the Internet, and continued to log on and participate.


Continue reading Why we must keep the virtual experience alive

Why we must keep the virtual experience alive originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>hulu payHuluPayinternetonline subscriptionOnlineSubscriptionpandora payPandoraPayDamanick DantesWed, 18 Nov 2009 15:45:00 ESTWhat a weak dollar means for youhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/14/what-a-weak-dollar-means-for-you-hold-for-td/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/14/what-a-weak-dollar-means-for-you-hold-for-td/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/14/what-a-weak-dollar-means-for-you-hold-for-td/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Have you seen the headlines lately? The news seems to be loaded with talk of new entitlement programs, federal spending projects, angry protesters, Obama talk, global elections, etc. Well, what's new? And most important, what does this mean for you?

Behind the President's comfortable rhetoric and agreeable headlines about the failing economy lurks the powerful vote by global trade participants. That is, the depreciating US dollar has fallen to 14-month lows compared to a basket of foreign currencies. I must sound the alarm because in the end, we will pay. A falling dollar will lead to inflation, and the US consumer will gradually feel the effects.

Continue reading What a weak dollar means for you

What a weak dollar means for you originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>defecitgold pricesGoldPricesinflationoil dollaroil pricesOilDollarOilPricespalin energyPalinEnergyweak dollarWeakDollarDamanick DantesWed, 14 Oct 2009 11:00:00 ESTMcDonalds shifting toward quality food at an affordable pricehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/18/mcdonalds-shifting-toward-quality-food-at-an-affordable-price/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/18/mcdonalds-shifting-toward-quality-food-at-an-affordable-price/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/18/mcdonalds-shifting-toward-quality-food-at-an-affordable-price/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I remember the first time I decided to buy a Chicken Ceasar Salad for lunch from McDonald's. Because I'm not a big salad fan, I was a bit hesitant. I walked into McDonald's and heard the busy sounds of cash registers, fryers, people yelling orders, and the smell of fresh greasy fries. To my surprise, the meal was complete with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, croutons and a succulent piece of chicken breast placed neatly above the forest of greens, partly sliced, and topped with spices. Not only did this salad look good, it was delicious! At this moment, the curiosity of what goes on inside the McDonald's kitchen filled my mind.

Continue reading McDonalds shifting toward quality food at an affordable price

McDonalds shifting toward quality food at an affordable price originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>affordable diningAffordableDiningangus burgerAngusBurgerdan coudreautDanCoudreautfoodmcdonaldssaladDamanick DantesFri, 18 Sep 2009 13:00:00 ESTHow the rich get richer: inside our growing income inequality gaphttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/20/how-the-rich-get-richer-inside-our-growing-income-inequality-ga/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/20/how-the-rich-get-richer-inside-our-growing-income-inequality-ga/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/20/how-the-rich-get-richer-inside-our-growing-income-inequality-ga/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Emmanuel Saez, a professor of Economics at UC Berkeley has raised concern about income inequality in the United States. In his recent article, he stated that the income gap is at an all time high; exceeding levels during the Great Depression. His research provides us with a candid look at a telling issue.

Professor Saez states that 2007 was a good year for both the rich and the bottom 99%, who experienced a rise in income by 2.8%. But since the 2001 recession, the top 1% captured two thirds of overall income growth. Thus, the main question is why the rich thrive in any economy, while income for the rest of us grows at a snail's pace?

Continue reading How the rich get richer: inside our growing income inequality gap

How the rich get richer: inside our growing income inequality gap originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>get richGetRichincome inequalityIncomeInequalityinflationDamanick DantesThu, 20 Aug 2009 18:00:00 ESTU.S. runs low on sugar, get ready for high priceshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/13/u-s-runs-low-on-sugar-get-ready-for-high-prices/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/13/u-s-runs-low-on-sugar-get-ready-for-high-prices/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/13/u-s-runs-low-on-sugar-get-ready-for-high-prices/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The United States is facing a major sugar shortage, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription may be required).

On Aug. 5, General Mills, Hershey Co, Mars Inc., and Kraft Foods alerted Thomas J. Vilsak, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, of their combined forecast of low sugar supplies. These food companies warned that if the Agriculture Department does not allow them to import more tariff-free sugar, "our nation will virtually run out of sugar" and they will be forced to raise consumer prices and lay off workers.

This comes as a major eye opener, but there's more to this finding.

The WSJ states that the present trade quota places a limit to the number of tariff-free sugar that can be imported per year, with the exception of Mexico. This leaves major suppliers like Brazil out of the free trade mix. The fear looms that Brazil may not even have significant sugar supply for the U.S. because they are busy using large amounts of cane crop for ethanol use.


Another problem is the U.S. government; not a surprise. The U.S. artificially inflates domestic prices of sugar in order to support the incomes of farmers in the Midwest who are friendly with politicians who help them. Anything for a vote, right?

Economists state that sugar is part of the equation. Sugar is an active ingredient in almost all foods, and the impact of a price increase will be big. Food companies pay twice the world level for sugar because of government meddling.

Unless politicians in Washington decide to ease import quotas, the "U.S. will end the next fiscal year with less than 13 days worth of sugar on hand" according to the four food companies who band together to ring the alarm atop Capitol hill.
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=351713&pid=351712&uts=1250261280
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Food Prices Around the World
Food companies warned that if the Agriculture Department does not allow them to import more tariff-free sugar, "our nation will virtually run out of sugar" and they will be forced to raise consumer prices and lay off workers. For more on food prices, browse through this gallery.

U.S. runs low on sugar, get ready for high prices originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>sugar pricessugar shortageSugarPricesSugarShortageDamanick DantesThu, 13 Aug 2009 15:30:00 ESTRadiohead stops selling albumshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/12/radiohead-stops-selling-albums/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/12/radiohead-stops-selling-albums/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/12/radiohead-stops-selling-albums/#commentsFiled under:

As album sales continue to decline, popular artists are clutching for survival with a more sustainable approach -- get rid of them!

Radiohead, a British alternative rock band, announced that they will no longer release full-length albums. The band will instead focus on the growing trend of downloadable singles.

The decision comes shortly after the band's online release of Harry Patch (In Memory of) as a tribute to the British WW II veteran who died in late July, and other shorter EPs, as an experiment into the digital-only world.

The Internet is pushing the music industry to innovate, but it's up to record companies to take the chance. One factor that is halting the rebirth of entertainment is the fear of stolen copy written material. Sure there are several safe havens like iTunes that allow record labels to get edgy, but is that enough?

For fellow Radiohead fans, or all music lovers in general, the death of the album may come as a shock. The point of an album is to form a collection of music under one theme that represents a moment or philosophy.

Is it possible for artists to tell a story in just one song? I don't think it's proper branding. Consumers still purchase entire albums on iTunes mainly because it has been heavily promoted.

Radiohead stops selling albums originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>album salesAlbumSalesdownloadradioheadDamanick DantesWed, 12 Aug 2009 15:30:00 ESTIf government can cut costs, we all canhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/07/government-finds-ways-to-cut-cost/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/07/government-finds-ways-to-cut-cost/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/07/government-finds-ways-to-cut-cost/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As Americans struggle to keep up with payments, the government is busy trying to economize. The country is facing a $1 trillion deficit that is increasing as government spend more to tackle the problems of the recession.

Recently, the Wall Street Journal featured an article that explained the new savings effort within various government agencies. I call it "the organic stimulus" -- properly budgeting money so that you will have enough to continue operations during bad times.

It all started in April, when President Obama ordered his cabinet secretaries to locate $100 million in budget cuts. The Forest Services Department, for example, stopped repainting newly purchased white vehicles green to save money.

Continue reading If government can cut costs, we all can

If government can cut costs, we all can originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>budget deficitBudgetDeficitDamanick DantesFri, 07 Aug 2009 08:00:00 ESTOprah's free book, get it now http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/03/oprahs-free-book-get-it-now/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/03/oprahs-free-book-get-it-now/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/03/oprahs-free-book-get-it-now/#commentsFiled under:

Oprah is at it again with another freebie...if you're a member that is. Starting today, August 3, all Oprah.com members can download Let the Great World Spin, a novel written by Colum McCann.

The book takes readers on a journey to 1970's New York, a period of transition and promise, but more important, a time before 9/11. It is listed on Oprah Magazine's 25 Books of the Summer, and has a retail price of $25.00.

The download is only available for 48 hours and the promotion will end on Wednesday, August 5 at 10:59pm EST.

This is a strategic effort for Oprah.com to gain new members, so it's not too late to join to receive the book. Oprah is seen as a promotion engine for upcoming products and especially new authors. In 2005, Oprah's Book Club had over 600,000 members and growing.

Continue reading Oprah's free book, get it now

Oprah's free book, get it now originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>colum mccannColumMccannfreelet the great world spinLetTheGreatWorldSpinoprahDamanick DantesMon, 03 Aug 2009 15:30:00 ESTElderly shopaholic found dead under pile of clotheshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/29/shopaholic-found-dead-under-pile-of-clothes/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/29/shopaholic-found-dead-under-pile-of-clothes/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/29/shopaholic-found-dead-under-pile-of-clothes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

How should you spend your retirement money? For years, senior citizens have been overspending and accumulating more debt, according to a recent study by Demos, a non-partisan public policy group. Such overspending can lead to financial death, or as one unusual story shows, lead to complications with the other kind.

The BBC News reports that, in January, Joan Cunnane died at age 77 of natural causes at her home in England. She had bronchial pneumonia and cancer and lived alone in unusual conditions.

Continue reading Elderly shopaholic found dead under pile of clothes

Elderly shopaholic found dead under pile of clothes originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>elderly debtelderly spendingElderlyDebtElderlySpendingjoan cunnaneJoanCunnaneshoppaholicDamanick DantesWed, 29 Jul 2009 18:00:00 ESTMan withdraws $190,000 in $20 billshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/27/man-withdraws-190-000-in-20-bills/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/27/man-withdraws-190-000-in-20-bills/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/27/man-withdraws-190-000-in-20-bills/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Last week, Roger Griffiths, a proud customer of Westpac Bank for 25 years, withdrew his $190,000 savings in $20 bills after he was denied a mortgage loan.

Westpac, the second largest bank in New Zealand, rejected Griffiths' application for an $80,000 mortgage because he did not have steady income as an artist. Griffith stated that he is a successful artist, with his paintings displayed in New York's World of Wearable Art. He also seems to be financially set:

  • The property in Mapua, NZ cost $385,000.
  • Griffiths had $200,000 saved in cash and was about to sell his $110,000 campervan.
  • According to Griffiths, the property would have generated $500 per week. (Cash flow from commercial use and a residential home)

All of these financials exceed Wetpac Bank's criteria for a 20% down payment. Griffiths was very upset when he learned of his mortgage denial. He notified the bank of his upcoming withdrawal, and his local branch provided him with a red and black duffle bag to carry out all of his savings in cash.

Continue reading Man withdraws $190,000 in $20 bills

Man withdraws $190,000 in $20 bills originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>roger griffithsRogerGriffithswestpacDamanick DantesMon, 27 Jul 2009 14:30:00 ESTLocal officials arrested in New Jersey corruption scandalhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/23/local-officials-arrested-in-new-jersey-corruption-scandal/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/23/local-officials-arrested-in-new-jersey-corruption-scandal/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/23/local-officials-arrested-in-new-jersey-corruption-scandal/#commentsFiled under:

According to a Wall Street Journal article, earlier this morning, the FBI raided through several New Jersey towns and arrested 30 people, including Hoboken and Secaucus mayors, rabbis, and other elected officials in a corruption case.

This is said to be the biggest corruption sweep in the state's history. For years, New Jersey has experienced hundreds of related arrests involving political scandals and corruption.

The people arrested were allegedly involved in the trafficking of body parts. A participating witness who knew of the illegal scheme stated that one of the people arrested was an organ dealer.

The former Waretown mayor is accused of taking a $10,000 bribe from a witness who posed as a developer. The money was going to be used by the former mayor to approve his proposed multi-use development in Waretown.

The increase of money transfers raised a red flag, and the Feds traced it back to New Jersey. All participants who were arrested are expected to be arraigned in court on Thursday afternoon.

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video.

Local officials arrested in New Jersey corruption scandal originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>new jersey corruptionNewJerseyCorruptionvan peltVanPeltDamanick DantesThu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:00 ESTA package deal: FedEx vs. UPS gets uglyhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/21/a-package-deal-fedex-vs-ups-gets-ugly/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/21/a-package-deal-fedex-vs-ups-gets-ugly/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/21/a-package-deal-fedex-vs-ups-gets-ugly/#commentsFiled under: ,

The battle between UPS and FedEx has reached Capitol Hill. It's an ugly fight full of back and forth lobbying and straight out lies.

I noticed an online ad, sponsored by FedEx, blasting UPS for allegedly asking Congress for a "bailout." At first glance, I thought it was "just another bailout," but an hour later on another website, the ad returned. To be so blunt in a campaign directly targeted at competition is very suspicious. That was when I decided to look into this matter.

To my surprise, I discovered that people were being fooled by these FedEx ads. The employees of both companies are at the heart of this battle. Here's the scoop:

Continue reading A package deal: FedEx vs. UPS gets ugly

A package deal: FedEx vs. UPS gets ugly originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>fedex campaignFedexCampaignnational labor relations actNationalLaborRelationsActrailway labor actRailwayLaborActups bailoutUpsBailoutDamanick DantesTue, 21 Jul 2009 14:00:00 ESTHSBC and WalletPop want you to speak outhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/20/hsbc-and-walletpop-want-you-to-speak-out/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/20/hsbc-and-walletpop-want-you-to-speak-out/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/20/hsbc-and-walletpop-want-you-to-speak-out/#commentsFiled under:

On Thursday, July 16, WalletPop attended HSBC Soapbox, a public showcase that gave New Yorkers the opportunity to voice their opinions on a range of topics including immigration, education, environment, marriage, privacy, fast food, jobs, children and technology.

The event took place in Madison Square Park from noon to 8 p.m.

Johanna Breman Tzur, an HSBC representative, says more than 1,100 people stopped by the HSBC Soapbox Event. Participants stood up and talked on actual soapboxes, as they did in the old days, especially in London's Hyde Park, before chatrooms and blogs. And approximately 335 others shared what matters most to them through the on-site ballot box. Here are those results:

When asked which value you most live your life by, the following three were cited most:
  • Love (strong lead with 33 votes)
  • Family & Happiness (tied with 24 votes a piece)

When asked which value do you most look for in others, the following three won out:

  • Honesty (clear leader with 47 votes)
  • Respect (30 votes)
  • Trust (26 votes)


HSBC prides itself as "the world's local bank," and stated that the Soapbox event allowed the bank to hear directly from consumers. We prefer HSBC to be more interested in our values than our tax dollars: HSBC has not received any stimulus money from the U.S. or Britain.

WalletPop now extends the Soapbox to you! Please voice your opinion on the topics addressed at this event in the comment section below.

HSBC and WalletPop want you to speak out originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>educationenvironmentfast foodFastFoodhsbchsbc soapboxHsbcSoapboximmigrationjobsmarriageprivacyDamanick DantesMon, 20 Jul 2009 16:30:00 ESTSo eat already: NYC Summer 2009 Restaurant Week is in full gearhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/17/so-eat-already-nyc-summer-2009-restaurant-week-is-in-full-gear/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/17/so-eat-already-nyc-summer-2009-restaurant-week-is-in-full-gear/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/17/so-eat-already-nyc-summer-2009-restaurant-week-is-in-full-gear/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Here's the scoop for all of my fellow foodies out there. NYC and Co. partners with Coca-Cola, AMEX and JetBlue to launch the summer 2009 NYC Restaurant Week, complete with extended dates and greater value.

The official "Great Taste of Summer" kickoff event was on July 9 at the Shops at Columbus Circle. This event featured gourmet tastings from several participating restaurants and special guests including Eat Out NY host Kelly Choi (love her), and the cast of the hit Broadway remake of Hair.

This year marks the 18th year for NYC Restaurant Week. It will now last for three weeks instead of two, extending from July 12 - 31 (excluding Saturdays). Some restaurants may not participate on Sundays.

Continue reading So eat already: NYC Summer 2009 Restaurant Week is in full gear

So eat already: NYC Summer 2009 Restaurant Week is in full gear originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredfoodnycnyc restaurant weeknyc restaurantsNycRestaurantsNycRestaurantWeektourismDamanick DantesFri, 17 Jul 2009 18:30:00 ESTWhere's your job? Maybe Daniel Seddiqui took it!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/16/wheres-your-job-maybe-daniel-seddiqui-took-it/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/16/wheres-your-job-maybe-daniel-seddiqui-took-it/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/16/wheres-your-job-maybe-daniel-seddiqui-took-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Having trouble finding a job? Better yet, are you still unsure of the perfect career for yourself? Daniel Seddiqui found himself in both of these positions when he graduated with a degree in Economics from the University of Southern California. As he told the New York Daily News this week, he failed 40 interviews and received no feedback from any prospects on his first attempt to find a job. Basically, he was stuck, and he needed to generate some income.

This was when the 27-year-old got the idea to travel across country to visit each state for one week and work while he was there. Seddiqui's resume (and web site) is now packed with a plethora of jobs. His experiences range from being a petroleum engineer in Texas to being a syrup processor in Vermont.

Continue reading Where's your job? Maybe Daniel Seddiqui took it!

Where's your job? Maybe Daniel Seddiqui took it! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Damanick DantesThu, 16 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST