YAHOO ANSWER: start investing

Thursday, July 12, 2007

http:// answers.yahoo.com/question/
;_ylt=Ajc.cSp3s66dlx8NU73r
fQ6vxQt.?link=answer&.crumb=sXRU6OYqF03&qid=20070712
090500AANTLkC&.done=http%253A%252F%252Fanswers.yahoo.com
%252Fquestion%252Findex%253Fqid%253D20070712090500AANTLkC

http://tinyurl.com/yo22zb

start investing

QUESTION

Asked by “barteq007”

How do I start investing?

I would like to get into the whole investing thing, however, have very little experience and not too many resources. I would like to start up with about $3000, so I don’t know if it’s even worth getting into stocks, funds or similar?

First of all which broker should I go to? Will they help me with making decision on where to invest? I live in Chicago and work right in the loop so there is abundance of different companies, I’m just afraid of even walking into their office and being so inexperienced… Are they dealing with people like me, or are they interested only in people who have hundreds or thousands?

Should I get into the internet broker companies like E-Trade or Ameritrade or it’s not a good idea for a newbie?
Also how much on average are relatively good and safe stocks and how much can I potentially earn/loose on them? Also how much professional companies like Charles Shwab will charge me for trades or advices – will those fees be covered by potential stock gains? BIG THANKS!

ANSWER

Dear “barteq007”:

Well, with no experience, take your 3k$, fold it in half, and put it your pocket. See you just doubled your money. Sorry it’s an old wall street joke. But seriously, there are so many ways to lose your money, please evaluate all advice, even mine, for suitability to you.

Let me make sure I understand your question, you’ve got a stake and what to get into “investing”. You’ve inquired about brokerages in Chicago. And, internet alternatives.

First, stop and take a deep breath. Running into anything, without a thorough understanding of what your getting into, will likely end badly. So please resolve to make haste slowly.

Second, time for some “education”. Below I’ve cited Suzzie Orman and Dave Ramsey for the emotional issues about investing. Also Bob Brinker’s site has an excellent reading list. Finally, for the immediate investing, look into all that credit unions have to offer.

Third, you’ll have to decide if you really want a brokerage account to buy and sell stuff or if you will use mutual funds. I always point people to Vanguard in Philly and on the net http://www.vanguard.com as the exemplar without equal of low cost mutual funds. It’s really hard to go wrong with them.

So to sum up, 3k$ isn’t a lot. No doubt it’s a lot to you. But in Wall Street terms, it’s tiny. If you said you had 3M$, my advice would be the same except louder. 3k or 3M, “investing” can cost you a lot of money from mistakes. So, don’t do anything, until you collect a lot more info.

Hope this helps. I’m interested how it works out for you. Drop me a note sometime. My blog may have helpful “stuff”.

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

SOURCE

http://www.creditunion.coop/
http://www.suzeorman.com/
http://www.daveramsey.com/
http://www.ftc.gov/
http://www.sec.gov
http://www.bobbrinker.com/books.asp
http://tinyurl.com/lxu93
http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/

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Update: Selected best by voters

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YAHOO ANSWER: payment from a deadbeat

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

http:// answers.yahoo.com/question/
index;_ylt=AlOVOvqTuYWX2IG
1H.3X4lCTxQt.?qid=20070710084124AAgp4XQ

http://tinyurl.com/2hrg3p

payment from a deadbeat

QUESTION

Asked by “euroteacher0”

Try to get payments from a student or give up?

I teach private lessons and have a student that is 3 months late on paying me for the lessons. I know, you’re thinking why did I let her go 3 months without paying, but she’s a member of the Mormon church that I sometimes go to and thought she’d be reliable. Anyway, she stopped taking lessons, hasn’t paid, won’t respond to my emails or phone calls, and the only time I did get through to her, she was on a trip to the mormon temple and said she’d pay me when she got back (ie she can go on temple trips but she can’t afford to pay me.) I’m getting to the point where I want to write her a nasty email but perhaps it’s just better to let it go and count my losses…

ANSWER

Dear “euroteacher0”:

Well, getting money out of a deadbeat is often compared to getting blood out of a stone. Frankly, I think the stone is easier.

Let me make sure I understand the question. You have a deadbeat student of an undescribed age. This person owes you an unenumerated amount of money. You think she’s a Mormon. But, she’s not acting like any Mormon I’ve ever heard about. And, you’ve tried to collect nicely. But are up to launching a nasty email. Is that about right. (All subsequent advice rests on these assumptions.)

How much is involved? Not the specific amount, but does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? Have you ever heard of the concept of a Pyrrhic Victory? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhic_victory

Be careful you don’t fall afoul of some federal or state law in attempting to collect this debt. See the ftc site cited.

On the other hand, no one likes to be taken advantage of. So let’s do some self-examination of our own state of affairs. Now I’m no Judge Judy — not a lawyer — nor do I play one on TV, but do you have a contract? How will you prove by a preponderance of the evidence that you have a valid claim? Is this person over 18 or 21? If you have no contract, you really have no case. imho.

Assuming you have no written contract, then my suggestion is to regard this as tuition in the school of hard knocks. You should get a lawyer to draw you up a contract for ALL students going forward. You should also change your payment terms. CIA (Cash in advance) is good. Certainly, a credit hold policy, no lessons if you’re in arrears. Good customers can go bad, but I’d cut good old customers a little slack. I think you have to be harder on yourself, no more nice guy.

Assuming that you DO have a written contract, then you have to decide if it is worth the time, money, and attention to enforce it. If it’s big buck or you need it to eat, then go to Small Claim Court.

I’d caution you, if you don’t have a written contract, to be careful what you say or write. You could get hooked for slander or defamation. That could be expensive.

Even if you don’t have a written contract, and if you are sure that she’s a Mormon, and assuming that you need the money or want to teach her a life lesson, then I would very carefully consider approaching the Mormon Church Hierarchy. I’d seek out one of their Bishops and ask him to mediate the dispute. I’d call it a misunderstanding. I’d reign in all the assertions and stick to the facts. You gave this Mormon lessons believing that Mormons were scrupulously honest. Be prepared you may find that this person is not a Mormon. I’d try to use the power of their community to settle the matter to everyone satisfaction.

I’d forget about nasty emails because they can be used against you in court. All emails you be personal and sad (i.e., I’m sorry that we have this disagreement, but I need to eat.)

Hope this helps. I’m interested how it works out for you. Drop me a note sometime. My blog may have helpful “stuff”.

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

SOURCE
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.shtm

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UPDATE

Best answer by voters. Err, vote! One vote among one choice. Some choice!

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YAHOO ANSWER: buy a new car

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

http:// answers.yahoo.com/question/

;_ylt=Ajc.cSp3s66dlx8NU73r
fQ6XxQt.?link=answer&.crumb=lMnTj6klwL7&qid=20070703
141234AAYpSs8&.done=http%253A%252F%252Fanswers.yahoo.com
%252Fquestion%252Findex%253Fqid%253D20070703141234AAYpSs8%25
26pa%253DFZB6NXXtFWMW0cLWwuIZ9E1xUiOtLZZnf21oAp2COKwgi5AG0Ae
8qweCD0.gx_7GKhGOHCl_FXMfdIkDPGE-%2526paid%253Dadd_watch

http://tinyurl.com/2ez3jz

buy a new car

QUESTION

Asked by “Chris L”

What is your answer?

Question

Should i buy a new car?

I have a 2004 model that went out of Bumper to bumper waranty last week. I am ahead on it about $2000. I work for a company that is contracted by an auto manufactorer and can get a discount. My car is not luxurious it’s a point a to point b and ocasionally point c kind of car. My current debt is the car and a credit card that has about 3500.00 on it. My payments are $209.00 I would like to stay in this range (which doesn’t leave much room for moving up). I worry about out of warranty repairs. the veh came with a 5/100 powertrain, and i have 1.5 years left on my loan. would it be worth it to trade and get a new vehicle?

ANSWER

Dear “Chris L”:

Well a “point a, b, c” car sounds better than some of the wrecks I drove in my youth. I had a old caddie I loved. But it used more water than gas. (Leaky cooling system. No money to fix it.) I used to travel with 10 gallons of water in the trunk. :-) Hopefully your is better than that.

Just to recap the question, you’ve a working car that’s out of warranty, have a loan with 18 months to go, but has some trade in value. You got debt but no savings. Did I get it right?

First, depending upon where you got your car loan from, you have sunken cost in your interest expense. You may not realize it but the car dealers use the “Rule of 72” for interest. It means that you pay interest in the front of the loan. Credit Unions use a more honest method. So when you refinance, you won’t get an interest refund or interest saving.

Second, you really need to have an emergency fund. You should be putting as much as you can into that fund as quick as you can. Depending upon many factors, you need between from 3 to 12 months of “burn rate” available. That can serve as your own “warranty fund”. 2004 isn’t that old. You didn’t talk about mileage. But you should be able to get 6 years and or 80k miles before you have major risks. So, I think you’re more in need of a emergency fund than a car.

Third, cars depreciate badly. Your biggest single expense is that! So, a new, or used, car is most expensive when you first get it. If you have your e-fund and a surplus, it might make sense to avoid the risk of a car repair. When you don’t, it seems like your worrying about the wrong things.

On my blog, I’ve talked about using a six year plan for car acquisitions. Finance for three years; pay for six. First three to the credit union; Second three to your savings. That’s what got me off the car treadmill. Adjust for usage. You need to make sure it doesn’t wear out before you’ve paid for it.

Get to a credit union for savings and loans. They’re “honest” (upfront about the terms) and will give you free advice you can depend upon.

Take a peek at Dave Ramsey and Suzzie Orman for the budgeting, savings, and emotions about money. They’re much better than I could ever be.

Hope this helps. I’m interested how it works out for you. Drop me a note sometime. My blog may have helpful “stuff”.

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

SOURCE

http://www.creditunion.coop/
http://www.suzeorman.com/
http://www.daveramsey.com/
http://www.ftc.gov/
https://reinkefaceslife.com/2007/05/16/yahoo-answer-credit-unions-good-for-car-loans-not-good-great/
http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/

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UPDATE: Selected best by the asker. (The best kind!)

*** begin quote ***

Asker’s Rating: star star star star star

Though the second answer was very good, this one went above and beyond, and met my expectations. i do want to make a plan to get my debt gone as soon as possible and i think that having reliable transporation that i am am paying for but have almost paid off will be my best bet.

Thanks

*** end quote ***

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YAHOO ANSWER: Save the house?

Friday, June 29, 2007

http:// answers.yahoo.com/question/
index?qid=20070629064900AA
YApu9&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiTdUUu5YLEDi8eGRoafGUuX
AW0FILEo9DIr0vuSzxq4r5ZBFWi4H5BfoXtU4FBCOVA–&paid=answe
red

http://tinyurl.com/yqkrn9

Save the house?

QUESTION

Asked by “miss_spunderella”

Can someone PLEASE help us come up with ways to earn $15,000 so our house doesn’t get auctioned off?

We fell behind in our payments and our house is going up for forclosure in August. We are a family of six now and are happy in our home. with the struggles of school, work and availability for a babysitter, things have been more than we could manage. plus no male to help with the burden. We can work with someone on a private auto loan, or any kind of possible opportunities you can suggest. We are now employed and have a live in babysitter to help, so the loan will be re-paid promptly. PLEASE help with ideas, and possibilities so we are able to keep our home.

ANSWER

Dear “miss_spunderella”:

Well, losing one’s home is no joke. Coming to Yahoo Answers means you’ll have to take ALL advice, especially mine, with a large grain of NaCl.

As, I understand the gist, you’re behind in your mortgage payments and are at risk of foreclosure. Did you get a foreclosure notice from the lender? You need an attorney, a cpa, and a counselor to help you get thru this.

Assuming, a big assumption, that you hit a temporary bump in the road, and can NOW afford your payments. Your lawyer can help you get straight with the lender. No lender WANTS to foreclose. You may have legal rights to slow the process down and make it attractive to the lender to “cooperate”. Your accountant can help you understand what goes in, what goes out, and get you organized to avoid this in the future. A counselor can help you with the emotional roller coaster thru the processes. Your local social service agency may be able to help you with a grant or loan to keep you from getting throw out on the street and being homeless.

Assuming, again big assumption, that you just need some interim financing, say to overcome some unemployment, I’d aim you at your local bank, a credit union (the website to find a local one is below), and the PROSPER website (i.e., they mediate people to people loans; website below).

Hope this helps. I’m interested how it works out for you. Drop me a note sometime. My blog may have helpful “stuff”.

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

SOURCES

http://prosper.com/
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/09/eveningnews/main2457400.shtml
http://www.creditunionsonline.com/
http://tinyurl.com/lxu93
http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/

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UPDATE: Chosen best by voters. One vote between eight answers. Ten points!

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YAHOO ANSWER: Payoff Credit Card

Friday, June 22, 2007

http:// answers.yahoo.com/question/
index?qid=20070622090524AAKSbBR&pa=FZB6N
XXtFWMW0cLWwuIY9WVL9gwRDAZ7WAWq42EBCgNYB
EydRCPq1g24juDZv2l.4BKV8x0PBVf222SPkxU-&
paid= add_watch

http://tinyurl.com/3d9k4p

Payoff Credit Card

QUESTION

Asked by “Jessica B”

How do I pay off my credit card? I work full time and just cant get ahead..?

I need to pay off my credit card and I have tried not using them.. paying on time.. etc. etc. I dont want to take out a loan to pay them off bc Im trying to save up for a car. I work full time, and go to school. Should I get another job. It just feels like I can never get ahead.. Any help would be loved! Thanks.

ANSWER

Dear “Jessica B”:

Well the credit cards don’t want you to get “ahead”. They’d like you to keep paying the 18 to 30% interest for the next 30 years. Credit cards are the quicksand of the financial world. If you struggle, you’ve drowned. If you relax and go with the flow, you can swim out of it.

Just so I understand, you have one or more credit cards and you feel like you can never catch up. Well, I’m no Suzzie Orman or Dave Ramsey, but fell into the same trap when I was young a long time ago. So, I got out of it and you can too.

Here’s a suggestion and some thoughts.

Suggestion: Find a credit union. Then drop by and chat. They are very nice people who have a different mission from a bank. They want members; not interest charges.

If you think that you can’t escape, you can’t. The credit card company minimum payments will get you free and clear in forty years.

You need to know EXACTLY what you are spending every penny on. Get a little book at Staples for a few bucks. They have a cheap brown stitched one with a column for figures. AND, record every expense. (You can also transcribe it to a check book program like Ace Money Lite http://www.mechcad.net/products/acemoney/index_lite.shtml (It’s free!) to manage your budget.

Then for every expenditure, ask do I really really really need it? Then, try a do without it. The daily expenditures for coffee and paper add up.

Take a look at the sites in my sources for further thoughts.

You can do it. I have confidence in you. Hope this helps. I’m interested how it works out for you. Drop me a note sometime. My blog has other helpful “stuff”.

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

SOURCE

http://www.creditunion.coop/
http://www.suzeorman.com/
http://www.daveramsey.com/
http://www.ftc.gov/
https://reinkefaceslife.com/2007/05/16/yahoo-answer-credit-unions-good-for-car-loans-not-good-great/
https://reinkefaceslife.com/2007/06/19/yahoo-answer-car-loan-to-credit-card/

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Update: Chosen best by one vote among 12 answers. Missed the email?

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YAHOO ANSWER: Car loan to credit card

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

http:// answers.yahoo.com/question/
index;_ylt=Aqv0jntcHIzyBtM
93NXWwgGTxQt.?qid=20070619133036AAnmjsm

http://tinyurl.com/2mf87k

Car loan to credit card

QUESTION

Asked by “tvman”

Doing a balance? How much $ can I save if?

my balance on my car is 2884.58 at 10.16 %. My c.c. is currently 8.99 % variable (washington mytual). What should I do? How much could I save? I am planning on paying 300 mo. until its paid off or for five months, may have extra cash then.

ANSWER

Dear “tvman”:

Well, “save” would not be a word I use when talking about loans! That’s a joke. I’d reserve the word “save” for when you’re collecting the interest. If for no other reason than to keep your thinking straight. :-)

So, to confirm I understand the opportunity, it APPEARS that 0.1016 minus 0.0899 equals 117 basis point for possible savings.

I’d suspect that they tiny “savings”, what really should be called “cost avoidance”, are illusionary.

First, when car loans are give, they often use a method interest calculation called the “Rule of 72”. Without going into too much detail. You pay the interest more in the front of the loan’s term than the end. It’s like a penalty for prepayment. So, moving from the car loan, may not avoid any interest.

Second, the credit card is variable. You didn’t say what the adjustment interval was AND credit cards have a lot of “spring loaded traps” that can send the interest rate into “orbit”.

SO, I’d recommend NOT transferring. Stay with what you know.

If you want something to ACT on, I’d suggest that you find a credit union to do business with. They can help you shift from “borrowing” to “saving”. Credit Unions don’t use the 72 or any other such trickery; most use daily calculations which are most favorable to the borrower. They do low cost banking with education.

Hope this helps. I’m interested how it works out for you. Drop me a note sometime. My blog may have helpful “stuff”.

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

SOURCE

http://tinyurl.com/3bjcq3
http://www.creditunionsonline.com/
http://www.aicpa.org/
http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/

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UPDATE Just notified that this was “Best by Voters. One vote; one answers. Not overwhelming, but I won’t decline the 10 meaningless points.

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YAHOO ANSWER: currency at the bank

Monday, June 18, 2007

http:// answers.yahoo.com/question/
index;_ylt=AsV6stix_l5FNxAuZyUy1giwxQt.?qid=20070618055340AAPf2HW

http://tinyurl.com/ypht73

currency at the bank

QUESTION

Asked by “walmart3rdshiftnight”

Who work at a suntrust banks!?

How can I get a 100s bills at the bank do I need to give them anything or how get 7 of 20s bills?

I never go to bank so dont no how its work if any female work in a bank and know what people ask for I need know what I need to take with me!!! no one not give me a 100s bills like ATM wont and try my work place and no one can’t unless I have paid walmart to get a 100s bill from them I have to give them 20s to get a 100s is that true??

ANSWER

Dear “walmart3rdshiftnight”:

Well, assuming that this is not a phising attempt to meet “gurls”, or the cute teller a the local Suntrust bank, I can tell you that you need to try a different approach. All you caught is a fat old turkey who thinks every question is worth an answer. And, I get two meaningless points to answer with a possibility of ten for best.

Who works at Suntrust Bank can be answered by shooting over to LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) and running a query. It’s free.

You may have to brake down and go into a bank branch. They are full of nice people who sole job is to make you happy while separating you from your money. Think of it as a strip club without the nakedness or the booze. Seriously, if you have a need to change denominations (5*20=100) (10*10=5*20), most banks will oblige you.

If you are truly a “third shift night worker at wallmart”, then you are getting paid and probably have a paycheck to handle. Take it to your branch bank and, I’ll bet, they can arrange a direct deposit to an account for you. If you’re not into checking accounts, then get a savings account to be your pot of gold.

ATMs don’t usually stock anything but 20’s and 5’s. The Atlantic City casinos have some snazzy ones that will show you on the screen what you put in and give you choices of what you can take out. (No two dollar bills as an output choice!) But the risk there is you may not get out of the casino with your cash.

Rumor hath it that WalMart wants to go into the banking business. So wait awhile and your question may be answered by them.

I’d suggest finding a credit union or a friendly bank and chatting with them. They won’t bite.

Hope this helps. I’m interested how it works out for you. Drop me a note sometime. My blog may have other helpful “stuff”.

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

Webform that creates an urgent email => http://2idi.com/contact/=reinkefj
Web page => http://www.reinke.cc/
My blog => http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/
LinkedIn url => http://www.linkedin.com/in/reinkefj

SOURCE

http://tinyurl.com/lxu93
http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/

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UPDATE: Chosen best by voters. One vote for one answer.

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YAHOO ANSWER: dates wrong on application

Monday, June 18, 2007

http:// answers.yahoo.com/question/
index;_ylt=AmB_QtVKmNM40ftAe.bGjl7sy6IX?qid=20070617063257AAt702y&show=7

http://tinyurl.com/32j54h

dates wrong on application

QUESTION

Asked by “hcj25”

What do you think ?

i messed up on my application and thought i started a job a couple years prior to what i put.So when she called my reference they said i started in 01 but i still had an excellent reference.I was offered this job pending references as an intake coordinator what do you think will this ruin me?
Additional Details

by the way the lady called me back after the reference and question my dates at that job i told her my dates may have been off but i was basically there about 6 years

ANSWER

Dear “hcj25”:

Well, it could be a big deal or a small deal.

You said “intake coordinator”. Depends upon what you are taking in and for whom. Tomatoes for Gristedes, who cares. Little children for the gooferment, everyone might care.

My first take was “honest mistake” or “deliberate lie”? On a government application or some standard application form that’s been xeroxed a grazillion times?

If it’s a gooferment form, does it say anything down at the bottom where you signed about perjury? Did it have to be notarized? Was it “official” like a permit to “intake children”? Then, I’d suggest that you need a lawyer; not Yahoo Answers. If not, then you might be able to apologize your way out.

Assuming that it is NOT, repeat NOT, about perjury, gooferent forms, or something that can get you in a lot of hot water (and that’s a big deal!), I have some thoughts.

I’d forget about it unless it comes up again. (And resolve in the future to fill out all forms as if they were important. Very important.) If it comes up again, apologize profusely, offer to correct the form, and ask what you can do to compensate for making a mistake.

You might want to have some thoughts, about why you made the mistake, in case things get intense. Treat it as a typo. Think about how rushed you were filling it out. Maybe someone said “don’t worry about the exact dates”. Maybe you were interrupted by the interviewer being ready. Get the incident firmly in your mind now in case it becomes urgent.

Then forget about it.

Hope this helps. I’m interested how it works out for you. Drop me a note sometime. I have jobsearch hints on my blog if you need them.

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

SOURCE

http://tinyurl.com/lxu93
http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/

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Note: You can go to the Yahoo Answer site and give my, or other answers, a thumbs up or down. When the question closes you can go vote for mine, or other answers, as “best”. Whatever. (Hint, hint, HINT!)

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YAHOO ANSWER: Any Good Shepherd grads

Sunday, June 17, 2007

http:// answers.yahoo.com/question/
index;_ylt=AtDrAxlzGK0tgsz2rNPTYHPty6IX?qid=20070103115238AAZOvLH&show=7

http://tinyurl.com/2o3cav

QUESTION

Asked by “chaquita”

Any Good Shepherd grads?

Did anyone attend Good Shepherd in the Inwood section of Manhattan? I graduated in 87 (attended 79-87). I went to the reunion they had in 2000 at Manhattan College. Great time, although majority of people there were my parents age!

ANSWER

You buzzed? I graduated from GS in 1960, Manhattan Prep 64, and Manhattan College 68. I knew several GS grads thru the MP Yahoo groups and MC alums. Were you looking for someone in particular?

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

SOURCES

(none)

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UPDATE “Best Answer – Chosen By Voters” Only one answer; only one vote. This was my first “best answer”.

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YAHOO ANSWER: Explain Futures Trading

Friday, June 15, 2007

http://tinyurl.com/387dc7

QUESTION

Asked by “Bedford”

Can somebody explain Futures Trading to me in the most simple terms?

I am a novice in the Stock Market arena but need to understand how futures work.

ANSWER

Dear “Bedford”:

Well I hope this is a school assignment because “futures” is no place for novices. Futures Trading is nothing more than a prediction of what value something will have in the future. For fun, watch the Eddie Murphy – Dan Akkroyd movie “trading places”. You basically predict as in the movie the future value of Orange Juice and you place one or more bets on it. If you’re right, you make gobs of money. If you’re wrong, you end up like the Duke Brothers … broke. Novice investors are like babies on the interstate. It’ll be disaster and quickly.

You have certain gooferment enforced protections, but don’t depend upon them to keep your money safe. In order to open a futures trading account, you will have to jump thru some hurdles. Your broker can be held liable if you can NOT pay for your losses (You can go to jail! They have to make good.) or if you are deemed “unsuitable” to play in that market (You get an nasty letter; they pay big big bux).

Assuming that you can deposit enough credits with the brokerage, you’ll be admitted to the “big casino”. I say casino advisedly because other than certain specific occasions, you’ll get a better deal at the casino of your choice. The casino will at least buy you dinner when you play.

Futures Trading is appropriate for the average schmo, (that includes me), for example, when you are given options by your employer and you wish to lock in your gains. As your employer in BIGBIZ who shares sell at a penny, I grant you an option to buy 10,000 shares at a dollar each in December. BIGBIZ is “discovered” by Wall Street and the stock zooms over night from a penny to $300. Shazam, you could be rich if it stays there until December. You being a smart fellow say “Hey good enough for me. May I have my profit now?” No, you have to wait until December. So you sell a CALL OPTION giving some one the right to buy your 10,000 shares for $3,000,000. Note, it’s unlikely that you’ll get the full $300 because the buyer is taking a risk. So let’s guess that you can get $1.5M. So the question is “deal or no deal”. The only diff is it is your real money you are playing with. AND, you have taxes to consider. Only a lawyer and an accountant can sacrifice the right number of chickens to read the entrails and divine the tax status of your transaction. AND, guess what the rules will be going forward. My opinion would be that you’d have to pay ordinary income on the whole shebang but what the heck. You’d come out on the other side with $750k. Lest you think that this is fiction. I have friend who had 40$ options on a stock priced at $120 who decide to take the ride and the options were worthless when he could cash out. To a much lesser extent, I’ve paid tuition at that school. Bye bye big bux!

Futures are also useful when you have stock accumulated say in AT&T over decades. And you’re sitting at 80$/share with lots of shares, and your good son, (me), comes to you and says “sell”. You say “never, it’s for widows and orphans”. Argh! I say, “You think it’s going up. Sell a put; requiring someone to buy it at 60 in the future and buy a a set of calls at 80,85,90, whatever.” You say “nah”. So I watch as you ride $80 times gobs of shares to $12 times gobs of shares. Argh!! bye bye big bux.

Futures are great if you a have specific purpose in mind. Here’s a Futures Trading course on the web for free. And, the gooferment site. Stay out of traffic.

Let me know how you make out,
fjohn

SOURCES

http://futures.tradingcharts.com/tafm/
http://www.cftc.gov/

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UPDATE Just notified that this was “Best by Voters. One vote; six answers. Not overwhelming, but I won’t decline the 10 meaningless points.

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YAHOO ANSWER: say in my interview

Thursday, June 14, 2007

QUESTION

Asked by “Genaro G”

What can i say in my inerview as a medicl assistant?

what is a good thing to say in an interview as an MA to get hire

ANSWER

I think it’s always important to express your unique value equation. That is what are you going to do for your new employer to be valuable for them. So things like how much energy, enthusiasm, and effort your going to put in for them. Notice, they won’t care what you want. They care about what they want. Even when I haven’t been the best qualified candidate, I always tried to be the best choice. imho.

SOURCES

(none)

UPDATE

Best Answer – Chosen By Voters

N.B.: Before you go wild with excitement, not only was I one of two to answer the question, (and the other answer was about spelling), but I got the only vote for “best answer”. I’m again ashamed to put that ten points in my total. But not too ashamed!

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YAHOO ANSWER: for someone who has been out of the workforce

Thursday, June 14, 2007

QUESTION

Asked by snfbwf

Resume and cover letter for someone who has been out of the workforce.?

ANSWER

Surf over to my “turkey farm” and review some of the key points. Regardless of why you have been out of the workforce, you have a “unique value proposition” to express. You can unlock same value for some one. If you can’t, what are you selling? You have to find out what that value is. Then, you craft a “unique sales proposition” (i.e., how do I get someone to hire me). Then, you build a resume and cover letter to that purpose.

I counsel “turkeys” (i.e., people who have gotten the axe from their employer). I’ve been axed several times. After the first time, it should NOT hurt. And, it certainly shouldn’t be a surprise. Happens to everyone. If it doesn’t then you’re playing your cards to tight to the vest.

Your letter and resume have to tell a story. They have to initiate a conversation. You want them to make the reader pick up the phone and say “how did you do that? can you do it for me?”.

It’s hard work. The hardest you’ll ever do. But, you’ll be motivated because you’re working for yourself.

I’ll close with one story. An “old” turkey (i.e., one who has been out of work for a “long” time) was sent to me for “help”. So, I looked at his resume with a three year hole in it. I naturally inquired, in my blunt cavalier injineer way, “been in jail?”. Mind you this was the resume he was sending out and didn’t understand why no response. He said “no, i was caring for my dying wife”. My jaw dropped to the floor.

He wasn’t telling his story. We fashioned a “job entry” that said something like “Care Giver, Medical Treatment Assistant, and Medical Billing Expert” with three bullet points. Recruiters hate holes in time lines; they suspect you’ve been in jail or worse off having the fun that they are not having. Any way, this turkey had a senior level IT job in an HR department working on their benefits billing systems in less than five weeks.

All I did was get him to tell his story. All you have to do is to tell yours. AND, express what you are going to do for the reader.

Good luck,
fjohn
just a big old fat turkey hisself

Sources

http://home.comcast.net/~v2y2r0n27rhj6y/TURKEY/index.htm

Update

Best Answer – Chosen By Voters

N.B.: Before you go wild with excitement, not only was I one of two to answer the question, but I got the only vote for “best answer”. I’m again ashamed to put that ten points in my total. But not too ashamed!

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YAHOO ANSWER: what would u do if this were u n why

Thursday, June 14, 2007

QUESTION

Asked by pisces_dreamer06

What would u do if this were u n why?

basically right now im just turned 19. i work as a dispatcher making about $1,400 a month and will be attending college next semester FULL TIME. BUT this job just came up as a dispatcher for 9-1-1 making $64,000/yr thats about 4,500/mo. should i do that and go to school part time? oh im going to school for nursing but will be doing just my pre-req/general ed next semester.

what should i do and what do you think the pro and cons on it would be? thank you serious answers plz

i quilify for this job 100% and at my current job its a slow independent company where i have all the time in the world to study where being a 9-1-1 dispatcher is probally busy with little down time.

ANSWER

You didn’t say what you were planning to study, what you career aspirations are, and how important grades would be in your employment prospects. Believe it or not these should all bear on you decision.

I worked full time and went to school full time. Your grades might suffer. Mine actually improved because I spent less time goofing off and applied myself more.

If you’re planning to study French Romantic Poetry, Philosophy, or such, then I’m not sure what you will be earning when you graduate. If you’re going for law, medicine, or engineering, then I think you need to focus on the study; not the job. If you’re broke, don’t go into a lot of debt and do the full time job and Gary North’s cheap college suggestions,

I think you need to clarify your expectations and then the answer will be apparent.

Sources

http://www.lowestcostcolleges.com/

UPDATE

Best Answer – Chosen By Voters

More points!

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YAHOO ANSWER: Manhattan College or CUNY City College

Thursday, June 14, 2007

QUESTION

Asked by motahar_basam

Manhattan College or CUNY City College?

I want to major in Mechanical Engineering. I don’t know if I should go to Manhattan College or CUNY City College?

someone help, please.

ANSWER

I’m a Jasper EE Class of 68. I can honestly say I have never heard anyone complain that they didn’t get a good education at Manhattan. I don’t know about CUNYCC. I think that the primary determinate of what you will take away from your place of education is you, your attitude, and your willingness to do the “heavy lifting”. I do know that if you graduate from Jasper-land, you will find that there are about 6k of fellow alums who you can network with. If you are specifically interested in chatting up an ME I can probably find a dozen to talk to. Go up to any Manhattan Men’s Basketball game at Draddy Gym and look for a red headed loony cheering on the team, ask for Pete Sweeney (my cousin), and ask him to aim you at some MEs. He’s a CE but as past president of the alumni society, he probably be able to id one right there. I’d say that if you go to MC, you won’t be disappointed.

Sources

http://www.lowestcostcolleges.com/

Update

Best Answer – Chosen By Voters

N.B.: Before you go wild with excitement, not only was I the only one to answer the question, but I got the only vote for “best answer”. I’m ashamed to put that ten points in my total. But not too ashamed, in it goes. Hey a “best” is a “best”. This is the question that got me started “doing” Yahoo Answers. What an ego!

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YAHOO ANSWER: Per dollar how much Yen

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Asked by “sooshians_1981”

QUESTION

Per dollar how much Yen?

Best Answer – Chosen By Voters

Dear Soosh_,

Use Google for all conversion questions.

Put in “Convert 1 USD to Yen” in the Google search box and it pops back

1 U.S. dollar = 121.285628 Japanese yen

***

It’s fish and fishing. Give some one a fish; Teach someone to fish! Now you can convert anything?

Hope this helps.

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UPDATE Voted “best”

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YAHOO ANSWER: Why does it seem every new law seems to be taking away our rights

Thursday, June 14, 2007

QUESTION

AmyB askes:

Why does it seem every new law seems to be taking away our rights and freedoms? Is this just in Maryland?

I just heard on the news the police have a new device that can see in the dark if a seatbelt is being worn and another new device that will ticket if following too close to another vehicle.(It measures the distance.) The police should be stopping violent crimes etc. Not sitting on the side of the road to ticket for a seatbelt. What next. We are already are on camera. The gov’t will know all one day.

ANSWER

Dear Ms. “Amy B”:

No, it’s not just Maryland! It’s the entire world, minus New Hampshire and certain revolutionary areas like Estonia, Poland, Hong Kong, and such.

“The slow loss of freedom was always justified in the name of keeping the people safe.”

When you look at the great genocides in history, you’ll always find that the was a government involved. Government, if it was a virus, would be classified as a “pandemic”. Humans are frail little creatures that survive by being able to think. We huddle together, organize, and prosper via a division of labor. One of the divisions of that labor seems to have been “leader”. Unfortunately, the minute some one becomes the “leader” they begin to feather their own nest.

A paradigm is consultant speak for a way of thinking. How you see things. We’ve all seen the optical illusions that require us to change our thinking to see the other side of the illusion. A meme, like gene is our DNA, is internet jargon for an idea that spreads like a virus. Government is a paradigm or meme that imposes on us by force. Because it has the trappings of legitimacy, humans defer to it either because of its power or because of their thinking.

Government grows itself.

Inexorably, like the blob in the science fiction movie, it “absorbs” things into itself. It uses a variety of excuses. “We’ll keep you safe” delivers us Homeland Security which is the prototype of the German SS where are your papers. “We can do it right!” leads to government garbage collectors. “We can do it fairly for everyone” leads to government education that dumbs down the future voters to stupid followers. It splits and creates more ways to “serve” you. You have 535 legislators, minus Ron Paul, in DC that are as busy as termites legislating away your freedom.

“The final tyranny was the end result of a slow loss of freedom.”

I had the unique opportunity to grow up around a family some of whom survived what they called the Shoah and we called the Holocaust. They described that every small step they could see the loss of freedom. Until, the last step was their being loaded onto the trains. The Father dispatched his children early to relatives. His wife took a “vacation” and never looked back. He walked to Switzerland where his childhood friend took him in and sent him to America as Swiss business lawyer. Otherwise, the USA would have sent him back to Germany. From him, I learned that any loss of freedom anywhere must be opposed vigorously. You can’t wait until they are loading you on a train. Every slight move in the wrong direction must be treated as if it was “being loaded on the train”.

How do we stop the trend?

One can move from Maryland, which like NY, CA, FL, and DC, is firmly locked into the Socialist Statist Big Gooferment paradigm. Liberty minded people are migrating lock, stock, and barrel to New Hampshire under the banner of the Free State Project. There’s no agenda other that “liberty and freedom”. Upon “landing”, the activists are organizing themselves “organically” without “leadership” in the things they see need doing. It’s a fascinating concept. If you don’t have “anchors” in Maryland, I’d urge you to consider it.

If you like me and tied down by family, a job, and “responsibility”, then you can “fight in place”. Like McAulife’s order at the Battle of the Bulge or Stalin’s order at Stalingrad, stop where you are and resist to the last. I like DONWSIZEDC. They are seeking to build a grass roots internet based activist base for small government. If we have to have one (and I’m not so sure we do), then a tiny one would be less oppressive than a big one.

I think you can support Ron Paul, the only true anti-war candidate. And, be vocal. Get a blog. Talk to your family, fiends, and neighbors.

The most effective weapon is laughter. The bozos in power, like the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz, can’t afford to be laughed at. It makes people not take government seriously. I use as an example, the tax on cell phones and telephone service. So wag started calling it the Spanish American War Tax. That meme caught on and I heard it called that on the Main Stream Media (i.e., I heard it on NBC). Several people told me. (Like I didn’t know that!) Everyone was chuckling over it and starting to get steamed about it. The Congress Critters and the FCC was falling all over each other to get rid of it. When was the last time you heard a tax being repealed? It was the laughter that threatened to undermine their cloak of legitimacy.

So make a joke out of it. Get your FF&N laughing at them!

How about “I hear the State Police has a nighttime seat belt checker, wonder if it can be moded to check all the politicans’ zippers? They seem to need it more than we need our belts checked.”

Make up your own. And, pass them along to me. Here in NuJerzee we have the imperial guvanator that says “seat belts are for serfs”! ;-) Speed limits too.

Let me know how you make out starting your own one-person American Revolution.
fjohn

Sources

http://www.freetalklive.com/
http://www.downsizedc.org/index.shtml
http://www.bigbendgazette.com/blog/Archive/Author/Briggs/_archives/2006/12/18/2582338.html
http://www.issues-views.com/index.php/sect/25000/article/25082
http://www.liberator.net/articles/firstamend.html
http://freestateproject.org/

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Update 2007June17 Just notified awarded a “best by asker”. Basking in success. Resting on laurels. … nuff resting. Time to make another answer. Waz fun while it lasted.

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YAHOO ANSWER: 401k questions

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

QUESTION

melissa126978: 401k questions?

I am currently 22 years old. I put about $100 into my 401k every other week. I plan on contributing more in the future but for now I am just doing $100. My employer matches 50%. I have 2 questions.

1.) If I were to continue for the next 40 years at $100 every 2 weeks how much would I have in my account after 40 years.

2.) When is the earliest I can withdrawl funds from my 401k without being penalized.

ANSWER

Dear Ms. “melissa126978”:

(1) It depends. “How much” depend on measured how?

(100$ yours + 50$ employer) * 26 weeks * 40 years = 156k$

BUT, you really have to figure rate of return on investments and inflation. Which requires some guess work.

Rate of Return is because you are just not going to put them over in the corner or under your mattress. You’ll invest in stocks or bonds. You’re working hard; your savings should too.

Inflation is the evil government printing money dollars making yours worth less.

So lets make some assumptions.

You’ll use the old wall street rule of thumb that says 100 minus your age so you’ll put 78% in equity and 22% in fixed income. You’ll pick low cost mutual funds from Vanguard if offered.

When you start to amass your fortune say at 100k, you’ll begin using the other Wall Street rule of thumb “no more than 5% in any one thing” but that’s for another day.

So let’s say your 22% fixed income makes 5% and your 78% equity makes 8%. (0.22*0.05)= 0.0110 AND (0.78*0.08)=0.0624 OR your blended rate of return is 0.0734. Let’s assume the evil Federal Reserve has a 0.04 inflation rate. That reduces your real rate of return. SO your real rate of return in today’s dollars is 0.0224.

That gives you ~317k$ in 40 years.

So, my guess is you’d have about ~317k$ in today’s dollars or if you ignore inflation ~850k$ in future dollars.

Dial in a better or worse rate of return. You’re guess is as good as mine. (Mine is based on conservative Wall Street assumptions.) (If you listen to anyone’s sales pitch about investments, ask what the assumed rate of return is. I’ve had bozos tell me to assume 15%! I might as well assume I’m going to retire and win the lotto. Used car salesmen that can’t sell cars seem to sell investments.)

See the dollar isn’t a constant, your rates of returns will vary, and who knows what inflation or your tax rate will be in 40 years.

One things for sure, today’s common wisdom is that you’re better off saving than depending upon some employer, social security, or the tooth fairy to help you in retirement.

Pay close attention to YOUR 401k, what it is invested in, and the fees associated. The immediate 50% return of your employer’s matching contribution is nothing to be sneered at. BUT, if the investment choices are terrible, the fees high, or the provisions onerous, it may be a bad bargain.

On the face, grab it. BUT like the employees at Enron learned not all that glitters is gold.

(2) 59½ except for certain exception that you may or may not what to use.

Remember to take anyone’s investment advice, even mine, with a large grain of salt.

I’ll leave you with two more wall street rules of thumb.

“Anyone promises to double your money, do it yourself. Fold it in half and put it in your pocket. Firmly.”

“If you don’t understand EXACTLY how the earnings will be made, don’t invest.”

Good luck, and while I won’t be around in forty years, I’ll be rooting for you, from upstairs or down, give me a progress report on how my guesses are doing,
fjohn

Sources

http://www.uic.edu/classes/actg/actg500/pfvatutor.htm
http://www.studyfinance.com/lessons/timevalue/index.mv?page=19

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UPDATE Chosen as “best” by the Asker. Now that is worth being proud of!

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YAHOO ANSWER: pay a couple of bills with my new credit card

Monday, June 11, 2007

Question

Interest rates and definitions as a payee, can you give me some basic info ?

PLEASE DO NOT ANSWER THIS UNLESS YOU WORK WITH IT AND KNOW IT WELL, I DON’T WANT SITES TO GO TO, NOR UNEDUCATED GUESSES, jokes are always ok as I love humor but i am looking for some basic info. I am 56, a numbers person & used to B more on top of this, but life has changed so much since I’ve been sick 4 10 years & rather out of it. I want 2 pay a couple of bills w- my new credit card, like some of the house taxes I owe,& first i want 2 determine which 1 actually charges me the true highest interest when compared in like terms (apples to apples ) I used 2 use APr questions, but now I see EAR or such ?? & on ebay I am being charged 1.5% 4 any unpaid monthly fee charges, but what does this 1.5% mean ?? I need a standardized term & also I used 2 know about car loans & how horrribly that interest is calculated & fixed home loans but now that I’m going2 refi my house in the next couple of years, I want to locate the best way and be able to compare interest apples to apples

Answer

Dear Mr. or Ms. “Wendy B”:

To quote Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson “we’ll cross that bridge when we fall off it”. (That’s my attempt at humor.)

I think you are perfectly right to be confused. Credit Card companies, like their compatriots in the car finance industry, are pulling the wool over us all the time.

I’d suggest that you might want to spend a few bucks to get a good answer. Hire a CPA. Mine for example does work for me, (actually I think his “girls” do the work and he just signs off), at a very reasonable rate. I bet that if you had say the three competing credit offers in hand, it would take a CPA less than 15 minutes to “find where the bodies are buried” to use a Soprano metaphor and another 15 minutes explain to you what they meant. My cpa charges less than 150$/hour. $75 might save you lots more. It even might be cheaper for you. I was surprised at how cheap it was. Some of my bone headed decisions not to use a pro cost me a lot more than I would have spent on the advice to avoid “falling off the bridge”.

I understand that you want to work on more serious problems like your health and your life. But, your money is important to. That’s why getting good advice, not Yahoo Answers, is critical.

Assuming that you have some need for financing to smooth out the rough spots, I like to send people to credit unions. I have never heard of them screwing anyone. Even with their credit cards. So, I’d give you the same advice.

BTW you have legal rights under Federal Law, so if you are getting confusing notices, you might want to consult a lawyer as well as an accountant.

Hope this helps,
Let me know how you make out.
Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

Source(s)

http://www.creditunionsonline.com/
http://www.aicpa.org/

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Update 2007Jun17

Just notified that it was “best by voters”. One vote (not mine) for only one answer. (Somebody getting 2 points for the obvious?)

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YAHOO ANSWER: What job should I study to do for the future?

Sunday, June 10, 2007

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070610031511AA1YprT

http://tinyurl.com/25uycx

Question

What job should I study to do for the future?

I am in high school and need to now choose an area to study for the future.

I don’t know what I want!!

My interests:

cooking, nutrition, house decorating (interior decorating), music, sing, fashion, show biz, working with famous or being a famous person, being on the net, posting things i like on the net (like recipes and advice). etc.

PLEASE HELP.

Answer

Dear Ms. “Celebrity Soup”:

Ahhh to be young again and have such problems. Any way, some thoughts come leaping to mind:

(1) Doesn’t high school have guidance counselors to help?They have tests to tell you what you’re good at. I’m supposed to be a forest ranger, Texas ranger, or Ranger Rick … something like that. It’s a start. But remember it’s your life not theirs. Remember the Knight in the “Holy Grail” movie … “choose wisely”!

(2) Your local community college in the USA is always a great resource to chat with (i.e., nice people, good ideas, and not trying to sell you anything).

(3) Get a good general education. Unless you want to be a doctor, lawyer, or indian chief there’s no need to specialize too soon. Keep you options and eyes open.

(4) Avoid smoking, drinking, drugs, and debt. ALL of them are killers in one form or another. In high school and college my best friend was a promising injineer like me. He got involved in drugs and ran his motor cycle into a ditch while high. Killed himself. End of a promising injineer. Makes me sad to think of it. Don’t let it happen to you.

(5) Look about for opportunities to volunteer or intern. Remember you are not doing it for experience, fun, money, or kudos. You’re doing it to learn what you want to be when you grow up.

(6) Make decision based on “your boat’s waterline”. If a decision is “above the waterline”, make it quick. “Below” make it right!

(7) Don’t talk to strangers on the internet. And be careful who you take advice from. Free Advice Is Worth What You Pay For it. Remember the Storm Phillips TV shows? Even a knowledgeable internet citizen like myself is finding denizens on the net.

Let me know how you make out.

:-)
(if you ignore #7, then converse with some one who’s safe. Honest. I am. Trust me.) <<at this point, put both hands on your wallet, or purse, and run the other way>>

Good luck,
Ferdinand J. Reinke

Source

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm
https://reinkefaceslife.com/2007/05/17/pr
https://reinkefaceslife.com/2007/06/02/li

UPDATE

Just received word that this was selected “best by  voters. One vote among three answers.

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YAHOO ANSWER: Looking to relocate

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Question

*** begin quote ***

Looking to relocate to a city with a high growth rate and great entry-level jobs. Any suggestions?

Willing to relocate anywhere in North America or the Caribbean.

*** end quote ***

Answer

Dear Ms. “el”:

Why?

You reminded me of the “Tale of Two Cities”. No, not Dickens. The Fable. A traveler nearing a great city, asked an elderly man seated by the wayside, “What are the people like in the city?” “How were the people where you came from?”

I’d observe the a “high growth rate and great entry level jobs” is not the criteria to use.

Where are your friends, family, and personal contacts? There is where you will find the love and support to be “successful”. However you define it. If you go far away, you’ll be trekking back for the obligatory family functions. And, a strange place can be a lonely place.

If you’re looking for freedom and a culture of liberty, I’d call your attention to New Hampshire. Liberty lovers are moving there even as we speak. They have special outreach weekly meetings to help newcomers land.

So, if you don’t have those things where you are, then you might find them there.

Choose wisely. You could wind up like me “stuck” in Nu Jerzee.

Hope this helps, let me know now you make out.
Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

Source

http://www.jameslhaynes.org/
http://tinyurl.com/lxu93
http://freestateproject.org

Update

Just received word that this was selected “best by voters”.

Two votes among five answers.

Ten more meaningless points brings me to 590.

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YAHOO ANSWER: How do you settle into a good job

Thursday, May 31, 2007

*** begin quote ***

How do you settle into a good job with prospects instead of falling into the “McDonald’s” category ?

Im 19, went to college to study IT, did my year course in it and now i’m stuck. I’m in and out of just stupid places with no real place to end up. Iam still not sure what i want to do as a career but i thought doing a course in IT would benefit me as nearly all jobs have computers involved. I dont want to be 30 and scanning tills, any advice ?. Where you in a ever similar position to this ?

*** end quote ***

I’ve been working in IT for decades and I’m still learning. How you learned it in one course is astonishing? And, you’re young; so there’s lot left for you to do.

One never “settles into a good job”. You’ll have, if the averages are right, between 5 and 10 “jobs” during your 45 year working career. You’ll have good jobs, bad jobs, and jobs somewhere in between. Get ready for a roller coaster ride.

May I suggest my “patented copyrighted and often repeated” strategy? (Just jesting)

You need an education for a white collar job, a blue collar skill, and one or more “internet businesses”? Off to school to get a degree. And, get that white collar job.

Don’t spend a lot of money getting skills or education. Often employers had tuition refund and employer provided. As a matter of fact, be ruthless about not getting into debt. Work relentlessly for several reasons — to learn “stuff” — earn money — get experience. Get a blue collar skill — plumber, carpenter, electrician — to fall back on.

And, since you’re now a computer expert, or at least computer literate, look into creating an internet-based business. Don’t spend money on scams. But try to sell “stuff” on ebay. Help others get their businesses on the net. Do things like that.

I think you’re in a great place. You’re young with endless opportunities. Start seizing them.

I’m around for further questions, or dialogue. Let me know how you make out,

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References:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north303.html
http://www.lowestcostcolleges.com/
http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north524.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north533.html

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UPDATE 31 May 2007 @ 13:30 edst This answer was selected as “best”. Happy dance time.

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YAHOO ANSWER: Free Advertising For My Purse Party Buiness

Thursday, May 24, 2007

*** begin quote ***

Free Advertising For My Purse Party Buiness???

I’m looking for free or very cheap ways to advertise my purse party business. I’m looking for local and nationwide ideas! Any suggestions would be great!

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Well for under a fifty bucks, some sweat, and a few months calendar time, imho, you can get “known”. I’d suggest a blog as the underlying engine for your biz advertising.

(1) Check for an available domain name you like (www dot party purse business dot com), but don’t buy it yet.

(2) Get a free wordpress blog at www.wordpress.com. Sign up as PartyPurseBisuiness blog. Or whatever domain name you decide on.

(3) Buy the domain name feature from wordpress for $15 — it includes the registration of the domain name. (How’s that for cheap)

(4) You now have a web site and a domain name. Use the blog part to put fresh content on your blog. Put something meaningful there daily.

(5) Use the static pages part to put picture or stories or prices or events out on your “site”.

(6) Sign up for the free Gmail for Domains and get email via your domain. You can be party.purse at pursepartybusiness dot com.

(7) Sign up (free) at the various blog directories.

(8) Submit to the search engines

(9) Use the search engines to “find” yourself which improves your site in the search engines eyes. :-) [That’s circular reasoning! By telling the search engine to look for me and finding it, it makes me more find-able by regular people.]

So you’ll have a professional website with up to date content for cheap.

Yell if you want help with it. And, let us know how you make out.

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UPDATE 30 May 2007 @ 14:35 edst This answer was selected as “best”. Happy dance time.


YAHOO ANSWER: starting college, advice

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

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I am starting college this fall, advice needed please?

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(1) Plan to be “balanced”. Eat, exercise, and sleep in normal proportion. Mange your time well. Do the big things first and fill in with the less important.

(2) Keep a written record of every person you meet in your travels. Try to “connect” with as many as possible. They can become your “network of contacts” in the future.

(3) Be ruthless in your financial discipline. You can bury yourself in debt. Think Return on Investment. Seek to earn some money with your education as it progresses. It’ll help later on getting a “real job”.

(4) Pick your major, minor, and electives with your future employment in mind. Your while collar job will provide the big component of your earnings in the future. Choose wisely.

(5) Try to pick up a blue collar skill that will allow you to earn money if you’re laid off of your white collar job and have some time to spare. Never saw a “poor” plumber. Pick something you like and make it fun while putting some coins in the bank.

(6) Be alert to any internet based business that you can “do” in parallel to the all the above activities. Look for synergy between the activities such that you can recycle, reuse, or repurpose. Write a paper for your college course, offer it to a blog – publication – other outlet.

(7) Have fun, (but not too much); it’s the “best time” of your life. Live it to the fullest.

I’m green with envy and wish I could do it again with what I know now. :-) But life doesn’t work like that. I can state authoritatively that the “woulda, coulda, and shouldas” will KILL you later in life. Don’t miss anything.you would, should, or could try. Consistent with good judgment.

Let us know how you make out.

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Update: Voted “best”. Yeah! More menaingless points!!!


YAHOO ANSWER: How am I ever gonna retire early?

Saturday, May 19, 2007

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How am I ever gonna retire early? I really want to but I’ll be like 35 when I finish paying for college?

PLUS, life expenses and stuff, I really am willing to SAVE UP ALOT. I’m not sure my job will have a 401K so what should I do to be able to put A LOT of money aside and retire by the time i’m 50? IRA’s kind of suck they only allow 4,000 YEARLY. And I don’t wanna gamble my money away by investing in stocks which I know absolutely nothing about. Does this have no solution whatsoever?

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Well, of course it has a solution. The answer is “it depends”. It depends upon how much you want what when.

College debt, life, and then retirement.

How early do you want to retire and what do want to give up for it?

I suggest that you need a blended solution. You have three priorities to balance — college debt, life expenses, and retirement savings. One thing you’ll have to avoid like the plague is credit card debt.

My standard answer for success in the future is that you need a ruthless dedication to financial discipline (i.e., earn money, save, invest, and keep everything working for you; no lazy money), a good white collar job, a blue collar skill like plumbing, and one or more internet businesses.

Roth IRAs are fantastic. You can accumulate gains tax free.

I think you need to do debt repayment, retirement savings, then allocate whatever’s left. You can get extra work and bank the difference. It’s about tuning and discipline.

I’d suggest you use Vanguard low expense mutual funds or etfs to do you saving in. Don’t try to be too fancy. Focus on getting it into the accounts and left he market work over time.

I won’t be around to see how you make out, but stay flexible and discipline. Where ever I am (upstairs or down), I’ll be rooting for you.

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Update 2007-05=24 at 2200: Notified this was the best answer as chosen by the asker. Happy dance time!

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Me, doing my happy dance. See the moves?


JOBSEARCH: Interviewing, no college degree

Friday, April 27, 2007

Interviewing, no college degree

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May I suggest that you have good reasons for not having a degree? You just can’t express them.

To get past that hurdle, you need to be ready for the question. Some acceptable answers MIGHT be: money (“my family was dirt poor and they need my help”); unnecessary (“sales doesn’t require a degree because there’s no Bachelor of Sales; should be; so I learned on my own”); or even temperament (“sitting listening to lectures and taking tests is not how to learn; I’ve done this on my own. See here.”)

Just as now there are “extension schools” that give test with credit for life experience, you need to have EVIDENCE that you have the equivalent. Use your references. Have you written a book? Articles? Love letters … … err, no that won’t work unless you Liz barret browning.

In getting a job, you have to engage in a series of conversations that fully explore what is really required, and what is someone’s nice to have. When I interviewed people, I used to take a College Degree as evidence of an ability to stick with a four year project, self-motivate, and convince a variety of people that the candidate knew something. Try the same tactic. Identify what the buyer thinks that a college degree means, and give EVIDENCE that you have that quality.

You do have a BRAG BOOK don’t you? For every claim on your resume, you should have evidence in your “brag book” to support it.

Note that “evidence” does not mean you saying “X” it’s something tangible that proves you have it. Think what do I show Judge Judy. “Dumb is forever”. So, if I put on my resume (heaven forbid! this is an example) that I am a Sudoku player, then I should have a blue ribbon prize for winning my town’s contest. The entry on the resume is a claim. The certificate is EVIDENCE. Me saying it in the interview is merely repeating my claim. How does the interviewer know you are telling the truth?

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UPDATE: On 30 April 07, my answer was designated “best”!

Hey, reinkefj, look what you got!
Congratulations, you’ve got a best answer and 10 extra points!
Your answer to the following question really hit the spot and has been chosen as the best answer:
Interviewing, no college degree…?
Go ahead, do your victory dance. Celebrate a little. Brag a little. Then come back and answer a few more questions!
Thanks for sharing what you know and making someone’s day.
The Yahoo! Answers Team

Note: This is me doing my “best” dance!
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YAHOO ANSWER: Unknown mortgage? Sure possible.

Friday, April 20, 2007

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Can someone take out a mortgage on your home without you knowing?

I got a phone call, left on answering machine, talking about a mortgage. I do not have a mortgage on the home . I am just worried that someone could fraudulently get a mortgage on my home. With people stealing identities how easy would it be?

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ABOSLUTELY! One of the first indications of identity theft is when strange debts are recorded to “you”. In fact. there’s a horror story cited below. There’s a reason that most credit experts advise that you check your reports as often as you can. That’s discovery of bad things before they go to far. My credit card issuer verifies all purchase more than X dollars with a follow up call. Sometimes annoying but worthwhile. Depending up your state, you can get some reports for free, block access to your “identity” with a password, or other things that come with your location. As a NJ Notary, I am very sensitive to fraud. A notarized power of attorney is gold to a fraudster. I’d suggest that you guard your signature. I use one on “financial” documents and another as a throw away. That is when I charge at Home Depot, I use “fjreinke”. When I open a bank account, I use my full name “ferdinandjreinke”. It’s a little trick but I like it. Also, never use the same password everywhere. Also, when you give answers to security questions, lie. You have to remember your lies, but that a small price. I’d love to see the scammer’s face when he answers the security question “what’s your wife’s name” and gets told the right answer is the wrong one!

Source(s):
http://www.privacyrights.org/cases/victi

UPDATE: Best Answer – Chosen by Asker

Asker’s Rating: star star star star star
thank you ev1 some really good info