| MAKING CENTS - Use your credit card with care
Credit cards: They can be a short-term financial savior or a jump-start to long-term debt. With the proper use, credit cards can be a positive component of your spending habits.This may seem simplistic, but be sure you really need to make that purchase before you swipe your card. Credit cards are best used as a financial rescue mechanism, saved for larger items you need but don't have the cash to spend on. That piece of plastic is not free money.''And while we're on the subject, it's never a good idea to use a credit card as a substitute for cash. Routine purchases like groceries, gas and even clothing are best made with cash. Those cash back'' and rewards'' points can be enticing, but they're not really worth much.It's a good rule of thumb to stay within 25 percent to 30 percent of your credit limit.
Rendell administration's self-evaluation: Positive
Rendell yesterday issued the first of what he said would be annual reviews of his administration - by his administration. "Pennsylvania taxpayers have a right to know how the commonwealth spends their hard-earned tax dollars," the Democrat said in a statement. "This report provides those crucial answers. It shows we are making progress, but we have more work to do." The 170-page "Governor's Report on State Performance," which is available online, emphasizes the administration's achievements during Rendell's five years as governor. It provides basic information about the major departments of state government and programs they administer, as well as charts, graphs and tables to illustrate trends and tax dollars spent. Some statistics in the report may be of questionable value. For example, one chart says the number of jobs "created, retained or pledged" as a result of state economic-development programs grew from about 187,000 in 2004-05 to more than 282,000 in 2006-07.
Embattled Jaycees president is forced out
The Tulsa-based Jaycees organization has forced its controversial president to resign because of his inability to repay thousands of dollars in unauthorized credit-card charges.
Chris A. Oldham was president of the United States Junior Chamber, which is known as the Jaycees. Oldham resigned as chairman of the board on Wednesday, said Brad Gemeinhart, the Jaycees' interim executive vice president.
The resignation means that Oldham fulfilled his presidency, which ended Dec. 31, but forfeited being chairman of the board, an office that is automatically given to outgoing presidents, Gemeinhart said.
"As of yesterday (Wednesday), he resigned from being chairman of the board, and he is in the process of paying back the money he owes," Gemeinhart said.
NHL announces games in Europe - sort of
This kind of falls into the general category of: if they want the Players' Association to be a true business partner, then they have to include us in discussions about these matters at the earliest stages," said Kelly. "We shouldn't read about it in the press and we shouldn't find about it after the fact. "Last night for example, we were asked if it was ok for them to announce Prague and Stockholm. The response was, 'Look guys, you know we have a lot of details to work out. Travel, promotional issues, NHLPA involvement, accommodations, the schedule, etc. So there's still lots of details to work out but if you want to announce it generally, that's fine.' "And I think the announcement (for Prague and Stockholm) fell along those lines. The Victoria Cup? That was a bit of a surprise.
Canadian Television Heats Up With The Launch Of Cosmopolitan Tv On ...
Womens relationships with men, sex and style will never be quite the same with the debut of Corus Entertainments Cosmopolitan TV on Thursday, February 14. Launched in partnership with Hearst Corporation and inspired by the worlds bestselling womens magazine, this new addition to the television dial promises fun, flirty and irreverent entertainment for women. Cosmopolitan TV Canada joins Cosmopolitan Television networks in Spain and Latin America. There is a lot of excitement about the launch of CosmoTV this is the first English-language version of the channel in the world and were thrilled that were offering it to Canadian women, said Susan Ross, Executive Vice President, General Manager, Lifestyle, Drama and Movies, Corus Entertainment. Cosmo is an iconic brand, one that really resonates with young women.
China can build things. Why can't India?
Can you imagine what would happen if India became as productive or as (infrastructure-wise) strong as China? Whatever few jobs you have left in the West would also vanish. Now we don't want that do we? It would be like as it always was in the last few thousand years, barring a couple hundred recent ones: Europe with a begging bowl and plague and all the beautiful third world stuff:) .
It's getting crowded on the sideline
Doc Rivers, the coach of the Boston Celtics, had no idea what Jack Nicholson was talking about. "Shark cartilage," Nicholson repeated as the Celtics prepared to huddle at the visitor's bench inside Staples Center and Rivers screamed himself hoarse. .
Cell phone giants Nokia, Qualcomm post strong earnings
Other analysts at market research company Ovum noted that Nokia stellar results widened the gap between it and the other handset vendors.
Q4 2007 handset shipments were 133.5 million, up 20% sequentially and 27% year-on-year while the average sale price rose slightly to 83, yielding total revenues that were 22% sequentially higher and 34% higher year-over-year.
Nokia also improved its profitability with operating margin at 15.9%, up from 13% for Q4 2006 thanks to gains in all divisions except Nokia Siemens Networks, which was up sequentially.
For the fully year 2007, handset shipments were 437 million, revenue was up 24% and operating profit was up 46%.
President and CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo described this as an impressive performance for the quarter, and estimated that Nokia's market share has now reached the much-anticipated 40% mark and stressed that Nokia will continue trying to build market share.
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