April Fool's Pranks For the Entire Family

Last minute April Fool’s pranks

Are you ready for April Fool’s Day? Sure, it isn’t a holiday that most people think about, but it can be lots of fun, even without payday loans. We can all use some more laughter in our lives, particularly during difficult financial times. Blithe Platt writes for Examiner.com that there are simple ways to make April Fool’s pranks quick, harmless and fun. The only caveat she gives is that you should always keep the April Fool's Rules in mind and things can be enjoyable for all.

• Super soaker - All you need here is a rubber band and a kitchen faucet with a spray hose. Turn the faucet off, place the rubber band around the spray handle to keep it in the “on” position. Once an unsuspecting friend or loved one goes to use the sink, enjoy the wet fun, then hand them a towel
• “Dead” mouse - Unplug the mouse from the back of the computer. You’ll be surprised (and amused) at how long it will take even the most computer savvy to figure out the problem. In a similar vein, the small piece of Scotch tape over the telephone mouthpiece is also fun
• Ewwwthpaste - Place an edible (but definitely ugly) object like a raisin into a friend or loved one’s toothpaste tube. This tends to work particularly well with some females (not to play stereotypes or anything). When they squeeze, listen for the gross-out!
• Magic milk - This is great if you have younger children. Turn it up a notch with the moo milk in the fridge by adding food coloring! Explain to younglings that recent scientific studies have shown that colored milk possesses more of vitamins A(pril) and F(ool's) than plain old white milk
• Big foot - If you crumple up newspaper and stuff it into the toe of someone's shoes, they’re sure to wonder - at least for a monent - whether they’re turning into the Incredible Hulk. This is a great one for kids to play on dads.
• Catcher in the Bowl - This one will get messy, so watch out. Simply stretch Saran wrap across the family’s favorite toilet seat. Be careful to make it smooth so as not to attract pre-prank attention. Bombs away!
• Armoire turnover - If your friend or loved one’s furniture allows, take their dresser drawers out, turn them over, and reinsert them. This works best if the drawers are already empty and your victim is ready to fold and put away laundry
• Correction, please - Rig someone’s auto-correct feature in Microsoft Word to automatically replace some commonly typed word  like “the” with “April Fool's!”
• Sleeping fools - This is one for parents to play on multiple small children. Once they’re asleep, move each to a different bed. When they wake up… April Fool’s!

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PS2 Price Cut to Less Than $100

Game system now costs $99

Sony previously said it would make a major announcement this week, and now that time has come. The PlayStation 2 will now retail for $99, breaking that magical $100 mark.

Getting competitive

The PlayStation 2 first launched in Japan nine years ago. So why the drop in price now? The Nintendo Wii has been selling faster year-for-year than the PS2. I speculate the “big announcement” and sub-$100 pricetag are designed to compete with the Wii craze. Most video-game hungry customers won’t even need payday loans to afford the PS2 now.

Older system, new games

Sony assures customers that the library of games to go with your new PS2, should you chose to take advantage of the new price, is still growing rapidly. The company says 1,900 new games for the PS2 will come out this year.

Personal perspective

As a member of a household that contains a PS2, I can say this new pricetag is pretty remarkable. In fact, some of the games for the PS2 right now cost more than the consoles. For instance, my roommate purchased the game Rock Band II, complete with accessories, for $129.

Right now, used PS2s on craigslist are going for $80 to $85. That isn’t much of a price difference from a brand new one, but online sellers generally include games with the system.

More on PS2

The Sony PS2 is already the most popular gaming system in the world based on units sold. More than 136 million PS2s have sold worldwide.

"Demand for PlayStation 2 remains strong throughout the world," he adds, "and the new $99 price point will bring in new consumers who will discover how PlayStation platforms are an outstanding choice for their gaming and home entertainment needs." ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "PS2 Price Cut to Less Than $100"

Short Term Loans Could Help the Crumbling Auto Industry

Should the government bail out the auto industry?

In the middle of talk about government loans, the question may be whether short term loans would be a better solution to the crippling effects the current economic downturn is having on the automobile industry.

The President of the United States has requested the resignation of the current CEO of General Motors as part of some management changes that are part of the government's recovery plan for the auto industry. Whether this is because of suspicion of mismanagement or just a way to cut costs will probably not be known for months, if at all. However, there is no doubt something must be done quickly to save the auto industry from bankruptcy.

Short and long-term effects of a declining auto industry

When you look at the short-term picture in regards to the auto industry, it may not appear very bleak. So what if Chrysler and General Motors shut down—that still leaves Ford and the import market. However, it isn't as easy as that because the demand for cars will remain the same leaving the remainder of auto manufacturers to pick up all of the slack from the demise of two giants.

The world today relies on motor vehicles and the loss of two of the largest manufacturers would cause a more severe economic downturn than we are now suffering. Without the auto industry, raw goods would not be able to reach their destinations which in turn would push us back a couple centuries. Certainly that seems like a healthier choice but it is not one the country could endure quickly. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Short Term Loans Could Help the Crumbling Auto Industry"

No ACORN Should Be Left Unindicted (4)

Trying to make lawlessness “social justice”

This concludes a four-article series regarding ACORN and its connections in politics, big money and abuse of the taxpayer’s trust. It can be argued that no one entity has brought the American economy to its knees without a cash advance, but ACORN and organizations close to them like Self-Help, Inc (which includes Martin Eakes‘ Self-Help Credit Union and the Center For Responsible Lending) have contributed mightily. If you missed the early parts of this article, here are parts ONE, TWO and THREE.

…Their action convinced state attorneys general to sue Household, which eventually forced the finance corporation to pay $484 million to borrowers. In a separate suit against Household, ACORN walked away with a $150 million settlement.

But what of the Sandlers?

ACORN made their “Robin Hood” play for public affection by bleeding Household’s coffers. But will they do the same to their own allies - Herbert and Marion Sandler - who are as responsible for abusive mortgage lending policies as anyone in the country? They assisted the prosecution before - will ACORN be consistent here or prove themselves to be self-interested grandstanders?

It’s no surprise that ACORN isn’t helping send their (and the Center For Responsible Lending’s) best buddies up the river.

Care to rethink that, Ms. Lewis?

Bertha Lewis declined to comment on Anita MonCrief’s article when asked for direct comment, but her Huffington Post piece clearly outlines ACORN’s position. Bertha Lewis continues ACORN’s battle chant: ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "No ACORN Should Be Left Unindicted (4)"

Hey Bloggers!

Just wanted to give a shout out to the blogging community! I hope everyone finds my blogs useful and entertaining and I look forward to reading your blogs as well!

Is it time to buy shares in scam operations?

The Stimulus Scam

This is Age of the Scam. We tried honest business and look where that got us. So let’s try something a little different. If you can’t beat ‘um, join ‘um. No, it’s time to fight back!

The fight begins

I was at the Consumer Federation of America conference in Washington, DC last week, and I listened to consumer protection regulators speak about the current increases in financial and consumer scams. Listed below are some of the scams, some of the things these scammers will say to you and tips to avoid them.

The Get-A-Stimulus-Grant Scam

There is 787 billion dollars out there for the taking. Let us help you get your hands on some of this loot. Our fee includes getting your website up and running, offering advice (for a fee) on how to get government grants on everything from small business initiatives to paying off your son’s student loan debt.

We will show you how to bill unsuspecting consumers $70 a month on their credit cards for information they thought was free.

The Mortgage Foreclosure Consulting Scam

This one is a no-brainer. As the number of home foreclosures rise, so the business of Foreclosure Rescue leaps to the fore. Ignore the number of foreclosure rescue companies that have already been shut down and concentrate on the potential. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Beware: This is the Age of the Scam"