Monday, September 28, 2009

Total Number of Home Listings Down in August

RISMEDIA, September 24, 2009-The number of homes for sale declined nearly 3% in August 2009, compared to July, and is down more than 23% compared to a year ago,

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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Short Sales Spread across Real Estate Market, Leaving Frustration in Their Wake

RISMEDIA, September 26, 2009-(MCT)-A few years ago, few people in the housing market had ever heard of a short sale. Mention the term today and people, whether they are homeowners or real estate agents, just roll their eyes.The practice, which involves selling a property for less than the amount owed on the mortgage, has grown in popularity as an exit strategy for financially strapped homeowners because it doesn't ding a credit report as deeply as a foreclosure. But because the transactions have to be approved by first and second lien holders,

Friday, September 25, 2009

Another Terror Related Threat hits Dallas and other Cities

An extended period of relatively little news about domestic terrorist threats was shattered this week. A spate of arrests and reports of fearsome plots have Americans back on edge and struggling to make sense of the suspects and continuous headlines. Below, the recent developments:

-- Last week authorities raided several New York City properties in connection with the arrest of Najibullah Zazi, a legal immigrant from Afghanistan living in Denver who authorities said Friday is believed to have been plotting an attack on the New York City subway system on Sept. 11 similar to the 2004 attacks in Madrid. The AP reported that Zazi criss-crossed the globe hunting for materials to make hydrogen peroxide bombs for al-Qaida, enlisting associates equipped with stolen credit cards to help him purchase massive quantities of hydrogen peroxide, acetone (the main component in nail polish remover) and a component to make the compound called TATP, the main explosive used in the London terror bombings of 2005. Zazi, who operated a coffee cart in New York and drove an airport shuttle in Denver, continues to maintain that he is not a terrorist. He has been transferred to NYC to face charges.

-- On Thursday a Jordanian named Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, 19, was arrested in Dallas after he parked a car he believed to be loaded with explosives, but were in actuality fakes supplied to him by an undercover FBI operative, in front of a downtown Dallas skyscraper. Undercover Arabic-speaking agents first made contact with Smadi, who's been living illegally in a small Texas town north or Dallas, after they discovered him championing jihad against the U.S. on an extremist, anti-American website. The relationship between the undercover agents and Smadi culminated with the FBI supplying him with a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac laden with what Smadi believed was an explosive device similar to the one used by Timothy McVeigh in the Oklahoma City bombing that could be detonated by cellphone. He was arrested immediately after trying to detonate the impotent explosives.

-- Michael Finton, who also goes by the name of Talib Islam, was arrested in Illinois on Wednesday for allegedly plotting to blow up a federal building, an act which led him to being charged with attempted murder of federal employees and attempting to detonate a weapon of mass destruction. Finton, who authorities say idolized American citizen turned Taliban soldier John Walker Lindh, visited Saudi Arabia in 2008 and returned wanting to take action against Israel. He mentioned his intentions to an undercover law enforcement source, who in turn introduced Finton to an undercover FBI agent, who then arranged to supply Finton with an explosives-laden vehicle, just as the FBI did in the Smadi case. On Wednesday, Finton parked the vehicle in front of a federal building in Springfield, Illinois and was arrested after he attempted to detonate the fake bomb with a cellphone.

-- Daniel Patrick Boyd and Hysen Sherifi, two men arrested last month in North Carolina and charged with plotting terrorist acts overseas, were indicted yesterday for conspiring to murder U.S. military personnel by bombing the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. The official indictment against the two provided little information outside of accusing Boyd and Sherifi of obtaining maps of the base and spending considerable time monitoring its activity. Prosecutors say that Boyd, a U.S. citizen, spent time in terror camps located in Pakistan and Afghanistan and fought on the side of Afghanistan against the Soviets in the early 1990s. Sherifi, a native of Kosovo, is a legal U.S. citizen.

-- Two men seen recently taking an extensive number of photographs of the Philadelphia subway system have raised concerns for authorities. Thus far, neither man has been positively identified, though police are hoping to track them down to question them on "the nature or the reason for taking the photographs."

Case officials say the individual incidents do not appear to be linked. As for advice to a worried public, for now it's a return to familiar advice: Remain vigilant, says the Department of Homeland Security, and report any suspicious activity to the FBI via their internet tips line ( https://tips.fbi.gov/ ) or by calling 1-800-CALLFBI.

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Thursday, September 24, 2009

Overworked is your middle name

In these troubled times, a man must do everything he can to keep his job lest he end up just another depressing statistic/exemplary member of a vibrant homeless community. Given how high the stakes are (trash as clothing is so 2001), it can be tempting to work your face off an effort to stay at the top of your boss's do-not-fire list. When you wake up under your desk at 3 AM covered in highlighter fluid, though, it's time to reassess your priorities; things have taken a bad turn. Sound familiar? Check our checklist to find out if it's time for a vacation.

You dream about your boss.
You know the dream. The one where you're in the shower, and suddenly your boss shows up and demands a rewrite of the report you submitted weeks ago. You flip out and reach for the nearest towel, but he (or, if you're lucky, she) takes no notice of the awkwardness of the situation and instead berates you for not using Times New Roman (Ed Note: Obey). Unless this dream turns into a hot fantasy involving soap on a rope and domination by a woman in a power position, you're in desperate territory. When even sleep isn't safe anymore, it's time to take a break.

Portions of your face twitch uncontrollably.
Once your friends start mistaking you for a stroke victim, you need to face the fact that you've been logging a few too many hours under the glowing light of the office fluorescents. At this point, your only options are to spend a week "working from home" or check yourself into a rehab facility, and until the 12 steps are covered by your crappy healthcare plan, it looks like you're in for five days of reality TV and mid-morning naps.

People have started to comment on your paper coffee-cup fortress.
Art is a valuable pursuit, but not when it's made out of moldy sandwich wrappers and taking over your workspace. It doesn't matter how many extra projects you complete ahead of schedule if you become the office hoarder by working so hard you're unable to dispose of your trash in a timely and civilized manner. Sure, every once in a while it's fun and healthy to work out your mental roadblocks with a little pencil architecture or stapler

Every conversation you have begins and ends with "at the office" or "while I was at work".
Just like nobody wants to talk to the guy who can't complete a sentence without mentioning his Warcraft avatar, the always-talking-about-work dude becomes the no-longer-has-friends dude faster than you can say "avatar". If your dinner companion's eyes glaze over every time you open your mouth, then you're well on your way to becoming a one-trick pony who is likely to find himself the proud owner of the loneliest fantasy football league.

You're more turned on by pivot tables than by the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.
Yes, we know. It is super awesome when equations update themselves at alarming speeds, especially when it leads to a pat on the back from the boss and the possibility of a raise when the economy rebounds in 2011. But there is no excuse for letting work take the place of more earthly pleasures, even if it seems like The Most Important Thing Ever right now. Excel will never love you back the way you want it to, and it gets mad insecure when you dabble in Open Office. You don't need that kind of stress in your life.

Relocating from your job ? Visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

5 Projects, Plus Proven Strategies from a Professional Organizer

It happens to the best of us. We're so busy with our summer events and daily to-do lists that things get a little out of place and out of hand. Before you know it, summer's over-and the unresolved clutter from one season starts spilling over into the next.

Preventing this problem is easier said than done. Being organized takes time and energy. And if you haven't done it in a while, it can leave you wondering where you should start and how to get through it.

That's where the advice from a professional comes in. So to help you tackle even the toughest organizational challenges, we interviewed Allison Carter, Chief Executive Organizer and owner of The Professional Organizer, a company that trains and licenses organizers and is dedicated to helping people get organized.

What Should You Do Right Now-Before Summer Ends?

Allison Carter explained that this time of year is crucial to maintaining an organized, clutter-free home heading into the next season. "Before winter, there are some areas of the home, inside and out, that generally need to be cleaned up and cleaned out," Carter stated.

So before you get overwhelmed with other projects or areas of the house you may have been putting off, start with these 5 simple areas before summer ends:

1. The Garden-Gardening hasn't ended until your beds are cleared out and the bulbs are planted. Once that's done, set aside some time to discard the containers you no longer need. Sweep up. Organize seeds and equipment so you know where everything is next year when the warm weather returns.

2. The Closet-As fall approaches, look through the summer clothes you didn't wear even once this year. This is a good time to purge the unloved clothing and donate to someone who can love it. If you store off-season clothing, you can begin the process by storing the clothes that only get worn in summer such as shorts, bathing suits, beach cover-ups, tank tops, and those white shoes.

3. Pool and Water Toys-Pool related toys and equipment should be dried and put into storage bins for re-use next year. Remember to keep it all together, so it's easy to dig out the next time the thermometer climbs back up.

4. Heating-Now is the best time to check your heating and air system, clean out ducts, and perform any maintenance or repairs that are needed. It's also a good time to change your smoke alarm batteries.

5. The Desk-You know they're coming, so why not get ready for those school papers to flow in. Set up an "in box" for each child's papers to be processed. Set up a "keep" box or file for each child's art or paperwork that you want to hold onto for long-term keepsakes.

Being Prepared Makes the Job Easier

To tackle these projects-and other areas of your house that need organization-Carter recommends you have a kit ready to use.

"Many people have a cleaning bucket or a set of tools for the office, but how many people have a kit for organizing? Not enough," explained Carter.

What should you put in the kit? Here are some things Carter recommends you keep on hand to help with your organizing projects:

  • Masking tape
  • Sharpie markers
  • Post-it notes
  • Boxes that can fold flat when not in use
  • Scissors
  • Label maker, stickers or tape
  • Trash bags-use black bags for items that should be thrown away
  • Donation bags-to make sure you don't confuse donation items with trash items, use white bags for items that are still usable and should be donated

These items will help you quickly work through your projects and finish them off by storing and organizing your items, as well as donating or throwing away any unwanted items.

Plan of Attack - Organize One Step at a Time

Once you have these items together, it's time to prioritize your projects. Although deciding what to do first, second, third and so on can seem overwhelming, Carter has simple advice to help you decide. "Prioritization is based on how important something is to you," explained Carter.

So she recommends you start by asking yourself a few simple questions:

  • Why are you doing a project?
  • What will the payoff be when you're done? Less stress? Being able to find things quickly and easily? Having a neat, clutter free environment?
  • Is the pay-off worth the time? If so, which project has the biggest pay-off?

Then, follow Carter's ABCs of organizing to tackle each project step by step:

A - Assess your situation.What is the problem? What do you need to solve the problem?

B - Bunch things together if they are used together (for example, paints with brushes). Bunch things together that are like items (shirts with shirts). Banish the things that don't belong there at all.


C - Contain what you keep. Find the right bin, basket, or shelf for the items you are keeping.


D - Designate a spot where the items will live in your home.

E - Evaluate.Every day, week, month and year, evaluate your situation and re-organize what has become undone.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

When it comes to actually tackling your projects, each one will take a different amount of time. But there can be a fear of over-organizing or continually re-organizing.

To help overcome that problem Carter offered the following tip. "One key to staying organized is to learn when you have reached 'good enough' and not strive for perfection...because there is never a perfect."

Another common mistake is not using the space well, including room at the top of pantries or closets. "Adding shelves can maximize the space," explained Carter.

Should It Stay or Should It Go?

When organizing a space, there are bound to be a number of items that you just don't know what to do with. How many sheets should you keep in a full closet? What about that gift you received six years ago?

To help you quickly determine what to keep, what to throw out, and what to donate, Carter suggested the following tips:

  • Ask yourself questions about how often you use things, how much you enjoy things, and if you really need the items at all.

  • Set maximums by space. For example, designate a space and then only save 3 sets of sheets, 1 box of ornaments, and so on if that's all that will fit in that space.

  • Set maximums by number. For example, keep only 10 scarves, only 40 pair of shoes, only 2 sets of silverware; when you buy a new one, make the tough choice as to which one goes away.

  • Set standards…and stick to them. For example, don't keep anything broken, stained, or redundant. Who really needs 4 can openers? If things are broken and need repair, set a time limit. If you haven't repaired an item in 3 months, then it's probably not that important to you.

  • Don't just pile everything up and toss it. Keep separate piles. If something's still useful, but doesn't meet your criteria to keep it, put it in a pile to donate to a worthy cause.

Finally, remember that it's okay to get rid of things that were once prized possessions.

"Just because you loved something once, doesn't mean you still have to keep it," Carter stated. "Taste changes and it's okay to be done with items you don't love any longer."

Timesaving Tips Straight from the Pro

To help you work quickly and efficiently, Carter offers two important tips:

First, group tasks together so you can get the most done in one location or area. Have all your supplies ready before you start organizing a space. Don't leave the room to put things away. Gather up everything that goes elsewhere and put it away after you finish organizing the space or during a break.

Second, don't confuse grouping tasks with multi-tasking, which can be problematic. According to Carter, you shouldn't multi-task on two projects that both require thinking.

"It takes up more time to switch back and forth from task to task," Carter stated. "If you need to do more than one thing at once, only one project should require thinking. The other should be mindless-like folding laundry while having a conversation."

How to Avoid a Major Re-org Every Year…

Regular maintenance is needed to keep your space organized. This means putting things away after you use them.

"Even if you don't do it right away, you should put items away in a reasonable amount of time," Carter explained. "If you work full time or are busy with kids, you might find that you do a big 'put away' session on the weekends. And that's okay."

Don't be afraid to re-organize when you see things aren't working. And, every time you bring something new into the house make sure you have a specific place for it. "If it doesn't have a home, it will become clutter," Carter said.

Keep It Real…And Keep Your Sanity

In her final words of wisdom, Carter reiterated that organizing is an ongoing process, not a one-time thing.

"Most people buy more than they actually need-and that's great for capitalism, but bad for clutter," Carter stated. "If your home is full, think twice and three times before making new purchases. And if you do want to buy something, take a minute to toss something out or donate an item."

In addition, to help stay organized, Carter recommends keeping a donation box in a closet and adding to it every time you find things you no longer need. You can also find a nearby donation center or a charity that will pick up items from your home to save time, energy, and your sanity.

http://www.robertjrussell.com

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Get Paid To Surf The Net

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Do you want income or wealth ?

Income Creation Vs. Wealth Creation

Whatever their reasons, the simple fact is that people in the job track will never create true wealth because they are copycatting an income creation system, which is based on linear growth, as opposed to a wealth creation system, which is based on leveraged growth.

People copycatting the income creation system are locked into a time-for-money trap. They trade a unit of their time for a unit of dollars. With income creation, 10 hours of work, equals 10 hours of pay. Unfortunately, most of the time, income creation is an endless treadmill. If you don't do the work, you don't get paid. If the treadmill stops, the income stops. People following the income creation system become slaves to temporary income, and they are accidents waiting to happen. If they fall victim to illness, or injury, or long layoffs, or burnout, they are income-less.

Those brave souls who have broken away from the ranks, who have realized that there are other systems out there to copycat -- wealth creating systems -- are choosing to copycat a system that allows them to leverage their time. They don't fall victim to the time-for-money trap because they do not trade time for dollars. For them, 10 hours of work means 100 hours of pay... or even 1,000 hours of pay. Moreover, their efforts create residual income. Unlike temporary income, residual income keeps earning money whether they show up to work or not!

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Monday, September 21, 2009

Are you making money online ?

How To Build An Online Income

If you are serious about making some extra money, or you want a bonafide income online then there are a few places that you can start.

The thing about the affiliate marketing route is that it is often the most talked about as it can be simple to do.

Key Words

The thing that always bugged me about affiliate marketing is the fact that no matter how fast you can write or how good a writer you are, the fact remains that if you can't get your head around learning to find great, low competition keywords, then you've almost lost before you start.

If you can't formulate a decent keyword strategy the you probably won't get any traffic. If you have no traffic then forget any income and so the story goes.

If you can somehow get the best keywords and then write well, there is still the little matter of building links.

If your keyword article is great but it has no links then it is possible that some other smarter webmaster may decide to cut in on your dance and rewrite your article and then build twice as many links as you......it happens. In fact it happens often.


Own Your Territory

When your territory gets poached you end up relegated in the search engine results and the competitor ends up on top. That sucks!

If you build enough links and the links have value, then you'll be close to untouchable (but not out of the woods completely). If you do have keywords and links, the thing you'll have over your competitors is age and age of the information does matter.

visit our website: htt://www.robertjrussell.com

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Sunday, September 20, 2009

Obama: Health insurance mandate no tax increase

Blanketing most of the Sunday TV news shows, Obama defended his proposed health care overhaul, including a key point of the various health care bills on Capitol Hill: mandating that people get health insurance to share the cost burden fairly among all. Those who failed to get coverage would face financial penalties.

Obama said other elements of the plan would make insurance affordable for people, from a new comparison-shopping "exchange" to tax credits.

Telling people to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase, Obama told ABC's "This Week."

"What it's saying is, is that we're not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you anymore," said Obama. "Right now everybody in America, just about, has to get auto insurance. Nobody considers that a tax increase."

Obama faces an enormous political and communications challenge in selling his health care plan as Congress debates how to pay for it all.

He told CBS' "Face the Nation" that he will keep his pledge not to raise taxes on families earning up to $250,000, and that much of the final bill - hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years - can be achieved from savings within the current system. Coming up with the rest remains a key legislative obstacle.

Obama put his support behind the idea of taxing employers that offer high-cost insurance plans.

"I do think that giving a disincentive to insurance companies to offer Cadillac plans that don't make people healthier is part of the way that we're going to bring down health care costs for everybody over the long term," Obama said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Obama's network interviews were taped Friday at the White House. He became the first president to appear on five Sunday network shows in the same morning, an extraordinary effort to build public support for his top domestic priority.

The goal is expand and improve health insurance coverage and rein in long-term costs.

Yet despite so many weeks of speeches, town halls and interviews, Obama said he has found it difficult at times to make a complex topic clear and relevant.

"I've tried to keep it digestible," Obama said. "It's very hard for people to get their arms around it. And that's been a case where I have been humbled and I just keep on trying harder."

Obama told Univision's "Al Punto" ("To the Point") that the strong opposition to his plan is part of a political strategy.

"Well, part of it is ... that the opposition has made a decision," he said. "They are just not going to support anything, for political reasons."

By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer Ben Feller, Associated Press Writer

To get quotes on health insurance - visit: http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com

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Saturday, September 19, 2009

Check our Texas Listings - Click on the picture to see more info & pictures

http://www.robertjrussell.com/mls11275676 For more information or to listen to our Audio Tour - Call 1-800-224-1995 ext 2401

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Coaching for Profit

No matter whether you are an individual or a large corporate body, you will always strive to make profit by boosting your sales. No business can do without profit as profit proves to be the most important motivational factor for any individual and business. Today we discuss more on coaching for profit. In fact to put it bluntly, if the company does not make a profit, then everyone is out of a job.

Coaching for profit refers to methods and techniques imparted by a coach to people as to how they can earn rich rewards for the efforts that they have put into the business. Coaching is necessary to understand how to maximize the use of various resources in an organization to optimize output. Coaching covers every aspect of the organization from production to the marketing of the products and to their sales. Business requires employing the right kind of marketing mix whereby the best combination of factors like product, price, place and promotion are can all be derived. Every employee of the organization should be made aware of his exact authority and responsibility. You would actually be amazed at how often this does not happen.

Personality development also becomes a very important component of coaching for profit. This is because it is the way that you market yourself and the goods and services that will make a world of difference. You have to make the people believe in the product and service your organization provides. It becomes very necessary to motivate your sub ordinates, executives and even HR managers. We should remember that it is the collective effort of all these people that will lead to sales and hence generating extra profits.

Remember there is no I in T E A M.

Coaching for profit stresses on the confidence that you will be able to exude in front of your audience. Also coaching in the beginning of your career will go a long way in helping you choose a profession or business that you will enjoy doing and also get excellent returns. Coaching helps you to find the right combination of the nature of the business or profession that you enjoy doing while making a handsome profit from it.

Coaching helps you to be innovative in business. It helps you to improvise on the existing systems or come out with whole new systems. Coaching helps you to gain the early bird advantage as it teaches you methods and techniques to implement and action your innovative ideas. In case you are the team member or owner of the organization you have to develop leadership skills as well. This is because it is only through proper leadership that sub ordinates under you will be able to deliver and the organization will be able to earn good revenues.

However not all the profit that the organization makes has to be taken home. A considerable amount of revenue has to be invested back in business to not only cover up the running costs and expenses but also to come out with new innovations and better technology to make quality products. The world today is very much service oriented and the best example of the service oriented organizations would be information technology and the travel industry which are some of the fastest growing industries.

Hence coaching for the service industry in relation to earning profits is very much different from coaching in the manufacturing industry. Though the techniques are different in both the types of industries, the goal is the same at the end of the day and that is making profits.

For more information - visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

The Best & Coolest Real Estate Sites I have ever seen!

I am amazed at how advanced websites have become that are designed to help you find just about anything! Here are some of my favorite sites! Enjoy!

http://www.hoodeo.com

"As The Neighborhood Matchmaker, hoodeo learns about you - your hoodeo profile - then matches you to your top 10 'best places to live' by zip code. You are matched based on lifestyle, property type, and the price you are looking for." Hoodeo.com

http://www.homescape.com

"Homescape provides local, comprehensive property listings and rich content to home buyers and sellers nationwide, while delivering a suite of advertising solutions that offer choice and results that enable real estate professionals to grow their business." Homescape.com

http://www.beatyouthere.com

"We are a real estate search engine that provides you with the most accurate listings and information possible so that you can make an educated decision based on your search." BeatYourThere.com

http;//www.insurancepricedright.com

"As Texas Realtors are always looking for health benefits, this website provides health insurance quotes in a easy and understandable format where consumers can purchase health, dental, vision and Rx plans."

http://www.propbot.com

"PropBot.com's goal is to provide FREE unlimited property listings to REALTORS, brokers, property managers, for sale by owners (FSBO's), and the average landlord; while advancing property search and listing technology." Propbot.com

Follow me on Twitter - CLICK HERE

Robert J Russell, REALTOR, International Real Estate Specialist, Insurance Broker

Real Estate Website - http://www.robertjrussell.com

Insurance Website - http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com

Apartment Locator - http://www.FreeDFWApartments.com

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Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Obama: Time for 'bickering' is over on health care

Obama: Time for 'bickering' is over on health care

President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of Congress on healthcare at
AP - President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of Congress on healthcare at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, …

WASHINGTON - Shaking off a summer of setbacks, President Barack Obama summoned Congress to enact sweeping health care legislation Wednesday night, declaring the "time for bickering is over" and the moment has arrived to protect millions who have unreliable insurance or no coverage at all.

Obama said the changes he wants would cost about $900 billion over decade, "less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans" passed during the Bush administration.

In a televised speech to a joint session of Congress, Obama spoke in favor of a provision for the federal government to sell insurance in competition with private industry. But in a remark certain to displease liberals, he did not insist on it, and said he was open to other alternatives that create choices for consumers.

Obama said he remains ready to listen to all ideas but added in a clear reference to Republicans, "I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than to improve it."

In an unusual outburst from the Republican side of the House chamber, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouted out "You lie" when the president said illegal immigrants would not benefit from his proposals. The president paused briefly and smiled, but from her seat in the visitor's gallery, first lady Michelle Obama shook her head from side to side in disapproval of the interruption.

In general, the president shied away from providing lawmakers with a list of particulars he wants to see included in the legislation, and there was nothing in the speech to invite comparisons with Bill Clinton's pen-waving veto threat more than a decade ago on health care.

Obama's speech came as the president and his allies in Congress readied an autumn campaign to enact his top domestic priority. Republican opposition, contentious town hall meetings and drooping polls have contributed to their woes. An AP-GfK survey hours before the speech showed public disapproval of Obama's handling of health care has jumped to 52 percent, an increase of 9 percentage points since July.

While Democrats command strong majorities in both the House and Senate, neither chamber has acted on Obama's top domestic priority, missing numerous deadlines leaders had set for themselves.

In a fresh sign of urgency, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., announced that his Senate Finance Committee would meet in two weeks to begin drafting legislation, whether or not a handful of Democrats and Republicans have come to an agreement. The panel is the last of five to act in Congress, and while the outcome is uncertain, it is the only one where bipartisanship has been given a chance to flourish.

Obama said there is widespread agreement on about 80 percent of what must be included in legislation. Any yet, criticizing Republicans without saying so, he added: "Instead of honest debate, we have seen scare tactics" and ideological warfare that offers no hope for compromise.

"Well, the time for bickering is over," he said. "The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action."

"I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last," he added.

The president was alternately bipartisan and tough on his Republican critics. He singled out Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for praise at one point. Yet, moments later, in a line apparently aimed at McCain's former running mate, Sarah Palin, Obama accused Republicans of spreading the "cynical and irresponsible" charge that the legislation would include "death panels" with the power to hasten the death of senior citizens.

In one gesture to Republicans, Obama said his administration would authorize a series of test programs in some states to check the impact of medical malpractice changes on health insurance costs.

Responding on behalf of Republicans, Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., said the country wants Obama to instruct Democratic congressional leaders that "it's time to start over on a common-sense, bipartisan plan focused on lowering the cost of health care while improving quality."

"Replacing your family's current health care with government-run health care is not the answer," said Boustany, a heart surgeon.

In a reflection of the stakes, White House aides mustered all the traditional pomp they could for a president who took office vowing to change Washington. The setting was a State of the Union-like joint session of Congress, attended by lawmakers, members of the Cabinet and diplomats.

The House was packed, and loud applause greeted the president when he walked down the center aisle of the House chamber.

Additionally, the White House invited as guests men and women who have suffered from high costs and insurance practices, seating them near first lady Michelle Obama. Vicki Kennedy, the widow of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., was also on the guest list. Kennedy, who died last month, had made health care a career-long cause, and Obama spoke movingly of his efforts.

Obama intends to follow up the speech with an appearance Saturday in Minneapolis, the White House announced.

Despite deep-seated differences among lawmakers, Obama drew a standing ovation when he recounted stories of Americans whose coverage was denied or delayed by their insurers with catastrophic results.

"That is heartbreaking, it is wrong, and no one should me treated that way in the United States of America."

The president sought to cast his own plan as being in the comfortable political middle, rejecting both the government-run system that some liberals favor and the Republican-backed approach under which all consumers buy health insurance on their own.

Obama said the legislation he seeks would guarantee insurance to consumers, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions, as well as other protections. "As soon as I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it most," he added.

The president assured those with insurance that "nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have."

Obama also said the legislation he seeks would help those who lack insurance to afford it. "These are not primarily people on welfare," he said in a line that appeared aimed at easing concerns among working-class voters. "These are middle-class Americans."

The president also said he wants legislation that "will slow the growth of health care costs for our families."

Obama said a collective failure to meet the challenge of overhauling health care for decades has "led us to a breaking point."

The so-called government option that Obama mentioned has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in the monthslong debate over health care, with liberal Democrats supporting it and many moderates inside the party opposed. An early draft of Baucus' plan calls for an alternative consisting of nonprofit co-ops. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, the Republican who seems most inclined to cross party lines on the issue, favors a different approach, consisting of a standby in which the government could sell insurance if competition fails to emerge in individual states.

To find out more about health insurance - visit http://www.insurancepricedright.com

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Monday, September 07, 2009

Seniors Increasingly Realizing Nest Egg in Life Insurance Policies

RISMEDIA, September 2, 2009-(MCT)-Seniors battered by the tough economy are selling their life insurance policies to replenish their retirement nest eggs.

Unlike younger investors, older adults may not have the time to wait for the market to recover all of their losses, so they're turning to this previously overlooked asset to see whether they should sell it and use the money to pay medical bills or other expenses.

Seniors sold life insurance policies with a face value of $11.8 billion last year, almost double the value of policies sold just two years earlier, according to the U.S. Senate's special committee on aging, which recently held a hearing on such transactions. A "life settlement," as a sale is called, may be an attractive option for seniors who determine they no longer need their life insurance policy, said Doug Head, executive director of the Life Insurance Settlement Association, an industry group.

Policyholders typically sell their insurance through life settlement brokers to investment companies for lump sums that are usually several times greater than they would receive if they surrendered the policies to the insurance companies, he said. The new owners pay the remaining premiums on the policies and become the beneficiaries when the original policyholders die.

But a life settlement doesn't always make sense, insurance experts caution, and seniors considering such a sale should consult with an independent financial adviser to figure out whether it's the best move for their particular circumstances.

"If you're thinking about selling your life insurance mostly because you're strapped for cash, there may be other ways to tap the value of your policy without losing your coverage," said Houston lawyer and insurance expert David McDowell. "You may be able to take out a loan against your policy or receive a partial payout through an accelerated death benefit," he said. "It's worth visiting with your life insurance agent and exploring the options before sacrificing your coverage."

Life settlements are also ripe for questionable business practices, so prospective sellers need to work with licensed brokers screened or monitored by state regulators, said Susan Voss of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Started in AIDS Crisis

The life settlement business grew out of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. In what were called viatical settlements, people living with AIDS sold their unwanted life insurance policies for cash they often used to cover medications or treatments.

As medical breakthroughs extended the lives of many people with AIDS, the industry shifted its focus from the terminally ill and toward seniors in their mid-60s or older, said Scott Gibson of Lewis and Ellis, an actuarial consulting firm in Richardson.

"The best candidates for a life settlement are now people in their 70s or older who have a life insurance policy valued at $500,000 or more that they no longer need, perhaps because their spouses have passed away," Gibson said. The industry hit a bump earlier this year as capital dried up. But now that investors are returning to the market, buyers' offers for policies have improved, said Russel Dorsett, co-managing director of the Select Life Settlement Corp. in Houston.

Though the amount that seniors receive for their life insurance will vary depending on their age, gender and overall state of health, the average payout today is slightly less than 20% of the policy's death benefit, he said. "That's still three or four times more than they'd get if they simply surrendered their policies to the insurer," Dorsett said.

Bill Clark, managing director of the Clark Financial Group in Frisco, said he sees a number of circumstances in which older policyholders may want to consider a life settlement as part of their retirement and estate planning. "A policy may not be needed anymore," he said. "The beneficiaries may have become financially independent and aren't counting on the policy's proceeds, or the policyholder determines the estate no longer needs life insurance to pay death taxes."

Complex Transaction

As more people become aware of life settlements through financial planners, Clark said, more policyholders will at least check out the price they could get for an asset they once regarded as virtually untouchable until death.

Still, selling a life insurance policy is often a complex transaction involving time and paperwork, so consumers should turn to financial advisers who know the risks, said Ana Smith-Daley, a deputy insurance commissioner for Texas. "An independent adviser can help you decide whether selling your policy is in your best interest," she said. "If it is, the adviser will probably call on a broker to shop around your policy to determine what kind of price it will fetch."

Seniors also need to understand that their medical records will be examined as part of the sales and that the buyers of their policies will occasionally check on them to determine when to collect the death benefits, she said.

Smith-Daley said sellers may also pay taxes on the proceeds from a life settlement and lose their eligibility for Medicaid or other government benefits, so anyone contemplating a sale should consult a tax adviser or lawyer. But even with those considerations, industry officials expect life settlements to exceed $100 billion over the next couple of decades as boomers convert unwanted or unneeded life insurance to cash to bolster their lagging savings.

"Under the right circumstances, it's a viable and valuable option that will only become more popular," Gibson said.

What to consider before you sell your life insurance:

PROS:
-You have no other assets and need the money.
-Your beneficiaries don't need the death benefit.
-You can't afford your premiums anymore.
-Your payout will be higher than your policy's cash surrender value.

CONS:
-You may be unable to buy life insurance again.
-Your beneficiaries won't receive the death benefit.
-You won't get a fair price for your policy.
-Your payout may be less than 20% of the death benefit.

(c) 2009, The Dallas Morning News. By: Bob Moos

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Friday, September 04, 2009

Who Likes Freebies

For Free Stuff - here is a list just for you

also check out http://www.insurancepricedright.com & http://www.robertjrussell.com

More from InsurancePricedRight.com

• Health Insurance

• Prescriptions, Rx Cards,

• Life Insurance

1. Free Video Games

If you're looking for games for the kids -- or an excuse to act like a kid yourself -- head to Kongregate.com, Popcap.com, Pogo.com and OnlineFlashGames.org for thousands of free online and downloadable games of all types.

For educational or just-for-fun games suited to young kids, check out PBSkids.org, DiscoveryKids.com, NickJr.com and Scholastic.com/kids.

2. Free Birthday Goodies

A slew of businesses will give you prime freebies on your birthday that almost make getting older worth it. For instance, anyone can get free admission to Disneyland or Disney World parks in 2009. Join the birthday club at Toys R Us and your child (younger than 10) will get a free toy or gift card every year.

If you sign up in advance to join the club at your favorite eatery, you could score free food on your birthday too. For example, you can get a free meal at Famous Dave's BBQ and free ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery and Baskin Robbins. Search the Web for "birthday freebies," then call your local restaurants to ask whether they participate in the deal.

3. Free Shipping

Special delivery! Some retailers still offer free shipping on every order, including Alyssagiftbaskets.com (special-occasion gifts), Bluenile.com (jewelry), Piperlime.com (shoes), Shopbop.com (clothes) and Zappos.com (shoes).

Many merchants offer free shipping if you can pick up the item at your local store, including Walmart.com, Payless.com and REI.com. This comes in handy for online-only items, oversize purchases or goods that have sold out at your local store. Or, look for free shipping deals when you spend a certain amount, such as orders over $25 at Amazon.com. See FreeShipping.org for more deals.

More from robertjrussell.com:

• Residential, Apartments

• International Real Estate Specialist

• Buyers, Sellers, Investments

4. Free Software

For most of your computing needs, you can get free software. For word processing and spreadsheets, go to OpenOffice.org. For antivirus protection, head to http://free.avg.com. For free basic photo editing, check out http://picasa.google.com, or for more advanced touch-ups, try Gimp.org. And to manage your finances, use the free programs at Mint.com or Wesabe.com.

5. Free Stock Trades

At Wells Fargo, you get 100 commission-free online trades per year if your cumulative account balance is $25,000 or more (including your Wells Fargo checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, IRAs and brokerage accounts).

Also, Zecco.com offers ten free trades per month if you have $25,000 in your brokerage account.

6. Free Credit Report

By law, you're entitled to one free report once a year from each of the three main credit bureaus. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to find out what lenders can see about your credit history.

7. Free TV and Movies

Head online to watch free episodes from hundreds of TV shows -- old and current -- as well as free movies. And it's perfectly legal.

At OVGuide.com you'll find a list of TV and movie sites including Hulu.com, Veoh.com and Fancast.com, as well as individual network Web sites, such as ABC.com and CBS.com.

8. Free ATMs

A buck or two here and there may not seem like a big deal, but if you're frequenting ATMs outside your bank's network, the surcharges can add up quickly.

Get money from an ATM that belongs to a surcharge-free network. Allpoint has about 200 participating institutions and 32,000 ATMs. Money Pass has 600 members and 8,000 ATMs.

9. Free (and Risk-Free) Interest

Many banks offer free savings accounts, but they won't help your money grow. Instead, use a high-yield online savings account for your short-term savings, such as ING Direct, HSBC Direct and Emigrant Direct. They're FDIC-insured and were recently paying around 1.4%. They have no minimum-balance requirement, so you earn that rate whether you have $1 or $100,000 saved.

And consider the free interest-bearing checking accounts from ING Direct and Everbank. They're also FDIC-insured and were recently paying between 0.25% and 1.96%. (Most traditional banks' free checking accounts pay you nil.)

10. Airline Freebies

Airlines may be scaling back their perks, but some still have freebies for fliers. For instance, Southwest lets you check two bags for free, while most others charge extra for luggage. JetBlue lets you check one bag free, plus gives you access to free TV, satellite radio and all-you-can-eat snacks. Continental still serves free meals on several routes. And all kids under age 2 can fly free on your lap on any airline.

Don't forget about the free flights you can score by signing up for an airline's frequent-flier program (enrollment is also free). See the "Program Guide" at WebFlyer.com for the lowdown on each airline's rules.

11. Free Money for Grad School

On average, a year of graduate school costs $28,375 for a master's degree at a public school and $38,665 at a private school. But free money abounds, from grants and scholarships to assistantships and fellowships.

12. Free Rewards

You have to buy groceries and gas anyway, so why not use those purchases to get a little more green in your wallet? Sign up for a rewards credit card and get free money, gift certificates, airline miles or other perks. (Of course, it's only free if you pay the balance in full each month without incurring interest charges.)

When you have to make a purchase online, start at BondRewards.com to earn another cool freebie: You click on an affiliated online retailer (there are hundreds) to do your shopping as usual, and a percentage of your purchase is given back to you in your BondRewards account. You then redeem your rewards for U.S. savings bonds or cash.

13. Free Financial Advice

Not to toot our own horn (okay, maybe just a little), but Kiplinger.com is a treasure trove of free financial advice. Our tools and calculators will help you get on the right financial track.

Our expert columnists will answer your personal-finance questions. For instance, Kim Lankford answers your general financial questions, Janet Bodnar tackles family and kid topics and Knight Kiplinger advises readers on ethics and money matters.

14. Free Mobile Apps

You spent all that money on a new iPhone. Now download some free apps to help you save money and recoup the cost. For instance, the free Mint.com or Quicken apps help you track your spending and manage your money and investments on the go. AMT Hunter can help you find a surcharge-free machine near wherever you are. And iShop can help you search for the lowest price on an item before you buy.

There are plenty of other useful applications at the iTunes App Store, with free recipes, weather updates, diet help, music, games and more.

15. Free Books, Movies, & Music

If you haven't been to the public library lately, dust off your card. It's your ticket to mounds of free books, magazines, CDs and movies.

Many libraries also offer free lectures, book readings and community clubs to residents.

16. Free Online Bill Paying

Stop paying your bills by check and put their payment on autopilot. At many banks, including Bank of America, BB&T, SunTrust and Wachovia, you get free bill paying with every online checking account. (Be sure you read the fine print -- some banks may require you to maintain a certain balance in your checking account to get the freebie.)

But even if your bank doesn't give you this freebie, you can probably arrange for automatic bill paying directly with the parties sending the bills, such as your utility, credit-card, phone and mortgage companies.

17. Free Kids' Meals

Yes, there is such a thing as a free lunch -- or dinner. Kids eat free at Denny's, Lone Star Steakhouse and Roadhouse Grill every Tuesday night (and some Saturdays) with a paying adult. IHOP, Golden Corral, Marie Callender's and Chevys restaurants offer kids-eat-free deals at select locations.

You can search for eateries in your area at KidsMealDeals.com.

18. Free Digital Storage Space

With free online backup storage, you can protect your important files and photos from computer crashes, theft or natural disaster.

For instance, Spideroak.com and Myotherdrive.com each give you 2 gigabytes of free and secure digital storage space. You can also store your cherished photos and videos at sites such as Photobucket.com and Flickr.com. You can also store your pics at photo-print ordering sites such as Snapfish.com, Shutterfly.com or Walmart.com, as long as your account is active.

19. Free Tech Recycling -- With Benefits

Not only is it getting easier to keep your old electronics out of the landfill, but you may even get some free cash in exchange. Services such as BuyMyTronics.com, Gazelle.com, MyBoneyard.com and GreenPhone.com recycle or refurbish your old tech and send you a check in return. They take cameras, cell phones, MP3 players, game consoles and more.

If you can't find anyone willing to pay for your dinosaur, look for other free places to recycle. For instance, Best Buy will take many of your tech castoffs at no charge. And keep your eyes open for free e-recycling days in your city.

20. Free Capital Gains

Who wouldn't love to let their investments grow 100% tax-free? Take a pass on paying capital-gains taxes by investing in a Roth IRA. Any money you put into your Roth grows tax-free, and you won't owe Uncle Sam a dime when you cash out in retirement. It's all yours.

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Thursday, September 03, 2009

Your Invited to Join our Group

Come join our Dallas Networking Group - http://groups.to/networkingindallastexas

This group is for Networking with like minded Business People in the Dallas - Fort Worth Metro Area.

We are looking for one person from each occupation to join. If you request to join this group and you do not include your occupation then we can not add you to the Group.

Thank you and let's Network!

Sponsored by:
http://www.robertjrussell.com

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Are you on Twitter ?

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Fact: As of Sept. 3, 2009 - we have the Largest Follower group in the Dallas - Fort Worth Area.

Come be a part of this and follow us http://twitter.com/robertjrussell

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Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Insurance for Texas Residents

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