Singapore is quite backward

In spite of our banks spending hundreds of million dollars on their I.T. systems, Singapore is actually quite backward. Many people write checks and mail them to their payees.

I have just written a check to pay my subscription to a professional body in Singapore. I have to mail the check to the organization.

In a more advanced society, I could pay by credit card or by bank transfer. The professional body in Singapore does not allow this form of payment because the process is quite a hassle. It is a hassle to make a one time payment in Singapore and also a hassle for the receiving party to identify who has made the payment.

In other countries, the payer will use internet banking. The receiving party receives receives the payment with the necessary details to handle their processing. It would have been much more convenient for all parties.

I believe that the backward processes in Singapore is probably due to requirements by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Some of these requirements, whether in the name of security or anti-money laundering measures, are implemented mindlessly, making the measures to be quite impractical. But, sadly, this is Singapore. I hope that MAS will get advice from practical people on some of their measures, and can make a judgement on security and practicality.

Read this blog from Mr. Brown. I share the same sentiment. http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2011/12/now-you-can-e-bank-with-more-peace-of-mind-but-with-bigger-pain-of-ass.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mrbrown+%28mrbrown%29

I made a payment of a subscription to a professional body in the UK. It was quite easy. I paid through my credit card.

My friend from the UK was surprised that people in Singapore are still signing cheques and authorisation to his bank. He said that in the UK, he only needed to give a personal PIN number for all his transaction with the bank, and has never use his signature with any of his transactions with his bank for years!

Middle Class Squeeze

Lucky Tan wrote this interesting article about the Middle Class Squeeze. He said that luzury cars, including Ferraris, now take up nearly 50% of the new car market in Singapore. http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2011/12/middle-class-squeeze.html

A new 1 bed room condo at Lorong Chuan goes for upwards of $538K. A quick calculation shows the cheapest 1 bed room unit in the development is sold at a price that is 17 years of a median income worker's total income. If he uses his income fully to service his condo, he will take 17 years...nothing left for food, clothing, utilities etc. What is prudent for someone earning the median income is a small HDB flat which is shrinking over time[Shrinking HDB flats due to need to maximise land and to adapt] and public transport which is now so crowded it is like a cattle ferry. There is also the problem of healthcare which is rising at double digits and outstripping median income growth. If you look at the Singapore worker in the middle earning the median income wage, his quality of life is not equal to a middle income worker in a developed country. Its gets worse as we go down the wage scale. When we get close to the bottom which is quite far down since there is no minimum wage, we have 350,000 workers who work full time but cannot make ends meet and depend on workfare to survive[Older, low-wage workers get Workfare bonus ] - these workers will never accumulate enough savings to retire and have to work their whole lives.

Excellent app on iPad (Go There)

I downloaded an excellent app on iPad called GoThere. It is easy to use and provide transport options by car, train, bus and driving. The app cost $2.99 and is excellent value. It is especially helpful if I have to take a bus or train, instead of driving. There is another app called "Show Nearby" which is free, and is also very good.

40% discount on 5 book bundle

Enjoy a 40% discount on these 5 book bundle.
http://easyapps.sg/iShop2/ProductInfo.aspx?id=44

Order can be placed here: www.tankinlian.com/ishop

New Wisdom Book

New Wisdom Book

Wisdom on How to Live Life (Book 4): Transforming Earth into Heaven

Humans being the most intelligent species and having lived on Earth for thousands of years, we are yet nowhere near to a life of peace, love, joy and harmony. This book contains a hypothetical story of a young man, Tom, who had a fifth conversation with Guru Harry. This is a continuation of their first four conversations which are contained in the books “Wisdom on How to Live Life”, “Wisdom on How to Live Life (Book 2)”, and “Wisdom on How to Live Life (Book 3)”. Guru Harry epitomizes someone from a spiritual society who offers a way of living which can lead to peace, love, joy and harmony.

Through this fifth conversation, Tom learnt that (1) why we should not disrespect those who are at a lower level of development, (2) why we cannot hear things spiritually, (3) what is the pleasure that everybody can afford to enjoy, (4) what is the catch in evolving spiritually, (5) how to practice “To be in the world but not of it”, (6) why life should not be just about making a living, (7) why we should pay people for doing spiritual work, (8) how to become a master of life, (9) why societies set up all kinds of reward systems, and (10) how to create a heavenly society.

The book can be ordered here.

Philip Glass Will Appear At Occupy Lincoln Center

Philip Glass will occupy Lincoln Center.

At 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, Glass will appear as a part of a general assembly in the plaza and deliver a statement by mic-check. The assembly will engage in an "open conversation about the effects of increased privatization and corporatization of all aspects of society, and the use of nonviolent civil disobedience around the world to reclaim the commons," according to the Occupy Wall Street website.

Glass's opera "Satyagraha," which focuses on the story of Gandhi in his early years of non-violent protest in South America, is currently having a run at the Metropolitan Opera.

"The anti-war movements were empowered by Gandhi's history and our own," Glass wrote in a blog for The Huffington Post.

But for the Occupy organizers, the opera also underlines some of the ironies in performing such a piece at Lincoln Center, whose corporate sponsors include David Koch. Occupy protestors were supposed to march on Lincoln Center in mid-October, though only a few showed up on the night they were scheduled to protest.

"We see a glaring contradiction in ?Satyagraha? being performed at the Lincoln Center where in recent weeks protestors from Occupy Wall Street have been arrested and forcibly removed for exercising their First Amendment rights to peaceful public assembly," they wrote.

They go on to note that Bloomberg L.P. is one of Lincoln Center's major sponsors, calling out Mayor Bloomberg for his treatment of the Occupy movement.

"The juxtaposition is stark: while Bloomberg funds the representation of Gandhi's pioneering tactics of nonviolent civil disobedience in the Metropolitan Opera House, he simultaneously orders a paramilitary-style raid of the peaceful public occupation of Liberty Park, blacking out the media, while protestors are beaten, tear-gassed, and violently arrested," they wrote.

The Occupy movement does not yet have permission to protest on the Lincoln Center plaza, and some members have threatened to start a hunger strike if they do not receive permission, continuing the strike until they receive permission.

"In responding to the general frustration and sadness we feel, these "movements" have taken up once again these basic principles of activism and non-violence," Glass wrote of the Occupy movement. "We should be proud that the basic guarantees of free speech and assembly are at the core of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Those who would deprive us of these "inalienable rights" are the real radicals."

'; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/01/philip-glass-occupy-lincoln-center_n_1122974.html

michigan state bridge school miami dolphins charlie and the chocolate factory ou football ryan torain ryan torain

Defending your online reputation

Here is a service that can be used by small businesses:
http://www.cnbc.com//id/45526165

Stop! Full House

Here is a cartoon by Wing Lee
http://sg-quitters.blogspot.com/2011/12/stop-full-house.html

Market for expensive cars

My friend, who is a permanent resident, told me that Singapore is the largest market for expensive cars, such as the Lambourgini and the Ferrari. This is in spite of our small size. I asked me to send me the the statistics, as I do not recall seeing this report. Can anyone help to verify this?

forestall Being Pressured When Purchasing A Car From A Local Dealer

Getting ready to jump into the used car market? Well before you take that leap into uncharted waters, be sure to fully read this guide that may help you from both spending too much money and also forestall you from buying the wrong vehicle. This current economic downturn has auto dealers in a tight spot. On the one hand, they are currently development less money so naturally when they see a perspective customer, they want to be able to get as much as they can out of them.

But on the other hand, they know that the buyer plans on getting a deal so the dealer can't appear to money hungry. But fortunately for you, most dealers are willing to take a financial hit if it means development a sell and getting a car off the lot to make room for an additional one one. As we all know, buying a vehicle is a huge financial investment that shouldn't be taken lightly. And as with all investments you should do everything you can to make sure that the value of that investment stay intact for as long as possible. The following tips will show you what you need to do to make buying a car relatively easy.

We Buy Any Car

First of all, there is a wrong time and right time to buy a vehicle these days. The best time to get great deals on automobiles is normally when the newer models are beginning to roll in. This is normally around the last 4 months of the year. This is the right time for two reasons, one, if you plan on buying a used car, than most dealers will be trying frantically to get rid of the older model cars to make space for all the new models. So naturally, they will be willing to go lower than usual on the price.

Secondly, if you plan on financing or leasing a new vehicle, you will have first crack at all the most recent models. Our second tip is to never feel pressured into buying an automobile. Some dealers will try to pressure you into getting a car before you leave, and will tell you roughly whatever to get you to buy it now. For example, if a dealer knows how you feel about a safe bet model, he will tell you things like "This car may not be here much longer because we just had a consolidate say they will be back for this car as soon as possible".

I know first hand how pressuring car dealers can be because back when I was buying my first fairly new car, a dealer saw me checking out a Pontiac Grand Am. Than after looking at it and walking around it for a few minutes I started to walk off. The dealer approached me saying how great of a car that Grand Am was and how this guy planned on buying it or his daughter. Now being the car buying rookie I was at the time, I mistakenly decided to purchase the vehicle without even negotiating a price because I in fact liked that car.

Now just from that example i made a few mistakes. One, I didn't have someone with me who was knowledgeable about cars. Two, I didn't even attempt to have the dealer lower the price because I already view I was getting a great deal. And three, I let the dealer know just how much I liked the car. Those 3 things should never be done when attempting to buy a vehicle. And lastly, before buying any vehicle from a dealership, make sure to check prices for the single car online because normally you can get a best deal online because you're not puny to only a few dealerships in your neighborhood.

forestall Being Pressured When Purchasing A Car From A Local Dealer

Invest in an indexed fund

One in four active fund managers beat the index. It is better to invest in an indexed fund and pay low fees. http://www.cnbc.com//id/45524957

4 surefire ways to slash rising ATM fees

By Constance Gustke • Bankrate.com

Highlights

• Community and online banks and credit unions are unlikely to begin charging higher fees.
• Switching banks to avoid fees isn't always the answer. It can cost you.
• Online banks typically reimburse you for out-of-network ATM charges.

It sounds like a familiar refrain, but some big banks are upping their ATM fees again.

These fees are aimed at folks who use outside ATMs. TD Bank now charges its customers $2 for withdrawals from ATMs outside its network. And HSBC has raised its fee from $2 to $2.50.

Keep this in mind: These are double-dose fees. They're added onto whatever the outside ATM owner charges. And these noncustomer fees reached record highs in 2011, according to the Bankrate 2011 Checking Survey. The average fee that banks charge noncustomers to use ATMs is $2.40.

These ATM fees also vary by locale. They're highest in Denver at $2.75. Seattle, San Diego and Houston also dinged ATM users with high fees. Cleveland charged the lowest fees: $2.06.

• Find the best checking account rates
• 7 ways checking accounts cost you more
• 5 cities with the highest ATM fees in 2011
• ABCs of ATMs

Create a news alert for
"checking"

Behind this push are banks rooting around for more income. The Durbin Amendment (part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) has taken effect, and it cuts bank interchange fees. These fees are charged to merchants for debit card payments. The result is that large banks could lose billions of dollars in income, so they're searching for ways to increase income by upping debit card or ATM fees.

To be sure, these higher ATM fees are avoidable, says Greg McBride, CFA, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com. You can switch to community banks, credit unions or online banks that don't charge ATM fees and may not begin charging them because they're exempt from the Durbin Amendment, he says. Switching to cash, checks or credit cards also makes sense.

In addition, some banks lower fees for customers with large accounts or direct deposit. For example, HSBC USA reimburses Plus Banking customers for three withdrawals per month at outside ATMs. Bank reimbursement policies can vary, so it pays to read the fine print, McBride says.

"If you want to stay with your current bank, see how you can avoid fees," says Ed Mierzwinski, a consumer advocate at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group in Washington, D.C.

Still, switching banks to avoid fees isn't always the answer. Some customers with online banking or several accounts at one bank will find that getting disentangled is difficult. And switching also can cost you, including time spent finding a new account, Mierzwinski says.

So what's a consumer to do?

Here are four ways to avoid paying ATM fees.

Switch to a credit union. Because they are co-ops owned by depositors, credit unions usually charge fewer fees and they cost less -- even for using ATMs. Why? They rely on the 28,000-ATM Co-Op Network nationwide, which includes 5,500 7-Eleven stores. It's a surcharge-free system that's bigger than ones offered by Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

You can even make deposits at some credit union ATMs, says Marsha Baker, who teaches consumer finance at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.

Get cash at grocery stores or drugstores. When making a purchase at a grocery store or drugstore, you can usually choose to also get cash. These withdrawals are free. Target and Wal-Mart stores also give you cash-back options.

Try online banks. Since they lack their own networks, online banks typically reimburse you for out-of-network charges. Others tap into large nationwide ATM networks that are bigger than what banks offer. For example, ING Direct banking customers can access the nation's largest surcharge-free network, Allpoint Network, which has 40,000 ATMs in 50 states. And Ally Bank reimburses customers who use any ATM nationwide. Charles Schwab also offers high-yield checking that reimburses you for ATM withdrawals made worldwide.

These days, some online banks let you download free smartphone apps for locating network ATMs. For example, ING Direct offers an ATM-finder app you can use to pinpoint any Allpoint ATM.

To counter growing bank fees, new resources are popping up. Take online financial services provider BankSimple. Still under development, its aim is helping you manage your money and bypassing bank fees. It also gives customers access to no-charge ATMs via Allpoint's network.

Plan out your cash needs. Taking out lots of cash at once also can help you budget better. With cash, you spend 10 percent to 15 percent less than with debit cards, says Baker. The trick is figuring out how much money you'll need a few days in advance.

Whichever method you opt for, avoiding out-of-network ATMs can save you big bucks over time.

Read more: http://bestinsurancequotes4u.com/

Allstate dumps the unbundled

Allstate dumps the unbundled

By Jay MacDonald ·

Friday, December 2, 2011

Some Allstate home insurance customers are being shown the door by the "Good Hands" people for refusing to bundle their homeowners insurance and auto insurance policies.

Insurance Journal reports that Allstate recently informed some 45,000 North Carolina customers that it will not renew their homeowners insurance policies unless they also purchase commercial or private auto insurance coverage with the company by Dec. 15.

Allstate says the move will enable it to better serve its 400,000 in-state homeowners. Minus the unbundled, of course.

Robert Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, says the "Good Hands" people are simply cherry-picking the more lucrative customers who bundle their home and auto with the company.

He may be right. Presumably, the company has made no similar moves to jettison auto policyholders who insure their homes with other carriers. After all, home insurance is where the big bucks live.

Insurance Journal reader reaction was mixed. A sampling:

• "It is my belief that this action is a violation of more than (2) North Carolina insurance laws. First, it is considered an inducement … to buy their auto insurance through Allstate. Second, this action could be in violation of both North Carolina and federal 'Unfair Trade Practices.'"
• "Next they will require a life insurance policy to write a homeowners."
• "More carriers should follow their move across the entire country. If they did perhaps rates would level out and come down slightly."
• "I think it is entirely fair that Allstate is doing this. I don't think it's fair that State Farm insures a person's home while they have their auto with Geico or Progressive, neither of whom sell home insurance, which is the most difficult to buy."

Insurance bundling continues to be a bewildering mess for consumers. It's opaque, driven by introductory offers that quickly evaporate, making it well-neigh impossible to compare rates. While most of us do bundle our home and auto coverage, many if not most would save on out-of-pocket premiums by unbundling. That said, trust and convenience factors convince the majority of us to bundle, even if we know we could pay less if we didn't.

That said, in my view it's one thing for an insurance company to offer a bundled "discount" and quite another to drop policyholders for refusing to bundle. While I'm sure it makes sense to the Allstate number-crunchers, I'm doubtful they factored in the potential brand damage from this poorly timed move.

Have you or someone you know been served with this arm-twist ultimatum from the "Good Hands" folks? I'd welcome your thoughts.

Read more: http://bestinsurancequotes4u.com/

Should I tap my pension to buy a car?

By Tara Baukus Mello •

Dear Driving for Dollars,
I am retiring in about six months, and I'm planning to buy a new car. There are several ways I can finance the purchase. I can pay cash from a savings account, use certificates of deposit that are maturing or borrow from my pension with an interest rate of 3.3 percent over five years. I'm thinking the pension is the best choice due to the interest rate. The loan will reduce my monthly payout, but it is not enough to affect my standard of living. What should I do?
-- Joanne Soon To Be Retired

More On Cars:

• Blank-check car loans make buying easy
• Find the best auto rates
• Read Driving for Dollars
• Auto loan calculator

Create a news alert for
"auto"

Dear Joanne,
Your smartest financial decision is the one that will cost you the least. Paying cash for a car will cost you the least because you won't pay any interest. But if the interest you are earning on that money currently in savings exceeds the interest rate you can get on a car loan, then financing the car can still put you ahead. This is true whether you use money from your savings account or the CDs that are maturing.

As far as borrowing from your pension when you retire, the 3.3 percent rate is a good rate, but interest rates on car loans are lower than they have been in recent years. If you have good credit, you may qualify for a similar rate through the automaker's lending arm or a credit union.

If you do opt to borrow from your pension, make sure you understand any tax implications from doing so as well as what that money is expected to earn in interest if you keep it in your pension fund. It's likely that it may be better financially to get a car loan elsewhere, even at slightly higher interest rate, and keep your pension fund intact.

Read more: http://bestinsurancequotes4u.com/

Cheap Insurance Myth

The Cheap Insurance Myth It was once widely known that cheap insurance was just that: cheap insurance. It did not cost much, but it also didn’t cover much. This is still true today in that you can find very inexpensive policies that don’t cover very much; however, don’t be fooled into thinking that all cheap insurance policies aren’t worth much. Insurance companies are changing their insurance rates all the time. Sometimes they raise them when there have been a large number of claims, and sometimes they lower rates when they are looking to pick up more clients. What all of this amounts to is that a cheap policy might just represent a market shift or a change in the needs of a particular company. In other words, you must compare quotes and seek them out. Just make sure that the policy represents your needs well.

But, what if I don’t understand about buying insurance? Most people shy away from dealing with insurance companies and insurance agents. It is often confusing and an unpleasant subject to face. In fact, almost 11 million households in the United States with children younger than 18 years-old have no individual life insurance whatsoever according to the research firm, LIMRA. The Insurance Information Institute says that things are not better on the renters’ side of insurance either. Approximately 57% of all renters do not own some type of renters insurance. Many people cite the lack of knowledge about the insurance industry and the products it provides to protect consumers as one of the main reasons for their lack of coverage. But, everyone can and should learn about insurance. Bestinsurancequotes4u.com has the best insurance companies on our website to help you learn and decipher all of the industry jargon and answer all of your insurance-related questions so you purchase the exact type and amount of insurance that you need without overpaying. Bestinsurancequotes4u.com can help you navigate the in insurance industry in comfort of your own home. Planning for your death, theft, or a tragic loss is not a pleasant topic. Too often, consumers make rushed decisions without finding out all of the details about the type of insurance policy they need. Not learning as much you need about insurance may lead to you overpaying, buying too much insurance coverage, or maybe not carrying enough insurance to protect your loved ones in the event of a catastrophe.

Online Insurance Quotes Save Families Money

Online Insurance Quotes Save Families Money
Insurance is a fact of everyday life. If you want to own a car, a home, or a business, or simply want to protect your family’s health, you need to be insured. Getting coverage can sometimes become an overwhelming and confusing process, and sometimes an expensive one, but it doesn’t have to be, Bestinsurancequotes4u.com provides you not only with the ability to compare quotes, but also with the information you need to make the process easier.

You need to know how to compare insurance rates so that you are getting the best deal to protect your home, car, business, health or family. First, once you select the type of insurance from the menu on Bestinsruancequotes4u.com, your work isn’t finished. You now need to compare the exact policies from each company and see A) who offers the best price? B) Who offers the most comprehensive coverage? And C) Who offers the most coverage for the best price?

One of the great things about our service is convenience. The average form is typically around 115 questions and if you use a service like ours, you only have to fill out these questions once and you can get as many as three insurance quotes from major providers from your area.

Compare Multiple Free Online Insurance Quotes

Compare Multiple Free Online Insurance Quotes
Are you searching for lower insurance rates? You've come to the right place for help. BestInsuranceQuotes4u.com gives you instant access from the leading providers in your area. You can compare online insurance quotes from multiple carriers in order to find the best coverage at the right price. Saving money on the coverage you need has never been so easy.

Finding cheap insurance is simple - all you have to do is select the type of insurance you are looking for and enter your zip code and select the multiple insurance quotes online from several insurance carrier's in your area so you can compare cheap insurance and choose the best policy. Discover an easier way to get the coverage you need using BestinsuranceQuotes4u.com. We specialize in providing consumers options when it comes to purchasing insurance all in the comfort of your home because our only goal is to help you connect with the right insurance provider, the results you receive will be completely unbiased. That means you will get actual insurance quote from the most compatible providers in your area to ensure the coverage you find is catered to your specific needs. By selecting the type of insurance and entering your zip code you will receive a list of multiple insurance companies so you can compare the options and choose the best policy. No matter what type of insurance coverage you are in search of, we are here to help you find the right policy.

Why Insurance Quote Websites?

Why Insurance Quote Websites?

There was a time when buying insurance was a dreary chore that meant talking to an agent who had only limited insurance company contacts, listening to explanations of mind-numbing policies and costs and then trying to figure out what was best for you.

Thanks to modern technology, the chore of choosing insurance has been streamlined into a far faster and more efficient process. Whether you are seeking car insurance quotes or investigating how to best provide health, homeowners, renters or life insurance, comparing quotes has never been easier. Be sure to check our top three ranked products: NetQuote, InsureMe and Bestinsurancequotes4u.com

You now can use online services that are connected to a multitude of agencies to help you search for the best deal and best coverage. With these services, you have access to literally thousands of insurance agencies in the United States and Canada from which to choose. Online choices give you many benefits, including:

• Time Savings: There are so many insurance agencies in the U.S .and Canada that provide various levels of coverage. It could take hundreds of hours to talk to all the agents involved to find the best plan or get a particular type of insurance coverage. However, most services today can provide insurance quotes the very same day, often within minutes.
• Convenient Location: You can search by zip code to find the agents near your home or business who offer the kind of coverage you need.
• Multiple Quotes: Most sites can connect you with several agents in your area and many of them can provide several insurance quotes.
• Financial Savings: All of the insurance quote services we've reviewed are free. Most services have access to thousands of agents who can provide a wide range of price structures, so you can search for the lowest rate for the best insurance to suit your needs.
• No Obligation: Each site we reviewed offers quotes with no obligation to buy anything, and an agent will not call you unless you request that service.
• Privacy Protection: The best sites we reviewed give you an extensive privacy policy in writing and also use a secure site protocol to encrypt your personal information so it is safe.

These services are free, try to protect your personal data and present no obligations, so you have nothing to lose by searching for the best deal. In this site, you will find articles on insurance quotes and other related issues, as well as comprehensive reviews and a side-by-side comparison to help you make an informed decision on which service is right to find a quote for the type of insurance you need.

At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™

Insurance Quote Website: What to Look For

There are many services from which to choose, but finding the one that best fits your needs can be a challenge. We picked the most reputable services available and rated them based on the following criteria:

Types of Insurance Quotes
The most comprehensive services offer many coverage options and have access to thousands of agencies. Some services offer only basic policies such as auto or home insurance, whereas others have access to special coverage like professional liability or medical malpractice.

Ease of Use
These sites should be easy to navigate from the start, and the quote request form should take only a few minutes to fill out.

Number & Type of Quotes
The more quotes you receive, the more choices you'll have regarding policy options and pricing. A good service will offer up to four or five quotes as well as alternative links to agencies that may be able to help if you have a special need. It also helps if the quotes present different policies and plans so you can study them and see what will work best for you.

Help & Support Options
Insurance quote websites should offer a variety of contact methods for customer support including telephone, email, mail or instant message. Online support may range from help menus to FAQs pages to glossaries.

To find the insurance quote service that will work best for your insurance needs, whether you are looking for car insurance quotes or any other type of insurance, read our reviews and check out these firms. You may be happily surprised at how easily and smoothly the necessary, but often tedious, task of buying insurance can be.

Is Kris Humphries Gay?!?

Based on a new tabloid report, perhaps Kim Kardashian should be the one claiming she was defrauded her her marriage to Kris Humphries.

Why? Because the basketball player is gay, people! Star Magazine makes that clear in its latest issue by quoting an anonymous source who shares this story from the couple's honeymoon:

“One night she came back to their hotel room in a trench coat... She lit candles, put on some music and started doing a sexy striptease. But Kris barely looked up from the TV! He was like, ‘Later babe. I’m watching SportsCenter now.’”

Well... was Scott Van Pelt anchoring that edition? Because, come on, that dude is hilarious!

Khloe allegedly asked Kim if her husband was homosexual and Kim supposedly had to think about it after awhile because, this tabloid hilariously states, "there were signs."

A publicist for Humphries scoffs at this suggestion and has simply referred to the chatter as "completely false and ridiculous." But what do you think? Is Kris Humphries gay?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/12/is-kris-humphries-gay/

ryan mathews the band perry faith hill cma awards 2011 cma awards 2011 western black rhino western black rhino

Whiskey and cigarettes (Balloon Juice)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/168835859?client_source=feed&format=rss

chattanooga joey lawrence joey lawrence iraq war iraq war loma prieta loma prieta

Strauss-Kahn opens up in new book (Reuters)

PARIS (Reuters) ? Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn says his sexual encounter with a New York hotel maid was "consensual but stupid" and cost him his chance to be the next French president, according to a biography to be published on Thursday.

The book, written by Michel Taubmann who says Strauss-Kahn confided in him, covers sex scandals that have dogged the former French finance minister even after the U.S. assault case ended his career as IMF head and wrecked his chances of running in France's 2012 election.

"Nothing would have happened if I hadn't had this consensual, but stupid relationship with Nafissatou Diallo," Strauss-Kahn is quoted as saying in the book. "That day, I opened the door to all the other affairs."

Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York on May 14 onboard a plane bound for Europe minutes before take-off and charged with attempting to rape Diallo.

Prosecutors eventually dropped all criminal charges, leaving him free to return to his native France. French prosecutors then ruled that a separate sexual assault complaint filed against Strauss-Kahn by a writer involved an incident that happened too long ago for legal action.

"I could have been in a position to be president," Strauss-Kahn is quoted as saying in the book. "Now, I'm no longer in that position, that's all."

He adds that he had an "uninhibited sex life" but says that was not unusual in political and business circles and that he had done nothing illegal.

The media furor around Strauss-Kahn has not stopped with the Diallo case. His name has appeared in media reports on a judicial probe into a prostitution ring in the north of France, known as the Carlton Affair.

That case involves a prostitution ring, discovered this year, that operated in the luxury Carlton Hotel in the city of Lille.

Strauss-Kahn last month asked to speak to investigators in the case to try to end the "dangerous and malicious insinuations."

"In the press, they link my name to prostitution. It's unbearable," he is quoted as saying in the book. "I did go to sex parties, it's true, but usually those who came to these soirees were not prostitutes."

(Reporting By John Irish; Editing by Roger Atwood)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111130/people_nm/us_biography_strauss_kahn

sukkot chia seeds aziz ansari aziz ansari corn maze icloud apple update

Trend on Business Health Insurance

Trend on Business Health Insurance

I was able to purchase health insurance for less if I deal directly with insurance companies, than buying from a dealer?The insurance rate is strictly controlled by the state. Health insurance will cost the same if you use an independent agent health insurance or to negotiate directly with insurance companies.* * * * I have to pay a fee for an independent health insurance agent, etc.The independent agent health insurance is paid a commission by the insurance company has no additional cost for health expenses your insurance.* I have health insurance before. This means that health insurers must accept my application and not a pre-existing condition limitations?Illinois No. It does not matter if you have previous health insurance group health insurance company can still deny your application for an individual or family coverage. If the application is denied, you may be entitled to participate in a "safety net" of government established under a scheme designed for people who are unable to obtain health insurance coverage on the open market.* What are my options if my application for coverage is denied.You can apply the control of health insurance companies, insurance companies use different standards to different suppliers. You may obtain protection for the second time. It depends on the specific health conditions that do not have health insurance company will agree to ensure you can be eligible for registration in the state plan for the chips.Can my health insurance * * * * has been canceled for any reason?Illinois insurance company protects the general consumer can terminate the coverage for the following reasons: (1) failure to pay premium within the grace period for payment, the omissions of material (2.), Or misrepresentation in the application, your health insurance, or (3) insurance companies withdrew from the individual health insurance in your state.* What are the short-term health insurance?Short term health insurance is designed to fill a temporary gap in coverage "permanent" insurance for your health. These policies are inexpensive and can enter into force rapidly. Most short-term plans last for no more than six months. You can buy short-term increase in health insurance for a month or a single payment for one to six months of coverage. All plans, except for short-term coverage for existing conditions. Some candidates are rejected by insurance companies to provide "long term" or coverage "permanent" health are able to obtain health insurance, short-term* What the "backup" What are the rates of health insurance."Integration" is, in our opinion fairly to evaluate the health insurance health insurance companies operate under the guidance of the Holy "book" using the same method to determine the rates for new and existing without it. Taking into account the health status of a client or a history of claims in other words, insurance companies have a rate of "up" pay at lower rates to attract new customers, while charging higher rates to customers for a long The issue is very important for people who wish to enroll in a health insurance plan for more than a year. BestHealthQuotes for health insurance companies using the "backup" of evaluation

92% Take Shelter

schizophrenia or prophecy? this is a hard film to score. its at least a 4 star film, and potentially 5, so ill go in between. it doesnt have a high re-watchability factor which is my only criticism, and that isnt really a criticism because its more a product of the material then the quality of the film. this is easily one of the best films of the year, and one of the better films in the past few years. shannon and chastain were both amazing in their roles, which for chastain amazes me because she has so little experience in film, and even the supporting players around them all added wonderful performances. the subject matter is as engaging as it gets, and as i hoped for through the entire film, things are not what they seem. beautiful direction by nichols, amazing cinematography for such a small scale story, and the material was handled with perfect care. nichols, shannon, and chastain probably all deserve oscar noms, and this is the type of soul stirring film that must be seen. i havent felt like this leaving a film since "a serious man".

November 7, 2011

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/take_shelter/

big 12 last minute halloween costumes rum diary klipsch image s4 chris bosh world series october 28 2011