Mike Maddy has been a Union activist for over 30 years. He owns and maintains Unions.org in support of the Labor Union movement. Most recently Mike has worked for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in the capacity of Reverse Mortgage Regional Program Manager. He is responsible for funding over 5,000 reverse mortgages valued at over $1 billion in home capital. Mike is an expert on Senior financial products and reports on all new retiree centric products in the market today. His mantra is "Retire Safe".
On a beautiful June afternoon I was reclining during the lunch hour
in a bustling center in downtown next to the statue of Chief Seattle.
On the benches surrounding this steel, cement and water monument, there was a
buzz of activity coming from mobile phone users frantically texting on
their hand held array of mobile devices. I studied the irony of this
scene. I began to think about what Chief Seattle was famous for. His wise diplomatic ability for uniting the primitive citizens of
the Northwest and the new neighbors of the modern world. His famous
concession speech was an acknowledgment that the world as he knew it,
would begin to change and his people must embrace this new life that
the white man was bringing.
I was thinking to myself if that Statuesque figure drapped in a
blanket could come alive right at that moment and see where we have
come in the short 100 plus years since his death. Would he understand
modern technology? Maybe in his wisdom he had some insightful vision of
what we would become?
My attention immediately drew back to the cluster of Texters whose
fingers were sending out volumes of characters and phonic codes into
the cellular highways of our modern world. Would our modern ancestors
understand this impersonal form of communication or would they find us
genius and efficient.
A cool Northwest gust of wind stirred me back to the reality of July
2009, Seattle, WA. The army of busy workers surrounding me seemed all
very normal and I closed my eyes to think of all the wonderful words
using that were being sent out to people. I looked up at the Regal
Chief Seattle and under my breathe whispered a thot to him- would you
text your words if you could. I imagined he peered back at me and
winked- affirmative.
WHAT IS TEXT MESSAGING?
Text messaging is most often used between private mobile phone
users, as a substitute for voice calls in situations where voice
communication is impossible or undesirable. In some regions, text
messaging is significantly cheaper than placing a phone call to another
mobile phone.
Short message services are developing very rapidly throughout the
world. In 2000, just 17 billion SMS messages were sent; in 2001, the
number was up to 250 billion, and 500 billion SMS messages in 2008. At
an average cost of USD
0.10 per message, this generates revenues in excess of $50 billion for
mobile telephone operators and represents close to 100 text messages
for every person in the world.
I looked into how Text messaging is being used today by various
Unions and found that the applications are very effective in saving
money and time to communicate with its members. Here is a list of some
of those applications.
Labor Union Applications for Text Messaging
Updates on current contract negotiations
Info on where to find details on current votes
Notice about meeting dates and events
Links to other portals for information related to their cause
Outcome of latest votes
General survey of member reaction to specific happenings
1-on-1 communication with members
Labor Union managers are becoming more proactive in their approach
to new technologies. Text messaging is the easiest, cheapest and most
time efficient way to communicate with ones members.
I, like Chief Seattle embrace this change in how I communicate with
our Labor union members. If you want to discuss this with me give me a
call.
The
experienced family law attorneys at the Law Office of Eugene Lumberg
and Eric S. Lumberg are committed to helping a party through the
difficult and emotional challenges involved in any domestic matter. If
you are thinking about getting a divorce, need help in any family law
matter or have already become involved in a court case, we can help.
We handle all matters that come during and after a divorce or other
domestic situation including child custody and visitation issues,
support for minor children and other expenses, spousal support,
property issues and asset management. We also handle modification of
child custody, visitation and support after the divorce is final. We
will work with our client to enforce any court orders and secure all
property distributions.
Anyone involved in a divorce or domestic matter knows how emotional it
can be. Your life, your family and your future are at stake. Having
an attorney who understands your emotional concerns is equally as
important as knowing your financial issues.
Your attorney should listen to your thoughts and concerns at all stages
of the proceeding and offer full explanations of the process and
procedure. Knowing what to expect in and out of court will help with
your emotional thoughts and let you concentrate on the other important
issues to help you protect and secure your family and future.
Every case is managed with your concerns in mind after extensive
discussions about your needs. We are focused and committed to the
areas that concern you the most such as child custody and parenting
time, support and property division. In every case, we focus on your
specific needs in order to provide security and protection of your
life.
We take your financial security seriously and work to protect and
resolve any complex property or financial issues. We work with a team
of experts on issues such as business valuation, forensic accounting
and retirement account distribution. Most people will have significant
short and long term financial effects and we work to minimize any
negative impacts for our clients. In protecting financial assets, your
family security is protected as well.
Domestic issues can continue even after the divorce is over, especially
if there are minor children. Since many issues will continue involving
the kids until they are adults, the parties can not avoid at least some
contact with each other. Support can be modified as either parents’
income changes. We work with our clients to make sure that current
support and expenses are consistent with income. It is important that
when a change of circumstance occurs, that you contact an attorney
immediately to discuss your rights. Further, both parties must work to
place any negative feelings toward the ex-spouse behind them and focus
on the future. This can negatively affect the minor children during
parenting time periods. If a modification of the custody order or
parenting time schedule is needed, we work with our clients to fully
realize the factors necessary to make a change.
We also represent clients opposed to changes in support or custody
orders. Such attempts may affect your child support, payment of
expenses, or time spent with your child. There may also be an attempt
to move away significantly impacting your family. We work to explain
the process and the requirements of all court procedures to protect
your rights and your family. Contact an attorney at the Law Office of
Eugene Lumberg and Eric S. Lumberg today at 248-626-8383 to discuss
your family law matter.
We also represent our clients in other matters such as all traffic
issues, license restoration and modification, driving under the
influence of alcohol or drugs and open intoxicants. If you or a family
member, including your children, has these issues, contact us today to
protect your rights and your future. Any action taken today can have
lasting effects on you later.
If you or a family member is involved in a criminal case, contact us
immediately to discuss your rights. Early involvement insures that you
get the best possible representation and protection of your rights. We
represent clients in the entire Metro Detroit area, including Oakland,
Wayne, Macomb and Washtenaw counties and all cities and townships.
Call the Law Office of Eugene Lumberg and Eric S. Lumberg today at
248-626-8383.
There are more than 25.5 million
Veterans and service personnel eligible for VA financing, and the VA
Loans offer many advantages. Keep in mind that VA Loans are only for
Veterans who served on active duty and have a discharge other than
dishonorable after serving a minimum of 90 days during wartime or a
minimum of 181 continuous days during peacetime. There is a six-year
requirement for the National Guard and Reservists with certain
criteria. If you meet the these requirements, you are lucky enough to
be eligible to pre-qualify for VA Home Loan.
If you are a first-time homebuyer and eligible for a VA Loan think about the following:
With a VA Home Loan, you can buy a new home for up to $800,000 with no down-payment and get the same low VA Loan interest rate.
With a VA Loan, the seller is allowed to pay all of your closing costs.
The following are other important facts you should know when looking at getting a VA Home Loan:
All qualified Veterans have an equal opportunity to obtain a VA Loan.
Va Loans do not require a down payment.
With Va Loans, the uyer informed of reasonable value.
VA Loans have a negotiable interest rate.
VA
Loans offer the ability to finance the VA funding fee and offer reduced
funding fees with a down payment of at least 5%. Veterans receiving VA
compensation are exempt from the funding fee.
VA Loans offer comparable if not lower closing costs to other financing types
VA Loans do not require mortgage insurance, saving you money on premiums
VA Loans offer an assumable mortgage
VA Loans give you the right to prepay without penalty .
For
homes inspected by the VA during construction, you can get a warranty
from the builder and assistance from the VA to obtain cooperation of
the builder
The VA offers assistance to Veteran borrowers in default on their VA Loan due to temporary financial difficulty
Which
lender should you use to get a reverse mortgage? It may depend on the
type of loan you want. Public sector reverse mortgages aren't available
in most areas. And
when they are, usually only one government agency offers any specific
type of loan. Normally, you can't have more than one type of public
sector reverse mortgage on your home. So you would be selecting a loan
type—for example, a property tax deferral loan, or a deferred payment home repair loan—rather than a lender.
In the private sector, the federally-insured Home Equity Conversion
Mortgage (HECM) is by far the most frequently selected reverse
mortgage. That is why lenders offering proprietary private sector plans
also offer HECMs. So this article focuses on selecting a HECM lender.
But it also tells you which of them can give you the side-by-side
comparisons of HECM versus proprietary loans that meet AARP's model
specifications.
What lender should you use to get a federally-insured Home Equity
Conversion Mortgage (HECM)? AARP advises that you consider cost,
origination services, loan servicing, and a lender's professional
commitment to meeting your needs.
Cost
HECM loan costs can vary by a lot from lender to lender, so it pays
to shop around before deciding on a lender. Letting lenders know that
you are shopping around may also help you get a better deal.
The only HECM costs that lenders do not control are the upfront and
monthly mortgage insurance premiums. So you need to find out how much
each lender you are considering would charge you for the origination
fee, all third-party closing costs, the monthly servicing fee, and—most importantly—the
interest rate. Some lenders may say that their interest rate is based
on a specific rate index plus a “margin.” If they do, ask what the
actual interest rate would currently be.
When comparing the cost of loan fees versus interest, keep in mind
that the interest rate will apply to your total and growing loan
balance for as long as the loan lasts. Ask lenders and your HECM
counselor to show you what the impact of different available
combinations of loan fees and interest rates would be on the amount you
would owe in the future. If you are concerned about rising interest
rates on an adjustable rate loan, ask them to show you how much more
you would owe if the average rate on your loan would be higher than the
rate initially charged on the loan.
Origination Services
The level of service a lender provides is more difficult to judge
than cost is, but service is just as important. You want your loan
officer to be knowledgeable, experienced, and respectful.
After reading all of AARP's Web site information on reverse
mortgages, you will be better able to judge how well a lender knows
reverse mortgages. How long a lender has been offering reverse
mortgages and in how many places may be particularly important if your
loan runs into any unexpected snags. An experienced lender has already
encountered most of the issues that can cause problems, and is most
likely to have a good working relationship with the nearest HUD office.
You also want a loan officer who respects your knowledge and
preferences and helps you reach your own decisions. You don't want to
feel pressured by a loan officer, And you don't want a loan officer who
is clearly more concerned about selling you a loan than meeting your
needs.
Loan Servicing
At loan closing, most lenders transfer their loans to another office
or company that specializes in servicing the loan. Ask each lender you
are considering, "Who will service my loan after it closes?" and
request a sample of the account statements the servicer would send you.
Make certain you fully understand all the information on these
statements. In particular, if you are considering a HECM creditline,
find out how the servicer would keep you informed about the growing
amount of cash that a HECM creditline provides.
Professional Commitment
A commitment to meeting consumer needs can be seen in a lender's
professional relationships and consumer information. For example,
members of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA)
have developed "best practices" for their industry. If you don't want
to be contacted by a NRMLA lender, however, be sure to state that
preference if you request any NRMLA publications.
Lenders committed to the highest standard of consumer information
can provide loan analyses and comparisons that meet AARP's model
specifications. The only computer software currently meeting this
standard is the Reverse Mortgage Analyzer by Financial Freedom Senior
Funding Corporation, and two programs by Ibis Software: the Reverse
Mortgage Originator (RMO) and the Reverse Mortgage Analyst (RMA).
Lenders currently using RMO are listed on the Ibis Web site.
The printout with the key side-by-side comparisons is called the
"Reverse Mortgage Performance" report in the Financial Freedom
software, and the "Reverse Mortgage Comparisons" report in the Ibis RMO
and RMA software. Be sure to ask for these specific printouts,
especially if you are considering a proprietary loan.
Free Reverse Mortgage Information
Complete
this form and a free inside information on reverse mortgages packet and
the new added benefits for seniors Congress just passed will be sent to
you:
With the dramatic downturn in the stock market in 2008 and the continued uncertainties that prevail in 2009, many are fearful of what lies ahead, especially as it relates to their hopes for a safe and secure retirement. So what can you do? First off, do not ignore the problem as that will not help your situation. All too often I hear from people that say "I don’t even look at my 401(k) or IRA statements...it's too depressing." Well, the reality is you need to always diligently monitor your investments to ensure you are on the right track. Even the pros lose money, especially in bear markets like we have had over the past 12 months or so. Second, make sure you understand the investments you own and the amount of risk involved. Said another way, make sure the amounts allocated to equities, bonds and other asset classes (real estate) is proper for your age and risk tolerance. This process, asset allocation, is one of the most important but most overlooked investment principles. A great example of asset allocation is my 71 year-old mother-in-law who was 100% invested in the stock market as of November 2007. Having just lost her husband (who managed their investments) while she watched their investments incur a serious decline, she was at a loss as to what to do. Thankfully, she reallocated her monies into bonds and has largely withstood the 2008 decline. A simple but effective rule of thumb is to subtract your age from 100 and this is the percentage of assets you should allocate to equities. In the case of my mother-in-law, this would suggest she should have 30% in equities...not 100%! Third, be honest with yourself as to your knowledge of investments and the amount of time you have to oversee your investments. If you want to do it yourself, you must commit to acquire and maintain a solid understanding of investments. If you neither have the interest or the time, I would strongly encourage you to seek the services of a qualified financial advisor. While there are many advisors out there, be relentless in your pursuit of one that can help you meet your financial goals. This requires a little time and know-how, but your retirement depends on it.
Tom Dickson Registered Investment Advisor (412) 441-1272
Every state has drunk
driving laws. Most states refer to drunk driving as DUI; some states
refer to drunk driving as DWI; still others refer to drunk driving as
OUI, OWI, DUII, DWAI, OUIL or OMVI. But no matter what you call it, the
consequences are potentially severe: jail, fines, loss of driver's license, required ignition interlock devices, attendance at alcohol education programs, lectures given by MADD, SADD, or RADD, community service or freeway cleanup, increased car insurance rates, a criminal conviction, and more.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have per se laws defining it as a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above a proscribed level, 0.08 percent. Forty-five states permit some offenders to drive only if their vehicles have been equipped with ignition interlocks. These devices analyze a driver's breath and disable the ignition if the driver has been drinking. In 30 states, multiple offenders may forfeit vehicles that are driven while impaired by alcohol.
Forty-three states and Washington D.C.
have laws prohibiting the driver, passengers or both from possessing an
open container of alcohol in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
License suspension or revocation
traditionally follows conviction for alcohol-impaired driving. Under a
procedure called administrative license suspension, licenses are taken
before conviction when a driver fails or refuses to take a chemical test.
Because administrative license suspension laws are independent of
criminal procedures and are invoked right after arrest, they've been
found to be more effective than traditional post-conviction sanctions.
Forty-one states and the District of Columbia have administrative
license suspension laws.
Prosecution for drunk driving in every state focuses on four areas: driving patterns, physical appearance, field sobriety tests, and chemical tests(or the refusal to give a breath or blood test, which may show a consciousness of guilt).
Prior
drunk driving convictions may impact a current DUI arrest, but the
formula will vary from state to state. In some states, the date of the
prior arrest will control. In other states, the date of the prior
conviction will control.
Because of the threat
of loss of federal highway funds, there has been a strong trend to
reduce the legal limit for those 21 and older to 0.08% across the
country. No one is lobbying on behalf of the impaired driver. However,
given the problems associated with alcohol testing technologies,
and possible subjective and erratic manner in which drunk driving
investigations can be performed in the field, there may be doubts as to
whether some DUI arrests and prosecutions are justified.
Questions & Answers When Looking
For an Elder Law Attorney
Legal problems that affect the elderly are growing in number. Our
laws and regulations are becoming more complex. Actions taken by older
people with regard to a single matter may have unintended legal
effects. It is important for attorneys dealing with the elderly to have
a broad understanding of the laws that may have an impact on a given
situation, to avoid future problems.
Unfortunately, this job is not made easy by the fact that Elder Law encompasses many different fields of law.
Some of these include:
Preservation/transfer of assets seeking to avoid spousal impoverishment when a spouse enters a nursing home
Disability planning, including use of durable powers of attorney,
living trusts, "living wills," for financial management and health care
decisions, and other means of delegating management and decision-making
to another in case of incompetency or incapacity.
Estate planning, including planning for the management of one's
estate during life and its disposition on death through the use of
trusts, wills and other planning documents
Most elder law attorneys do not specialize in every one of these
areas. So when an attorney says he/she practices Elder Law, find out
which of these matters he/she handles. You will want to hire the
attorney who regularly handles matters in the area of concern in your
particular case and who will know enough about the other fields to
question whether the action being taken might be affected by laws in
any of the other areas of law on the list. For example, if you are
going to rewrite your will and your spouse is ill, the estate planner
needs to know enough about Medicaid to know whether it is an issue with
regard to your spouse's inheritance.
Attorneys who primarily work with the elderly bring more to their
practice than an expertise in the appropriate area of law. They bring
to their practice a knowledge of the elderly that allows them and their
staff to ignore the myths relating to aging and the competence of the
elderly. At the same time, they will take into account and empathize
with some of the true physical and mental difficulties that often
accompany the aging process. Their understanding of the afflictions of
the aged allows them to determine more easily the difference between
the physical versus the mental disability of a client. They are more
aware of real life problems, health and otherwise, that tend to crop up
as persons age. They are tied into a formal or informal system of
social workers, psychologists and other elder care professionals who
may be of assistance to you. All of these things will hopefully make
you more comfortable when dealing with them and ease your way as you
try to resolve your legal problem.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,
signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, is a $787
billion stimulus bill. One of the many provisions of the bill is to
directly provide relief to millions on the COBRA plan or ex-employees
who need COBRA coverage. This "COBRA stimulus plan" will provide
enrollees a COBRA premium subsidy along with providing COBRA benefits
to ex-employees who denied coverage.
Discover everything you should know about quitting smoking.
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What is Cremation?
Cremation is the process by which a body is exposed to extreme heat,
usually 1800 - 2000 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more. Through
this process the body is reduced to its basic elements, which are
referred to as the "cremated body" or "cremated remains". Cremation
occurs at a crematorium in a special kind of furnace called a cremation
chamber or retort. It may surprise many to learn that ashes are not the
final result since cremated remains have neither the appearance nor the
chemical properties of ashes. They are, in fact, bone fragments. These
fragments are further reduced in size through a mechanical process.
After preparation, these elements are placed in a temporary container
that is suitable for transport. Depending upon the size of the body,
there are nomally three to nine pounds of fragments resulting. Are there any religions that do not approve of cremation?
Orthodox Judaism and Islam forbid cremation. Today, all of the
Christian denominations allow cremation. All other main religions are
happy for their members to choose to be cremated. (The Catholic Church
accepts cremation as long as it is not chosen for reasons which are
contrary to Christian teachings.) Does cremation contribute to atmospheric pollution?
The 1990 Environmental Protection Act placed certain responsibilities
on crematoria to ensure that the process is carefully controlled to
minimize the impact on the environment. How can one be certain that all remains are kept separate, and receive the correct remains?
All responsible cremation providers have thorough operating policies
and procedures in order to provide the highest level of service and
reduce the possibility of human error. If you have questions, ask the
cremation providers what procedures they use. Is a casket required for a cremation to take place?
A casket is not required for a cremation to take place. All that is
required is an alternative container in most states. The construction
can be made of wood or cardboard, which is cremated with the body. In
some states, no container is required. Is it required for an embalming to take place prior to cremation?
This is completely untrue. Actually it is against the law for a funeral home to tell you it is required.
Can a cremation be witnessed by the family?
Yes, in most situations, the cremation providers will permit family
members to be in attendances when the body is placed into the cremation
chamber. Actually, a few religious groups include this as part of their
funeral practice. What options are available with the cremated remains?
There are countless options and laws do vary from state to state. Some
options include remains being buried in a cemetery lot or cremation
garden, inurned in a columbarium, kept at home, or scattered into the
sea. Do most funeral homes have a crematory onsite?
Most funeral homes have to contract out this very vital process to
third party providers whereas the funeral home has very small or no
control over the crematory's operating procedures. Often, the family
incurs additional transportation operating cost and unnecessary delays.
Several of the cremation providers listed on cremation info manage and
operate their own cremation facility. What usually happens after the cremation is finished?
All organic bone fragments and all non-consumed metal items are placed
into a stainless steel cooling pan located in the back of the cremation
chamber. All non-consumed items, such as metal from clothing, hip
joints, and bridgework, are divided from the cremated remains. This
separation is accomplished through visual inspection as well as using a
strong magnet for smaller and minute metallic objects. Items such as
dental gold and silver are non-recoverable and are commingled in with
the cremated remains. Remaining bone fragments are then processed in a
machine to a consistent size and placed into a temporary or permanent
urn, selected by the family.
Can more than one cremation be performed at once?
It is never done. Not only is it practical impossibility, but illegal
to do so. The majority of modern cremation chambers are not of adequate
size to house more than one adult. What do cremated remains look like?
Cremated remains bear a resemblance to coarse sand and are pasty white
in color. The remains of a normal size adult usually weigh between four
to six pounds. Are all cremated remains returned to the family?
With the exclusion of minuscule and microscopic particles, which are
impossible to remove from the cremation chamber and processing machine,
all of the cremated remains are returned to the family.
Are urns required to collect the cremated remains?
Law does not require an urn. Nevertheless, an urn may be desired if
there is to be a memorial service or the remains are to be interred in
a cemetery. If an urn is not purchased, or provided by the family, the
cremated remains are usually returned in a temporary container.