Happy Veteran's Day! Thank God our government continues to show our nation's veterans a proper level of respect (at least in this arena, anyway), leaving this special day of recognition alone and intact and on the same date every year. It's amazing lawmakers haven't caved in to the "let's get a 3-day weekend outta this holiday" pressures by now. So with that said-thanks to all of the men and women and their families who have sacrificed on so many levels throughout our nation's history. And special prayers go out to all current military personnel (and their families, of course) as the daily headlines remind us how unstable and dangerous a place the world continues to be.  Don't forget: Post offices, banks and federal/state offices are closed today.

Want 5 tips that'll decrease the germs in your world? Forget buying one of those orange "hazardous materials" suits for Christmas and take these simple steps.....

Kill Bill? How about Kill Bambi!?! At least that's what over 1.5 million Americans (and their insurance companies) say every single year: Those gentle little deer ring up over $1.1 billion worth of damages every year...here's how they're doin' it...

And if you'd like to wet your pants (assuming the speakers on your computer work), you've got to listen to this classic "911" call from a guy that hit a deer and is trapped in a phone booth. It's for mature audiences, and it's hilarious.....

Did you cash in on those low interest rates and re-financed your house this year? You might owe the IRS more dough next April as a result! I warned you about this a year ago; with interest rates holding at record low-levels over the last 12 months, many of you took advantage and cashed in-but the end result could be a higher tax bill about 5 months from now. Here's why.

Wanna simple way to lower your taxes? Move!  It's the newest weapon being wielded against our buddies at the IRS-and it's even legal. Before you pack your bags, read more here.

Speaking of the Internal Revenue Service, don't even think about trying to make a deal with 'em on your own! Lousy advice could not only cost you dearly, it could really jack up your total tax bill eventually owed...late fees, interest and/or fines can jump to levels that'll make you think about learning Spanish and heading south of the border. If you've got some tax-related challenges, now's the time to tie down those loose-ends on your terms and get a deal worked out before it's too late.  Non-filers...innocent spouses...941 (payroll taxes) for the entrepreneurs amongst us: Know all your options and learn why hiring an Enrolled Agent probably makes the most sense.

The 2003 shopping season has already started.  Wanna avoid being victimized at your local mall?  Of course I show you how to keep your dough away from the bad guys...as well as where to find some incredible deals on jewelry, high-end watches, electronics and more.  Here you go...

(Are you in the majority?) Wanna know why 58% of those planning December travel have already made their plans? According to this article from The Wall Street Journal, this year's calendar is a major factor. Huh? Read on, thou procrastinating one.....

Think you'll be staying in a hotel room anytime in-oh I dunno-your future? Then you'd better familiarize yourself with the new rules of the cancellation game...or risk getting stung with some major financial penalties.

You'd better get off your rear and start making travel plans for the Thanksgiving holidays now! (Especially since it's just 16 days away...and Christmas is now only 44 days off!):  Get more bang for your turkey buck by getting Thanksgiving and Christmas-time travel planning handled now.  Check out Ben's reliable, no-brainer choice for consistently affordable and competitively priced hotel room or condo deals: www.hotels.com.  

Got heart problems? Not to worry! Liquid Drano's coming soon to a needle near you: Worried about all of those years of fried foods and other nutritional crap? Or maybe you're simply cursed with high cholesterol...there's good news on the medical horizon.....

Speaking of heart problems, DON'T get suckered by those radio-commercial claims from car leasing companies out to hooked you and then wear you down and beat you into an emotional (and maybe financial) pulp!  Check out Ben's free Smart Car Seminar automotive acquisition tips right here!

By the way, AOL subscribers: They're not just tapping into the Middle Eastern labor pools anymore. I had the unfortunate experience of seeking some on-guidance from AOL last week.  The person on the other side of the screen? Located in the Philippines. No, I didn't even talk to him-but he "typed" liked someone from outside U.S. borders. What a pain...and of course they never did fix the problem.....

NostraDover Strikes Again, Part II-It's nice to see Washington's lawmakers finally waking up to the ridiculous laxity in the personal credit information world: They're a step closer to tightening up the credit reporting rules-from e-mailing credit reports, to required "black outs" of credit card numbers on receipts, to even restricting the sharing of our personal information between companies. Hmmmmm...we'll see how the final laws shake out, but for now, read this update.

Quit obsessing on your Thanksgiving plans long enough to focus on something you can really feast on...like declining interest rates! (What...you didn't think I'd miss a chance to for a shameless plug of the best mortgage company in the country, didja?) C'mon...mortgage rates are holding steady (and low) this week, so do something financially-positive for 2004!  

Take the Dover-proven route to stress-free finance, and take advantage while interest rates are STILL at incredibly-low levels!  Ben's no-brainer choice for any/all of your mortgage needs? Easy...do it all on-line or on the phone with the official mortgage company of www.benjamindover.com and your first (and only) stop: W.R. Starkey Mortgage.

Can you hear me now? AT&T gets popped with a $780,000 "Do Not Call List" violation fine! Yea...they're the first to get slapped by the feds...we can only hope they actually enforce it, and slap the thousands of other tele-pests that continue to annoy us. Read more about AT&T's slap on the hand.....

It's an on-line counterfeit explosion of gargantuan proportions...and it's affecting your local neighborhood grocery store: Read why nothing's sacred and everything's fair game to the scammers of the world.....

Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa are all coming up fast, so be a hero this year (for a change)...Instead of showing up at someone's house with a lousy bottle of wine that nobody will drink (or it'll end up being "re-gifted") bring something that's sure to set you apart!  Screw-off tops or canned cranberry sauce can be the quickest way to be de-invited for future events so spend a few bucks and do a little planning today to bring beautiful flowers, direct from Hawaii with you.  Ben's affordable choice?  Tropical Colors.  Order on-line or give 'em a call toll-free (remember to call after 1p ET/12n CT/11a MT and 10a PT because of the time difference): (800) 965-9732.

Guess who's attacking the U.S. Post Office? It's our buddies in brown polyester from UPS! Just in time for the holiday shipping season, read about a new UPS service that might stretch your budget this year-and beyond.

While we're on the topic of holiday shipping, make sure you understand the high price of using a Mailboxes, Etc., UPS Store or other neighborhood shipping center: The price of convenience? Sometimes double...or more. Ouch! Read more.....

They can't stop spam-so why do the Feds think they can "clamp down" on pop-up ads? What a buncha dopes...I'm sure this latest move from Big Brother will scare the scumbags that use this type of marketing strategy...not!

Remember Dover's Rule: Don't ever buy anything from any company that uses spam or pop-up ads.

Could there be a hidden camera or microphone in your home? In your office? In your hotel room? In the bathroom or shower? How do you know? You don't!!! Here's an affordable, Dover-tested solution that'll give you piece peace of mind.....

I hope you get a newer, bigger, faster computer this holiday season...but do you know how to properly dispose of your old one? It just ain't that easy dumping a computer anymore, kids. In fact, pouring toxic chemicals down the sewer might be easier...here's some strategies that'll help you unload your TRS-80....

Oops! Before you dump your computer, you'd sure as hell better know how to properly "wipe" your hard drive...or risk letting some stranger into your extremely personal cyber world! The only sure way to erase your hard drive is to "squeeze" it...writing over the old information with new data-all zeros, for instance-at least once and (preferably) several times. A one-line command will do that for Unix users, and for others, inexpensive software from companies such as AccessData works well.

Few people go to the trouble necessary when "junking" an older computer/hard drive: Many ordinary computer users toss their old drives into the closet, or take a sledgehammer to it. Or do what I do, and spend a few bucks with your local, Mom & Pop-type computer store...and get them to completely zap your data...reformat the hard drive at least twice and use the aforementioned squeeze method to fill the blank spots with zeroes and then erase/reformat it all over again...or you could not only be embarrassed, but very sorry. (Just ask Pete Townshend...)

By the way, here's the best source in the nation for all of your computer-related needs: You really need to find a computer store that you can trust...one that's knowledgeable and will sell you exactly what you need--as well as protect your precious data when you do decide to upgrade your cyber-gear.  No matter where you live, Take It Home Computers is the best, bar none.  There's a reason they fulfill the needs of smart consumers from coast-to-coast.  Don't waste your time with faceless customer service from Dell or Gateway or the big chains.  Check 'em out for yourself...you won't be disappointed.

From the strange bedfellows department this week-NPR's best friend is none other than Ronald McDonald: It looks like eating all of that McCrappy food really will have a long-term benefit...here's how.

You've gotta love those cellular phone company billing departments! Now they're trying to collect from dead people. From the December '03 issue of Kiplinger's: "David Towles of Auburn, MA received a Sprint bill for 12¢ at his legal address-Hillside Cemetery. Alerted to its mistake by Auburn officials, Sprint stopped dunning the deceased." (Can he hear me (or see me) now?)

Didja know that your personal and extremely private medical information may be anything but personal and private? Despite the federal regulations that went into effect earlier this year, here's why loose lips could be sinking your privacy ships.....

Attention all bulimics: This newest warning from the American Academy of Pediatrics could keep you from throwing up! Put down the barf-bag before you visit the medicine cabinet.....