Tuesday, February 3, 2004

 

"Many a truth is spoken in jest."

– Anonymous

As long as we're focusing on the wealthiest man in the world, let's pause for a moment to see where you come out on that list.....  Exactly!  I'm not on it, either...so let's not go broke this Valentine's Day: Here are some gift ideas that'll stretch your love-budget a little further.....

    Incredible flowers--not overpriced roses--but beautiful and affordable flowers sent direct from Hawaii!

 

Instead of asking your doctor if he’s washed his hands lately, ask if his (or her) malpractice premium's paid up: With medical malpractice insurance premiums climbing steeply, a growing number of physicians are taking a radical step: They’re canceling their coverage altogether. Going bare, as it is known, or "self-insuring," means that doctors, rather than insurance companies, are responsible for legal fees and any judgments or settlements if they’re sued. For patients it means potentially less money if their doctor botches the job. Say "ahhhhhh" and read more... (Warning: If you wanna read this eye-opening article, you’ll have to register with the Canton [OH] website in order to access this article for free. Otherwise, you can pay for it ($2.95) on the Wall Street Journal’s website by clicking here.)

 

From the "you read it here first" department...it's the newest way to get your income tax refund: "Stored value" a/k/a "prepaid" Visa/MasterCards. Jackson-Hewitt, the nation’s second largest tax preparation service (behind H&R Block) is giving customers a more convenient way to blow their tax refunds....plastic.

IRS-related troubles hanging over your head?  Personal or business challenges aren't as hard to work out as you might think, especially if you hire the right representation to cut a deal with the world's most powerful debt collection agency.  Wanna read more about it?

As long as we’re talking about the world of plastic, American Express isn’t the "exclusive" card it used to be: And here’s the 4-letter word that proves my point–MBNA...(read why).

Looking for more proof that many of the debt problems ending up in bankruptcy court are a direct result of reckless lending? You'll love this tender story about a man, his dog...and his dog's new credit card.

Speaking of credit: Life happens and when it does, money can get awfully tight.  Don't make bad decision make a lousy situation even worse.  Here's where you can get your hands on Ben's popular pull-no-punches books and fire the debt collectors!  Or maybe you need to take legal actions and clear the slate in '04?  Read more here.....

A boom goes bust–mortgage re-financings are falling abruptly: Read why the business has gone a bit soft for some......but more importantly, the old adage "you snooze, you lose" could bite many of you in the mortgage rate-shopping butts: All the experts are predicting steady interest rate increases in ’04, a direct result of the big deficits the Bush Administration is facing.  All the more reason to get off the dime and plunge into the world of home ownership, or re-fi your current mortgage into a lower/longer-term affair.....

Let’s see–it’s the "off-time" of year and interest rates are at 6-month lows.  What other kicks-in-the-butt do you need to move into the home ownership world? Maybe you already own a home and just need to re-fi your investment, now's the time to get off the proverbial dime. Ben's no-brainer choice? W.R. Starkey Mortgage has the Dover Seal of Approval because they're the best, no-B.S. mortgage company in the nation...period.  They consistently on their company positioning statement: "A different kind or mortgage company where people come first." 

If you're considering taking the home ownership plunge this year, get smart(er) about the process: Click here to get your free copy of Ben's 2004 Home Buyer's Guide.

He calls it "Jesus Juice" but prosecutors are about to nail him with "Jacko Juice": This guy is one sick puppy...and if he walks on this deal he’s got more (public persona) lives than Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton combined. No wonder everyone thought "things go better with Coke!".....

[insert humming here.....] "Looks like he made it!" (For now, anyway...) Barry Manilow’s in the Copacobana General Hospital, head "Nurse Mandy" presiding over his care because of chest pains.....

Dontcha love the amazing resources I compile every week in the Dose of Dover? Good! Then don't whine about having to sign-up for free access: Like anything in life, there's always gonna be a trade-off on some level. I embed dozens of links in every edition of this newsletter, and my frequent sources, The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register and USA Today require varying levels of registration in order to access their websites for free...with one small caveat: If you try to hit an older story, there's a reasonable chance that the news organization has either moved the story to a new URL, or to their archives.  If it's archived, there's a high probability that they'll charge you for access to the story...usually under $3.  Don't whine about it...just pay 'em if you wanna read it--or not.  It's always your choice.

Also worth noting: Nowhere is it written that you have to give accurate information when you sign up for free access on their website. They'd like you to, but they'll never really know. So use a disposable e-mail address (like Hotmail or Yahoo) and get creative when you register.  But just remember: They/we are giving you a tremendous service for a great price...free!  So no complaining.....

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for the return of Gay Focker: One of the silliest movies in recent memory (2000) has to be Ben Stiller’s "Meet The Parents" and the much-anticipated sequel might include Barbra Streisand–cast opposite Dustin Hoffman–as the parents of Ben (Gay Focker) Stiller. If you never saw the original, it’s definitely worth a rent.....

In the market for some high-end Valentine's Day-related baubles?  The big day's only 11 days away...more motivation to check out Ben's diamond/jewelry buying tips...all assembled in one easy-to-reference section.....

Did you get infected by the recent e-mail laden virus attack? If so, you’re a dope. The only thing certain these days is that only the most cyber-stupid are spreading viruses more freely than a hooker in Haiti: You’re not dumb enough to open e-mailed attachments...are you? Here’s more info about the latest digital plague.....

But didja hear about the good news from the latest cyberattack? It’s the unveiling of the National Cyber Alert System, another service from our pals at the Department of Homeland Security: Sign up for breaking news and a chance to see our tax dollars at work.....

C’mon! It’s easy to get the latest information about the newest/most dangerous viruses running the Internet: Even better–it’s free!  Click here and sign up.....

Since we're on the subject of keeping you informed and in the loop, do you know what’s on your credit report? Here’s how to get a free copy, right here/right now! Look Einstein, your credit scores change every single hour–when was the last time you saw a copy of yours? Click here and get a look at your reports...

There’s no such thing as a free lunch: Just because they position themselves as a source for a "free credit report," it doesn’t mean that they’re really free. They’ll give you a free 30-day trial with the hope that you won’t cancel and you’ll stick around for an entire year, but this service really is free if you cancel before the 30-days is up, so go for it.

Do you know who the biggest gift to radio morning show hosts and late night TV talk show hosts is–at least thus far in ’04? Nope....not Whacko Jacko, but the nutbag former governor of Vermont (and soon to be former presidential candidate) Howard Dean.  Don’t take my word for it–turn up your speakers and listen for yourself.....

There's a reason why the cable companies of the world are the butt of so many jokes: Their cavalier attitude's a big plus for the competition, along with rising prices and crappy service.  Here's the perfect Valentine's Day gift that everyone will appreciate the rest of the year!  (And here's why I love my Dish!)

What words might have saved Jeffrey Dahmer from a life sentence in prison? "Ummmmmm, I think he needs a little salt." At least that’s the defense an attorney must’ve used to get his client off in Frankfurt, Germany: A computer expert who killed, dismembered and ate another man was convicted Friday of manslaughter and sentenced to 8½ years in prison after a court rejected a murder charge because the victim had asked to be eaten. Armin Meiwes was spared a life sentence because he was driven not by "unchecked sexual needs," as prosecutors alleged, but rather "the fulfillment of his fantasy."  Pour yourself a glass of Chianti and read more.....

Looking for a Dover-smart way to keep a handle on your family's spending? (Just in time for Valentine's Day): Every time your wife or husband opens a new (joint) credit card account or requests a credit line increase (on an existing) joint account, you'll be instantly notified.  This type of information is invaluable to innocent spouses being rudely jolted into the spending reality that's been going on behind their backs.  If you think your spouse might be less-than-faithful or even planning to divorce you in the near future, credit report activity is always one of the earliest signs that's ignored or not even recognized by soon-to-be-ex-spouses (or their attorneys).  Cut 'em off at the knees and start monitoring your credit reports immediately!

As you prepare to paper your tax-related trail, do you know how long you need to keep your receipts? Dover’s Rule of (IRS) Thumb^* will help you clean out your filing cabinets:

    – Tax-related documents: From charitable receipt to the returns themselves: 3 years

    – Real-estate investment paperwork: 1 year after selling the property

    – Major home repairs/improvements: Ditto

    – Utility/phone/credit card bills: 1 year

* These are general guidelines: Don’t come whining to me if you get audited and don’t have any proof. Like anything/everything else, consult with a certified/qualified expert for the final "keep-or-burn" decision. When you do start throwin’ stuff away, shred it/burn it. Don’t just toss it, or the bad guys will find it and make your life more miserable than a busload of IRS auditors.

Too late and already in the IRS cross-hairs? Here's your Dover-blessed solution: The Schlichting Group.

Screwin’ Americans outta the green with over-priced red-white-and-blue: Lawmakers are whinin’ because Capitol Flags is making a profit on previously "flown-over-the-capitol" flags they buy from congressmen/senators for cheap and mark-up for a nice profit.

Here's how to get the real deal at cost for the patriot in your life–a flag that’s been flown over the U.S. Capitol...

...and don't forget the perfect companion gift: A personalized letter from the President...

Answer: Alex Trebek. Question? Name a TV game host that coulda killed himself when he recently fell asleep at the wheel of his pick-up truck.....

The bad guys are out there trying to steal your identity; when was the last time you looked at your credit reports?  Between the bad guys and a wacky-spouse that's outta control with the plastic, credit monitoring services make more sense than ever before...Plus: You'd better know how the diamond/jewelry game is played before you make that big Valentine's Day purchase.  Guiding you through (love) life's minefield, one marital counseling session at a time, check out the February 5, 2004 edition of Ask Benjamin Dover from The Dallas Morning News right here!