Explaining the Bailout

I don't have a degree in economics and all this talk about the bailout plan confuses me. So I found this email from Congress Women Sue Myrick very interesting.

Below is an op-ed written by Representative, along with an audio update on the credit market crisis.
Credit Market Crisis
The credit market crisis affects you, probably more than you can imagine. For that reason I spent several days last week talking with local business people – many I have known twenty to thirty years. Their businesses are solid. Yet their credit was frozen, causing them to say they would have to lay off employees. That could mean massive unemployment in our area. Most businesses use short-term loans for cash flow, buying equipment, renovations, etc. That’s the way business works. They know they have the income from contracts or sales to pay it off. Mecklenburg County’s debt service is also escalating, causing them to have to make hard decisions.
One car dealer told me that two thirds of all the people who applied for a car loan on his lot last week were denied, even though they had excellent credit. A textile mill in Kings Mountain closed, citing unavailable credit.
Voting for a bill I hate was the hardest decision of my life, worse than agreeing to undergo chemotherapy and radiation when I had breast cancer, with no guarantee it would work. It was the same with that bill.
One was a personal decision that affected one person – me. The bad bill affected 300+ million people. I could not risk doing nothing. We were simply out of time. According to one of my most trusted financial advisers, we’re seeing decades of history happening in weeks.
I talked with an economist who works with business people all over the country, and he told me he’s never seen such fear in their eyes – except when he was in the World Trade Center on 9/11.
People wonder how that bill will help them. Well, the loans the government will buy do have value – homes – behind them. Once the economy stabilizes and home values stop falling, those loans will be sold and the money will go toward our country’s debt.
There are checks and balances on the money. $250 billion to start and that will be monitored before the additional funds can be used. It’s not a blank check.
By voting no the first time, we forced the Securities and Exchange Commission to change the accounting rules so the loans can be listed at fair value.
Also, the FDIC insurance limits are raised from $100,000 to $250,000, which helps small businesses and individuals. It also included some other tax provisions to benefit you.
I believe in doing what is right for you and for our country.
There is a credit crisis. Either you believe that fact or you don't. I do.
I'm old enough to remember the effects of the Great Depression. Make no doubt about it, if the credit markets do freeze up, commerce will grind to a halt. Not a slow down... but a complete freeze. That action would lead to a deep recession – possibly depression - and I felt it had to be avoided.
Sincerely,
Sue MyrickMember of Congress

How to can Tomatoes from your garden

With all the talk of becoming more self-sufficient, going green, and of course the current.....saving money......I thought a post about how to can tomatoes from your own garden would be good. You know they are vine-ripened, no preservatives and if you choose to make it so, they can be organic. It's a little daunting when you first get started. You have to purchase some supplies that you should be able to reuse over and over, but it's really not hard. Besides, there's nothing like tomatoes from your own garden. The ones in the stores just don't compare.

Here's a site that explains it well, with tips and advice, and it even has great illustrations. Give it a try.

http://www.pickyourown.org/canning_tomatoes.htm

I just did my own salsa and will have to share the recipe. My family loved it!!

I spent all day today at my sewing machines. I will have to share the pictures tomorrow when I have enough light to take pictures. I am making aprons and matching chef hats for little girls for the holidays. They turned out so cute. I still have lots more to do and will, no doubt, be working overtime this week trying to get it all done. But for now I am going to bed. Got to get my rest so I can do it again tomorrow. Tomorrow should be even more productive because the kids were out of school today, so that meant lots of interruptions.

So Good Night!! :)

How to make a pillowcase dress

Keeping with my short and sweet posts this week, I found this great blog with directions on how to make a pillowcase dress. The directions are short and sweet too. I was really surprised at how simple they are to make and I've been sewing for a very long time!

http://www.jenleheny.com/pillowcase-dress-instructions

Check it out.

Wow!, we hit our 2000th visitor today!

I know that really isn't that many people. But I am definitely up from the 3 or 4 visitors I used to get in a week!! Keep telling people about my blog! I really appreciate all who already do and I would love to hear from you.

Thanks loyal readers.

Homemade cleaning supplies

Just another quick post. Jen, our great leader of MUIB told us about her sister's blog and her list of homemade GREEN cleaners. Some I already knew about, some I didn't.

http://mysouthernhippiemarriedmomoffourlife.blogspot.com/2008/10/homemade-green-cleaning-recipes.html

Worth a try either way.

Want to start selling on eBay?

Here's a page with some great tips on getting started. There's also some great links with other info that might benefit both buyers and sellers.

Check it out!

http://www.drexelantiques.com/ebayhelp.html

So on to other things. I don't want to dwell on politcal junk too long. I have no desire to debate it with anyone. I just think everyone should be informed no matter who they plan on voting for.

So this week, I have really been cramming, trying to get ready for a craft show next weekend. I may be a little scarce for the the next 9 days or so as I finish up all this product that's not ready. I will try and post something, though it might short and sweet.

Wish me luck.

Did Obama support infanticide?

I wanted to dig a little deeper into this debate going on between Gianna Jessen and Obama and whether he voted against the Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This is what I found.

http://www.bornalivetruth.org/pressreleases.aspx

http://www.bornalivetruth.org

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/obama_and_infanticide.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/04/the-next-smear-against-ob_n_116891.html

http://townhall.com/columnists/TerenceJeffrey/2008/01/09/obama_is_the_most_pro-abortion_candidate_ever?page=2


I don't know, you be the judge.

Fun post for October 1st!

Cna yuo raed tihs?

Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

if you can raed tihs forwrad it