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Good Money - Is it a good time to convert to Roth IRAs?

Your guide to profitable and socially responsible investing
By Judith L. Seid, CFP ®

If your retirement assets took a beating in the recent stock market decline, converting an IRA to a Roth IRA may be one of the best tax strategies this year and could save you a fortune in taxes. But you need to understand the rules and play the game right.


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9 Ways That "Waiting For Mortgage Rates to Fall" Can Come Back To Haunt You

By Jim Copeland

February 2009 (San Diego) — At the end of 2008, as mortgage rates fell to
around 5%, homeowners helped to start a mini-refinance boom.  Recently,
self-doubt has crept in as rates have inched upward since January 14, 2009

Rest easy, friends.  You're not missing out.


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EAST OF THE LINE: LOCAL ECONOMY GETS SHOT IN THE ARM FROM BORDER OPERATIONS

By Billie Jo Jannen

Victor Leon of Potrero and Rudolfo Reyes of Campo put a raked finish on the drying concrete at the base of the border fence in the far western portion of Campo. They are working on the south side of the fence, which is constructed a short distance north of the border inside the border "buffer zone." Workers on the fence have been harassed by suspected smugglers on the Mexican side and there was at least one incident of rock-throwing toward U.S. workers.

February 16, 2009 (Campo) — Of the 670 miles of infrastructure built along the Southwest border as of January '09, about 10.5 miles of primary fencing was in San Diego County and most of that, about 9.75 miles, was in rural East County. An additional 2.6 miles in Marron Valley, south of Dulzura, is funded and expected to be completed this year.

The fence, itself, stands 18 feet above the ground, according Agent Jerry Conlin of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is sunk into a footing of concrete - six feet deep and two feet wide - and made up of steel tubes filled with concrete, called bollards. The bollards stand upright in steel framework with their feet buried in the concrete.


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WILL POWER REPORT: LAY-OFF NOTICES ARE EXTORTION!

The Will Power Report: Nothing but the Truth

LAY-OFF NOTICES ARE EXTORTION!

February 17, 2009 (San Diego) -- The use of layoff warning letters as an excuse to terrify workers has an old history. For decades, school boards would send out letters to teachers on March 15, designed to terrify teachers and force them to accept substandard contracts and working conditions.


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EAST OF THE LINE: NEW PLANNING GROUP CHAIRMEN HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT

By Billie Jo Jannen

Planning groups countywide have seated their newly elected members since the first of the year and Campo's changing of the guard does nothing to dispel its image as among the most contentious in the rural East County (along with the now-legendary Ramona, Potrero and Alpine groups).

The short description of the meeting might well be summed up as "Lions 0, Christians 2, after a lively clash," and bodes another exhausting year for planning group watchers in Campo.


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CRAFTING WITH MARY: HOLIDAY BOUQUETS

By Mary
Genser

February 8, 2009 (La Mesa) — It's
easy to create festive floral arrangements to suit any occasion--all on a minimal
budget.

Start with a simple container such as a drinking glass, vase, pottery jar
or even a metal can. You can pick up these items at discount stores or yard
sales, or simply use an item from your kitchen cupboard.


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Good Money - What You Need to Know if You've Been Laid Off

Your guide to profitable and socially responsible investing
By Judith L. Seid, CFP ®

It's
your worst nightmare. You come into work thinking it's just like any other
day and you leave with your stomach in knots. Fears of how you will take care
of yourself and your family's spin your head around. Here are some tips
to help calm your anxiety and start you on the path to recovery from such a
blow.


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SYLVIA'S SOAPBOX -- SNAP

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Food Stamps are a "SNAP."
But Not in San Diego County

By Sylvia Hampton

Sylvia's SoapboxFebruary
1, 2009 (San Diego) —
After the embarrassing front-page news
that San Diego County has only one in five people who need food supplements
enrolled to receive them (the worst enrollment record of any county in the
nation) the supervisors are finally paying attention. They voted to find ways
to streamline and improve access to the food supplement program and county
administrators will report back to the board within 90 days with changes that
can be made.


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THE WILL POWER REPORT - Bad Political Theater

Nothing but the Truth!

By Will Power

Will Power LogoJanuary
23, 2009 (San Diego's East County) —
Arnold “Terminator” Swartzenegger,
the cinema millionaire, thinks it is amusing to cut payments to the elderly,
the poor and the disabled. To the Terminator, these folks are just props in
a California comedy that has degenerated from melodrama to tragedy as the state
approaches bankruptcy.


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The Rolling Reviewer: Show Me the Money! Wait, Bring It Back!

Janelle EckhartFebruary 1, 2009 (San Diego) — The tide of economic prosperity seems to be in the ebb-phase of the cycle as insecurity and doubt flows swiftly in, and millions of job-seekers are finding themselves in strange and unsettling waters. For thousands of disabled individuals eager to enter the workforce -- whether for the first time or after a leave of absence -- the seas can be especially treacherous.


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SIMPLE WISDOM -- Are you having trouble keeping your New Year's Resolutions?

Trouble keeping resolutions?

By Penelope Young Andrade

Penelope Young AndradeFebruary 1, 2009 (San Diego) — Are you having trouble keeping your New Year's
Resolutions? For many, February finds you slinking back to old habits. You
hate and berate yourself for being ˜weak willed" but can't find a way to resist
temptation. The problem, typically, is not that you're weak willed, but rather
that you haven't found a way to use your will skillfully.


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MEDIA WATCH - OBAMA APPOINTS JULIUS GENACHOWSKI AS FCC CHAIRMAN

By Miriam Raftery

Media WatchJanuary 14, 2009 (Washington D.C) — President-elect Barack Obama plans to
appoint Julius Genachowski, a key technology advisor and top fundraiser for
his campaign, to be the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission,
Associated Press has reported.


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SIMPLE WISDOM --” Is Your Past Interfering with Your Future?

By Penelope Andrade

January, 2009 (San Diego) — Is your past getting in the way of your future? Like
most of us you've probably based your notions of the future on what has happened
to you in the past. That's human nature. Your subconscious mind is designed
to operate that way. That's how you learned to avoid hot stoves or angry dogs
even if you weren't aware that's what you were learning. However, if
you want to transform your life now, you'll need to open up to a future free
of the past. Fortunately, as an evolving human, you have tools for this. You
have a potential for consciousness bigger than any sub or unconscious programming.
You also have the will to move your awareness wherever you choose--as long
as you practice!


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THE CHEAPSKATE'S GUIDE TO LIVING WELL IN EAST COUNTY: YARD  LINES -- NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FOOTBALL!

By Miriam Raftery

January 15, 2009 — January is the season for two kinds of yard lines—those scrutinized by SuperBowl fans and those frequented by bargain hunters at yard sales.  Lots of people are clearing out clutter (not to mention unwanted gifts) after the holidays—and in this bleak economy, more and more people are selling off valuable items in an effort to bring in a little extra cash.


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BLEU BOHÈME, A PLACE TO SHARE WITH A FAVORITE FRIEND –TRES BIÉN!

(Leon Thompson)

4090 Adams Avenue
Kensington, CA 92116
619-255-4167
www.blueboheme.com

January 10, 2009 (Kensington) — Is there life east of I-15? Oui, and great food too. I've shown you world-class Mexican food, neighborhood sushi, continental cuisine in Alpine. Now the crème-de-la-creme: fabulous French food in an unpretentious casual restaurant called Bleu Bohème!

The atmosphere transports you to a long-ago French countryside. The feeling is like being in an ancient limestone and wood-beamed roadhouse filled with great food and grog for the long distance traveler. The banquet room conjures images of wine and revelry. At least that's my take on the place. I kept expecting a huge roasted pig with an apple in its mouth served on a platter. But then I have a vivid imagination.


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THE WILL POWER REPORT - Hawaii Blackout?

Nothing but the Truth!

By Will Power

Will Power LogoJanuary
11, 2009 (San Diego) —
  I imagine lot of people
have had Hawaii Blackouts after a few too many Mai-Tais. But I’m alarmed
that President-Elect Obama was out of touch for the better part of a day.
The power went out in Oahau.
Now I realize he is not President yet. But just the idea that a power outage
could last for 12 hours is pretty scary in itself.


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COMPUTER BIZ WIZ-- MAKING COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS

Top 5 IT Mistakes Small Businesses Make

By Michael Natter

It
is deceptively easy to see what the five top small business mistakes in IT
are. They are pervasive, recurring and everywhere!

Typical small businesses mistakes include:


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THE WILL POWER REPORT - Nursing Home Problems Classified?

Nothing but the Truth!

By Will Power

Will Power LogoDecember 28, 2008 (San Diego) —  Another “lame-duck” Federal rule concerning Nursing homes has been approved by the outgoing Bush Administration. The rule places State examiners who police Nursing Homes under a Federal Gag Order which prevents patients and relatives of elderly and infirm patients from finding out about lapses in patient care.


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FACE-OFF: A BAIL-OUT FOR CALIFORNIA?

Dual views on hot topics

LET’S STAY OFF THE BAILOUT BANDWAGON

By Steve Hunyar

December
26, 2008 (San Diego) —
When former California Governor
Grey Davis first took office in 1999, the California State budget was
$81.3 billion.  By 2003, the budget ballooned to $98.9 billion
when Davis also announced the state was facing a possible $28 billion
shortfall.  The level of fiscal mismanagement was astonishing
to say the least.

 

PARDON ME, CAN YOU SPARE A BAILOUT?

By Jamie Reno

December
19, 2008 (San Diego) —
This morning I’ve been boning
up on our state’s massive budget problems and the unthinkably deep
cuts that loom. It’s not a pretty picture. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's
underlings are reportedly already telling labor unions that the governor
will order two-day-a-month unpaid furloughs for state employees beginning
in February to help the state save money.


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THE RENO REPORT - PARDON ME, CAN YOU SPARE A BAILOUT?

Jamie Reno suggests a novel approach to California's state budget crisis



December 19, 2008 (San Diego) — This morning I've been boning up on our state's massive budget problems and the unthinkably deep cuts that loom. It's not a pretty picture. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's underlings are reportedly already telling labor unions that the governor will order two-day-a-month unpaid furloughs for state employees beginning in February to help the state save money. And that's just the beginning. I'm sure more painful mandates and sacrifices are coming.


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Good Money - Madoff''s Ponzi Scheme: How you can protect yourself and your investments

Your guide to profitable and socially responsible investing

By Judith L. Seid, CFP ®

By now you've probably heard about the $50 billion Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Bernard Madoff, a New York City broker, former head of the NASDAQ stock exchange. 

 

What did he do?  He allegedly collected money to invest from clients, made up false statements to show that they were doing well, and used new clients' money to pay interest and withdrawals to existing clients.  This is known as a Ponzi scheme and is estimated to involve more than a $50 billion loss for his investors.  This is one of several recent high-profile cases of advisors and/or managers absconding with funds entrusted to them by their clients.  Maddof held his clients' assets, managed them, and priced them, too.  See the conflicts of interest?  Investment performance can look better if the prices reported to clients are manipulated, which is allegedly how Madoff showed winning year after winning year despite market turmoil. 


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THE WILL POWER REPORT - Prescription Medicine Costs

Nothing but the Truth!

By Will Power

Will Power LogoJanuary
1, 2008 (San Diego) —
  I am at the end of my rope with Big Pharma.  They
are the greediest, least efficient, most corrupt corporations going, and that
included Big Oil.  They sell bad, unsafe, overpriced drugs that kill people
and don't allow people who need drugs to get them.


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The Rolling Reviewer- A Few of My Favorite Things

By Janelle Eckardt

January
1, 2008 (San Diego) —
 There is no denying that the oversaturation
of bright lights, holiday music, and the overabundance of sales successfully
lures us into shopping every year for that one special thing we may have written
off as excessive two months ago, but that is suddenly now budding into a necessity.
And while that glorious gadget that will simultaneously style your hair and
reorganize your PDA is still out-of-stock in January, you may consider marrying
your urge to boost the economy with the interest to provide a true necessity
for someone special in your life. Whether you're shopping for someone you know
or for yourself this year, it pays to be on top of all the new and exciting
adaptive technology coming out daily. So look out Burp-Me-Elmo, I'm highlighting
some of the best sources and products sure to bring lasting smiles long after
the holiday season.


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Armchair Impressionists Exhibition December 1- 31, 2008

By Tammy Lawhead

December 1, 2008 (El Cajon) —
The Armchair Impressionists, including Jeffrey Graham, Rustin Holec,
David Lawhead, Karen Marsh, and William Marsh
, will feature their
paintings December 1 – 31, 2008 at the Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via
Rancho San Diego; El Cajon, CA.  Please join them at the Artist’s Reception,
December 7th from 2 – 4 pm in the Community Room.

The
Armchair Impressionists are five artists who came together while students of
artist Jack Jordan when he taught at Grossmont College. The group meets to
offer support and encouragement as they submit their paintings to the various
venues available to artists in and around San Diego County.


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The Will Power Report - THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD

Nothing but the Truth!

By Will Power

Will Power LogoDecember
4, 2008 (San Diego) —
The profitable is the enemy of the good. Nowhere
is this more true than in U.S. health care.  I’ve spent the last
two days on the phone with my Senators, Congressmen, the NIH and the FDA. I'm
rattling some cages!


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SYLVIA'S SOAPBOX - HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Why are there 261 cell phone antennas within 4 miles of my house?

By Sylvia Hampton

Sylvia's SoapboxWe have a virtual hailstorm of problems from state and local finances to global
warming and limited resources.  So forgive me---here's one more that I
was ignoring until my daughter got involved in the issue recently:  The
radiation health damage from cell phone antennas and other wireless transmissions.
Researchers are finding possible links to things like autism and cancer to
the disappearance of honey bees (who are responsible for about one third of
our food supply.)  So I guess we need to pay attention.  Here are
some facts and resources my daughter found and passed along to me: 


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Sylvia's Soapbox --” DOCTOR, PATIENT MISTAKES CAN BE DEADLY AND EXPENSIVE

By Sylvia Hampton

Sylvia's SoapboxAs I write this, my daughter’s relative by marriage and close friend
is in a Los Angeles hospital intensive care unit fighting for her life at age
46. The family told my daughter the following story:

“Peggy” (not her real name) had been feeling ill for some time
with abdominal pain that her doctor thought was from the uterine fibroids they
knew she had. The doctor was considering a hysterectomy to correct the problem.
When her pain and complaints worsened she was told to take ibuprofen. This
did not help and when she later could not get a call-back from the doctor,
in frustration, she increased the dose herself to a dangerous level. The pain
got so bad after a day or two that she ended up in the emergency room where
she was diagnosed with diverticulitis, an inflammation of the colon, which
was missed during the earlier office visit. Did she have an elevated temperature?
Was that checked?


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CHEAPSKATE GUIDE - TIPS FOR SURVIVING HOLIDAYS IN HARD TIMES

By Miriam Raftery

December 1, 2008 Holiday season can be a major budget-buster.  Short
of morphing into Ebenezeer Scrooge and avoiding gift-giving or merrymaking,
how can you survive the season without spending more than you can afford?  Here
are a few tips:

 


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THE WILL POWER REPORT - A BLANKET PARDON?

Nothing but the Truth!

By Will Power

Will Power LogoDecember
1, 2008 (San Diego) —
When I was about five years old, my father
was a US Air Force Officer. He was involved in a Court-Martial in Wichita ,
Kansas. It seemed a considerable number of US Army blankets went missing, and
several airmen were charged with stealing the blankets and selling them off
the base. I don't even remember the disposition, though I recollect nobody
was found guilty.


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THE RENO REPORT - Good Luck, Chuck!

An Iowa native & SDSU Alum on the Firing of Chuck
Long

By Jamie Reno
Exclusive for East County Magazine

November 25, 2008 (San Diego) — The announcement this week that San Diego
State University head football coach Chuck Long was fired stirred up wildly
mixed emotions in me. On the one hand, as a rabid San Diego State football
fan who attended SDSU in the 1980s and is sick and tired of losing seasons,
I was ecstatic. Get rid of the guy! On the other hand, as someone
who has idolized Long for the last 25 years, I was crushed. How could they
fire my hero
?


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