Porn's coming to a cell phone near you. [Are you happy to see me or is that a cell phone in your pocket?]: "Hold the phone" now has a whole new meaning, especially when you read about the newest revenue-generating target for the nation's always-innovative pornographers. The Dallas Morning News' Scott Farwell writes about the latest eye-opening use of today's technology.
Wanna learn how to make money off the hot techno-gadgetry of the day? Follow the purveyors of porn. They've consistently been the early-adopters and figured out how to generate revenues before the rest of main stream America. You want examples? The early success of the home VCR industry [late 70's/early 80's] has been directly attributed to the explosion of the X-rated movies available for private/home viewing. Dial-an-X-rated telephone 976 & 900 per call services blew the doors of the tele-porn biz wide open in the 1980's. And thanks to Al Gore's innovation (the Internet) that we take for granted, a whole new generation of one-handed typists are surfing the World Wide Web's millions of X-rated in virtual anonymity through the late 90's and into the 21st century.
Do you love the amazing resources I compile every week in the Dose of Dover? Good! Then no whining 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.
Nowhere is it written that you have to give them accurate information: 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...
Got garbage on your credit reports? Tired of sitting on hold forever, waiting for help from one of their customer "service" reps? Here's 250,000 reasons why you might have a shorter wait time if you're trying to reach the braintrust at Equifax: The Atlanta-based credit reporting giant agreed to pay the Federal Trade Commission $250,000 to settle charges that they were abusing consumers seeking assistance. Read all about it.....
Quick...who was the "Fifth Beatle"? If you answered Yoko Ono, you could be deported! It really did happen to a bunch of Brazilians trying to get through the immigration gatekeepers at London's Heathrow Airport.
By the way: The "Fifth Beatle" was either Stu Sutcliffe, Pete Best, Brian Epstein or Billy Preston, depending on which Beatlesphile you're talking to.....
Mel Martinez: The new American hero for wannabe homeowners! Who's Mel Martinez you say? He's the Secretary of Housing & Urban Development, and he's out there treading in dangerous territory, proposing ground-breaking changes in the home buying process. Here's a concept: Actually knowing what all of your closing costs are gonna be before you get to the closing table. Read all about it from the OpEd pages of last Sunday's edition of The New York Times.
It's easy to get educated about the process first...and the price is right! (Free!) Everything you need to know can be found on-line; get your own copy of Bens' 2003 Home Buyer's Guide by clicking here.
Now that you're motivated to buy a house, or trade-up from your current home...how would you like to get some cash back on your next home purchase (or sale)? (I'll show you how.) Click here.....
Can't afford to buy a house on your own? Actually, you can't afford NOT to! Why not get a roommate? Cash in on low interest rates and start building equity by playing live-in landlord. One of the fastest growing roommate matching services in the country, www.easyroommate.com, had a nice write up in The New York Times that's worth a read...especially with more Americans trying to stretch their budgets without letting their lifestyles take too big a hit...
Okay, so you're about to move, it's time to go down your "things to do" checklist: Moved your phone service and utilities? [Check!] Put in your change of address on your mail? [Check!!] Have all of your belongings held hostage by some rogue movers? [Check...not!!!] Do your homework (first) and choose the right moving company! Ben's Moving Tips will save you time, money and lots-o-heartache.....
Time to get off your butt and start making travel plans for the lonnnnnnnng Labor Day weekend (now only 3 days away): Stretch your travel budget and get your Thanksgiving or Christmas-time travel planning handled now while you're at it. Check out Ben's no-brainer choice for hotel room or condo deals: www.hotels.com.
Lemme share a little Hotels.com story with you: I needed a hotel room fast and on the fly during my recent West Coast tour. One call to their main number: (800) 2-HOTELS and I booked a room at a rock-bottom price and arrived 10 minutes later. Wow...what a great experience, AND great service.
Speaking of traveling, get ready for the next generation of high-tech passports, coming our way thanks to the events of 9/11/01 [and coming even sooner for non-Americans]: Face and retina scans, fingerprint analysis...all of the stuff you've seen featured in futuristic films like Minority Report are about to become a part of our travel-reality. Please leave all sharp objects at home and read more about it here...
Still looking for a cool birthday (or other special occasion) gift that'll keep on giving, all year long? Then give 'em a subscription to the Dose of Dover...the most reliable source of insights and no s*** ideas available on the planet. (You can afford it...it's free!) Time to share the wealth! Sign-up for a subscription to the weekly Dose of Dover Newsletter right here!
Okay, so you've already been a cheapskate and signed 'em up for the Dose of Dover. The why not pay a professional to call 'em up and make monkey noises at them? I'm dead serious...this is the silliest thing I've ever heard of [read about it in a recent issue of D Magazine]; they've pranked Oprah [among others]. Grab yourself a banana and check out their site: www.monkeyphonecall.com
Looking for someone to blame in the recent "Great Blackout of 2003"? Try the yardman. That's right, someone wasn't trimming their stray tree branches and triggered what's shaping up to be 10-digit losses across the east coast.
Gotta neighbor with unruly tree branches hanging over your property line? What are your rights, anyway? Ben knows, read all about it and avoid your own personal blackout.....
If you (or someone you know) is even remotely thinking about joining some non-profit credit counseling service, hiring a debt re-negotiation company or filing for bankruptcy, you might wanna read this first: Trust me, you'll be more informed and a lot more grateful 10-minutes (or less) from now.....
Speaking of brain-damage, check out the new section for Californians that'll help you get a handle on your rights if you do decide to pull the ripcord (that's slang for filing for bankruptcy) on your creditors: It's a Q&A with one of the top bankruptcy attorneys in the state, and a chance to debunk the half-truths being spewed by those bottom-feeding tele-terrorists.
Know someone that's really struggling and needs help paying for a home telephone? Here's two programs for economically-challenged Texans worth investigating, (and similar programs in other states that you can find if you're outside of Texas borders). If the phone-less person in your world's income is 125% below federal poverty guidelines, the LinkUp and Lifeline programs might be a way to get connected.
Other qualification criteria that's worth investigating? If they're receiving SSI, food stamps, Medicaid, or help from the LIEAP [Low Income Energy Assistance Program], they might be eligible for tele-help. SBC offers more information at (800) 464-7928; Verizon's contact number is: (800) 483-4000, or check out the Texas Public Utility Commission's website for even more info.....
Done any business with First Countrywide Realty or Fastrak Funding? You might have had your identity stolen! Nice, nice. You spill your financial guts, trying to qualify for a home mortgage to a coupla thieves. At least these low-lifes got popped, but not before they nailed four families for over $800,000. Let's hope they get some time to think about it...sentencing's coming up soon. Read more about their shennanigans.....
If you or someone you know has had your/their identity stolen [or suspect it's been compromised], this is your one-stop regain control/empowerment shop.
Cable or satellite? You may already know why Ben dropped his cable company in the grease after being a loyal customer for 16 years...but now The New York Times did their own comparison last week that's really worth the read.
If you do decide to cut the cable, or hook-up with satellite TV, the choice really is simple: First off, it's probably not as expensive as you might think...and those satellite TV installers ["great service or else"] put the cable guy to shame. Here's Ben's easy pick.....
Didja happen to miss the fastest (and most relevant) 2-hours in talkradio Sunday morning? Oops! So did I! Sleeping late? Live outside of Southern California? It doesn't matter: KFI canceled the show on Monday, June 23, 2003. (Oh well...that's life in the radio world.) Check out KFI's new weekend line-up by clicking here.
It's time to level the playing field with the long-awaited new edition of Back Off! The Definitive Guide To Stopping Collection Agency Harassment:
Read sample chapters from the new book!
Get the inside scoop on those "non-profit" credit counseling agencies.
Read all about the biggest thugs operating under the noses of authorities, rogue collection agencies that terrorize unwitting consumers.
And since we're on the subject of credit problems...do you know anyone that's got some of their own? It's time to learn more about the inner-workings of that black hole known as the credit reporting bureaus: You can get a digital copy of Ben's 1993 (#5) bestseller Life After Debt on-line, right now. Read how right here.....
While we're on the subject of destroying things, don't let the IRS put holes in your life...anymore than necessary, anyway. It's probably time you got that unfinished business with your pals at the IRS handled for (hopefully) good: Tie down those tax-related 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.
"First, kill all the lawyers." That gosh-darned Bill Shakespeare was quite the kidder, wasn't he? (Maybe he wasn't kidding after all?) The long arm of the law reached out from the grave on this one and nailed a Los Angeles-area attorney for bilking his dying client outta $130,000. The client, Chin Shan, died in March from stomach cancer but the scumbag lawyer, Leonard Michael Samuels got his comeuppance last week and is now facing 5 years of being some guy's girlfriend behind bars. Of course you'll wanna read more about it...
And since we're on the topic of attorneys, let's review Ben's steps for hiring and firing legal counsel right here...
It's a no-brainer (maybe not what she wanted to hear) answer to a debt collection question: Why it's time to shut up and pay up...Plus: It's not my fault if the infamous Kenny Rogers tune is bouncing through your brain the rest of the day, but there is something to be said for knowing when to hold 'em and knowing when to fold 'em. Guiding you through life's financial mine-fields, one bad deal at a time (and weekly) in The Dallas Morning News: Check out the August 28, 2003 edition of Ask Benjamin Dover right here!
