Buy Repo Instead of New

Useful information for those seeking to purchase a vehicle, I lifted this article form AOL.com Vehicle repossessions are financial tragedies of the first order, but they can be bonanzas for bargain-hunting car shoppers. In one of the few silver linings of today’s economy, more and more repossessed vehicles have streamed into the market, offering consumers at least the possibility of saving thousands of dollars on good -- and sometimes spectacular -- used vehicles.
“Repos can be a good deal if you are smart and know what the market value of the vehicle is," said Jeff Ostroff, publisher of carbuyingtips.com.

About 1.8 million vehicles were repossessed in the U.S. last year, up from a million in 1995. The rising tide hasn’t spared owners of high-end vehicles either, as BMW’s, Jaguars and Cadillacs are well represented on repo lots around the country. Repossessed vehicles are sold from a wide range of venues, from financial institution parking lots and websites to auto brokerages and car auctions.

A Risky Proposition?
Shopping for a repo vehicle can be a trip into uncharted territory. The actual condition of the car, truck or SUV is always the big unknown. Vehicle histories aren’t always available or may be incomplete and repo vehicles usually lack warranties. If owners have been in dire financial straits, they may not have been able to afford regular service for their vehicle. Some have been known to stop maintaining fluid levels or to trash their cars as a parting message to their lender.
In the worst-case scenario, a bargain hunter may not be able to distinguish a repo vehicle from a salvage vehicle. By definition, a salvage vehicle has suffered damage equivalent to at least 70 percent of its value. That means it could be ready for the junkyard -- or have just come from one.

“When something is ‘as is,’ with no warranty, you are assuming 100 percent of the risk," Ostroff said. “If the car were to drop dead after you drive 30 feet off the site, you own it."
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Perhaps the easiest way to buy a repossessed vehicle is to visit a dealership that specializes in them. While the discounts you’ll get from a dealer may not be as substantial as can be had at an auction, buying from a dealership offers another upside. Without the high-pressure environment of an auction, buyers may be able to do a more thorough inspection of the vehicle.

And even at a dealership, buying a repo car can save you plenty. For example, Schultz Auto Brokers of Wayne, Michigan, recently put a $10,500 price on 2004 Audi A8L Quattro, which was about $2,000-$4,000 below its book value. In mid-October, a 2002 Jaguar XJR was priced at $9,500 -- as much as $4,000 below its value. Direct From The Lender
Another option for buying a repo is to inquire at your local bank or credit union, as some financial institutions offer repossessed vehicles for sale directly at a branch or on websites.

If a vehicle is in good shape, a credit union may be tempted to sell it directly to one of its members, said John Kurtz of the Texas Credit Union League. He has seen credit unions market their repos from branch parking lots. Sometimes, members will be given a chance to bid on a car over a period of several days, with the vehicle going to the person who makes highest bid over a set minimum.

Some institutions will also sell repo vehicles for fixed prices. Buyers benefit in two ways, as they pay a fairly low price for a used car and get rock-bottom interest rates in the bargain.
“Credit unions usually set the sales price to cover the amount owed on the loan,” Kurtz said. “They offer interest rates as low as zero percent on the car, but there is no bargaining on the price.” You can obtain financing quotes from your local bank or credit union or for free online by using sites such as car.com. A repo car tends to be in the best shape if the borrower has turned it in voluntarily, Kurtz said. So a consumer would be wise to ask how the car was repossessed. If a car has been abused, the credit union often won’t be selling it on its own -- it’s usually taken to auction, he said.

Buying At Auction

AOL Autos Poll
Would you buy a repo vehicle?
Yes. I want that great deal!
No. It's much too risky.
var poll243 = new PollsFormHandler("poll-243")
poll243.setExpire(new Date("October 31, 2019 12:00 AM"))
poll243.validateUserSession() This is the classic strategy for buying a repossessed vehicle, and the way some savvy buyers have been known to reap the biggest savings.

Jeff Karpinski, general manager of the Greater Detroit Auto Auction in Brownstown, Mich., said bidders can generally count on good prices at his events. “On the bank repossessions, the prices are almost always below Blue Book,” he said. “That’s just the way the auction formats work.” Bidders tend to be cost-conscious and don’t drive prices beyond that level, he said.

Auctions also pose a special challenge to consumers. Vehicles in every imaginable condition are on the lot, and it can be hard to find a good one. Vehicle documentation is another issue. In many cases, that can be in even worse condition than the cars. One of the clear signs to walk away from a deal is that there’s no title, which means a buyer may have problems proving ownership or licensing a vehicle for the road.

A buyer might be told that the title is "in transit,” but according to Ostroff, “There is no reason for the bank or the repo company to not have a title.” Some auctions make the process a bit easier for buyers. At Greater Detroit Auto Auction, bank repos account for just a small portion of the 300 to 500 vehicles auctioned each week at his company, and they are clearly designated on its bid lists, Karpinski said. Each comes with a vehicle history and a title in the bank’s name, with VIN numbers and pictures posted on Greater Detroit Auto Auction’s website. Creditworthy buyers can even head into the auction with pre-approved financing from a credit union affiliated with the auction.

Many auction houses even offer customers the chance to inspect and drive vehicles before the bidding starts. Interstate Auto Auctions in Salem, New Hampshire, for example, holds auctions on Wednesdays and Saturdays and gives bidders access to vehicles for several hours before each event. In this uncertain environment, buyers ought to at least exercise some control over the price they are willing to pay. Ostroff recommends that buyers set their maximum bid in advance. In the weeks before the auction, they can go on eBay and look at successful bids to get a price range for the models they are targeting, he said.

“Because you are taking on additional risk, you want to get the car even cheaper than those prices,” said Ostroff. “If your bid isn’t accepted, that’s fine. If it is, then you got a really good deal on something that is in your price range.” And that, of course, is what makes all the effort worthwhile.

O'Reilly Keeps Job and Williams Fired Over Muslim Comment

This is simply wrong, just wrong: NPR terminated the contract of Juan Williams on Wednesday after comments the veteran journalist and news analyst made about Muslims on Fox's "The O'Reilly Factor."

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly stirred up controversy last week on "The View" after making the blanket statement that "Muslims killed us on 9/11," a comment that led to co-hosts Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg walking off the set.

On Monday, O'Reilly asked Williams if there is a "Muslim dilemma" in the United States. The NPR analyst and longtime Fox News contributor agreed with O'Reilly that such a thing exists, and added that "political correctness can lead to some kind of paralysis where you don't address reality."

"I mean, look, Bill, I'm not a bigot," Williams continued. "You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

[Photos: See more of ousted commentator Juan Williams]
Some commentators and a leading Muslim civil rights organization took issue with Williams' comments.

The Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan wrote Wednesday morning that Williams' statement about fearing Muslims on planes is an example of bigotry. "What if someone said that they saw a black man walking down the street in classic thug get-up," Sullivan wrote. "Would a white person be a bigot [if] he assumed he was going to mug him?'

The Council for American-Islamic Relations sent out a press release Wednesday afternoon calling on NPR to address the matter. Nihad Awad, the organization's national executive director, called the comments "irresponsible and inflammatory" and said they "should not pass without action by NPR."

They certainly didn't. NPR took action Wednesday night and put out a statement regarding the severing of Williams' contract: "His remarks on 'The O'Reilly Factor' this past Monday were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR."

Williams often appears on Fox as the liberal counterpart to one of the network's conservative hosts or guests. But some NPR listeners -- an audience certainly more left-leaning than Fox's conservative one -- don't see Williams as an advocate for progressive politics when he appears on the cable news network.

Last year, NPR ombudsman Alicia Shepard wrote that Williams had become a "lightning rod" among NPR's staff and noted many complaints from listeners after an appearance on O'Reilly's show. Williams had described First Lady Michelle Obama as having a "Stokely Carmichael in a designer dress thing going," a reference to the militant African-American activist. After those comments, NPR executives asked that NPR's logo be removed when he appears on Fox News.
It can be expected that Fox hosts, especially O'Reilly, will have something to say about NPR's decision.

[Rewind: CNN host Rick Sanchez fired over on-air remarks]
Bernie Goldberg, a Fox News contributor and author of several books on what he describes as liberal media bias, offered his take Thursday morning in an email to The Upshot.
"So Juan Williams is fired for saying something the liberals at NPR find controversial?" Goldberg said. "One more piece of evidence that liberals have forgotten how to be liberal."

Goldberg continued: "These are the kind of people who brag about how open-minded they are -- as long as you agree with them. And here's the dirty little secret: lots and lots of liberals feel the same way Juan does when they get on an airplane. And a lot of those liberals work at NPR. Juan's 'crime' was saying it out loud."

Weekly Standard Editor and Fox contributor Bill Kristol also had some choice words for NPR, which he dubbed "National Politically-correct Radio." Kristol concluded a post about the firing by saying: "NPR -- unfair, unbalanced ... and afraid."

UPDATE: Williams went on Fox and addressed the controversy Thursday.
Watch (his remarks start at about minute 3):

Five Need to KnowRight Moves for CPR

The American Heart Association announced today new recommendations for the way CPR is performed. The small change could make a big difference in the lives of people suffering from cardiac arrest, the organization says.For nearly 40 years, CPR guidelines have trained people to follow these simple A-B-C instructions—tilt the victim's head back to open the airway, then pinch their nose and do a succession of breaths into their mouth, and finally perform chest compressions.

But now, the AHA says starting with the C of chest compressions will help oxygen-rich blood circulate throughout the body sooner, which is critical for people who have had a heart attack. With this shift, rescuers and responding emergency personnel should now follow a C-A-B process—begin with chest compression, then move on to address the airway and breaths. This change applies to adults, children, and babies, but does not apply to newborns.

The revision is a part of the 2010 emergency cardiovascular care report published by the AHA., an organization that reviews its guidelines every five years, taking into account new science and literature. Although the changed procedure will take some time to reach what Monica Kleinman, the vice chair of the AHA's Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, calls "front-line people", there is a plan in place to implement the recommendations as soon as possible to their training network, medical staffs, and first-responders.

"The sooner chest compressions are started, the more likely there will be a better outcome," Kleinman announced. "Studies performed in labs as well as large-population studies have shown that people do better if they get chest compressions within four minutes."That four minutes is the amount of time it could take for emergency crews to rapidly respond, Chicago firefighter and CPR instructor Kelly Burns notes. Until then, he stresses that any CPR bystanders perform can make a difference."Early activation is critical," Burns says, especially in cities where traffic and walk-up buildings can slow even the fastest respondents during a trauma where every minute counts.When someone needs CPR, the very best reaction is a quick one, he says."In a perfect world, someone else calls 911 while you start chest compressions on the person in need," he advises.

According to Kleinman, however, only about one-third of victims of cardiac arrest get assistance from bystanders.Despite changing guidelines, outdated training, or any confusion in the moment, Burns says that no one who tries CPR is faltering."People are reluctant to jump in and help, especially if the person is not a family member or friend," Burns observes on a weekly basis. "The only mistake a civilian can make in these situations is waiting and not doing anything at all."To that end, the new AHA guidelines are meant to help anyone who encounters this kind of emergency—the idea being, if they know better, they will do better.5 potentially life-saving notes to remember about the new C-A-B method of CPR:

1. There are no mistakes when you perform CPR."One thing most people don't know, " Kleinman says, "is that there is almost nothing you can do [during CPR] to harm a person in cardiac arrest except delay responding."Starting with chest compressions is now viewed by the AHA as the most effective procedure, and all immediate assistance will increase the chances the victim will survive with a good quality of life.If one person calls 911 while another administers CPR, as Burns recommends, emergency operators will give informed instructions over the phone as well as dispatch aid to the scene.

2. All victims in cardiac arrest need chest compressions. The AHA asserts that people having a heart attack still have oxygen remaining in their lungs and bloodstream in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest. Starting chest compressions first thing pumps blood to the victim's brain and heart sooner, delivering needed oxygen. This new method saves the 30 seconds that people performing CPR used to take to open the airway and begin breathing under the old guidelines.

3. It's a myth that only older, overweight men are at risk for a heart attack."Equal numbers of women and men have heart attacks," Kleinman reports. Sufferers are primarily adults.Although infants and children are far more likely to require CPR due to accidents than cardiac arrest, it is important to know how administer care to them. (You can learn how to perform CPR on infants and children with this kit produced by the AHA or by signing up for one of their training sessions.)

4. Nearly all cardiac emergencies occur at home. "Ninety percent of events take place at home. If you perform CPR in your lifetime, it's probably going to be for someone you love," Kleinman reveals.

5. Training is simpler and more accessible than you think.Learning CPR has never been hard, Kleinman says, but guideline changes in the last ten years have reduced the number of steps and simplified the process even more.Traditional CPR classes (listed here on the AHA website) are accessible for many people at local schools and hospitals.

Kits are also available to complete in the privacy of your own home or workplace. Kits available through the AHA include inflatable, disposable mannequins and a training DVD."Anybody can learn to do CPR. It's clearly important for saving lives, and now it is easier than ever," Kleinman asserts.Have you ever administered or received CPR? Would you jump in to the C-A-B method if you saw a person in need?

Twice Bunkrupt for Toni Braxton

According to TMZ, Toni Braxton has filed for bankruptcy again -- claiming she owes somewhere between $10 million and $50 million in unpaid debts all over the country ... including DMVs in TWO different states. Braxton -- sold more than 40 million albums in her career -- just filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in California ... and in the docs, the singer claims she's only worth somewhere between $1 mil and $10 mil ... but she could have up to $50 mil in debts.

In the docs, 43-year-old Braxton lists a ton of creditors to whom she thinks she may owe money... including:

-- AT&T -- The Four Seasons Hotels-- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center-- Various medical bills-- DirecTV-- Neiman Marcus-- The William Morris Agency -- Tiffany & Co. -- Orkin Pest Control-- The Internal Revenue Service -- BMW Financial Services-- ADT Security-- American Express-- Flamingo Las Vegas-- Mesa Air Conditioning -- Nevada Power Company -- Screen Actors Guild-- The Westin -- Wells Fargo BankBraxton also claims she may owe money to the City of L.A. Parking Violations Bureau -- and the DMV in both California and Nevada. Braxton has a storied history of financial problems -- she filed for bankruptcy back in 1998 ... and earlier this year, the IRS filed a lien against her for $396k.

A close relative of Toni Braxton tells TMZ ... the singer's financial undoing can be traced back to her show in Las Vegas. The relative tells us Toni took out "show insurance" through Lloyds of London for her act at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino back in 2007. When Toni was diagnosed with a heart condition -- in the middle of the show's run -- she had to pull the plug, but she was still on the hook to the Hotel for big bucks.

Toni expected Lloyds to cover the loss but Lloyds didn't, arguing Toni had a undisclosed, preexisting medical condition, rendering the policy void. In the end, Toni had to absorb a huge loss, which the relative claims sent her on a downward financial spiral. Toni Braxton showed up to the Dolphins game in Miami on Monday ... wearing some blinged out jewelry, a snakeskin bag and a pair of Louboutin heels which retail for over $800.

How Long Is Too Long for Freezing Food

I thought this was an interesting articled posted on Yahoo.com, the writer is Lori Bongiorno. When it comes to preparing healthy meals at home, don't underestimate the value of your freezer. A well-stocked freezer can save you a trip to the store when you're pressed for time, which could mean the difference between making dinner and ordering in. It also lets you save meals that you prepare in big batches ahead of time, take advantage of discounts at the grocery store, and keep food that might otherwise go to waste.

Freezing is also an easy way to preserve local, in-season, fruits, and veggies that you buy at farmers markets or grow in your garden. If you want to eat delicious tomatoes in the dead of winter, for example, but are intimidated by canning, freezing is worth considering.
But just how long will that casserole or whole chicken last in the freezer? According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, food stored in a freezer set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit will stay safe indefinitely. But that doesn't mean the taste and texture will remain the same.

Here is a guide to how long you can freeze foods before you sacrifice quality. Keep in mind that quality does deteriorate the longer food sits in your freezer, so aim to defrost sooner rather than later.
Bacon: 1 to 2 months
Breads: 2 to 3 months
Casseroles: 2 to 3 months
Cooked beef and pork: 2 to 3 months
Cooked poultry: 4 months
Cookie dough: 3 months
Fruit: 8 to 12 months
Frozen dinners: 3 to 4 months
Hot dogs: 1 to 2 months
Lunch meats: 1 to 2 months
Sausage: 1 to 2 months
Soups and stews: 2 to 3 months
Uncooked chicken (parts): 9 months
Uncooked chicken (whole): 1 year
Uncooked steaks, chops, or roasts: 4 to 12 months
Uncooked ground meat: 3 to 4 months
Vegetables: 8 to 12 months

Basic tips for freezing food:
Freeze foods as close to purchase (or harvest if you have a garden) as possible. The fresher food is when you freeze it, the better the quality when you defrost it.
While most foods can be frozen, there are some foods you should keep out of the freezer. Don't freeze canned foods or eggs in shells (which can crack and allow bacteria to enter). Technically you can freeze mayonnaise, cream sauce, and lettuce, but the quality takes a big hit. Here's a list of foods that don't freeze well with details on their condition after thawing.

Cool cooked foods down before freezing so they freeze faster, which helps preserve quality.
Packaging matters and varies depending on what you're freezing. If you choose glass over plastic containers, wrap, or bags, you'll need to make sure it's tempered so it doesn't break.
You can freeze meat in its original packaging, but if you want to store it for long periods of time, add an additional layer of packaging, such as plastic wrap or bags.
It's always a good idea to label items so you know what they are and how long they've been in the freezer.

Resist the temptation to defrost foods on your countertop. The three safest ways to thaw foods are in your fridge, in cold water, and in the microwave.

How to freeze fresh produce:
The key to freezing fresh fruit is to spread out the cleaned, dried, and prepared (cut up) pieces of fruit on cookie sheets. Once the individual pieces of fruit are frozen, you can combine and put in freezer bags. Some people prefer to pack fruits in sugar or sugar syrup to help preserve texture and flavor. The National Center for Home Food Preservation has tips on how to freeze specific fruits such as strawberries, tomatoes, peaches, and many more.
Vegetables usually need to be blanched (boiled or steamed for a short time) before freezing to maintain flavor, color, and texture. Blanching times vary depending on the vegetable. The National Center for Home Food Preservation has a chart with blanching times for everything from corn to collard greens and simple instructions for how to freeze a large variety of vegetables.

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.

ATL's Newest Housewives

The latest installment of Bravo's Real Housewives series, has two new additions to the Atlanta cast, and returns for its third season last night and introduced viewers to: Phaedra Parks who is an entertainment lawyer on shows like 'Entertainment Tonight,' but her personal life is even juicier. Husband Apollo Nido served five years in jail for racketeering before his release in 2009.The other new addition is Cynthia Bailey, a model and restaurant owner whose first booking as a model was the cover of Essence Magazine. She recently got married in a surprise summer ceremony. Find out more about America's favorite 'Housewives,' from why Kim wears a wig to how much the ladies get paid.

Friday Laugh - The Landlord

Its Friday, let your hair down and Laugh, courtesy of Funnyordie.com There is even a funnier video or Tom Brady and Mike Tyson performing Bobby Brown's Every Little Step. I tried to post it but the Landlord pop-up. However, after previewing this video which is equally as funny, I decided to go with it.