You may have heard about SRI, but odds are you haven’t heard the whole story. We explain it to you in about three minutes.
The Claw[backs]
July 8th, 2011
(photo credit: mangpages)
It’s kind of an understatement to say that taxpayers were peeved when they ended up footing the bill for the government bailout of the “too big to fail” banks. So they may take some comfort in a new FDIC rule that will seriously punish the leaders of failed financial institutions. Among other things, it says that any executive responsible for the collapse of a major financial firm is subject to spooky-sounding “clawbacks.”
Clawbacks are the equivalent of making an executive return two years worth of their salary to the government if a government agency has to step in and handle the collapse. Big banks will also be required to have a plan in place before they go up in flames, to avoid the kind of sweeping support the government was forced to provide in 2008 and 2009.
That’s a lot of pressure on a relatively small number of people. What do you think – whose responsibility is it to keep a financial institution on the straight and narrow? Should employees lower on the corporate totem pole be punished as well?
The Claw[backs]
July 8th, 2011
(photo credit: mangpages)
It’s kind of an understatement to say that taxpayers were peeved when they ended up footing the bill for the government bailout of the “too big to fail” banks. So they may take some comfort in a new FDIC rule that will seriously punish the leaders of failed financial institutions. Among other things, it says that any executive responsible for the collapse of a major financial firm is subject to spooky-sounding “clawbacks.”
Clawbacks are the equivalent of making an executive return two years worth of their salary to the government if a government agency has to step in and handle the collapse. Big banks will also be required to have a plan in place before they go up in flames, to avoid the kind of sweeping support the government was forced to provide in 2008 and 2009.
That’s a lot of pressure on a relatively small number of people. What do you think – whose responsibility is it to keep a financial institution on the straight and narrow? Should employees lower on the corporate totem pole be punished as well?
The Economy of Sandwiches
July 8th, 2011
(photo credit: Toronja Azul)
We all know eating out is more expensive (and more fattening) than eating in. But how much more expensive, exactly? Intern Anna did a little experiment:
Your stomach is grumbling and you’re trying to decide – do I head out the door or hit the kitchen?
Say you’re craving a good old turkey sandwich. That’s it. And you decide to stay in rather than roam the streets. So you grab…
- 2 slices of bread ( = grainy-goodness), $0.50
- 3 slices of turkey, $0.60
- 1 slice of cheese (the nice stuff), $0.35
- a bit of lettuce, $0.10
- 2 slices of tomato, $0.20
- a squeeze of mustard, $0.05
You’re all set and the total is… $1.80! Head to the local deli or grab a pre-packaged sandwich and you’ll probably be paying $5.00 – or more.
One New York City native really took the plunge and decided to only eat in – ever – and she wrote a book about her experience. She’s still blogging about not eating out in NY.
If you keep sweaters in your stove and have a taste for the gourmet, eating out might be a priority for you. But if you’re not opposed to spending more time waltzing down the grocery store aisles and dancing in the kitchen, eating in could keep your piggy bank nice and heavy.
The Economy of Sandwiches
July 8th, 2011
(photo credit: Toronja Azul)
We all know eating out is more expensive (and more fattening) than eating in. But how much more expensive, exactly? Intern Anna did a little experiment:
Your stomach is grumbling and you’re trying to decide – do I head out the door or hit the kitchen?
Say you’re craving a good old turkey sandwich. That’s it. And you decide to stay in rather than roam the streets. So you grab…
- 2 slices of bread ( = grainy-goodness), $0.50
- 3 slices of turkey, $0.60
- 1 slice of cheese (the nice stuff), $0.35
- a bit of lettuce, $0.10
- 2 slices of tomato, $0.20
- a squeeze of mustard, $0.05
You’re all set and the total is… $1.80! Head to the local deli or grab a pre-packaged sandwich and you’ll probably be paying $5.00 – or more.
One New York City native really took the plunge and decided to only eat in – ever – and she wrote a book about her experience. She’s still blogging about not eating out in NY.
If you keep sweaters in your stove and have a taste for the gourmet, eating out might be a priority for you. But if you’re not opposed to spending more time waltzing down the grocery store aisles and dancing in the kitchen, eating in could keep your piggy bank nice and heavy.
Congress, Will You Raise the Roof?
July 7th, 2011
(photo credit: j thorn explains it all)
So much talk about the debt ceiling, so little explanation. The “ceiling” in this case is the limit of how much debt the U.S. government allows itself to take on. That’s why it’s up to Congress to decide what to do now that we’ve pretty much hit that limit. They can raise the roof and make it okay to go deeper in debt, or they can refuse, and the U.S. won’t have enough money to pay off some of the debt it already has.
But what does that mean to you? Conveniently, our friends over at Marketplace have explained why the debt ceiling is important to the average American in “How the debt ceiling affects the average American.” They use an actual example of an actual average American, who emerges from the conversation pretty shaken. (One side effect of the debt ceiling problem is that it freaks people out and makes then snap their wallets shut – otherwise known as shaking consumer confidence.)
Anyway, if Congress doesn’t agree to raise the debt ceiling, then the U.S. government won’t be able to pay its creditors back as promised. And just like a person who takes out a loan and then doesn’t pay it back, a default will lower America’s credit score (or credit rating, which is the national equivalent of a credit score). And with lower credit ratings come higher interest rates on future loans. After all, the bank is taking a bigger risk on you because you’ve shown in the past that you’re not the most reliable borrower. So they’ll let you borrow – but you’ll have to pay.
So what does this have to do with us average Americans, you ask with vague irritation? Well, generally what happens when interest rates increase for the government is that interest rates increase for everyone. So if you wanted to get a loan to buy a car or a house, you would end up paying a lot more for it. And if you have any credit card debt, those interest rates will go up, too. So instead of paying an extra 18% or 30% on the balance you’re carrying month to month, you’ll be paying something frighteningly larger.
Congress, Will You Raise the Roof?
July 7th, 2011
(photo credit: j thorn explains it all)
So much talk about the debt ceiling, so little explanation. The “ceiling” in this case is the limit of how much debt the U.S. government allows itself to take on. That’s why it’s up to Congress to decide what to do now that we’ve pretty much hit that limit. They can raise the roof and make it okay to go deeper in debt, or they can refuse, and the U.S. won’t have enough money to pay off some of the debt it already has.
But what does that mean to you? Conveniently, our friends over at Marketplace have explained why the debt ceiling is important to the average American in “How the debt ceiling affects the average American.” They use an actual example of an actual average American, who emerges from the conversation pretty shaken. (One side effect of the debt ceiling problem is that it freaks people out and makes then snap their wallets shut – otherwise known as shaking consumer confidence.)
Anyway, if Congress doesn’t agree to raise the debt ceiling, then the U.S. government won’t be able to pay its creditors back as promised. And just like a person who takes out a loan and then doesn’t pay it back, a default will lower America’s credit score (or credit rating, which is the national equivalent of a credit score). And with lower credit ratings come higher interest rates on future loans. After all, the bank is taking a bigger risk on you because you’ve shown in the past that you’re not the most reliable borrower. So they’ll let you borrow – but you’ll have to pay.
So what does this have to do with us average Americans, you ask with vague irritation? Well, generally what happens when interest rates increase for the government is that interest rates increase for everyone. So if you wanted to get a loan to buy a car or a house, you would end up paying a lot more for it. And if you have any credit card debt, those interest rates will go up, too. So instead of paying an extra 18% or 30% on the balance you’re carrying month to month, you’ll be paying something frighteningly larger.
Go ahead and see if you can survive the credit storm now, because if the roof isn’t fixed, the weather might be a lot more threatening in the near future…
Why We Give: Brett Kopelan and the Worst Disease You’ve Never Heard Of
July 6th, 2011Everyone gives for their own reasons – compassion, anger, or sometimes just the tax deduction. But some people have personal experiences that change them forever – and compel them to fight for a cause they truly believe in.
Brett Kopelan is the Executive Director of Debra, a charity that funds research for a terrible disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB for short). Debra also runs programs that help families whose children are afflicted with the disease. Brett has an M.A. in Child Psychology from Columbia University and a daughter with ED. His personal experience with the disease inspired him to make it his life’s work to combat the disorder and support families like his own.
Why We Give: Brett Kopelan and the Worst Disease You’ve Never Heard Of
July 6th, 2011Everyone gives for their own reasons – compassion, anger, or sometimes just the tax deduction. But some people have personal experiences that change them forever – and compel them to fight for a cause they truly believe in.
Brett Kopelan is the Executive Director of Debra, a charity that funds research for a terrible disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB for short). Debra also runs programs that help families whose children are afflicted with the disease. Brett has an M.A. in Child Psychology from Columbia University and a daughter with ED. His personal experience with the disease inspired him to make it his life’s work to combat the disorder and support families like his own.
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