1.9 Million Dollar Allowance

How would you like a $2 million allowance from taxpayers. Lawmakers are billing you for all sorts of things like a $2,793 laptop or $24,730 for a hybrid rental car or two 46 -inch

Sony TVs. Your tax dollars paid for all of it.

The Wall Street Journal reported that House members get an allowance of 1.3-1.9 million dollars while U.S Senators get $2.9-4.5 million every year.

The money is often spent on staff salaries, travel and office supplies. Lawmakers expense these reports, some with lots of details, other not so much. Here is the kicker. It's all legal.

Enjoy the fizz of Prosecco

I did not start out today wanting to blog about Prosecco, but I like Prosecco's versatility.

The Wall Street Journal did a nice job of reviewing Prosecco from $9.99 to $25 per bottle.

You can find their recommendations here. I started using Prosecco for New Year's Eve and I like it. I think it's a good idea to keep a bottle in the refrigerator. Prosecco and maybe some good cheese.

Bow Ties not Just for Geeks!

People like Charles Osgood, George Will and Pee Wee Herman are hip, fashionable and in style. There is a long list of distinguished bow tie wearers.
Hey maybe these guys were never out of style, perhaps we were out of fashion for years.

Thanks to the shows "Mad Men" and "Gossip Girl," bow ties are making a comeback. It's now cool to wear a bow tie.
If you're wondering where to find a bow tie, check out these hand made ones from Beau TiesLtd. of Middlebury, VT.

And the Wall Street Journal offers a how to tie a bow tie tutorial here.
One guy told the WSJ that women smile when he wears a bow tie. I can see that. It's so charming. So, what does a bow tie say about a man?

Havana Day Dreamin'

There is a Jimmy Buffett song called "Havana Day Dreamin' " that makes me think of Cuba and the pictures my Cuban-American friends paint of the country before Fidel Castro.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that President Barack Obama will lift the travel ban on Cuba, allowing Cuban-Americans to visit family members in Cuba as often as they want and to send as much funds.

I am excited about this because I have been dreaming of a trip to Cuba for a long time. This will be just a small opening, but could eventually open the door wider allowing all Americans to travel to Cuba without going to Canada first for a visa.

I came across this story about Spring Break in Cuba. Check out the picture of the Cuban woman kissing the German tourist. lol.

Put me in the front of the line for a trip to Havana Day Dreamin.'

Truth in Advertisment

How much stock do you put in advertisement? For instance, 1 in 5 people prefer my travel site to yours. Or all the taste tests out there? The Wall Street Journal calls the stats 'bogus.'

As the economy weakens, the number of consumer dollars available to companies also diminishes... that means it's time to ramp up the claims.


Is there anyone regulating these claims. The government can step in, but the WSJ says it only does when the claims endanger the public. The broadcast networks ask for substantiating proof. And of course, companies can sue each other.

HOW WE SPENT 350 BILLION DOLLARS

The Treasury department has spent 350 billion dollars of the bailout money. How exactly did we spend that? The answers are just coming to the surface. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that some members of Congress took care of banks in their home state. Congressman Barney Frank seems to be one of the worst offenders. The Massachusetts Congressman is the Chairman of the Financial Services Committee. He's not the only one, Ohio benefited quite a bit from the bailout cash. The last chapter is still not written on how this money was spent. So, politicians are motivated by politics. Are we surprised? Are we going to see a real change with Barack Obama's Administration?