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Margaret Dykes

Member since: Jun 9th, 2006

Margaret Dykes's Latest Comments

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Recent Comments:

Freezing out plastic. The journey to living cash only (WalletPop)

Jan 6th 2010 9:16AM We'd all be better off to wean ourselves off of the plasstic habit..somehow we became a society where one must have credit cards to function. How can you rent a car, buy on-line, reserve a hotel room & a multitude of other oridinary things without plastic of some type? And don't think it's any accident.
Credit Card companies are NOTHING but legalized Loan Sharks!
The things the most people don't know about the very credit cards they have in their wallet would fill a book. They can do practically anything they want to do to you once you owe them money. And they actually want you to be in a credit crunch so that you can pay only the minimum payment. Why wouldn't they?
IF you carry a balance over, say maybe 12K. If you pay the minimum each month--probably about $.50 goes towards the principal. You will never pay it off. Another thing--don't ever let your credit card company know you are having financial problems...they will jerk up the interest rates and the amount you must pay on the principal as well. Lets just say I learned my lesson the hard way. Use Cash whenever possible. Only in EXTREME emergencies should you use your credit card to charge something you know you cannot pay off at the end of the month. Remember, nobody is looking out for you. Your Gov't doesn't care about protecting us from all of this unscrupuliousness-- if there is such a word--Hey Obama! Charity begins at home. Help out those who are starving, going to be homeless, need medicine they can't afford and need...get the idea?

Massucci's Take: Can a fat tax fix our health care system? (Daily Finance)

Dec 10th 2009 2:57PM I have a nursing license in FL., so I am in a medical field. 12 years ago I developed Sarcoidosis. I also have osteoporosis, DDD (degenerative disc disease) with nerve compression in the cervical and lumbar spine. I also have arthritis in my spine. My synovial fluid in my joints (especially my shoulder and where the femur (long leg bone) meets with the pelvis) is being attacked--nobody is positive why. Perhaps the Sarcoidosis.
My physical activity has been nil except except for physical therpay in a pool with very warm water. Despite all of this and also being depressed, I made it a point to NOT let myself gain weight. Keeping one's weight down is only a matter of intake or calories-vs-expenditure of calories. I had to adjust my intake to fit my activity level. I'm sorry for those who will become irate because they have gotten obese for what they assume are medical reasons. You may have to eat very small portions and cut out ALL calories that do not have nutritional value, but if that's what it takes then you do it. Being obese only compounds any physical problem. My sister has used any and every excuse for her obesity-- she has a heart condition--which she uses for an excuse for not exerting herself in any way. The heart condition is a result of the obesity, not the other way around. Obese people, according to my nursing CEU's, cost this country millions of dollars--and unlike many of you who say they have an illness that contributes to it, I find that the majority of people I see out at public events who are overweight (and that is probably 70%, believe it or not!) are always eating something that is fatty, loaded with sugar or salt or all three. We are killing ourselves and those who have no health care or are on public assistance are costing millions of dollars to tax payers. If I can maintain my weight with all my problems (and it is NOT easy either!!) then others can also. I am not someone with a will of iron when it comes to food. I am mostly Italian and we love to eat.! But I do what has to be done to maintain the health I have left, at least look attractive to my 'significant other' and by doing that I have a better love life and and and all-over better life. And I do this while in pain, I have IBS, myxedemia (extreme hypothyroidism) and all
that I mentioned before. Nobody is saying that this is EASY. It's DAMN hard to do. But you do what you have to do. This countries obesity problem has got to be the #1 health issue we have here--and the fact that I see entire families who are fat--really fat...well, it's makes me so sad. We need to wake up and teach our kids the value of taking care of their bodies. Prevent weight related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension,etc.
I am sorry for those of you out there who have chronic illnesses and feel this is the reason you are obese. Okay, you say you can't excercise? Adjust your caloric intake. You won't starve to death. I do feel sorry for all of you who are in pain-- but getting fat is just going to add to your problems.

'Brangelina' Author Sees Split in '15-18 Months' (PopEater)

Dec 2nd 2009 2:08PM Amen! I think she went after him like a shark that smelled blood. They make a beautiful couple--but in the long run, he did marry Jen and she has always acted the lady. Jolie I think is hiding a lot of her real personality from the press. I think she could be a real *itch. And why collecting all these kids from all over the world? They aren't Hummell's 'ya know!

Swastikas Gift Wrap: Neither Merry nor Right (Holidash News)

Nov 16th 2009 9:57AM I am just so sick of our hyper-sensitivity over every thing that even appears to be racist.
The design on the paper, as many others have pointed out, has been used for centuries in many cultures. The Nazi's did not invent it.
I am from the South. I am proud of the Confederate Flag because my father's side of the family has many relatives who fought and died in that war and before that, the Revolutionary war. I have the 'Stars and Bars' on the front of my car. However, I had it
made a little differently. I had them put "Pride....NOT Prejudice" on it. I have had several African-Americans stop me and tell me that they liked that license plate because whoever might notice it knows that it is the HERITAGE I am proud of. Not the hate. Things are getting out of hand. With all the other problems in the world, how can someone get so worked up over something like this. Lady, if you found the wrapping paper offensive, return it to the store, tell the manager why and drop it. It's not a real swasticker anyway as it has addition (the dots inside it) that make it different symbol for another culture.
Lets get centered on more important things people! Winter is coming and some people will not be able to afford to heat their homes right here in this country. Kids will go to bed hungry. Elderly go without medication because of the outrageous cost of drugs. Now that is what I call a really serious issue that deserves outrage and press coverage!

EXCLUSIVE: Jon Gosselin Talks Kate, Blasts TLC and Tabloid Lies (PopEater)

Oct 12th 2009 3:06PM At first everyone blasted Kate for being such a B***h. Looks to me like she had 9 kids, not 8. Jon is an immature, narcissistic opportunist. His I-just-want-what-is-best-for-my-kids routine kicked in when he was removed from the show. His high profile & much photographed (remember--he's "friends" with the papparazzi) gadding about with other women & one who is barely out of her teens shows a complete lack of respect for his kids & estranged wife (who IS STILL THE MOTHER OF THE KIDS HE CLAIMS TO 'PUT FIRST'). Those kids, who have probably seen or heard of his actions must be very confused. Like her or hate her, she is acting as a parent should. Putting her kids first. Jon is an immature creep who is trying to quickly capitalize on his last 15 min. of fame. I wish he would crawl back under the rock so I wouldn't have to see his face on TV ever again! Kate--keep doing what you've been doing. Right now those beautiful kids have only one person to cling to and it's not their worm of a father. And on a personal note--Kate, you are still a beautiful woman. You don't need Jon. Make a go of your show. Somehow I think it will be better for his absence---a single mom trying to raise 8 very young children will depict a woman, whom like many other is trying her best to be there for her children, meet their needs, love them. I had twins and I can imagine how hard this is. Yes, I know she has help. But in Kate's case, it's no luxury. Jon is the big loser here..those kids will know (if they don't already), that Daddy chose to join the jet-set and enjoyed being photographed with whomever, admits he sells the photo's--and now has cleaned out the family bank account. He's a worm, a jerk and Loser with a capital "L"!!!!

Valerie Bertinelli Feels Rejected by Son (PopEater)

Oct 11th 2009 11:07AM Hey Valerie..it hurts, but it's normal. Think aboutit. When you were his age, was hanging out with your parents what you wanted to do? I've been right where you are and it still hurts. In fact I have a hard time accepting that the son who was the perfect child in every way--until he hit, oh,...say maybe 13 or so..is the same guy at 23. I just hope that he'll come around and remember all the great, fun things we did together and the closeness we once shared. I want him to have his own life. I just want to have a tiny slice of it.

Backlash over light bulb ban continues to build in Europe (Daily Finance)

Sep 13th 2009 1:54PM It's not in our Gov't best interest to let everyone know about those Firefighters and anyone else who tried to help the victims of the WTC on 9/11. But because of the mercury in all those light blubs, those men and women are dying of all sorts of horrid lung diseases. Those same light bulbs are going to be forced into our homes..and if you read what you have to do if you should break one--well, enough said. It's like you'd better keep HAZMAT suits for your whole family. So I suppose that polar bears are more important than people! Just another outrage the Gov't is forcing on us. What happened to a "Gov't BY the people FOR the people. This is NOT Gov't BY THE PEOPLE. A small group with numerous special interests are telling us what we should light our houses with, how we can discipline our children, what we can and cannot say....sounds a bit scary if you think about it...NO..not just a BIT scary. Be afraid. Be very afraid--of what "our" Gov't has planned for us.

GPS Satellites Could Break Down by 2010 (Switched)

May 20th 2009 9:04AM There will always be dummies that will drive off a cliff if told to. Those of you who say that anyone who needs GPS shouldn't be driving--well, you must not do much traveling is all I can say. I suppose you have built in knowledge of every major city here and in Europe.
I just moved to Pittsburgh and a more confusing city, I've ever seen -- (and I have lived in many) when I went there for a look-see before moving I knew I would have to buy a GPS. And I have found that people who were born and raised in Pittsburgh don't know their way around! I find that incredible, but I can see why. You're driving along on one street and suddenly it turns into another street and you never turned off of the first! Now that's the worst planning I have ever seen. -- just FYI--- the most logically planned city is Miami. If you can count, you can get anywhere. Avenues run North-South, Streets run East-West.


Highly Rated "As Seen on TV" Products (Shopping Articles Blog)

Mar 26th 2009 8:27AM You can praise what you want--but here's some items to stay away from--FAR AWAY. First is that EXpress101 cooking appliance with the double wells that you see that chubby woman pushing. I used my 6 times and the teflon started chipping off, which is dangerous. I was only 1 week out of the year-long warranty and they refused to help me. Another is that Sonic Knife. It works great--but then the battery starts to not hold a charge after about 6 months. I called and told them and they said I should let it run down before recharging. So I started doing that. It finally died. And the warranty was up by then and they didn't want to know me. AND definately stay away from the INstyler hair straightner. They charged me double and it was a nightmare trying to get them to take it off my credit card.

Most debt negotiation agencies are scams (WalletPop)

Dec 4th 2008 12:34PM My ex and I went to an attny. who specialized ib bankruptcy. After looking over all our debts be said we had no other options but to file Chapter 7. He made it all sound so easy--and he told us that although it would damage our credit, we would still be able to get credit cards (just try and do ANYTHING these days without one!)
He kept saying "there's a light at the end of the tunnel" and "no matter what, you will end up in better shape than you are now"...we took the 'means' test & we did qualify. He filed it and we went to court. The judge looked over everything and she said we had an awfu lot of "secured debt" (debts on cars, a boat, the house.,etc.)
She acted suspicious because in Chapter 7 you can keep these items if you continue to make payments on them. This was something our attny never mentioned to us. She asked us if we had been advised to buy new cars, etc. (we bought our twins new cars when they went to college a year earlier, my car was only 1 year old and my husbands was leased. The boat and house we financed too). The judge said she would have to review the case so no judgement was made--but all our creditors had been notified already. Our attny kept assuring us that he had done this for 30 yrs--and not to worry. But after 2 agonizing months he told us our Chpt 7 had been denied, so he had filed for Chapter 13 and/or 11. The judges ALL said that my husband made too much money and we had too much secured debt, even though my ex-husband had taken all the equity out of the house and run up the credit cards (all without my knowledge--but that's another story and why he is my ex now!) Our attny. called us into his office and returned all our paper work, apologized and said that all all 3 types of bankruptcy had been denied...something I never knew could happen! There was nothing he could do & that he hoped he had not left us in worse trouble--we were in worse trouble. Terrible trouble.
We were without the protection of bankruptcy, all our creditors knew we were in trouble. Our regular attny (who had referred us to this "bankruptcy" lawyer) felt so bad about this that he took over the case and negotiated with our creditors to settle for lower sums.
It totally ruined our credit, we had to sell our home (and just try and even rent a place with lousy credit!) and left us with nothing. We are still making payments to our creditors and will be for years. So, be wary if you're told you should be honest with your creditors about financial difficulties. When they found out, they jacked up our interest to 32%!! I wanted to sue this idiot for malpractice for what he did to us, but my ex said "you can go after him if you want to, but I just don't have it in me to go thru that". Moral of this story: check with several bankruptcy lawyers and get a few opinions. This attny we had simply had never had anyone with my husbands income --and that had a lot to do with it. He was just too cocky and sure of himself and he ruined us. My husband and I divorced but he ruined my credit. I have credit cards now and I use them and pay them off every month, on time. That was 2 1/2 years ago. And my credit still stinks. I don't know when or if it will ever improve. I couldn't even find a place that would rent to me, so I'm living with a good friend and paying rent for basically a room and use of the kitchen. Quite a shock considering that my ex is an M.D.-- I lived in a very nice home and had all the nicities that went along with being in the upper-middle class. I guess some of you have little sympathy for me because of that. But my ex had no financial sense, was extremely arrogant & insisted on handeling all the bills, making all the major purchase decisions--and had a girlfriend that of course I did not know about. I worked for years and when we were starting out, it was my savings account that made the down-payment on our first house. He had nothing. Now I have nothing. During the divorce the judge fortunately realized my contributions and his folly-- and granted me alimony for as long as he or Iive--and made him take out life insurance and name me as beneficiary because of his extra-marital relationship ( I suspect that he may have bought her a condo with the equity in our home-- and may have been planning to leave me & he would have a really nice free & clear condo. I never found our anything about this condo until after the divorce and he still denies he bought it for her. My attny said it wouldn't have mattered anyhow as it was in HER name alone.
Any ideas on how I can rebuild my credit rating? I'd like to know. The credit cards I use all claimed they report to the 3 credit bureaus to help improve my rating. I just don't know how long it takes. I'm 58 years old and all I have left is a IRA, a car not yet paid for and my furniture. My kids are taking out loans to finish college, and this disaster affected them in school so badly that they are behind. Just be careful before you do anything-- and stay away from any "consolidation' company that isn't a non-profit agency. Remember: they are out to make money for themselves!