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What good is an idea if you don’t tell anyone about it?

A site buried in a sea of search results is like an idea that no one ever hears. You may have the perfect plan to save the world, know how much even clean coal can raise cancer rates in communities, even have a few recycling tips to share, but if nobody can find your site, your ideas might as well not even exist. When it comes to promoting the environment, politics needs to be shared and discussed. If nobody can find your site, you’re out of the conversation.

The Internet provides the perfect network to promote politics and ideas. Obama proved the effectiveness of utilizing the online community, finding new ways to unite people than ever before. The best place to educate people about the importance of saving the environment and living sustainably is on the world wide web.

If a web site exists in the forest of the Internet but nobody even knows it exists, can it really make a sound?

Every day, ideas are exchanged over the web like the flow of electricity. Indeed, it’s been one of the most powerful educational tools when it comes to highlighting the changes of global warming, the dangers of petrochemicals, and the risks coal and nuclear technology can pose to local environments, towns and communities.

Yet to promote these ideas, your site needs to be found. Most people rarely look past the first page or two of results, so top search engine ranking is crucial. Ranking high consistently takes a continual marketing strategy, instilling your site with relevant content that’s compelling and rich in keywords. The site also needs to be linked with other powerful and important sites, gaining link prestige that will make your site more important to the search engines.

Add value to your site through relevant content designed to optimize the search engines as well as intrigue the web users who find you through top search engine rankings. This includes content that’s useful, educational and compelling. The more you reward people with quality content, the more often they’ll visit and interact with your site, influencing the prestige that Google assigns it.

Interest in a site can snowball. As more people visit it using those key terms, Google takes notice and assigns more value to the site. As important sites also link to your site, it gains further value that adds up to consistently high rankings, more traffic, and a continual exposure to your ideas and environmental strategies.

Many people where of the thought that they were going to be able to personally profit from the stimulus bill. This is just not the case as all the stimulus money is going to go to politicians pet projects as well as to bailed out companies and local governments. None of it is going to go the normal Joe on the street.

Many very large companies where on the verge of bankruptcy and President Obama along with the House and Senate came to the conclusion that these companies were too important and big to fail. Is that the correct decision in todays economy? Even though the heads of these companies have run them into near bankruptcy, they are getting bailed out by the United States taxpayers. We are the ones that will be footing the bill to get these companies out of trouble. In fact, even with this bailout money there is no guarantee that they will be able to turn things around.

The amount of the stimulus bailouts is astoundingly high and those of us that have played by the rules are the ones having to foot the bill. It also seems that things might still get worse even with the stimulus package no matter what Obama does or doesnt do. This makes one wonder whether doing nothing at all would have been the right choice and letting things happen naturally.

What organizations are going to be the recipients of the Obama government grants that he and the government are giving out? Will these grants and stimulus money continue to go to the same colleges and organizations that have been getting them the past eight years or will new ones get them.

The amount of the stimulus package is so large that it is hard for the average person to comprehend the numbers. Money is being passed out in a variety of ways to businesses, ecological causes, politicians pet projects, and state and local governments all across the United States. It is impossible to get a handle on where this money is going.

As a forex trader, you should be aware of the role played by the interest rate changes in the general economic and investment climate. You should know that interest rates are an essential part of investment decisions and can drive currency markets as well as the stock and commodities markets in either direction. After the unemployment figures, Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) rate decisions are the second largest currency market moving release.

The impact of interest rate changes is not only short term but also long term on the currency markets. One Central Banks interest rate decision can affect more than a single currency pair in the interconnected forex markets.

In currency trading, an interest rate differential is the difference between the base currency interest rate and the counter currency interest rate. In the pair, EUR/USD, EUR is the base currency and USD is the counter currency. The interest rate differential for the EUR/USD pair will be the difference between the Euro interest rate and the US Dollar interest rate.

Understanding the relationship between the interest rate differentials and the currency pairs can be very profitable for you as a forex trader. In addition to the Central Banks overnight interest rate decisions, expected future overnight rates as well the expected timing for the interest rate changes can be crucial to the currency pair movements.

The reason why this is profitable is that international investors like big banks, corporations, hedge funds and institutional investors are yield seekers. They actively keep on shifting their funds from the low yield assets to high yield assets.

Interest rate differentials are considered to be the leading indicators for currency prices. LIBOR and the 10 year bond yields are usually used as leading indicators of currency movements.

Lets take an example, suppose the Australian 10-year government bond yield is 5.25%. The US 10-year government bond yield is 1.75%. The yield spread in this case would be 350 basis points in favor of the Australian Dollar.

Suppose the Australian government raised its interest rate by 25 basis points. The 10 year Australian government bond yield would also appreciate to 5.50%. Now, the new yield spread is 375 basis points in favor of AUD. The AUD will also be expected to appreciate against USD.

The general rule of thumb used by professional traders is that when a yield spread increases in favor of a certain currency that currency is expected to appreciate against the other currency in the pair. This is important information for you as a trader. Interest rate data is available on Bloomberg. Keep track of the currencies in the currency pairs that you trade with that data.

Over the last eight years, our media has provided example after example of wasteful government spending. Of course, each example was blamed on Republicans. This year, few news reports are even mentioning wasteful government spending, even though the government has passed massive spending bills. Fiscal Year 2009’s spending report highlights multiple examples of wasteful government spending.

$14.6 million for brown snake tree control. Over the last ten years, Representatives Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Madeline Bordallo (D-Guam) have brought home $14.6 mllion in earmarks for brown snake tree control. In Fiscal Year 2009, they received $1.2 million alone. Are brown snakes such a problem that they are worth $14.6 million? $1.2 million is a great example of wasteful government spending, let alone $14.6 over ten years!

$50k to replace trees. In fiscal year 2009, Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich) asked for $50k to replace trees. No, these trees were not in a federal park or even disaster area. These trees were in River Rouge, Michigan. United States Census shows that River Rouge, Michigan is a town of less than 10,000 people. With all federal government expenditures, the question is “Why should a taxpayer in California pay to replace trees in Michigan?” How would Representative Kilpatrick answer this question?

Military spending has been a source of contention. News media outlets regularly run stories about war spending. What they do not tell us is other places the government spends money on the military. After all, non-war spending does not meet their agenda. Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), and Representative Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) requested $30,000,000 for Phase Five of an access road. The access road is being built at Pohakuloa Training Area. Keep in mind, this is Phase Five of an access road. The other four phases already cost $74.4 million.

Veterans benefits and military spending have received a large amount of attention. Our military veterans deserve the best benefits money can buy. This spending story has nothing to do with veterans benefits. It is about a request for money to build a dining hall. Representative Louise Slaughter joined then Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) in requesting $9 million to build a dining hall at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

And last but not least, lets end this with an extremely wasteful way to spend money. We can thank the Department of Agriculture and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee member Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). He requested $1,791,000 for Swine Odor and Manure Management Research in Ames IA. The so called purpose of this bill is to generate and integrate knowledge for evaluation and development of new management practices that minimize nutrient excretion, malodorous emissions, and the release of pathogens into the environment as well as have a positive impact on animal health.

Swine are not the only things that give off stinky manure. Just go into the bathroom after Larry the Cable Guy. Yet, we do not study ways to make human feces smell better. It does not make much since to study why swine manure has an odor. It is not a new problem. Is this really the most important problem and the best use for $1,791,000.

For several years, Department of Defense has worked on a new jet plane. The Joint Strike Fighter would provide America a more advanced piece of military machinery. There is no surprise in this plane. Keeping Americans safe requires that we develop the newest weapons. What is surprising is the jet’s engines. A successful engine has been developed. Congress decided that the engine would be cheaper is there was competition. $465 million was allocated to develop a second engine. Not because the first one did not work, just to make competition. Some would call this wasteful government spending.

There were 435 Representatives and 100 Senators that refused to be identified with this massive waste of taxpayers dollars. Does that tell you something? If the elected officials that we have put in office are ashamed to be connected with an Earmarked Bill such as this, then it makes you wonder why the money was even appropriated for this nonsense. Do we really need to allot $465 million to build engines on a competition level?

The amount of wasteful spending in this country, to say the least, is completely outrageous. The money being allotted for frivolous spending throughout the government of the United States of America is completely out of control. All the bills that are sighted in this report are from the fiscal year of 2009.

$14.6 million for brown snake tree control. Over the last ten years, Representatives Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Madeline Bordallo (D-Guam) have brought home $14.6 mllion in earmarks for brown snake tree control. In Fiscal Year 2009, they received $1.2 million alone. Are brown snakes such a problem that they are worth $14.6 million? $1.2 million is a great example of wasteful government spending, let alone $14.6 over ten years!

The next Bill that smells like bacon, is one that House Appropriator Carolyn Kilpatrick ( D-Mich ), requested $50,000 for. This money is being used for tree replacement in River Rouge, MI. According to a census completed in 2000, this town had a population of less then 10,000 people. Could this money not have had a better use? How many trees do you get for $50,000? Does a town of less then 10,000 people really need this many trees. Why not start a community outreach program to keep kids off the streets and off of drugs. Education, in my opinion, is more important then a few thousand trees.

Military spending receives a large amount of attention. Usually, the attention is on spending for the Iraq war. This story is not about war spending but about spending on an access road. Representative Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) joined Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) in requesting $30 million. The $30 million will be spent on Phase Five of an access road at Pohakuloa Training Area. Phases One through Four have already cost $74.4 million. Now that is wasteful government spending.

Another earmark for overspending was allotted once again for none other then Military Construction. This was requested by then- Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Representative Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.). $9,000,000 for a dining facility/ community center at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Thats an enormous amount of money for a gathering place. A better appropriation for these funds would be better used on veterans who have fought in wars both past and present. They have served this country and are owed any financial or medical problems they may encounter; such as clothing, medical bills, shelter, and rehabilitation if so needed. It is heartbreaking to see the amount of war veterans that are homeless on the streets and are unable to get jobs. Yet the government wants to build an oversized dining room? Why? Useless spending once again if you ask me.

And last but not least, lets end this with an extremely wasteful way to spend money. We can thank the Department of Agriculture and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee member Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). He requested $1,791,000 for Swine Odor and Manure Management Research in Ames IA. The so called purpose of this bill is to generate and integrate knowledge for evaluation and development of new management practices that minimize nutrient excretion, malodorous emissions, and the release of pathogens into the environment as well as have a positive impact on animal health.

Swine are not the only things that give off stinky manure. Just go into the bathroom after Larry the Cable Guy. Yet, we do not study ways to make human feces smell better. It does not make much since to study why swine manure has an odor. It is not a new problem. Is this really the most important problem and the best use for $1,791,000.

For several years, Department of Defense has worked on a new jet plane. The Joint Strike Fighter would provide America a more advanced piece of military machinery. There is no surprise in this plane. Keeping Americans safe requires that we develop the newest weapons. What is surprising is the jet’s engines. A successful engine has been developed. Congress decided that the engine would be cheaper is there was competition. $465 million was allocated to develop a second engine. Not because the first one did not work, just to make competition. Some would call this wasteful government spending.

A total of 100 Senators and 435 Representatives have refused to be associated with this bill by remaining anonymous. Hint, hint, anyone? If the officials we have elected are hiding their voices and not wanting to be tagged with this, then why has the millions of dollars even been allotted for these mind blowing bills? $465 million for competition level engines? I urge you to pick up the phone, call your local Representative, and let them know how utterly disgusted you are with the way taxpayer’s dollars are being spent.

The stimulus bill passed a while back and some people are still under the impression that they are going to personally profit from it. Unless you are able to get a new job that comes directly out of the stimulus bill, the ordinary man on the street is going to see none of this money that is being thrown around so freely by the government.

The bureaucrats see these companies as being too big and too important to fail so we must all pay for their mistakes. If you have made a mistake, it is unlikely the government will bail you out. But if you are a big company, you get a free pass over and over. Obama inherited a big financial problem it is true. This would be a huge challenge for any President but one has to wonder whether he is just making the problem worse.

This is upsetting to many as those who have played by the rules and run their companies responsibly will be paying for the mistakes of others. We will all be paying for the incompetence of these companies that did not plan well for the future and the changing economy. In the free market capitalist society we live in, wouldnt it be better to just let these companies fail like they are supposed to?

What organizations are going to be the recipients of the Obama government grants that he and the government are giving out? Will these grants and stimulus money continue to go to the same colleges and organizations that have been getting them the past eight years or will new ones get them.

It seems that everyone is in line for some of this money except individuals who might really need it. Some people are getting assistance with lower mortgage payments but there doesnt seem to be many ways for the common person to benefit. People all over the country are hurting financially and it might be nice if they could get a piece of the handouts.