New Years resolutions… a decision that as of January 1st of the New Year, one will dedicate themselves to lose weight, save more money, be nicer, be more independent, be more giving, _________ … you fill in the blank. A New Years resolution is whatever that behavior change is we feel is needed to make us better people. Why it’s necessary to use January 1st as the starting point for that, I don’t know.
Over the last month I realized I was smoking cigars way too much. At least a couple a day. My first gut reaction was , starting 1/1/09, I am going to cut back…than I started thinking how ridiculous that was. I recognized that I had developed a bad, unhealthy habit and instinctively I thought of using the New Years resolution to improve the situation. Seriously? I know it’s bad for me and rather than adjust when I realized the habit was bad, I was coming up with a socially acceptable way to delay the change. If history was a precursor for how this years resolution was going to be, it was doomed for failure anyway. I think in part because by setting a specific future date for making a change to improve some behavior, I was reducing the significance of the need for the change. If something needs a resolution, why wait? I didn’t wait till January 1st. I haven’t had a cigar in 6 days. Before anyone starts thinking crazy…my goal was to moderate my habit, not extinguish it. On January 2nd, I’m going to like up a stogie and celebrate ;-)
Happy and successful 2009 to you all!
Steve
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas
Since it is Christmas Eve, what else could I blog about but Christmas? It always seemed to me that Christmas had evolved into a commercial holiday. Even as kids we got excited over the visit from Santa and had we been good enough to get what we wanted. Sure, we went to midnight Mass and celebrated the birth of Christ with prayer and thanks but I still wanted Rock ‘em Sock ’em Robots, an electric car set or whatever the latest greatest toys some other kid on the block had. My brother John got the Robots but he let me play with them once in awhile and my brother Mike got me the electric cars one year. We played with them for hours, usually trying to crash them instead of racing
I’m not going to postulate over remembering the importance of the holiday and the real meaning. I think we all know it and every year we remind each other about it in conversation. I have brothers who donate their time during the holidays by cooking or handing out meals and I think that is a wonderful act of giving which is a great way to recognize the true meaning and I’m proud of them. I’m more lazy than they are and use the Christmas angel route and give a gift to some child who may not otherwise get one or donate money to a charity that I’m into that particular year. This year I’ve decided to donate to St. Jude’s as it was my father’s favorite charity as it focuses on children in need.
My blog today is to encourage anyone who might read it to do something for someone they don’t know. Make a donation, work at a foodbank, help an older person load their groceries into their car… do something just for the sake of giving. The feeling of giving without receiving is enriching and in the true spirit of Christmas. I would like anyone who does something for the holidays in the spirit of giving to email me and let me know. Since you have to be registered with Google to leave a comment or be a follower of my blog to comment below, it may be easier to email me at sjcoffeybean@yahoo.com and put "Holiday" in the subject.
Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you personally observe, and a truly Blessed 2009 to everyone.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Unclaimed Funds
Unclaimed funds by my definition is a government conspiracy if there ever was one. Ok, ok..so there have undoubtedly been many government conspiracies bantered about, UFO’s, JFK and the whole “New World Order” saga but those are more of the surreal as opposed to the real unclaimed funds situation.
For those who don’t know what the official definition of unclaimed funds, here it is: Unclaimed property (sometimes referred to as abandoned) refers to accounts in financial institutions and companies that have had no activity generated or contact with the owner for one year or a longer period. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed dividends or payroll checks, refunds, traveler's checks, trust distributions, unredeemed money orders or gift certificates (in some states), insurance payments or refunds and life insurance policies, annuities, certificates of deposit, customer overpayments, utility security deposits, mineral royalty payments, and contents of safe deposit boxes.[i]
The states do maintain these accounts and supposedly make attempts to locate the rightful owners and get their funds to them. However, in my searching for accounts for friends and family I have found that a great majority of them are at their current address. Names aren’t spelled incorrectly but even if they are off a bit (Jhon Smith instead of John Smith) if the address is the current address, they can’t figure that out by sending a postcard? Lord knows I get mail at my address in variations on the spelling of my name from companies trying to sell me something.
Why a conspiracy you ask? Ok, maybe you’re not asking but I’ll tell you why I think so anyway. This is my blog after all. From the same source listed in the footnotes: Total of at least $32.877 billion is currently being safeguarded by state treasurers and other agencies for 117 million accounts. Now, this is higher math for simple me but what is the interest the states are earning on that money? Let’s assume it’s invested in a simple savings account and not hedge funds, money markets, etc... and a measly 1% is the yield. $32.877 BILLION times 1% = >$328 MILLION. I can think of 328 million reasons the states would not be in a great hurry to reunite folks with their money. When someone does file a claim to retrieve their money, they aren’t paid the interest that’s been earned but only the amount originally turned over to them.
Here’s another interesting tidbit. If you had a family heirloom that was stashed away in a safe deposit box that your old bachelor uncle passed away and never told anyone he had, it would eventually be turned over to the state. The state, could then in turn, sell it to the highest bidder on eBay[ii] and hold that money for any heirs who may someday come forward. Your 18th century family jewels would be in the hands of a collector and lost to your family forever. But you might get the money if anyone thinks to contact the state to ask if they are holding thing for the dear departed uncle. Oh yeah, be prepared to provide wills, detailed paperwork on your right to claim, etc…
It’s not impossible to retrieve funds you may have. To some states credit you can actually research online. I hope everyone does and to that end, I created this blog to inform and encourage you to look up every person you can and show them the way. There are companies that charge fees to ‘locate’ your money. Don’t pay...and don’t charge anyone you find money for. Do what I do. A nice box of cigars or bottle of Irish whiskey is fine if they feel so inclinedJ But to me, the best part is getting the money out of the hands of government and giving it to the people it truly belongs to. Best place I found to research:
http://www.unclaimed.org/
Good hunting and good luck!
[i] http://www.unclaimed.org/what/
[ii] http://stores.ebay.com/IL-Treasurers-Unclaimed-Property_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
For those who don’t know what the official definition of unclaimed funds, here it is: Unclaimed property (sometimes referred to as abandoned) refers to accounts in financial institutions and companies that have had no activity generated or contact with the owner for one year or a longer period. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed dividends or payroll checks, refunds, traveler's checks, trust distributions, unredeemed money orders or gift certificates (in some states), insurance payments or refunds and life insurance policies, annuities, certificates of deposit, customer overpayments, utility security deposits, mineral royalty payments, and contents of safe deposit boxes.[i]
The states do maintain these accounts and supposedly make attempts to locate the rightful owners and get their funds to them. However, in my searching for accounts for friends and family I have found that a great majority of them are at their current address. Names aren’t spelled incorrectly but even if they are off a bit (Jhon Smith instead of John Smith) if the address is the current address, they can’t figure that out by sending a postcard? Lord knows I get mail at my address in variations on the spelling of my name from companies trying to sell me something.
Why a conspiracy you ask? Ok, maybe you’re not asking but I’ll tell you why I think so anyway. This is my blog after all. From the same source listed in the footnotes: Total of at least $32.877 billion is currently being safeguarded by state treasurers and other agencies for 117 million accounts. Now, this is higher math for simple me but what is the interest the states are earning on that money? Let’s assume it’s invested in a simple savings account and not hedge funds, money markets, etc... and a measly 1% is the yield. $32.877 BILLION times 1% = >$328 MILLION. I can think of 328 million reasons the states would not be in a great hurry to reunite folks with their money. When someone does file a claim to retrieve their money, they aren’t paid the interest that’s been earned but only the amount originally turned over to them.
Here’s another interesting tidbit. If you had a family heirloom that was stashed away in a safe deposit box that your old bachelor uncle passed away and never told anyone he had, it would eventually be turned over to the state. The state, could then in turn, sell it to the highest bidder on eBay[ii] and hold that money for any heirs who may someday come forward. Your 18th century family jewels would be in the hands of a collector and lost to your family forever. But you might get the money if anyone thinks to contact the state to ask if they are holding thing for the dear departed uncle. Oh yeah, be prepared to provide wills, detailed paperwork on your right to claim, etc…
It’s not impossible to retrieve funds you may have. To some states credit you can actually research online. I hope everyone does and to that end, I created this blog to inform and encourage you to look up every person you can and show them the way. There are companies that charge fees to ‘locate’ your money. Don’t pay...and don’t charge anyone you find money for. Do what I do. A nice box of cigars or bottle of Irish whiskey is fine if they feel so inclinedJ But to me, the best part is getting the money out of the hands of government and giving it to the people it truly belongs to. Best place I found to research:
http://www.unclaimed.org/
Good hunting and good luck!
[i] http://www.unclaimed.org/what/
[ii] http://stores.ebay.com/IL-Treasurers-Unclaimed-Property_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Leukemia
My wife was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia January 31st 2007. She underwent months of treatment, including a bone marrow transplant in August. She fought continuously, without complaint and ultimately could not defeat the illness passing away on April 14th, 2008. Her courage and attitude throughout was inspirational to everyone, including our two daughters.
Leukemia is a very insidious disease. Her doctors felt she contracted the disease through environmental means. Benzene is a known chemical carcinogen used in a multitude of common products and for years had been illegally disposed throughout the country. Several sites have been identified and labeled as "Super fund sites" by the government in an effort to 'clean' them up. Unfortunately, this process comes too late for many, including my family. Here is a website my wife used during her diagnosis and treatment to keep family members and friends updated on her situation. Feel free to read the details and post a comment in the guestbook
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/barbaracoffey
For those of you who have been diagnosed with leukemia, continue the fight. Be faithful, positive and look forward. A positive attitude is so beneficial to recovery and your health. Count on your family, friends, coworkers, medical staff... and people like myself who you may have never met but support you. I wear an orange leukemia bracelet to show my support for those afflicted with leukemia and to raise awareness for those who ask what the orange bracelet is for. I started listing the bracelets on ebay when my wife was diagnosed to raise money to offset medical bills but now I list them to get the message of support out as much as I can. In the last year I have sold hundreds of bracelets around the world. It's sad that I sell any...I make a few cents profit on each one but I would rather make nothing as there would be no need. By the way...my donations to the Leukemia Society exceed any profit I make BY FAR.
For those of you with a loved one afflicted with Leukemia. The need for your support to them is just as important as any medical treatment. Love, patience and compassion. Do not waiver. Do not give in to negativity. Be a constant pillar of positive support.
This was my first blog ever... I probably won't blog on the same issue repeatedly but I might blog about the same issue occasionally as the mood strikes me. I chose this topic as the 1st because it has become such a huge part of my life.
Closing out with the words written on my bracelet, "SAY IT, FIGHT IT, CURE IT"
From this page to God's eyes....
Steve
Leukemia is a very insidious disease. Her doctors felt she contracted the disease through environmental means. Benzene is a known chemical carcinogen used in a multitude of common products and for years had been illegally disposed throughout the country. Several sites have been identified and labeled as "Super fund sites" by the government in an effort to 'clean' them up. Unfortunately, this process comes too late for many, including my family. Here is a website my wife used during her diagnosis and treatment to keep family members and friends updated on her situation. Feel free to read the details and post a comment in the guestbook
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/barbaracoffey
For those of you who have been diagnosed with leukemia, continue the fight. Be faithful, positive and look forward. A positive attitude is so beneficial to recovery and your health. Count on your family, friends, coworkers, medical staff... and people like myself who you may have never met but support you. I wear an orange leukemia bracelet to show my support for those afflicted with leukemia and to raise awareness for those who ask what the orange bracelet is for. I started listing the bracelets on ebay when my wife was diagnosed to raise money to offset medical bills but now I list them to get the message of support out as much as I can. In the last year I have sold hundreds of bracelets around the world. It's sad that I sell any...I make a few cents profit on each one but I would rather make nothing as there would be no need. By the way...my donations to the Leukemia Society exceed any profit I make BY FAR.
For those of you with a loved one afflicted with Leukemia. The need for your support to them is just as important as any medical treatment. Love, patience and compassion. Do not waiver. Do not give in to negativity. Be a constant pillar of positive support.
This was my first blog ever... I probably won't blog on the same issue repeatedly but I might blog about the same issue occasionally as the mood strikes me. I chose this topic as the 1st because it has become such a huge part of my life.
Closing out with the words written on my bracelet, "SAY IT, FIGHT IT, CURE IT"
From this page to God's eyes....
Steve
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