Patrick Yap (Storm Writing)

WinOneGiveOne.com - Win One Give One

Are you interested to be rewarded by doing a good deed?

You may stand a chance to win one laptop for yourself and a second one for a child in Africa.  Betty Cracker Fruit Flavored Snacks is partnering with One Laptop per Child (OLPC), a non-profit organization for this sweepstakes.  Learn more about this initiative in WinOneGiveOne.com.

If you are at least 8 years old and a legal resident any of the forty-nine (49) United States other than Maine or of the District of Columbia, you may enter this sweepstacks.  Log into the website WinOneGiveOne.com for other detials in rules and regulations.

The promotion period of this sweepstakes is from 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET"), December 28, 2009 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET, March 31, 2011. The Administrator's computer is the official time keeping device for the Instant Win Game.

So course everyone will ask the obvious question of How to Enter this sweepstakes.  During the promotion period, obtain a code. There are two (2) ways to obtain a code for the Instant Win Game:

1. Purchase Fruit Snacks: Beginning December 28, 2009, purchase specially-marked packages of Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Fruit by the Foot and Stickerz and Betty Crocker Fruit Shapes fruit flavored snacks from participating retailers, while supplies last. Locate the code on the product packaging and have it available when you visit WinOneGiveOne.com; or
2. Free Code: Starting Friday, December 18, 2009 you may obtain a code without purchasing a specially-marked package of Fruit Flavored Snacks, by hand printing your name, mailing address, day and evening phone numbers, email address, and age on a 3" x 5" piece of paper and mailing it with proper postage to "Win One, Give One Laptop Sweepstakes," c/o ePrize, LLC, PO Box 1783, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-1783.   You will receive an email within forty-eight (48) hours of receiving your request at the email address you provided from winonegiveone@eprizefulfillment.com. This email will contain your code that can be used for one (1) entry into the Instant Win Game. Limit: One (1) request per envelope. All mail-in requests must be handwritten. All mail-in requests must be postmarked by January 31, 2011 and received by February 7, 2011.

Log into WinOneGiveOne.com to enter the sweepstakes or to obtain more details.  All the best to you.

www.shopko.com/crsurvey

Shop at Shopko and you may stand a chance to win a $250 Shopko gift card.  Get ready your receipt and simply log into the www.shopko.com/crsurvey website to fill up a survey form.  The online survey will require the store number and the receipt number indicated on the receipt itself.

www.SunTrust.com Online Banking

If you have a a personal SunTrust Checking, Savings, or Money Market account, SunTrust Consumer Credit Card, or ATM/Visa® Check Card, you may apply for online banking via www.SunTrust.com.

If you do not have one of these products, you can open an account online in the website www.SunTrust.com.

SunTrust Online Banking with Bill Pay is fast, convenient and easy to use. It puts you in control of your finances so you can easily access your SunTrust accounts, pay your bills, transfer funds, set up alerts and much more – on your schedule, anytime, from anywhere and it's all free.

Online Banking with Sun Trust provides you with Convenience (payment made easier on the go and supported in any PC or mobile device), Control (monitor account activity via email alerts) and Security (reduce the risk of identity theft with Online Statements).  Check out the details in www.SunTrust.com.

You may be asked to provide the following information:

• SunTrust Account Number
• Your Social Security Number
• SunTrust ATM/Visa Check Card Number & PIN

www.usbankhomemortgage.com - US Bank Home Mortgage

Are you looking to finance your first home mortgage or re-finance your exisiting home mortgage?

The U.S. Treasury Department recently announced details of the Making Home Affordable program which allows eligible borrowers to refinance or modify their mortgage loans, resulting in more affordable payments.  The Making Home Affordable initiative allows eligible borrowers to refinance or modify their existing first mortgage.

U.S. Bank Home Mortgage is participating in the program and fully supports efforts to help families to lower monthly mortgage payments and / or to avoid foreclosure and remain in their homes.  Check on line in  www.usbankhomemortgage.com for more details.

The mortgage process will start if you click on the icon on "Start the Mortgage process".  The eligiblity requirement is that you have to be 18 years or older.  After you complete the on-line form, a U.S. Bank Home Mortgage Specialist will follow up with you.  Details in www.usbankhomemortgage.com.

If you are an existing customer, you may also manage your Mortgage Account online by performing the following: 

• Pay Your Mortgage Online
• View Mortgage Payment History
• View your Mortgage Statement

For other users, you will also find useful Mortgage Information and Calculators on financing a first home or refinancing your home.  Read more in www.usbankhomemortgage.com.

www.usbankmyaccount.com - US Bank Gift Card

Have you ever come across occasions when you are lost in what to give to someone special?  Well, there is option in the market place that offer a unique solution -  a Gift Car offered by the US Bank Visa (www.usbankmyaccount.com).

So instead of running the risk of purchasing the wrong size, color or type of gift, simply purchase a gift card.  It gives both the recipient and the gift giver complete flexibility and convenience. The recipient is able to use the Gift Card to purchase exactly what they want!

The U.S. Bank Visa Gift Card is a prepaid card issued by U.S. Bank National Association and may be used at any merchant that accepts Visa debit cards.  This may include a wide variety of locations, including restaurants and entertainment venues.  It can be used in stores, online or over the phone.  See details in www.usbankmyaccount.com.

For the convenience of yourself and the receipent, why not apply for one today?  Further, a Gift

mywalmart.com

If you are an associate in Walmart, have you already registered an account with www.mywalmart.com? Simply register with the following 3 pieces of information about yourself:

1. Date of Birth,
2. Date of Hire and
3. Social Security Number.

It's that simple.  In order for them to get in touch with you, simply type your personal email address in both boxes. Typing the address a second time confirms your address.

After this, expect a couple of questions to safeguard the security of your ID.  Then get into the Welcome page where you should see 4 categories of benefits.

Now you can get connected with other associates and expect great discounts, offers and paystubs apart from the benefits that come at myWalmart.com.  Go ahead and obtain access to helpful resources and information from this website.

Go now at the My Walmart benefits online site www.MyWalmart.com or www.walmartbenefits.com/ and find out what the various advantages are that Walmart has in store for you.

www.mibank.com Online Banking

Go to www.mibank.com Online Banking to enroll for Online Banking now. If you don't have an M&I account, you can apply for one now!

If you have already enrolled in Online Banking and would like to enroll in Online Bill Payment, sign on and click the Pay Bills & Send Money tab.  It's that simple... no more hassle in sending out cheques.

The use of online banking Services require that you agree to the terms and conditions of the M&I Service Agreement for Online Banking. In addition, you may also view M&I’s privacy and security policies in www.mibank.com Online Banking.  Consider all the terms and conditions before you sign up.

For more information, please refer to www.mibank.com Online Banking or contact M&I Direct, 24-hours a day at 1-888-464-5463.

www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityreport

Sometimes we just needed a helping hand... especially when we are down and out.  I was wondering if help can be provided for the physical challenged or disabled people.  They may not be able to fully help themselves and sometimes, the burden that they bore can be overwhelming.  Apart from a strong family support, they will need some social support as well.

I chanced upon the following website www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityreport that may be of assistance to them:

Background Information

The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.

Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

Who is eligible for such benefits?

The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.

"Disability" under Social Security is based on your inability to work. Social Security rules consider you disabled if:

• You cannot do work that you did before;
• We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and
• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation, insurance, savings and investments.

How to file a report to claim Social Security Disability Benefits?

Enter www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityreport.

Before you start the report, please review the Adult Disability checklist to be sure you have everything that you need.  Prepare the following documents:

DISABILITY APPLICATION

• Military Service discharge information (Form DD 214) for all periods of active duty.
• W-2 Form (or your IRS 1040 and Schedules C and SE if self-employed) from last year.
• Social Security Number(s) for your spouse and minor children.
• Checking or savings account number and bank routing number, if you want Direct Deposit for your benefit checks.

DISABILITY REPORT

• Name, address and phone number of someone we can contact who knows about your medical conditions and can help with your claim.
• Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers, and dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals, and clinics. NOTE: You may want to refer to any Medical Records you have.
• Names of medicines you are taking and who prescribed them. NOTE: You may want to have your medicine bottles available.
• Names and dates of medical tests you have had and who sent you for them.
• Types of jobs and dates you worked for your last 5 jobs.
• Information about any insurance or workers' compensation claims you filed, such as claim number and name, address and phone number of insurance company

 Completing the Report

1. The Online Adult Disability and Work History Report has seven sections:
   • Overview,
   • Identification,
   • Medical,
   • Work/Education,
   • Remarks,
   • Review, and
   • Submit.
2. In each section, there will be instructions and examples to guide you.
3. The report does not have to be done all at once. After you fill in your name and address, you will get a Reentry Number. You can select the “Sign off and finish later” button at the bottom left of any page to stop working on the report , and then use the Reentry Number to come back to the section where you left off. Your Reentry Number can only be used for this report.
4. The Remarks section lets you provide us with additional information you may wish to include. If you do not have enough room, write the information on a separate sheet of paper and send it to them at the address given after you have completed the report.

Saving the Report

1. Your report is automatically saved each time you click Next, Previous, or Sign off and finish later.
2. When you have completed the report, you will see a Review of the information you entered. You can make any necessary changes at that time.
3. Once you submit your report, you will see a Receipt page that includes a copy of the entire disability report you submitted. You should print this Receipt for your records.

Time Limits

1. There are time limits for your work on each page. If you spend 25 minutes on a page, you will receive a warning and you will be able to extend your time on the page. After the third warning on a page, you must move to another page or your time will run out and your work on that page will be lost.
2. If your browser has Javascript.. turned off, you will not receive any warnings. If you do not go to another page after 30 minutes, your disability report session will end and your work on the last page will be lost.

Once you are ready, you may click on the start report button found in www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityreport.

More Information

For more information on any of these programs: See Social Security's Disability Programs web site www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityreport.  Or if you decide to file the benefits by other means instead of online, you may refer to this same webpage for further information.  There is also a start kit that you may refer to when applying online benefits:

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits_adult_eng.htm

ui4u.mt.gov

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Unemployment Insurance Division's Unemployment Insurance For You (UI4U) service allows you to 'File New Claim', 'Reactivate Your Claim', 'View Claim Information', 'View and Print Your 1099-G', 'Change Personal Information', and 'Change Personal Identification Number (PIN)'. The on-line service is a secure, simple and efficient way to file your Unemployment Insurance claim.  The official website is www.ui4u.mt.gov

Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides temporary financial assistance to eligible workers and is not based on financial need.  UI benefits are funded by employer taxes. No money is deducted from your paycheck for these benefits.  As with some other similar programs in other states, there is an assessment for the eligibility of such claim.

Eligibility for benefits is based on:

• Your wages over the past 12-18 months, and
• The reason you are unemployed, and
• Your physical ability and availability to accept work each week and
• Your work search efforts each week.
• Verification of citizenship or legal-to-work status if you are not a U.S. citizen.

You must have enough wages for an eligible claim, and leave work for a reason allowed in Montana law, to be paid benefits. For continuing payment, you must meet all eligibility requirements for each week you request benefits.

How The Reason You Are Unemployed Affects Your Eligibility

When you applied for benefits, you were asked to provide information about why you are no longer working (or working reduced hours) for your last employer and any other employers in the last 6 weeks. The application will also ask your employer about the reason(s) for your separation and will then determine your eligibility based on Montana law.

So lets get ready the following information before starting to file for a claim:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your current mailing address
• Your telephone number and/or email address
• Complete name, address and phone number of all employers you have worked for since 10-01-2008

Direct Deposit:

• If you wish to have your benefits deposited directly to your bank account, you will need your account number and bank routing number for the account you want your benefits deposited in.

Starting Steps to file your initial UI CLAIM

Select 'Start' on the home page www.ui4u.mt.govto begin your filing. 

1. Getting Started:  Enter your Social Security Number and date of birth and click-on 'Continue'.
2. Login Information:  If you have not previously established a PIN using the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System be prepared to create a four digit PIN when prompted. Your PIN and your Social Security Number are used to identify you whenever you use the service. You will also need to enter your mother's maiden name. This information is used for security purposes.
3. Enter PIN:  If you have previously created a PIN on our IVR system or on UI4U, then enter that same PIN. If you forgot your PIN, click-on 'Forgot PIN'.
4. Forgot PIN:  Your mother's maiden name, along with the social security number and birth date previously entered, will be used for your identification. If all the information matches what is on file you will be allowed to enter a new PIN. Once you have entered the new PIN and confirmed it, select 'Continue'.

Some of the pointers to note while progressing on the on-line claim:

Initial Filing Questions:

Your answers to questions on this page will help us determine the type of claim you are filing and whether you can continue to file your claim online. You may be prompted to contact the Claims Processing Center for assistance in filing your claim.Once you click-on the 'Continue' button on this page, you will not be able to return to this page to change your answers.

Eligibility:

Please read the 'Important Information' section on the right side of this page. Your answers to questions on this page will assist us in determining your eligibility for benefits. If you are unsure of what is meant by 'seasonal worker', 'self-employment', 'base period', 'job attached', or 'union attached', click-on those words and you will be shown an explanation.  Please note the eligibility pointers in the paragraph above. 

EMPLOYERS:

Employer(s) you have worked for in the Base Period.  In addition you will be asked to provide information on all the employers you have worked for in the last 6 weeks.

So if you are interested, start exploring online filing via www.ui4u.mt.gov.  Feel free to drop comments on this blog.

my.hrw.com

If you are looking for online books, assessments and resources for students and teachers, www.my.hrw.com may be a good place to start.

This website is owned by Holt Online Learning which is part of Holt McDougal educational publishing.  It is quite well known in grades 6-12 educational publishing - Holt, Rinehart and Winston and McDougal Littell.  Recently they have joined to become Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

As a result, the combined Holt and McDougal have developed products and services to better meet the challenging and changing needs of educators and students. After the merger, they are now able to offer a most comprehensive, customized, and innovative products and services available in educational publishing.

Once you enter the webpage www.my.hrw.com, you can register for the materials if you meet one of the conditions below:

1. Your district or school adopted a Holt program and requested online products as part of your gratis package.

2. Your district, school, or you individually have purchased a subscript..ion to an online product.

As I did not purchase any of the on-line products, I could not access to the online product to try out the online program.  Also, at the point of writing this blog, I was unable to view the sample programs offered by the webpage on science, maths and other related subjects.  May you will have better luck when you log into www.my.hrw.com.

For those of us who are interested in the History of Holt, Rinehart & Winston and McDougal Littell, read on...

1. Holt McDougal was established when Holt, Rinehart and Winston and McDougal Littell were combined into one publishing operation.
2. Holt, Rinehart and Winston emerged in 1960 when Henry Holt & Co. acquired both Rinehart and Company and the John C. Winston Company. Holt’s origins can be traced back to Leypoldt and Holt, founded in New York City in 1866 by Frederick Leypoldt and Henry Holt.
3. McDougal Littell was founded in 1969 as a publisher of supplementary soft-cover textbooks for secondary English teachers, later expanding its reach to basal programs in Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, World Languages, and Language Arts.
4. In 1994, McDougal Littell became part of Houghton Mifflin Company, a leading publisher of textbooks, instructional technology, assessments and other educational materials for the elementary, secondary, and college markets. Houghton Mifflin traces its beginnings to 1832 when John Allen and William D. Ticknor bought the Old Corner Bookstore at the corner of Washington and School streets in Boston.
5. In 1986, Holt, Rinehart and Winston was sold to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. When Houghton Mifflin acquired Harcourt in 2007, Holt, Rinehart and Winston and McDougal Littell were integrated as Holt McDougal.

Major Milestones include:

• 1915 - Harcourt becomes the sole U.S. publisher of poet Robert Frost
• 1922 - Holt publishes Modern Biology, widely regarded as a groundbreaking classic and bestseller
• 1967 - Houghton Mifflin becomes a publicly-traded company
• 1969 - The American Heritage Dictionary is introduced by Houghton Mifflin
• 1986 - Acquisition of Holt, Rinehart and Winston by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
• 1994 - Acquisition of McDougal Littell by Houghton Mifflin
• 1996 - The Great Source Division is created by combining the supplemental products of DC Heath, Houghton Mifflin's School Division and McDougal Littell
• 2002 - Houghton Mifflin Company is acquired by a consortium of private investment firms
• 2007 - Holt, Rinehart, and Winston merges with McDougal Littell to become Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Have fun navigating in the web page www.my.hrw.com

ymail.com

I'm sure by now we are all spoilt for choice when we want to set up a personal email account.  There's google, yahoo, hotmail, live.com, rocket mail and the list just goes on.  So in such a competitive environmental, how do we choose one that is suitable?

I guess it all boils down to the individual and what he/she wants to protray in the profile.  Probably a more fun loving person will prefer one web domain over another.  Others due to historical or sentimental reasons may want to stick with domain with a longer history.

Take Yahoo! mail for instance.  It has come a long way since its inception in 1997.  It is a free web mail service provided by Yahoo! and is currently the largest web-based email service.

When you type in www.ymail.com, you will be directed to https://login.yahoo.com/config/login_verify2?&.src=ym.

To get started, you should enter Yahoo! ID and password, then click the " Sign In" button to continue. The website is very good and helpful. If you have ymail.com id then do not forget to write @ymail.com behind username for login successful.

Currently, Yahoo! offers two versions of Yahoo! Mail: an Outlook-like Ajax interface powered by Yahoo!'s Zimbra introduced in 2007, as well as the traditional static-web-page "Yahoo! Mail Classic," which continues the availability of the simpler 1997-2006 interface for the brand's considerable installed base of users. In early 2008, Yahoo! started offering unlimited mail storage even to its non-paying users, in response to heated competition in the free-web mail market segment.  I'm still using the older version because my system simply was simply too slow to get on the new Zimbra.

On June 27, 2009, Yahoo! Messenger was integrated with Yahoo! Mail Beta. This means that Messenger and Mail are together at one place, allowing to connect instantly with others who are online, switch between email and chat, with no download or setup required. This new feature is now available for Mail Classic - hooray for users like myself!

To get started, simply enter www.ymail.com.  Once you set up your new account, the welcome note in Yahoo! mail will direct you to the installation wizard.  You may start by adding friends, family and move your contact information painlessly via the setup wizard.  In this way, you will stay connected with the people who matter most.

Another advantage of the yahoo mail! is that it allows easy management of your messages, pull up contact info from anywhere, and even see who's online.

Of course, who would want to forgo the priviliege of unlimited (yes, unlimited) storage since this earth breaking news was revealed in year 2008!.  So hurry up and squirrel away all those important (and unimportant) messages, including attached photos, files and others you name it. Save every email you receive in Yahoo!

Another cool feature of the Yahoo! mail getting messages on the go via Yahoo! alerts.  This funtion will alert you of new emails and lets you read them on your mobile phone.

For security and protection against online foes such as spam, viruses, and phishing, Yahoo! Mai offers much desired protection as well.

Well, you may want to try this out in www.ymail.com and drop your comments below.

ellentv.com giveaway

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is one of most popular talk show on TV. She had a huge following both within the States and on the international arena.  I think people are attracted to her witty sense of humour and the way the show is being presented in front of a live audience.

Along with the talk show, if you were to visit the official website www.ellentv.com giveaway, you will find that there is a daily giveaway section.  Before you eagerly enter the contest, here are the rules governing the giveaway sweepstakes:

This is open to legal residents of the United States (50 states and District of Columbia, but specifically excluding the territory of Puerto Rico) and to legal residents of Canada who are residing in Canada (but excluding residents of Quebec) who are eighteen (18) year old and over as of the date of entry.

List of people who are not permitted to this sweepstake include:

Employees of WAD Productions, Inc. (“Sponsor”), ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW, Telepictures Productions, ellentv.com, Time Warner, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Warner Bros. Online, the entity or entities supplying the Prize or Prizes for any given Sweepstakes, and each of their respective partners, parent companies, divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising, promotion and public relations agencies and their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agencies (collectively, the "Sponsor Affiliates") are not eligible to participate in the Sweepstakes and/or win a Prize.

Additionally, relatives of such employees are not eligible to win. For the purposes of this Sweepstakes, relatives are defined as spouse, mother, father, in-laws, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, children and grandchildren. In addition, you are not eligible to participate or win a Prize in this Sweepstakes if you have been involved in the development, production (including Prize suppliers), implementation and distribution of this Sweepstakes or any of the Warner Bros.’ websites.

The sweepstakes is intended for viewing, or as applicable, participation in the United States and Canada (but excluding Quebec) only and shall only be construed and evaluated according to United States law. Do not proceed in this sweepstakes if you are not a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding residents of Quebec), or if you are a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding resident of Quebec) and you do not fall within the eligibility requirements set forth in the official rules above.

Each day, they will randomly choose a lucky viewer to win the gifts shown in the page www.ellen.warnerbros.com/giveaways.  Just fill in the form on this page to be eligible. However, you may only enter your name in once a day!

A ponit to note:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THE PRIZE. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. To enter an ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW and/or ELLENTV.COM merchandise and/or services discount and/or giveaway (the “Sweepstakes”) go to www.ellentv.com (the “Web Site”).

So have fun and good luck to you!

Regions.com/onlinebanking

The Regions Online Banking (www.regions.com/onlinebanking) is easy to navigate and user friendly. The working screen resembles logging into an email account. The main menu bar is located at the top of the page. When you click on the tabs on the main menu, a sub menu is dropped down from the main menu. The tabs contained in the main menu bar are as follows:

• Accounts
• Transfers
• Payment
• E-services
• Mobile Banking
• Customer Service
• Messages

Checking account and requesting for online bank statements is easy and secured. There is no need to wait for the bank statement and at the same time, no risk if the statement is sent to a wrong address!

Further, the other advantage of using on line banking to make payments is that this mode of payment is free. There is no need to write cheques or spend on postage to make payments. There is no restriction to the number of payments made per day.

In summary, this is simple and secure way to Bank as it gives you the freedom to bank anytime, anywhere. This is a free service provided by the bank. Check it out in the demo provided in the website www.regions.com/demos.

Enrolling in Regions Online Banking only takes a few minutes. Please prepare the following items that you might want to have available before you begin the application process. As a pre-requisite, you must have an Regions deposit account to use the bank’s bill payment products. The list of items include:

• Your Social Security Number
• An ATM Card and an ATM PIN or an Internet Banking Customer Number
• A Valid email address
• Your Checking / Savings Account Information for Bill Payment

Please note that mall Business Customers must have an Internet Banking Customer Number to complete the enrollment process.

If you do not have any one of the items listed above, please call 1-800-REGIONS

Please note that in order to complete the enrollment process you will be required to agree to important information required by the Electronic Funds Transfer Act. You must be able to acknowledge that you are able to and consent to receive disclosures electronically.

DishNetwork.com myaccount

I grew up watching TV programs whenever I was done with homework and other necessary chores.  It was such a luxury and I still remembered the time when my family purchased the first color TV!  Suddenly, the black and white surroundings turned into life like images.  On the flip side we were able to differentiate the poor artwork in the background or the weird color combination of the customs worn by actors in soap operas.

Growing up with TV program makes television an important part of our life. We get to learn a lot from the latest news, reports across the globe, latest technology advancement and other interesting information.  With the invention of high tech gadgets and the power of the latest satellite technology, we can even make TV go everywhere with us.

You can check this out in the Dish Network which provides the digital television services. 

Millions of Americans are the customers of DishNetwork.com in U.S. Most advanced digital television services are provided by DishNetwork.com as well as the services of video and audio channels, pay-per-view and some programming are provided by Dish Network. You may want to check out the following packages:

• English Packages
• HD Packages
• Local Channels
• Latino Packages
• International Packages
• Sports Packages
• Premium Movies
• Pay-Per-View
• Video on Demand
• Internet and Phone
• Other Packages

The latest offer in TV technology by dish network is the power to take your TV Everywhere. With the suite of integrated TV Everywhere products available from DISH Network, you can enjoy your favorite live and recorded shows throughout your home and on the go using the same program guide, menu, and navigation you are familiar with on your home TV.  What I like to explore more is the DISH Remote Access

How to login at www.dishnetwork.com?

If you are new user then login on the left side of page. If you have your user id and password then enter it and click on “go” option.

www.401k.com Fidelity

In this age of financial uncertainty, where should we put our hard earned monies?  The value of the dollar had depreciated and the power of consumer was weakened by inflation in the price of goods.  It seemed that we had to call in prudence in carefully investing monies especially if they are meant for retirement.

Investing in 401 (k) may proved to worth exploring.  Let's look at the overall picture of this plan.

What is a 401(k)?

A 401(k) is a type of retirement plan that allows employees to save and invest for their own retirement. Through a 401(k), you can authorize your employer to deduct a certain amount of money from your paycheck and invest it in the 401(k) plan. Your money is invested in investment options that you choose from the ones offered through your company's plan. The federal government established the 401(k) in 1981 with special tax advantages, to encourage people to prepare for retirement. They get their catchy name from the section of the Internal Revenue Code which established them (you guessed it, section 401(k)).

How does a 401(k) plan work?

You decide how much money you want deducted from your paycheck and invested during each pay period, up to the legal maximum (the IRS sets an annual dollar limit each year). You also decide how to invest that money, choosing from your plan's different investment options. The money you contribute to your 401(k) account can be deducted from your pay before income taxes are taken out. This means that by contributing to a 401(k), you can actually lower the amount you pay each pay period in current taxes. For example, if you earn $1,000 each paycheck, and you contribute, say 10% ($100), you are only taxed on $900. You don't owe income taxes on the money until you withdraw it from the plan, when you could be in a lower tax bracket.  Some 401(k) plans also have a 'Roth' savings feature that allows contributions on an after-tax basis, with the possibility of receiving tax-free qualified distributions in the future.  Refer to www.401k.fidelity.com.

What's the difference between saving money in my company's retirement plan and putting money into a mutual fund or bank account?

Taxes, taxes, taxes! An ordinary savings account or mutual fund doesn't allow you to save on a tax-deferred basis. So in an ordinary savings account, you're saving money that has already been taxed, and you continue to pay tax annually on any of the earnings of that account, too. The money you contribute to your company's 401(k) retirement plan, however, can come out of your paycheck before current taxes are taken out. Plus, you don't pay income tax on the money you contribute to your 401(k) account or on any earnings until you take it out, which is usually at retirement, when you may be in a lower tax bracket. The bottom line: More of your money is working for you instead of going toward taxes. Keep in mind, however, that investing in your company's retirement plan is only a part of a sound retirement saving plan. It is still important to consider personal savings aside from your retirement savings, too.  Refer to www.401k.fidelity.com.

When I invest through my workplace plan, do sales charges apply to me?

No. Fidelity waives sales fees (also called "loads") on investments made through most retirement plans.* This waiver applies only to investments you make within your plan, however. Call your plan's toll-free retirement benefits line for more details.  However, short-term trading fees and fund expenses may still apply. Please read the funds' prospectus for more information.  Refer to www.401k.fidelity.com.

What's the difference between a 401(k) plan and my company's profit sharing plan?

A "profit sharing plan" is a type of retirement plan. It allows an employer to share profits of the company with employees by contributing a percentage of the company's annual profits to the plan. The amount of the contribution can change each year, or may not be made at all, depending on the company's circumstances.

A 401(k) plan is a feature of a profit sharing plan or a stock bonus plan. Unlike a profit sharing plan, however, employees can contribute a percentage of their own salaries (up to certain limits) to the plan for retirement savings. 401(k)s also allow employers to contribute money to its employees' accounts in the form of "company match" contributions, usually as an incentive to get employees to participate in the plan. Current income taxes are deferred on both employer and employee contributions and any investment earnings, until the money is withdrawn from the plan.

The maximum amount that you can contribute to a 401(k) in 2010 is $16,500 ($22,000 if you will be age 50 or more). After 2010, these contribution limits may be increased in $500 increments to factor in the effects of inflation. It's important to remember that your company's plan may have additional limits.  Refer to www.401k.fidelity.com.

www.chase.com/access

In this age of environmental awareness, the trend is for each individual to reduce the usage of natural resources and to look for renewable energy sources.  Even product offerings are skewed toward protecting the environment.  The banks, for eg, do not want to be left behind.  We have seen for eg, HSBC taking on the stewardship of raising environmental protection by promoting and organising volunteer work among schools on environmental projects.

Another bank worth mention in the fight for promoting paperless transaction is Chase Bank.  Visit www.chase.com/access for more details and demostration on how to process online bank and credit card transaction.  Check out the Consumer Chase Online which is best for people who take advantage of online banking, bill payment and account management.  Below is a list of functions mentioned in www.chase.com/access that a consumer could take advantage in online processes:

1.  Paying bill online is quick, easy and secure.

• Pay your bill as late as 5:00 PM Eastern time (ET) on the day it's due and your payment will be credited the same day.
• Store up to 3 checking accounts (even from other banks) to make your payments.
• Access your payment history online and make record-keeping easy.

2.  Paperless Statements will help keep you organized and simplify your filing.

• See up to 6 years of your statements online.
• Receive e-mail notifications when your monthly statement is ready.
• Help protect yourself against identity theft and mail fraud by viewing your statements securely online.

3.  Transfer balances from high-rate cards and save money on interest.

• Transfer your balances online.
• Save with a great low rate
• Consolidate debt and pay fewer monthly bills
• Calculate your savings with our online calculator

Going online is like checking your email account.  This is a great way to contribute to environmental protection and also a neat and organised way to monitor payment.  Check out the great demos featured in www.chase.com/access.

www.creditonebank.com Login

Do you desire to design your own credit card?  Well, Credit One Bank allows you to do this through the innovative credit card offer. 

So who is Credit One Bank?

Credit One Bank is one of America's leading issuers of VISA® credit cards. Issuing both VISA® and MasterCard® credit cards, Credit One Bank is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bank claims to provide credit cards to individuals who have been historically overlooked by other banks because of their less than perfect credit. With millions of people carrying a Credit One Bank credit card, Credit One Bank provides excellent customer service and an array of credit card products with innovative features.

Credit One Bank, N.A. is a national bank chartered by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury. The OCC was created by Congress to charter national banks, to oversee a nationwide system of banking institutions and to assure that national banks are safe and sound, competitive, profitable, and capable of serving in the best possible manner the banking needs of their customers.

What are the Innovative Product Features?

Customers of Credit One Bank can manage their account online through 24/7 Online Account Access. They can sign-up for Email and Text Alert Notifications to receive an alert when their Minimum Payment is due, when their payment has been posted, if they're over their credit limit, when their new statement information is available, or if their balance has reached an amount they've specified.

In addition, customers may choose to purchase a custom credit card. They can design their own card using their favorite image to create a one-of-a-kind card design through Credit One Bank's Design My Card service (chargeable at a predetermined fee). Most customers also have access to their credit score on our website. Their credit score is updated monthly and this service also includes valuable tools to help them track and understand their credit score.

Simply 3 steps to create card design (check this out in www.creditonebank.com):

1.  Design my card
2.  Preview my card
3.  Sign on terms and conditions

The bank will email you to confirm that their image checkers have approved your design

Furthermore, Credit One Bank offers the opportunity for customers to rebuild their credit with on-time payments. We provide our customer's payment performance to all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) every month.  For more details, log in to www.creditonebank.com.

www.ProsperityBanktx.com

Prosperity Bank® was included in the January 18, 2010 issue of Forbes magazine in their list of “Good Banks/Bad Banks” as the 4th best bank in the nation. The report considered eight measures of asset quality, capital adequacy and profitability. In addition, Prosperity was recently recognized by Morningstar for its strong performance in their article entitled “Our Favorite Texas Banking Franchises.”  More details featured in www.ProsperityBanktx.com.

Prosperity Bank was recently featured in the news for expanding its operations in Texas through the acquisition of retail branches from its competitor.  See news below:

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.^® (Nasdaq: PRSP) announced on 19 Jan 2010 the signing of a definitive agreement whereby Prosperity Bank^® will acquire the three (3) Texas retail bank branches of U.S. Bank.  Subsequently the company also announced on 8 Feb 2010 the signing of a definitive agreement whereby Prosperity Bank® will acquire the nineteen (19) Texas retail bank branches of First Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank. 

Let's take a look on the parent company of the Prosperity Bank ie Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.®

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.®, a $9.1 billion Houston, Texas based regional financial holding company, formed in 1983, was named to the Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 2007 Honor Roll for achieving exceptional earnings per share growth for the past 10 years. Other recent honors include being named to the Sandler O'Neill & Partners 2005 Bank and Thrift Small All Stars, listed in US Banker's August 2005 Top 100 Publicly Traded Mid-Tier Banks, ranked #2 out of 195 publicly traded companies in the 2005 Stephens, Inc. Bank and Thrift Performance Matrix and listed on the Houston Chronicle's Houston 100 list.

Operating under a community banking philosophy, Prosperity seeks to develop broad customer relationships based on service and convenience. Prosperity offers a variety of traditional loan and deposit products to its customers, which consist primarily of consumers and small and medium sized businesses.

In addition to established banking products, Prosperity offers a complete line of services including: Internet Banking services at www.prosperitybanktx.com, Retail Brokerage Services, MasterMoney Debit Cards, and 24 hour voice response banking.

Prosperity currently operates 158 full service banking locations;

• 51 in the Houston CMSA;
• 27 in the South Texas area including Corpus Christi and Victoria;
• 24 in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex;
• 20 in the East Texas area including Tyler and Longview;
• 9 in the Bryan/College Station area; and
• 27 in the Central Texas area including Austin and San Antonio.

You may want to check this out in more details in the website:  www.ProsperityBanktx.com

www.mass.gov/dua/webcert

The Massachusetts Dept of Workforce Development has an online application for unemployment insurance  (UI).  This is applied via Webcert.

Please note if you have not filed or reopened an unemployment claim you must do so before you can begin to use Webcert. In order to initiate an unemployment claim call 617-626-6800 or from area codes 508, 978, or 413, call 877-626-6800. Claimants outside of Massachusetts must call 617-626-6800.

Alternatively, you may register for Online Services.  Registration for UI online services is simple and designed to ensure that your personal information is secure.

Here's how online registration works:

Step 1:  Go to the Registration page to create your password and username.

You will do the following:

• Enter your social security number
• Confirm your social security number
• Enter the four digits of your year of birth (Example: 1965)
• Enter your mother's maiden name (Her last name before she was married)
• Click on submit

Step 2: You will need to complete the next screen:

• Enter your first and last names
• Enter your E-mail address
• Create your username
• Create and confirm your password
• Choose a "secret question" from a list and answer that question. This is to protect - and identify you - if you forget your password.

Important:

• Remember your username and password.
• Do not share your username or password with anyone, including DUA staff.

Once you're registered for online services, you can file for weekly unemployment benefits via WebCert.

WebCert - Unemployment Application Notice:

Due to heavy volume during the day on Sunday (the first day for signing weekly benefits), UI claimants may experience difficulty or delay with WebCert service. We encourage claimants to sign during the expanded hours of 7:00pm to 10:00pm on Sunday or use TeleCert (call 617-626-6338) during the expanded hours. Certifying weekly benefits early in the day provides no advantage. All payments are sent at the same time on the next business day.

2009 1099G Notice:

The 2009 1099G form, required for filing your taxes, is now available when you log in. The paper version of the 1099G form will be mailed by January 31, 2010. If you are not able to view the 1099G online or have not received it via mail by February 5th, please call 617-626-5647 to request a copy.

1. Use WebCert to file for your weekly unemployment insurance benefits
2. Check the status of your claim and verify the payment amount and the date of the most recent payment.
3. Initiate or change your federal and state tax withholding deductions
4. Print a copy of your Tax Form 1099-G.
5. Set up, cancel or change Direct Deposit
6. Received severance pay? Expedite your claim by providing your severance pay information online.
7. Submit your EB (Extended Benefit) Work Search Log online.

Recent legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President expanded the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Program, providing up to 20 weeks of additional benefits for states with high unemployment. Massachusetts qualifies as a high unemployment state.

You may learn more about eligibility requirements and payment schedule in the home page of www.mass.gov/dua/webcert.  There is also an extended benefit programs currently in effect which will phase out over time. The federal government has notified Massachusetts that it has met the criteria for a Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB) program effective March 22, 2009. State Extended Benefits are additional unemployment insurance benefits provided during periods of high unemployment in the Commonwealth.

Have you exhausted your UI Extended Benefits or are you about to exhaust them?  You may find this information helpful if you have received your last UI check or your extended benefits are about to run out.  Check this out on www.mass.gov/dua/webcert.

www michigan.gov/uia Marvin

The State of Michigan has a friendly system named MARVIN (Michigan's Automated Response Voice Interactive Network) that is in place to cater to applicants filing for unemployment benefits.  The related webpage for more info is found in  www michigan.gov/uia Marvin.  The system allows you to communicate with the Unemployment Insurance Agency's (UIA) computer by using a touch-tone or a push-button telephone with a tone/pulse switch (the switch must be set at "Tone"). Rotary or pulse telephones cannot interact with MARVIN. MARVIN uses digitized human speech to provide you with step-by-step instructions and information regarding your claim.

In his short time here, MARVIN, as he is affectionately called by the staff and customers of the UIA, has become a household name in Michigan. MARVIN has been quickly accepted by both the staff and customers of the UIA as a friendly, fast, and efficient means for the UIA to deliver services.

To use MARVIN all you need is:

• access to a touch-tone or tone/pulse telephone
• your Social Security Number
• your Personal Identification Number (PIN)

MARVIN allows you to:

• phone-in your continued weeks of unemployment
• ask for information about your benefit payment; such as the date your last payment was made and the amount

Using MARVIN to phone-in your continued weeks of unemployment is mandatory. Contact UIA at 1-866-500-0017 if for some reason you are unable to use MARVIN, or if:

• you are in a training program approved by UIA
• you are claiming a flexible week
• you are self-employed and submitting a profit and loss statement
• you are not able to use MARVIN, for whatever reason.

File an ADDITIONAL Claim IF:

• You have a Benefit Year in effect with a payment balance,
• You want your claim to begin with this week.

File a NEW Claim IF:

• You worked in the past 18 months,
• You worked only in the State of Michigan during the past 18 months,
• You did not work under more than one Social Security Number in the past 18 months,
• You have not filed a claim for unemployment benefits against another state in the past 12 months.

What You Will Need to File a Claim:

To file, you will need to provide identification:

• Your Social Security Number is required.
• And your driver's license OR
• State ID number OR
• Your Personal Identification Number (MARVIN PIN) from a previous claim.
• If you are NOT a citizen or national of the United States, you will need your Alien Registration Number and the expiration date of your work authorization.

You will also need your work history:

The names, addresses, dates of employment, and wages paid by the employers you worked for during the past 18 months.

If you select Direct Deposit for your payments you will need:

Your financial institution's Routing Transit Number and your Account Number.