| '08 Mercury Sable emphasizes comfort
It's a large, nearly 17-foot-long, smooth-riding sedan with generous interior space, a huge trunk, commendable V-6 power and top safety ratings. In fact, the Sable, which was resurrected in the 2008 model year after a hiatus from the market, is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine, which notes that this four-door car emphasizes comfort. Still, the Sable lives under the shadow of its better-known twin, the Ford Taurus, which tends to get all the attention. Starting manufacturer's suggested retail price for a base, front-wheel drive Sable is $24,530 with standard six-speed automatic transmission. One of the few nonluxury cars of its size offered with all-wheel drive, the 2008 Sable starts at $26,380 with all-wheel drive. Both starting prices are higher than the comparable Tauruses, but the difference is slight.
Cracking the US music market
Each year, thousands of music industry and media bigwigs attend the world's largest music conference called South by Southwest, looking for the next big thing. A small group of Australian musicians have headed to the conference, held in Austin in Texas, hoping to make it in the United States. In 2007, British singer Amy Winehouse performed some of her first major American shows at the South by Southwest music conference. Less than a year later she was a superstar in America, won five Grammys and her album, Back in Black, went double platinum. South by Southwest has become the most important event for young artists around the world to get noticed, sign record deals and break into the American music market.
Time to Go on a Liquid Diet
In volatile times like these, cash is your best friend, aside from your dogs and cats. True, you earn very little interest on cash these days. True, if the stock market has a huge move up and you are largely in cash, you will be sad. But it is also true that cash does not crash — although it does slowly but surely lose its value. You can pay your bills with it without having to sell it at a loss. So, as my pal Ray Lucia, the San Diego money manager, has taught me over the years, your first bucket of money should be in cash. Having a plan is vital. It does not have to be a perfect or precise plan. Indeed, it cannot be, because you cannot forecast your rate of return or cost of living. But a rough plan to get you to and through retirement (to the Rainbow Bridge, where you meet all your departed dogs and cats) is a must.
Dollars and Sense: Soaring Gas Prices
As oil prices rise, an increasing portion of the family budget has to be set aside for gas money. Phil Flynn, Senior Market Analyst at Alaron Trading, helps make sense of the soaring prices and shares some tips for saving pennies at the pump. Tips To Save At The Pump: (FROM AAA-Chicago) Slow down. For most vehicles, fuel economy drops off significantly when traveling more than 60 miles per hour. As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. Stick to a routine maintenance schedule. Keeping tires inflated, moving components properly lubricated and ignition and emission systems operating properly will help ensure maximum fuel efficiency and extend the life of your vehicle. Lighten your vehicle by cleaning out the trunk, cargo areas and passenger compartments.
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