The Government Wants to Buy Me a New Car

No, really!

Earlier this month, President Obama passed through the so-called "Cash for Clunkers Bill," aka the "Erin Might Drive a New Car For the First Time in Her Life Bill."

Essentially, the Government wants you to trade in your crap old car for something a little more environmentally friendly. This drives business to dealers, in turn stimulating the economy and hopefully letting a few auto workers keep their incomes. Good ol' Uncle Sam is going to give you a credit of up to $4,500 towards your new vehicle. Talk about a win-win!

Daydreaming of turning your rusted out 1985 Accord into a 2010 Camaro? Well, there are a few limitations. The following information is taken directly from CARS.gov, the official site of the Car Allowance Rebate Systems Act. Read on, my fellow P.O.S. drivers.

THE OLD CAR

• It must have been manufactured less than 25 years before the date you trade it in.
• It must be in drivable condition.
• It must have a "new" combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less (check your car's combined fuel economy here).
• It must be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year preceding the trade-in.

The New Car

• You don't have to BUY the new car- you can lease.
• The new car DOES NOT have to be American made.
• The new car must have a MSRP of no more than $45,000.
• The new car must have combined fuel economy of at least 22 mpg.

Other Stuff

• The amount of the credit is between $3,500 and $4,500 depending on your old car and difference in fuel economy between the trade-in and the new car.
• The CARS Act requires the dealer to use the credit under the CARS program in addition to any rebates or discounts advertised by the dealer or offered by the new vehicle’s manufacturer.
• You can combine this with other State and Federal incentives, such as the hybrid vehicle credit.
• The deal ends November 10th, or when funds run out.
  

Excited yet? Before you run off to the dealer, there's one more thing you should know. Though trades made after July 1st will be potentially eligible for the credit, the final rules and regulations will be issued on July 23rd. It's in your best interest to wait just a couple more weeks 'til then.

Image via Realist Idealist

A Valentine from Obama

My iTunes has been diligently downloading President Obama's weekly addresses over the last four weeks. I just spent the last 20 minutes catching up.

Here, a favorite quote from the Valentine's Day edition.

"This morning I'm reminded of words President Kennedy spoke in another time of uncertainty. 'Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. So not pray for tasks equal to your powers, but pray for powers equal to your tasks.' America, we will prove equal to this task. It will take time, and it will take effort, but working together we will turn this crisis into opportunity, and emerge from our painful present into our brighter future. After weeks spent with the fundamentally decent men and women of this nation, I've never been more certain of that."

Man, Mr. O. You always sound so freaking presidential, and I like it. I just wish your A/V guys would get some better lighting and background for you. I know the economy is depressing, but you're our beacon of light! Let's look like it!

PS- I'm not sure I approve of your tie this week. Polka dots and TV cameras don't work so well together.

Economics 101: TNSTAAFL

With the country glued to the TV on Sunday afternoon, Denny's restaurant chain took the opportunity to run a simple commercial:

"Free Grand Slam for all Americans. Tuesday, February 3rd. 6am to 2pm."

It was perhaps the least expensive commercial to make, but it may have had the biggest consumer impact. The Monday evening news ran the story, and Facebook and Twitter statuses were abuzz with Tuesday morning Denny's plans.

Against our better judgment, my brother and I decided to join the masses this morning. Were we crazy? Yes. Did we have fun? Not really. But we did eat for free.

We arrived at at the Burbank Airport Denny's at 10:15am and immediately joined a line of approximately 50 people snaking out into the parking lot. The general consensus was that we were standing in line to sign in with the host. After about 20 minutes standing still, I maneuvered up to the front desk where the manager promptly added my name to a list of waiting parties 2.5 pages long.

It seemed those in the outside portion of the line were actually in line for nothing, as those inside were waiting to be seated. A mad rush ensued- the "line" broke up as those who had been waiting for 20, 30, 40 minutes realized they had made absolutely no progress towards free food. I tried to make myself small so as not to get run over in a Wal-Mart/Black Friday type incident.

With the phone ringing off the hook, we stood. We waited. We tried not to inhale the acrid bongwater smell permeating the lobby. Visions of steaming hot coffee danced in my head.

A mere 46 minutes later, we were called. The manager pointed us in the direction of a table and we made our way from there. No menus. No silverware. Our frazzled waitress arrived seeking the answers to two questions: "What do you want to drink, and how do you want your eggs?"

Five minutes later my steaming hot coffee was haphazardly thrown across the table, sloshing over the sides as it went. Thinking there probably wouldn't be an opportunity for a refill, I savored each sip of that delicious brew as we waited for our microwaved pancakes to arrive.

The food...I mean, it was Denny's. I didn't eat it all, and neither did my brother. But that's not really why we came. We came for the experience. We enjoyed the shared feeling of guilty excitement over dining free in the worst economy since the Great Depression. When our $4 bill arrived, our waitress kindly requested that we pay her directly, as she'd had four walk-outs already.

Though I'll probably never visit a Denny's again, it appears the restaurant chain may have hit a Grand Slam of their own. By the time we left, the line outside had doubled, and message boards are awash with breakfast tales of survival and joy.

Non-profit Arts Hope for Senate's Vote

The U.S. House passed President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment bill Wednesday, without any help from Republicans. The controversial measure passed through to the Senate with a vote of 244 to 188.

The $819 billion economic stimulus package will hit the Senate floor next week, and while Republicans will likely demand amendments, due to the 58-41 Democratic majority split, it's expected to pass through the Senate, and be signed by the President next month.

Tucked away in a dark corner of Obama's bill is a $50 million recovery fund for the National Endowment for the Arts. Though House Democrats approved the NEA funding, it is unclear whether or not the arts funding will be included in the Senate version of the bill. A House-Senate conference will resolve these issues, and the final version should make it to the Oval Office before the President's Day holiday, Feb. 13.

Republicans have spoken out against the NEA funding, citing the Democrat's habit of spending rather than cutting taxes. Democrats, and those in the industry, are touting the arts funding as an investment which will not only save jobs, but reiterate the importance of art in a country where many schools have been forced to cut out artistic programs.

Even the bright lights of Broadway are flickering as the recession tightens it's grip on the country. Many local theaters are also facing crippling budget cuts. Robert Cates, producing director of the Geffen Playhouse, told The L.A. Times the financial situation at the Westwood auditorium is "drastic." The Luna Playhouse in Glendale may close it's doors next month, as the Glendale News-Press reports attendance there has fallen dramatically- down about 80% in the past five months.

Even if the $50 million art rescue plan makes it to the Senate bill, it may not be enough to save small theaters like the Luna. Under the Recovery bill, California is slated to receive about $33 billion. That's only about four percent of the total $819 billion. If the National Endowment for the Arts does receive the money, it will be distributed across the country. Even if each state receives an equal portion of the fund, that's one million per state to be distributed among every non-profit theater, dance, and art group. The stimulus package text reveals the money would not be distributed evenly in any case.

"NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION

For an additional amount for “Grants and Administration”, $50,000,000, 
to be distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects and activities 
which preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector threatened by declines 
in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn: 
Provided, That 40 percent of such funds shall be distributed to State 
arts agencies and regional arts organizations in a manner similar to the 
agency’s current practice and 60 percent of such funds shall be for compet-
itively selected arts projects and activities."-www.readthestimulus.org

Whether local companies receive any sort of bailout remains to be seen. For now, theaters like the Luna Playhouse will have to rely on donations and sympathetic landlords to keep their doors open.

The Senate will vote on Monday.

-Photo by UnlocktheVault via Flickr

Trying Times: Economic Depression

After 40-year-old Ervin Lupoe shot and killed his wife and five young children earlier this week, he faxed a rambling suicide note to the Los Angeles ABC affiliate, KABC.

The letter revealed what Lupoe believed was the justification for his actions. He and his wife, Ana Lupoe, had both been fired from their positions at Kaiser Permanente earlier this month following allegations of fraud and employment misrepresentation.

"So after a horrendous ordeal my wife felt it better to end our lives and why leave our children in someone's else's hands, in addition it seems Kiaser Permanente want's us to kill ourselves and take our family with us. They did nothing to the manager who stated such, and did not attempt to assist us in the matter, knowing we have no job and 5 children under 8 years with no place to go. So here we are." (redacted)

When police arrived at the Lupoe's Wilmington home, they found seven bodies. Ervin Antonio Lupe had killed himself.

Investigators and the media alike were quick to link the Lupoe tragedy to the current economic crisis. Recently Los Angeles has seen it's fair share of murders and suicides brought on by the financial woes of the mentally unstable. Last October, a Porter Ranch man killed himself and his family after losing his job and his investments.

Also last October, a Pasadena woman, apparently upset over the foreclosure of her home, set fire to the house before taking her life.

The Lupoe's faced a financial struggle in the wake of their termination, but experts say it's too early to tell whether or not the current recession is in fact playing a role in the increase in sensationalized suicide cases.

"A number of recent stories in the media have highlighted tragic suicide deaths in the context of the current financial crisis. Although it is true that such stressors can precede a suicide, the issue of causation is much more complicated. In fact, more than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have an underlying psychiatric disorder at the time of their death, most often depression.

Since the most recent statistics on suicide rates are from 2005, it is nearly impossible to determine the effect, if any, that the recent economic downturn has had on the nation’s suicide rate. And while historically, there have been reports about suicide rates increasing during past economic recessions, direct cause and effect has not been studied or determined." From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Whether or not the economic recession has played a part in the suicide rate is up for speculation, but that the rate of suicide and suicide murders has increased in the media's eye is not. The AFSP warns of the media's ability to inspire suicide contagion, or copycatting, as a result of the attention being given to high-profile cases such as the Lupoe's.

With unemployment and foreclosure rates skyrocketing, it's easy for some to fall in to a state of depression. With this in mind, many Southern California psychologists and mental health centers are offering free and low cost services to those in need.

For Students
Cal State Northridge and Long Beach offer eight free psychological counseling sessions per academic year for enrolled students. UCLA students can take advantage of CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) for a maximum of $15 per session. Most universities offer some form of psychological help, and it's generally included in student health fees paid with tuition.

• CSUN University Counseling Services- (818)677-2366
• CSULB Counseling and Psychological Services- (562)985-4001
• UCLA CAPS- (310)825-0768
  

For the rest
The most comprehensive site around, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Access Center offers a toll free number for information, referrals, and crisis counseling. Reach them at (800)854-7771.
On the site you'll find phone numbers and locations of help centers across the county. A sample:

• Hollywood Mental Health Center
  1224 N. Vine St.
  Los Angeles, CA 90038
  (323)769-6100
• Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic
  1404 Micheltorena St. (off of Sunset Blvd. in East Hollywood)
  Los Angeles, CA 90026
  (323)661-0718
• LAPSI
  2014 Sawtelle Blvd.
  Los Angeles, CA 90025
  (310)478-6541
• Family Services of Santa Monica
  1333 Euclid St.
  Santa Monica, CA 90404
  (310)451-9747
• Open Paths
  12655 Washington Blvd.
  Suite 101
  Culver City, CA 90066
  (310)398-7877

And finally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is for those on the brink of tragedy.

• (800)273-TALK or (800)273-8255

My fellow Americans...

I had heard that President Obama was going to be recording weekly podcasts throughout the course of his Presidency, but somehow I missed the fact that these would be on iTunes, in the form of video podcasts available for subscription.

Well, needless to say, I'm a subscriber now. The Prez has the most popular podcast on iTunes, and for good reason. What better way to figure out what the administration is trying to do than straight from the President's mouth?
In the first weekly address since the Inauguration, Obama lays down the details of his recovery initiative and encourages Americans to visit the newly established Recovery.gov- where we'll be able to see exactly how and why our federal tax dollars are being spent.

Well done Mr President, and thank you.

*Note- Recovery.gov is up and running, but for now you'll only see a preview page, encouraging you to check back "after the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act."

Ah jeez

On L.A. Observed:
More L.A. Times layoffs imminent...
Bad news for this j-school grad.

Another economic tragedy

The L.A. Times is reporting that the Motion Picture and Television Fund home in Woodland Hills will be closing it's doors by the end of the year.

Funded almost entirely by entertainment industry donations, the Motion Picture hospital was a place for aged and ailing entertainers to call home. A dear friend of my family lived there when I was a teen, and I visited once or twice. As far as these places go, it was rather lively- full of characters and famous names.

It's pretty sad when even the entertainment industry can't cop up a few mill to save their own.