All-Time Record High Gas Prices With Higher Prices Ahead

Gas Prices Hit New All-Time Record High - $3.50 Per Gallon With Higher Prices Ahead

On Sunday the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline broke through the $3.50 per gallon barrier for the first time ever. Just one month ago the price was $3.27 and compared to one year ago the average price is up from $2.86. That is a painful 64 cents per gallon price increase. The reasons for the high gas prices are high crude oil prices, increased seasonal demand, and a transition by refineries to summer fuel blends. Gas prices in the next few weeks and months are now expected to reach $3.65 per gallon.

Minneapolis, MN  -  April 20, 2008 -- On Sunday the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline broke through the $3.50 per gallon barrier for the first time ever. Just one month ago the price was $3.27 and compared to one year ago the average price is up from $2.86. That is a painful 64 cents per gallon price increase.

The primary reason for record gas prices is that crude oil is trading at all time highs of $117 per barrel which is nearly double the price of $63 per barrel one year ago. With crude oil accounting for 72% of the cost of a gallon of gas, the high oil prices translate into higher pump prices for consumers. In addition to high oil prices, other seasonal factors are also helping to drive gas prices higher. As we approach the start of summer driving season, gasoline demand typically increases by 100,000 barrels per day compared to winter consumption levels. Refineries are also making the seasonal switch to summer fuel blends which reduce smog, but are more costly to produce. These seasonal effects are worsened by the stronger than ever worldwide demand for gasoline and oil, most notably by developing nations such as China and India.

According to Jason Toews, gasoline price analyst with GasBuddy.com, the skyrocketing gas prices are not expected to end soon. Toews says that, "Gas prices will likely increase to $3.65 per gallon within the next month. If there are any major supply disruptions the national average price could easily reach $4.00 per gallon."

San Francisco drivers are suffering more than anywhere else in the nation. The average price for regular unleaded gasoline in San Francisco is currently $3.95. As of Sunday, some stations surveyed in Michigan were found to be charging as much as $4.99 per gallon for regular unleaded.

About GasBuddy.com
GasBuddy.com collects retail gasoline and diesel prices for up to 130,000 gas stations across the United States each day. GasBuddy.com is able to provide the most timely, comprehensive and accurate pump prices in the industry through its network of 700,000 fuel price spotters, direct station surveys and relationships with credit card companies. The GasBuddy.com data is relied on by some of the top companies in the country such as Google, Yahoo, Expedia, and over 1000 major media outlets.

Press Contact: Jason Toews
Company Name: GasBuddy.com
Phone: (612)875-2766
Website: www.GasBuddy.com

Investment Property Market: Mortgages in Crisis

Your Pound Still Goes a Long way in the Investment Property Market: Mortgages in Crisis - Overseas Property Markets Overview Part 1

How to use Pound's position on the market to invest in property effectively and buy a dream home overseas? There was never a better time for UK investors to Invest in US, Caribbean and Central America property markets find out more and collect your free invitation to Excel London show Place in the Sun. Three part research and advice article about property investments based on three years figures from UK based overseas property investment company Principal International.

London, Surrey  - April 23, 2008 -- You can't open a newspaper at the moment without seeing a report on Britain's financial crisis and the end of the housing boom. First time buyers are finding it almost impossible to get a foot on the property ladder and now homeowners and investors are facing potential negative equity on the value of their properties. Even celebrities like Orlando Bloom, Leona Lewis and Jonathan Woodgate have spoken out about the high property prices in London, which are causing them to consider other options.

Credit Crunch creates more opportunities to invest in properties abroad

For a long time, buy to let properties in Britain have been a secure venture for UK investors, but is it now time to start looking further a field?

Simon Ryeland - Director of Principal International Properties and specialist with 17 years in property investment, is clear that there are still good property investments out there, as long as you know where to look. "People have been investing with us in properties in the UK and abroad for over twelve years now. Over the last few years many emerging overseas markets have experienced strong rental yields and capital growth and provided a far more profitable solution than the UK market."

And it seems that the obvious destination for buying investment property overseas - Spain - isn't necessarily the best value for money.

"Spain is now generally considered as an area mainly for lifestyle purchases and we would encourage investors to look further afield." Says Simon.

Investors put off by overcrowded beaches, recent concerns over illegally built homes and the strength of the Euro against the Pound have good reason to consider other emerging markets.

There was never a better time for UK investors to Invest in great Property in US, Caribbean and Central America

One of the biggest considerations is the current value of the pound against the US dollar. Put simply, with an almost two to one exchange rate, your pound will go a lot further in countries associated with the US dollar than those associated with the Euro. And this means there are a lot of exciting property investment opportunities out there.

To be continued...

Next week: Where are the US dollar property investment hotspots? Plus unlocking the undiscovered wealth of the Eastern European property market.

This week Channel 4's A Place in the Sun Live property investment show is taking place at ExCeL London, Friday 25th to Sunday 27th April 2008.

Report by Jennifer Clowes. Analysis for this article is based on the last three years figures from Principal International Properties (pip4u.com).

Press Contact: Simon Ryeland
Company Name: Principal International Properties
Phone: (+44)01483748629
Website: http://www.principalinternational.co.uk

Hotel Industry Silent On Scam

The Scam the Hotel Industry Will Not Talk About, Says Report

April 8, 2008 - Pierrefitte-es-Bois, France - Over 60 percent of travelers make their reservations online, but the tactics of the online hotel reservations and booking intermediaries often prevent them from booking direct with the hotel of their choice.

According to a new report, consumers are prevented from finding all the hotels in the city of their destination when they use a search engine, and the result is that many hotels are missed by consumers, while booking agents continue to reap high profits from their tactics.

The free report details the "dirty tricks" used by booking agents and hotel reservations web sites to control the travel consumer. It also explains how hotel managers and owners can quickly and easily regain lost Internet business that the booking agents are trying to take away.

"The Hotel Reservations Scam, and What to Do About It" is a free report authored by travel industry expert, Herman Thuy. It is offered online at http://www.Interbed.com.

Thuy is not alone in his warnings about the manipulations of search engines by the travel industry. The management of Ryanair ("Europe's favorite low cost airline") in Nov. 2007 called online travel agents and booking intermediaries "the greatest deadwood, rip off middle-men and the costliest parasites in the travel industry."

"Use a search engine the way travel consumers use it. Search for two words, your city and hotel. Your web site will not be on that first page because the scam artists control all those listings. Consumers cannot find you, and often do not even know your hotel exists at their next destination," explained Thuy.

His claim was confirmed with searches for Paris hotels, Dublin hotels, Luxembourg hotels, and Rome hotels. Each showed a list of booking agent web sites with no individual hotels listed.

"Booking agents have the search engines rigged so that travelers will only find the agency web sites and will not find the sites for individual hotels. That way they capture most online reservations," said Thuy.

The free report not only informs hotel owners and managers how they are being duped by the hotel reservations web sites, but also offers specific advice on how they can regain full control and recapture the business they have lost to the unscrupulous intermediaries they in fact no longer need.

Press Contact:
Herman Thuy
+33 238 312 996 (landline)
+33 608 821 623 (mobile)

Press release services provided by http://www.ThatPRGuy.com

Contact Info

ThatPRGuy.com
Phone: 603-522-0148
Web site: http://ThatPRGuy.com
Box 798
Wakefield, NH 03872-0798

High School Students Earn Tuition-Free College Credit

Minnesota Virtual High School Students Earn College Credit Tuition-Free Through DeVry University

Full-Time Students Also Eligible for School-Supplied Laptop, Internet Allowance

MINNEAPOLIS--April 21, 2008--Minnesota Virtual High School students are now eligible to participate in the Passport2College program offered through DeVry University, one of the largest degree-granting higher education systems in North America. This unique program allows full-time juniors and seniors who meet residency and GPA requirements to take up to two college credit classes tuition-free through DeVry University, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

"The Passport2College program creates a clear pathway to college by giving students the opportunity to take online college classes at no charge while still in high school," said Minnesota Transitions Charter School Superintendent Tony Scallon.

And beginning with the 2008-09 school year, Minnesota Virtual High School will provide a laptop and an Internet stipend to all new full-time students. Existing full-time students will be able to take advantage of the offer when they re-enroll for the fall semester. Minnesota Virtual High School is made possible by a partnership between Minnesota Transitions Charter School of Minneapolis and online learning leader Advanced Academics, Inc.

"Providing students a school-issued laptop and Internet stipend ensures that all students interested in learning online have the equipment they need to succeed," said Jeff Elliott, president of Advanced Academics. "These enhancements to an already strong program make online education an even more appealing way for Minnesota students to earn their high school diploma."

Minnesota Virtual High School is a free online public high school that offers full and part-time education for state residents in grades 7-12. The program is a flexible, high quality option for students who are looking for an alternative to the traditional school environment.

Students earn their high school diploma, issued by a local Minnesota school district, in a personalized program featuring one-on-one access to Minnesota-certified teachers, 24/7 student support, and full high school curriculum including electives and advanced placement courses. Minnesota Virtual High School students are able to participate in sports and other activities through Minnesota Transitions Charter School. For more information, please visit www.MinnesotaVirtualHighSchool.com

About Advanced Academics

Advanced Academics, a leader in the field of online learning, partners with schools and districts in more than 30 states across the country to offer a customizable online solution that uniquely serves each customer. Advanced Academics' program has proven to be extremely successful in providing flexible learning opportunities for students in grades 7 through 12 and increasing overall student academic performance. The program offers comprehensive middle and high school courses, highly-qualified, certified teachers, and a web-based learning management system that enhances student learning. A subsidiary of DeVry Inc. (NYSE:DV), Advanced Academics is accredited by The Commission of International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA) and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). For more information, visit www.advancedacademics.com and www.advancedacademics.net.

Contacts

Advanced Academics
Meg Martin, 405-397-6156

Global Space Tribes New WayTo See The World

8W8.com for Travel and Internet Enthusiasts: Browsing Through the Novel '8W8 – Global Space Tribes' by Ralf Hirt (Amazon Books Kindle Bestseller)

8W8 - Global Space Tribes is a new way to see the world. It is written for everyone who uses the Internet, travels and is interested in any aspect of the world in the 21st century. It is a fast and enjoyable read which takes the reader from point 'A' to the world of the Global Space Tribes. Extracts of the futuristic and visionary novel by Internet Globalist Ralf Hirt are available on www.8W8.com. 8W8 – Global Space Tribes has climbed into top ranks in various Amazon Kindle categories including Travel, Globalization, Computer & Internet. It is available in both print and as Kindle edition.

New York  -  April 14 -- The new fiction work '8W8 – Global Space Tribes' begins and ends on an airplane flight which serves as bookends to a fantastic journey. It is difficult to tell if the story begins with the central character, O.K. Fellow staring out of the cabin window musing about his inability to see the world as he knows it must exist. Although the elements he wants to see don't manifest themselves in our traditional three-dimensional world, he intuitively knows that they are there, albeit invisible to the naked eye. Or, does the novel begin when the 15 members of the Golden Sky, an IT think tank, in their break out meeting in a mountain palace on the Big Island, Hawaii?

Like Hirt's vision, the mountain palace is a metaphor, invisible to the outside world. All one can see from the outside is a six-story reflection of the sun during the day, and in the evening, the moon and stars. Yet, behind this golden mirror an entire world exists: a mountain stream navigates from floor to floor, an entire self-sustaining farm functions on the bottom floor and our band of 15 IT thinkers amble about from floor to floor, from high tech conference rooms, to dining rooms, to fitness rooms, to swimming pools; all invisible outside the golden mirror.

Like modern travelers, today, they set out from point 'A' and plan to reach point 'B' within a predetermined amount of time. What our travelers don't know is how they are going to get there and where, exactly, they are going. The group is heavily weighted by business people with above average understanding of the Internet and IT technology and a visceral belief that what was needed is a new world modeling engine. Among them is a blind philosopher, who, through cunning, had been able to hide his blindness from his companions, but it is he who first sees the direction in which they are going.

However, it was Theresa Raffles who began to unravel the conundrum by interpreting messages sent to her by O.K. Fellow on his flight from San Francisco to Berlin where the story begins:

"Look at the way you look at lights. They are diamonds. Christmas lights and then, over Belgium, they are reduced to dots. You had finally reduced everything to dots, the basic elements. At one point, you had volumized, segmented and saw elements becoming streams. Later on, you create your own topography, envisioning hills, slopes and mountains."

Slowly, the group begins to assemble the pieces. They stumble upon the idea of using a virtual helicopter which contains a computerized system, a new world modeling engine, which they call "8W8." From this platform they are able to look down on the world and see business opportunities, the state of the environment, wealth and resources and, ultimately, intangibles such as human emotions.

This is a book for every business traveler; a fast and enjoyable read which takes the reader from point 'A' to the world of the Global Space Tribes. Extracts are available on www.8W8.com.

With over a decade of global Internet industry experience at companies including Glam Media and DoubleClick (Google), Hirt is well placed to comment on the possibilities for technology in an ever-more tightly connected world. Originally from Stuttgart, Germany, he has lived and worked in China, Australia, the United Kingdom and now resides in New York City, NY. Rarely, if ever unconnected, Hirt has used his first hand experiences of the business and social changes wrought by the Internet to write an enjoyable and intriguing novel that give readers much to ponder as they navigate their way through the 21st century.

"8W8-Global Space Tribes" combines engaging characters with a fascinating philosophy to create a new vision for the future. Not just for those interested in business, marketing or investment, "8W8-Global Space Tribes" is also a must read for anyone who has ever logged onto a computer or sat on a plane.

For more information or to request a free review copy, members of the press can contact the author at permissions @ 8W8.com and visit www.8W8.com. "8W8-Global Space Tribes" is available for sale online at Amazon.com, Target.com, BookSurge.com, and through additional wholesale and retail channels worldwide. It also is available together with New York Times Bestseller Freakonomics as Best Value bundle on Amazon.com during the months of April 2008.

About the Author
Ralf Hirt is an executive at Glam Media, Inc, a leading online source for women. Previously, he spent nine years with DoubleClick (Google) in London, Hong Kong, Sydney and New York City, NY. He currently lives with his wife and son in Manhattan, NY.

About 8W8 ventures
8W8 ventures inc. is an Internet Knowledge & Development firm from New York City, NY and can be visited on www.8W8.com or reached via email info @ 8W8.com.

Press Contact: Jean Hao
Company Name: 8W8 ventures inc.
Phone: 650.636.5255
Website: http://www.8W8.com

Auction Rate Preferred Shares the Largest Case of Fraud in US History

Wall Street's Auction Rate Preferred Shares the Largest Case of Outright Fraud in U.S. History, Declares Americas Watchdog

Americas Watchdog is demanding the the Securities & Exchange Commission & every State's Attorney General start investigating "auction rate preferred shares" & the fact that citizens in every US state were sold these extremely risky investments by a bank or stock broker as, "same as cash". Now tens of thousands of US citizens are being told by a bank or stock broker, "we don't know when you will get your money back". Why is this the biggest single case of fraud in US history? Its because the investors did not want risk, they wanted safety, and instead of that they were given an exotic risky investment device by greedy Wall Street investment houses & US banks. Why does this story deserve to be on NBC, CBS, ABC, & CNN? Its because this is by far the largest case of outright fraud in US history.

April 8, 2008 -- Americas Watchdog and its Corporate Whistle Blower Center are demanding that name brand banks or Wall Street financial institutions refund 100% of the investment unsuspecting US citizens placed in exotic investment devises called auction rate preferred shares, or auction rate shares. According to Americas Watchdog, "tens of thousands of US citizens were told by a US bank or Wall Street financial institution that auction rate shares were just like a CD, they were perfectly safe, and a consumer would never have to worry about their investment."

"Now in most cases, these small investors are being told by their bank or stock broker, they cannot get their money back or it will take months or longer. These US citizens were lied to, and now Americas Watchdog intends to force the issue with the SEC, State Attorney Generals, & the TV networks. We are talking about a half trillion dollars +; the life savings of tens of thousands of Americans. Wall Street and the banks will not get away with the biggest con job in history," states Americas Watchdog.

Americas Watchdog alleges the ARPS/ARS fraud is the biggest case of fraud in US history for the following reasons:

    * Tens of thousands of US citizens were told by a name brand bank or a Wall Street stock brokerage firm that auction rate preferred shares (ARPS/ARS) were just like cash, they were safe, they were just like a money market account, etc. The consumers did not want risk. Relying on their US bank or Wall Street stock brokerage firm, mom and pops and small investors in many cases were given an auction rate preferred share as a "safe alternative to a CD". Small investors were talked into investing hundreds of billions of dollars into this scheme.

    * Now these same banks or stock brokers are telling their clients they cannot access their money right now. However, the banks or stock brokerage firms are offering the auction rate preferred US victims the ability to borrow back some of their money, with interest. According to Americas Watchdog, "what a pathetic joke, first the banks & major stock brokers lie to tens of thousands of US citizens about the liquidity of auction rate preferred shares, now these same banks or brokers want to lend the victims back their own money? Not one customer was ever given a prospectus to the best knowledge of Americas Watchdog.

    * Americas Watchdog is indicating that if banks or financial institutions do not refund the auction rate preferred shares money in full to consumers, in the very near future the group will start a state by state protest/media event where individual consumers get to tell their auction rate preferred shares story to the local news media in front of the bank of stock brokerage firm that sold them this exotic not very safe investment. Consumers who were tricked into buying an option rate preferred share can call Americas Watchdog anytime at 866-714-6466.

According to Americas Watchdog, "The gloves are coming off, we are tired of seeing US citizens ripped off over and over and over again by Wall Street, US banks or a bought and paid for US Congress."

Talk about Reform or transparency from banks and Wall Street. In another case Americas Watchdog has been demanding that Congress require banks and mortgage bankers disclose a little known mortgage kick back called a "yield spread premium" for the last six years. According to the group, "50 million US homeowners pay a higher monthly mortgage payment today, because a bank or mortgage banker did not have to reveal the huge kick back they received, for increasing a home loan borrower's interest rate/monthly mortgage payment. Mortgage brokers must disclose these kick backs. Banks or mortgage bankers get the same kick backs, but they have no disclosure requirement."

Americas Watchdog says, "this kick back scheme rates #2 right behind the auction rate preferred shares fraud." In the case of the yield spread premium kick back, Congress has not been willing to require banks to disclose mortgage kickbacks because of the large donations they get from banks, home builders and mortgage bankers. Americas Watchdog's National Mortgage Complaint Center estimates that banks, mortgage bankers or home builders not having to disclose huge mortgage kick backs combined with appraisal fraud, are two of the major reasons we now have a national real estate meltdown. The National Mortgage Complaint Center's web site is located at http://NationalMortgageComplaintCenter.com

According to Americas Watchdog, "It's time for some accountability on the part of Congress and Federal Agencies that are supposed to be protecting people. Whatever happened to Federal oversight, or consumer protection? Having the best Congress money can buy has given us:

    * The auction rate preferred shares mega disaster

    * The US biblical type real estate disaster

    * Tax breaks for oil companies

    * Billions in tax breaks for national home builders that have failed to pay federal or state taxes on their work force (most of whom were/are undocumented workers-Google Americas watchdog the worst case of tax fraud in US history)

    * High profile Congressional hearings on steroid use in baseball instead of Congressional hearings on drug companies paying off Congress for Medicare Part B that cost 30 billion dollars more per year than it should have (The drug companies actually wrote the legislation).

    * No Congressional hearings on Auction Rate Preferred Shares fraud even though its a $720+ billion dollar disaster

    * With lots of money going to Congress, the mortgage industry fought fiercely to spike a provision to let bankruptcy judges rewrite the terms of distressed mortgages. It won that battle; the provision was left out. This in light of the fact that home builders and banks artificially inflated the values of US homes.

    *      Contrary to the Wall Streeet lies about the credit crunch being over within the next 12 months 1 in 5 Americans will owe more on their home than it is worth.

"Things have to change at the top in the form of real national leadership, corporate honesty & integrity or our country will not survive," says Americas Watchdog.

Americas Watchdog is all about consumer protection, shareholder protection and corporate responsibility. Their web site is located at http://AmericasWatchdog.com

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Investors are still waiting to learn if any of the financial institutions had bond insurance that might cover some of the losses. At this time suits are being filed for auction rate securities litigation. It may be some time before things are sorted out.

Mobile Catastrophe Claims Buses and Vehicles

Farmers Insurance and Zurich Financial Services Display Mobile Catastrophe Claims Buses and Vehicles at Zurich Classic

Farmers Insurance and Zurich Financial Services displayed the mobile catastrophe claims buses and 10 customer care vehicles at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, March 24-31, 2008.

Los Angeles, CA  -  April 3, 2008 -- Farmers Insurance Group of Companies and Zurich Financial Services displayed their new state-of-the-art Mobile Catastrophe Claims buses (MCC's), and 10 of their fleet of 35 Customer Care Vehicles (CCV's) in and around the New Orleans TPC golf course during the Zurich Classic, designed and built based on lessons learned from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"The mobile units enable the Farmers' Catastrophe Corps to respond immediately and effectively and are the center-point for handling claims and servicing customers," explained Farmers CEO, Paul N. Hopkins. "The buses and customer care vehicles have the most state-of-the-art equipment available anywhere in the United States."

The Mobile Claims buses are 45 feet long and are built on a superior diesel platform. They are the only diesel powered buses in the insurance industry with built-in data satellite on top of the platform to service customers. They are also equipped with various advanced technology, such as built-in GPS navigation, security/safety system, noise-reduction generator, and in-motion satellite TV, which allows Command Center personnel to track inclement weather and urgent news reports when all other forms of communication are unavailable. Stationed at Farmers National Catastrophe Claims Center in Olathe, Kansas, they can be dispatched in a moment's notice to any catastrophe in the contiguous United States.

Each of the 35 Customer Care Team Vehicles consists of a Chevrolet Suburban or a GMC Yukon XL and a trailer, which is transformed into a claims-command center upon arriving at a disaster. The CCV trailers will be placed in Farmers' 29 core states and available to deploy to any disaster in any of the contiguous United States within hours of a catastrophe to help Farmers customers with claims and non-customers with emergency supplies where needed.

When not being used as a claims center, the SUV and trailer can be used as a booth at community events to promote Farmers, its programs and corporate sponsors such as m.i.l.k. (Managing Information on Lost Kids) and the March of Dimes.

At the scene of a catastrophe, Farmers' customers will be notified via the media and their agents where the Mobile Claims Center and Customer Care Vehicles will be located. Also, Farmers has a national claims number 1-800-HELPPOINT that can always be called for assistance following a catastrophe.

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Farmers® is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own. Headquartered in Los Angeles and doing business in 41 states, the Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.

Media Note:
Anyone interested in an exclusive tour of the MCC and CCV, or interview, please call Jerry Davies at 213-400-4459 or Mark Toohey at 805-907-2216. The MCC's and CCV's will be on display throughout the TPC golf course.

Media Contacts:   
Jerry Davies
323-932-3662
Jerry.davies @ farmersinsurance.com

Mark Toohey
805-907-2216
Mark_toohey @ farmersinsurance.com

Press Contact: Jerry Davies
Company Name: Farmers Insurance
Phone: 323-932-3662
Website: www.farmers.com

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