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If Howard Stern can get former New Jersey governor Christie Todd Whitman  to name a roadside bathroom after him in 1995 (honest!), then it seems fair that...
...a Colorado alum should have his day in the stall.
Fact is, no one really wants to talk about charity these days because...it's usually an October - December only topic for the majority of Americans, isn't it? I’ve always been an advocate of anonymous or ‘stealth’ charitable giving, but some people just have to get their egos stroked for their generosity.
Didja hear about the guy who spent $25K to get his name on…a bathroom? In reality, he’s not ego driven, just ‘festive’…!
Be honest! What are you going to use your “We’re gonna save the world economy by giving you cash to blow” economic stimulus ‘gift’ from our pals in Washington for? According to USA Today:  “President Bush said Thursday (January 24, 2008) that a $150 billion stimulus package of individual rebates and business tax cuts, swiftly negotiated between the White House and Congress, should provide "an insurance policy" to keep an unsettled economy from tipping into recession.”
Really? That’s all it’s gonna take? Hmmmmmm…you don’t think that whopping ¾ of 1% Fed rate cut hat shook-up the global markets earlier this week will be the real catalyst for recovery? Oh you’ll love the nonsense-spin the government financial establishment put on the immediate impact from this cut.
Check out the Federal Reserve/White House’s silly prediction of the rate cut’s positive impact on consumers like you and me—with my observations interspersed throughout — as reported by Business Week:
Q. "Will adjustable-rate mortgages become more affordable?
A. The rate cut is good news for consumers with so-called ARMs scheduled to reset soon. ARMs, which typically adjust to market rates every 6 to 12 months after an introductory term, are often pegged to short-term rates such as 1-year Treasury bills...”
Dover's comment: Oops…sorry guys, but you’re overlooking one not-so-small detail. In order to refinance their ARMs, homeowners had better pray their home hasn’t lost value. Good luck doing a refi if you’re  living in the typical American neighborhood, circa 2008.
Prices are dropping, and for many homeowners who got into more home than they should of in the first place, I suggest holding off pouring yourself a glass of celebratory champagne until you survey home prices on your street first.
Q. "How will the Fed action affect the interest rate on credit cards, home-equity loans and car loans?
A. After the Fed's rate cut Tuesday, banks quickly cut their prime rate -- the rate they charge their best customers -- to 6.5 percent. The prime rate also serves as a benchmark for credit cards and home equity loans, and those borrowers will benefit from lower rates.”
Dover's comment: Whoever made this statement needs to be drug tested. I challenge you to find a direct and meaningful impact of a prime rate cut to the typical American credit card customer. All lower prime rates mean to banks who lend money via credit cards is that they will pad their profits, because I can guarantee you in practically every instance, anyone carrying a balance isn’t going to see any substantial relief.
I think I’m in love! File this under "Ohmygosh...someone who actually tells the truth instead of re-packaging press releases!!!" I actually found a financial journalist (other than CNBC’s Jim Cramer) who’ll actually tell you the way it really is! Check out this recent post from US News & World Reports’ Kimberly Palmer, and her take on the true impact of the Fed’s recent rate cut…
Speaking of Jim Cramer, I wonder if he uses a ‘remote starter’ every time he gets into his personal vehicle: You’ve gotta love this guy, but I think he’s really missing the boat. His agent needs to get off the dime and sign up Roche Laboratories — the makers of Valium — as sponsors of his assorted media vehicles. 
I first became a fan of Jim's back in 1997, when he was doing regular features for ABC’s Good Morning America. Using GMA as his proving ground/launch pad, Jim then started doing a  syndicated radio show and then ended up at his current TV home of CNBC, in addition to launching his popular website, TheStreet.com.
If you’re looking for someone to shoot straight with you and tell it like it is, no matter who he might upset, you’ll love this guy. Check out this video of what many believe to be his most famous rant, and you’ll see what I mean.
And speaking of Howard Stern...you've gotta see Jim Cramer's recent commentary/ recommendation for buying Sirius Satellite Radio stock: First, some  disclosures on my part.
1. I've been a Howard Stern fan for years: A friend of mine turned me on to him back in 1986 when I was up in New York on business. Even though some of his callers/fans tried to play pranks on my Dallas radio show from time to time, once they realized that I was also a fan of Howard's, as well as a supporter of constitutionally-guaranteed free speech, they eventually left me alone.
2. When I got fired from a CBS-owned news/talk radio station in Dallas back in 2005, I immediately took my CBS 401K monies and rolled half of them into Sirius (stock symbol SIRI) in January, 2006. When the price of the stock went down, I bought even more.
 Why? Because I knew that when Mel Karmazin (the former president of CBS Radio and Howard's former boss when he was in terrestrial radio) took over the top position at Sirius and then made history by bringing Howard over to the uncensored world of satellite radio for a record 5-year/$500 million contract, that the 'race' between Sirius and rival XM was over.
And of course, history has proven me correct.
Now it's simply a matter of time before Congress approves the merger between Sirius and XM, and as Jim Cramer so eloquently stated in a recent broadcast, whether the merger goes through or not, Sirius is still the winner in the world of satellite radio...and at +/- $3 a share, it's a steal.
3. So here's the deal: If you're thinking of buying Sirius now, consider doing so inside your IRA (Roth or regular), or inside whatever self-directed and tax-deferred investment vehicles you have under your control. It's a smart, tax-sheltered/tax-deferred move that I suspect (personally hope) will pay off in the short-term and, in my humble opinion, an even smarter move for the long-haul.
Oh yeah/Part I: I expect the coming merger to help the position I hold in my IRA, and as soon as I can free up some cash, I guarantee you that I'll buy more. It's a terrific product that you'll only begin to understand once you've tried it.
Oh yeah/Part II and on a personal note: You've never heard radio as funny (and yes, sometimes raw and crude) as Howard's Sirius shows. Some of the prank phone calls they play are downright brilliant, the uncensored "Whack Pack" is a riot, and the host's interviewing skills have never been sharper.
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