The $1 Billion That Nobody Wants

 

The U.S. Mint is manufacturing, and will continue to manufacture, one dollar coins that just pile up in the Federal Reserve because no one wants to use them. They’ve already stockpiled over a billion dollars in coins, and may reach two billion!

In 2005, Congress decided that a new series of dollar coins should be minted to engage the public. These coins would bear the likeness of every former president, starting with George Washington. There would be a new one every quarter. So, far, the Mint has produced coins through the 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant.
Members of Congress reasoned that a coin series that changed frequently and had educational appeal would make dollar coins more popular. The idea came from the successful program that put each of the 50 states on the backs of quarters.

The reserve also has plenty of Susan B Anthony and Sacagawea dollar coins. If the public does not want to use dollar coins, why are they being made? The answer is a bit complicated, and is explained in this article at  NPR.

The $8.5 billion mortgage settlement

Bank to pay $8.5 bil mortgage settlement

Bank of America was under fire for investments that soured when the housing market crashed. 

Details 

Also: 

• My underwater mortgage
• New rules of real estate
• Find low mortgage rates

Worst refinance mistakes

Top mistakes to avoid when refinancing

Low interest rates don't necessarily mean homeowners will save money on their mortgages. 

  Beware of 'rate envy' 

Also: 

• Homebuyers' most-wanted
• Buy for the long haul
• 10 millionaire enclaves

Home prices on the rise

Spring buying boosts U.S. home values

Prices rose in 13 of 20 major cities, but other metro areas are still in a housing slump.

Is it a turning point? 

Also: 

• Find houses for sale
• Dirt cheap housing markets
• Hidden ownership costs

Benefits of small savings

The benefits of saving even tiny sums

Don't fool yourself by thinking that you have so little to save for retirement that it's not worth it.

  Losing free money 

Also: 

• Advice from the wealthy
• Meet a credit card king
• Tax-deductible vacation

Manage your life

• Living together could be a smart money move
• 12 tips towards better teamwork
• 10 characteristics of debt-free people

Culinary DeLites

• 

  10 tips for the perfect chocolate chip cookie

• 

  Does Dr Pepper Ten taste more like original Dr Pepper?

• 

  Create the ultimate work pantry

• 

  Unexpected and welcome twists on coleslaw

Healthy Living

Healthiest food choices on the road

Also:

• Weird health symptoms, explained
• Why you crave fatty foods when you're stressed
• 5 natural remedies for tummy trouble

Six health myths – busted

Do you opt for the hand dryer over paper towels?

Load up on vitamin C every time you get the sniffles?

Then it’s time to find out the science behind all those daily practices and cures we cling to.

Here’s the skinny on the top six health myths.

Read More

B.C.

Chihuahua shows talent for herding sheep

She may only weigh 2.5lb, but Nancy the Chihuahua makes quick work of showing five sheep who is boss, despite the animals being more than ten times her size.

Rescue dog Nancy's potential for herding flocks was discovered after she was adopted by a sheep dog trainer. Ali Taylor, who trains rescued border collies, said the tiny dog picked up herding straight away.

"I started in a very controlled environment but it quickly became evident that Nancy has natural ability and loves herding sheep," she said. Nancy was hand-reared after being taken to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home at just three weeks old with a skin disease caused by parasitic mites.

YouTube link.

"People sometimes under-estimate rescue dogs, but they really are fantastic and go on to do amazing things," Ms Taylor, who also works at the dogs home, said. The charity stresses that no-one should try sheep herding without expert supervision.

Elderly lady fed cannabis to pet rabbits

Police in Brandenburg who discovered a large plot of cannabis called on the neighboring house only to find an 84-year-old woman who had been feeding her rabbits with the plants. “The rabbits really like it,” the woman told officers who called on her in the village of Golzow near Belzig.

A police officer had seen the healthy, meter-high plants from the road while on his way to work and told his colleagues, who visited the plot’s owner – the elderly woman. She told them that she had not grown the plants herself, but that they had simply started growing there, and had proven to be excellent rabbit food.

Not only did the rabbits love eating the plants, they grew back very quickly after she cut them down, she told the investigating officers. A spokesman for the Brandenburg police said her explanation had sounded plausible, but the officers could not leave her with the plants, rather cut them all down and took them to the forensics laboratory for testing.

The three large plastic sacks of weed will now be tested to determine the level of THC – the psycho-active ingredient in cannabis - they contain. There was no official comment on what the elderly woman was expected to feed her rabbits with now.

Animal Pictures

Blogging Lite

Looks like we're ending June on a belch. Today has been a bit of a bear so we're blogging lite.
Life is like that ...

Non Sequitur

Wizard of Id

Upping the cute factor

B.C.

Animal Pictures

The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
Communication with others will bring you an exceptional amount of joy right now, so it's in your best interest to initiate discussions whenever -- and wherever -- you can.
Strangers are only friends you haven't met yet, and although new friendships might not be what you're looking for right now, you should try to break the ice in a public situation.
It will add a pleasantness to your day and remind you that everyone is essentially the same inside.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
London, England, United Kingdom
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Cork, Cork, Ireland
Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

as well as Slovakia, Malta, Bulgaria, Israel, Finland, Austria, Norway, Georgia, Mexico, Peru, Kuwait, Serbia, Bangladesh, Latvia, Greece, Scotland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Wales, Iran, Singapore, Poland, Taiwan, Sweden, Afghanistan, Belgium, Tibet, Croatia, Pakistan, Romania, Paraguay, Sudan, Vietnam, Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Maldives, Qatar, Brazil, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Slovenia, China, Iraq, Ecuador, Nigeria, Colombia, Chile, Honduras, Paupa New Guinea, Moldova, Venezuela, Germany, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Norway, Finland

and in cities across the United States such as Coraopolis, Fredricksburg, Marshfield, Barstow and more.

Today is:

Today is Tuesday, June 28, the 179th day of 2011.

There are 186 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:

There isn't one.

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!