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	<title>Fortune Watch &#187; Offbeat</title>
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	<link>http://www.fortunewatch.com</link>
	<description>Money Is Power</description>
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		<title>Sensible Financial Planning Can Get You Best Of Both Worlds</title>
		<link>http://www.fortunewatch.com/sensible-financial-planning-can-get-you-best-of-both-worlds/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fortunewatch.com/sensible-financial-planning-can-get-you-best-of-both-worlds/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Apr 2010 10:51:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robin Bal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lighter Side]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Offbeat]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fortunewatch.com/?p=3262</guid>
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<p><a href="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/3979.jpg" ><img src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/3979.jpg" alt="" title="3979" width="527" height="480" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3261" /></a><!--adsense#diggright--></p>
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		<title>Purchase Versus Leasing, Which Is Better?</title>
		<link>http://www.fortunewatch.com/purchase-versus-leasing-which-is-better/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fortunewatch.com/purchase-versus-leasing-which-is-better/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:42:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robin Bal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Offbeat]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fortunewatch.com/?p=2896</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[YOU DO THE MATH! Purchasing The math on the Paul McCartney-Heather Mills divorce is as follows: After 5 years of marriage, he paid her $49 million. Assuming he had sex every night during their 5 year relationship it ended up costing him $26,849 per time. This is Heather: Leasing On the other hand, Tiger Wood’s [...]]]></description>
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<p><!--adsense#diggright--><strong>YOU DO THE MATH!<br />
</strong><strong>Purchasing<br />
</strong><br />
The math on the Paul McCartney-Heather Mills divorce is as follows:</p>
<p>After 5 years of marriage, he paid her $49 million. Assuming he had sex every night during their 5 year relationship it ended up costing him $26,849 per time.          </p>
<p>This is Heather:<br />
<center><a href="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/heather.jpg" ><img src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/heather.jpg" alt="" title="heather" width="451" height="274" class="alignright size-full wp-image-2897" /></a></center></p>
<p><strong>Leasing</strong></p>
<p>On  the other hand, Tiger Wood’s hooker, Kristen, an absolute stunner, charges $4000 per night.</p>
<p>This is Kristen:<br />
<center><a href="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/kristen.jpg" ><img src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/kristen.jpg" alt="" title="kristen" width="453" height="339" class="alignright size-full wp-image-2898" /></a></center></p>
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		<title>Millionaire Pets: Seven Cats and Dogs Who Are Actually Richer than You</title>
		<link>http://www.fortunewatch.com/millionaire-pets-seven-cats-and-dogs-who-are-actually-richer-than-you/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fortunewatch.com/millionaire-pets-seven-cats-and-dogs-who-are-actually-richer-than-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2009 04:43:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robin Bal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Offbeat]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fortunewatch.com/?p=1708</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[They do, however, exist. Since 1923, when the first reported case of a pet inheritance was affirmed in Willett vs. Willett, pets have been receiving money. Sometimes quite a lot of money. Here are seven dogs and seven cats (in particular order) that are probably richer than you:]]></description>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">We hear about millionaires — and billionaires — quite frequently. But less often do we hear about pet millionaires. They do, however, exist. Since 1923, when the first reported case of a pet inheritance was affirmed in Willett vs. Willett, pets have been receiving money. Sometimes quite a lot of money. Here are seven dogs and seven cats (in particular order) that are probably richer than you:</p>
<h3>Some of the World’s Richest Dogs</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">These dogs know how to live the high life. Seriously. They give a whole new meaning to the phrase “being treated like a dog.”</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1709" title="ritratto" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ritratto.jpg" alt="ritratto" width="100" height="96" align="right" /> 1.Gunther IV, the German Shepherd: This dog actually received his inheritance from his father, Gunther III, a German Shepherd who received an inheritance from Karlotta Liebenstein, a German countess. Gunther IV has bought a Miami villa from Madonna and won a rare white truffle in an auction. Learn more about Gunther IV on a Web site devoted to him and those he hangs out with. He’s worth about $372 million right now, thanks to his growing trust fund.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1715" title="oprah-gracie-20070720-0752071" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/oprah-gracie-20070720-0752071.jpg" alt="oprah-gracie-20070720-0752071" width="100" height="100" align="right" />2. Oprah’s dogs: Oprah Winfrey has several animals, including some dogs. She wants to make sure that her dogs are cared for when she is gone. Her will specifies that that her dogs receive $30 million for their care. (Just a drop in the bucket when you look at the billions Oprah is worth.) True, that money will be split amongst all dogs that she has, but even so, each and every one is probably richer than you are. They’re definitely richer than I am.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1716" title="news023" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/news023.jpg" alt="news023" width="100" height="100" align="right" />3. news023Trouble Helmsley: New York’s “Queen of Mean”, Leona Helmsley, famously cut her grandchildren out of her will, but left her Maltese terrier $12 million. However, a judge knocked $10 million off that amount, so that brings the amount to $2 million. Additionally, Trouble will be not be so well taken care of after death, as the dog can’t be buried in the Helmsley mausoleum, due to cemetary requirements and state law.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1717" title="flossie" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/flossie.jpg" alt="flossie" width="100" height="100" align="right" />4. Drew Barrymore’s yellow Labrador retriever and chow mix, Flossie, has been left a home. Flossie awakened Barrymore and then-boyfriend Tom Green when a fire raged through the home. Barrymore amended her will to leave the home, valued at $3 million, to Flossie in return for this possibly life-saving deed.<br />
<strong>Read</strong> </p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1718" title="4tinaandkate_228x202" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/4tinaandkate_228x202.jpg" alt="4tinaandkate_228x202" width="100" height="97" align="right" />5. Tina and Kate: These two collie crosses received $1 million for their care upon the death of their owner Nora Hardwell. In addition to the provision for their care, Tina and Kate also enjoy unlimited use of the lovely home Hardwell occupied near Bath, England, in a town called Peasedown St. John. The home comes with five acres, so these millionaire dogs have plenty of room to run.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1719" title="5jaspernew_228x331" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/5jaspernew_228x331.jpg" alt="5jaspernew_228x331" width="100" height="99" align="right" />6. Jasper and Jason: These dogs live in luxury, since the death of their owner. Jasper is a Labrador and Doberman mix. He was destined for euthanization after being abandoned. However, Diana Myburgh, a brewery heiress, rescued him. Jason is a Whippet. They were both given trust funds of $50,000. As you might imagine, now their funds have more than tripled. It may not be $1 million, but it’s still a hefty fund. Besides, they own a 1,236 acre estate that is worth waaaaaay more than $1 million, and enjoy the finest steaks prepared by a personal chef and ride around in a stretch limo.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">7.  A reclusive poodle who is worth <a href="http://creditcardpundit.com/blog/top-5-richest-pets-in-the-world/" rel="nofollow" >$92 million</a>. Tobey descends from a poodle who inherited $30 million from his New York owner, Ella Wendel, who died in 1931. Now Tobey is the poster dog for the benefits of trust funds and compounding interest. He makes #3 the list of richest pets ever, behind Gunther IV and <a href="http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/monkeywire/2000-December/000021.html" rel="nofollow" >a chimp named Kalu</a>.</p>
<h3>Some of the World’s Richest Cats</h3>
<p>Cats already think that they are royalty. This list of cats rich enough to live like royalty is likely only to increase this feeling of pet entitlement.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1720" title="_39183813_cat300" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/_39183813_cat300.jpg" alt="" width="100" height="98" align="right" />1. Tinker: This is the classic rags-to-riches story. Tinker was a stray, regularly visiting Margaret Layne, an old widow. In return for Tinker’s loyalty, he was awarded a fortune. There is a <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2003/05/06/cat_030506.html" rel="nofollow" >$226,000 trust fund for Tinker</a>, as well as a new home — worth about $800,000. Tinker has been joined by two lovely female cats, Lucky and Stardust. Of course, if Tinker returns to his wandering ways, the will strips him of his money.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1722" title="26344631" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/26344631.jpg" alt="26344631" width="100" height="100" align="right" />2. Beryl Reid’s Cats: <a href="http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/bygones/Terrifeec-8211-Beryl-s-genius-lit-pantos-city/article-588651-detail/article.html" rel="nofollow" >Beryl Reid</a> was an actress. She had a lovely $1.8 million cottage. She was also famous for her love of cats. So, when she died, her cats Hamish, Boon, Eileen, Coco and Tuffnel inherited. A friend was commissioned to look after them as they lived in their house.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1723" title="millionaire-cat" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/millionaire-cat.jpg" alt="millionaire-cat" width="100" height="97" align="right" />3. Lola The Millionaire Cat: This cat isn’t a millionaire — yet. While the other cats on this list inherited their wealth, The Millionaire cat is trying to earn money through blogging.  <a href="http://themillionairecat.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" >The Millionaire Cat has a blog</a> that shows videos of this entrepreneur doing every day cat things. The Millionaire Cat is taking donations via PayPal, and hoping for enough money to become a millionaire. It’s an interesting concept, but, unfortunately, this cat hasn’t got a cent yet.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">4. Red: A tabby cat who kept bachelor David Harper company. When Harper died, he left is <a href="http://www.thepurrcompany.com/cat-articles/index.php?id=50" rel="nofollow" >$1.1 million estate to Red</a>. The cat is cared for the United Church of Canada, and will enjoy the benefits of the best food, bedding and medical care for the rest of his life.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">5. Blackie: When British recluse Ben Rea died, he left $15 million to various cat charities — and to his cat Blackie. Rea left nothing to his relatives, however. Everything went to Blackie and to help cat charities. We don’t have a picture of Blackie, who seems to be as reclusive as his owner, but here is a picture of a black cat enjoying life.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">6. Fluffy: Mary Burton was a church organist in Great Paxton, Cambridgeshire, Enlgand. She left her entire estate to the Wood Green Animal Shelter, provided her cat — a ginger tom — was well cared for. Fluffy, the ginger tom, received $60,000, plus the ability to live in the house and be well cared for. His diet was even specified: steamed cod, lean roast beef, milk, frexh pilchards and vegetables. Fluffy also requires plenty of sun and relaxation. He’s probably not worth quite $1 million, but Fluffy lies better than a lot of humans. This is what Fluffy likely looks like (we couldn’t find a picture) — a regular ginger tom.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">7. Brownie and Hellcat: These felines each received $415,000 in the 1960s when their owner, Dr. William Grier, died. Charlie Chan, another cat beneficiary of Grier, received $250,000. The legacies of Brownie and Hellcat live on, even though they are dead; each legacy is now worth $4.1 million. Not bad. I don’t know what Brownie and Hellcat looked like, but the cat pictured here is definitely living the high life.<br />
Source &#8211; <a href="http://bankling.com/2009/pet-millionaires-seven-cats-and-dogs-who-are-actually-richer-than-you/" rel="nofollow" >Bankling</a></p>
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		<title>Is Economy Really That Bad</title>
		<link>http://www.fortunewatch.com/is-economy-really-that-bad/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fortunewatch.com/is-economy-really-that-bad/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:04:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robin Bal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[financial crisis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Offbeat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[economics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market conditions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fortunewatch.com/?p=1546</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Economy Is Really Bad]]></description>
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<p><center><br/><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1545" title="mailgooglecom1" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/mailgooglecom1.jpg" alt="mailgooglecom1" width="450" height="338" /><center></p>
<p><strong>The latest news on inflation and unemployment seem to be pointing to a gathering storm in the U.S. economy. A lot of readers are wondering: Just how bad is this downturn going to be?<br />
</strong><br />
Economic forecasters and weather forecasters have a few things in common. Since no one can see into the future, both kinds of forecasters look at the forces that have created and shaped storms in the past — and then look at current data to help guide their predictions. When you see a sharp drop in the barometer, it’s a pretty good bet there’s a storm coming.<br />
<strong>READ</strong><br />
So we’re not saying there won’t be a severe downturn; the point is that no one knows. It’s just too early to know how bad it will be. And it would have to get a whole lot worse to measure up to the biggest economic storms we’ve been through.</p>
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		<title>Obama The New Superman</title>
		<link>http://www.fortunewatch.com/obama-the-new-superman/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fortunewatch.com/obama-the-new-superman/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:08:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robin Bal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Offbeat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[US Elections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[barack obama]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[But now my serious political friend is finding this presidential season entertaining and humorous? I wonder how many other Americans feel the same way about Election ‘08? Are they feeling this way because they are coping with a very strange election season? And is this a worrying sign for American politics as a whole?]]></description>
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<p><center><br/><a href="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/rssupobama_big.jpg" ><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-876" title="rssupobama_big" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/rssupobama_big.jpg" alt="" width="352" height="370" /></a></center></p>
<p><!--adsense--><strong>A friend of mine is an unabashed and very sane Obama supporter (not Obamabot in the slightest). When I asked him why he bought the t-shirt, he said:</strong></p>
<p>It’s all in good fun. Win or lose, this presidential election season is just full of grade-A entertainment!<br />
<strong><br />
Presidential politics is serious business!</strong></p>
<p><strong>Read </strong> </p>
<p>But now my serious political friend is finding this presidential season entertaining and humorous? I wonder how many other Americans feel the same way about Election ‘08? Are they feeling this way because they are coping with a very strange election season? And is this a worrying sign for American politics as a whole?</p>
<p>Picture Courtsey &#8211; <a href="http://www.stylinonline.com/" rel="no follow" >Stylinonline</a></p>
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		<title>If The Internet Is Filled With Anything, It Is Jerks</title>
		<link>http://www.fortunewatch.com/if-the-internet-is-filled-with-anything-it-is-jerks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fortunewatch.com/if-the-internet-is-filled-with-anything-it-is-jerks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:53:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robin Bal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Offbeat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[black widow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[internet jerks]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[That is nothing new. Some of the most popular websites are known for really bringing out the worst in people, but it seems to be getting worse. Let me give you an example. A girl in the UK found a black widow, an extremely venomous spider that generally lives in North America, in a bowl [...]]]></description>
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<p><!--adsense--><a href="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/jerk.jpg" ><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-801" title="jerk" src="http://www.fortunewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/jerk.jpg" alt="" width="254" height="189" align="right" /></a><strong>That is nothing new. Some of the most popular websites are known for really bringing out the worst in people, but it seems to be getting worse. Let me give you an example.</strong></p>
<p>A girl in the UK found a black widow, an extremely venomous spider that generally lives in North America, in a bowl of grapes that had been bought in a local store.</p>
<p>The story became big on Digg.com, a popular Web 2.0 site where readers can vote for (a digg) or against (bury) a story. The spider story quickly became a hit on the site, raking in more than 800 diggs in just about 24 hours.</p>
<p>Then the readers chimed in. Posting responses to stories is part of the reason for Digg&#8217;s popularity. Many readers commented on how creepy the story was or discussed spiders in general.</p>
<p>But some of the responses were just rude. Some people took to blasting the Daily Mail, which originally published the article, for not covering &#8220;real news&#8221;. The girl who found the spider was called a con-artist and accused of looking to make a quick buck.</p>
<p>Then there was the person who just seemed miffed that some people don&#8217;t like spiders and wrote, bad grammar and all, &#8220;I signed in to burry this article&#8230; spiders exist get over it.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Read</strong><br />
Posted comments get subjected to voting too, which usually results in a name-calling contest. If a comment is really unpopular, it can be voted right off the page.</p>
<p>Of course, there are no names attached to any of the comments, and these were just the ones &#8220;fit-to-print&#8221;. If you want the really nasty stuff, go to the tech section. Oddly, the political section, where I expected the real ugly mudslinging to be going on, was relatively civil.</p>
<p>The whole situation stinks though. The internet used to be a great place to discuss ideas. Now it&#8217;s turning into a place where any discussion quickly turns into vicious, anonymous personal attacks.</p>
<p>Digg isn&#8217;t the only place where this type of incivility is common, although it&#8217;s getting a reputation for being one of the worst. Pick almost any website, forum, or blog that allows users to post anonymously, and you&#8217;ll find this stuff going on.</p>
<p>There are many reasons, but one really stands out: anonymity. It&#8217;s no secret that people can and will say anything when there are no consequences.</p>
<p>Another reason seems to be age. While anonymous users don&#8217;t make it a habit of posting their date of birth, some people think these posts are coming from younger users, who enjoy engaging in behaviour that they would never dream of doing in front of their parents.</p>
<p>Maybe, but that doesn&#8217;t cover everybody. When Megan Meier, a teenager who used MySpace, committed suicide following a round of cyber-bulling in the United States, it wasn&#8217;t her peers who where blamed. Instead, federal prosecutors have accused the mother of one of Megan&#8217;s friends.</p>
<p>Now, I may be mixing apples and oranges there. Saying that extreme cyber-bullying is comparable to rude comments posted in chat forums may seem like a bit of stretch, but it all comes down to the same thing: cowardly and vicious people doing things they would never try without the benefit of an anonymous, online forum.</p>
<p>Picture Courtsey &#8211; <a href="http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/jerk.htm" rel="no follow" >Flame Warriors</a></p>
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