China Chokes Credit while EUR plummets | OANDA Forex Blog

Below its 200-day moving average the EUR has breached the floodgates. To what or to where is the million dollar question. The fear that Greece’s budget deficit woes cannot be contained and possibly filter throughout the region has unnerved investors and increased risk aversion actions. The US sub-prime debacle started this way, small, ballooned and morphed within the banking industry. Even the European finance ministers have increased the heat on the Greek government to step up its budget-cutting efforts. With Chinese’s bourses falling for a third consecutive day after news that regulators have told banks to restrict further lending has, by default, increased the demand to own the world’s ‘reserve currency’ the dollar for surety reasons. We are back to buying dollars and wearing diamonds for the time being at least.

via China Chokes Credit while EUR plummets | OANDA Forex Blog.

Foreclosures at 39% in Sedona – Sedona Red Rock News, Sedona, AZ Classifieds, Jobs, News, Sports, Weather

Real estate agents in Sedona are hoping the housing market turns around soon, as more and more people are seeing their homes go into foreclosure.

In 2009, of the 187 home sales, 73 were in foreclosure, according to reports from the Sedona Verde Valley Association of Realtors.

via Foreclosures at 39% in Sedona – Sedona Red Rock News, Sedona, AZ Classifieds, Jobs, News, Sports, Weather.

Initiative backed by car insurer makes ballot

Opponents say it will cause rates to skyrocket for first-time buyers of car insurance or those who stop their coverage for whatever reason and then try to restart it. Chief among the opposition is the Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog, which was behind the 1988 measure that created the provision.

via Initiative backed by car insurer makes ballot.

Saudi girl, 13, sentenced to 90 lashes after she took a mobile phone to school | Mail Online

A 13-year-old Saudi schoolgirl is to be given 90 lashes in front of her classmates after she was caught with a mobile camera phone.

The girl, who has not been named, was also sentenced to two months in jail by a court in the eastern city of Jubail.

She had assaulted her headmistress after being caught with the gadget which is banned in girl schools, said Al-Watan, a Saudi newspaper. The kingdom's use of such punishments has been widely condemned by human rights organisations.

via Saudi girl, 13, sentenced to 90 lashes after she took a mobile phone to school | Mail Online.

Adventurer attaches 55 helium balloons to an office chair to soar to 15,000 feet | Mail Online

Attaching 55 helium balloons to his trusty office chair, adrenaline junkie Jonathan Trappe managed to soar to nearly 15,000 feet.

After spending two years in training and upwards of £45,000 on the adventure, this was the technical project manager's first ever cluster balloon flight.

In scenes reminiscent of the film Up – in which an explorer floats his house using helium balloons – Mr Trappe fulfilled his long-held daydream of breaking free from his desk and taking to the skies.

via Adventurer attaches 55 helium balloons to an office chair to soar to 15,000 feet | Mail Online.