Gas Prices and Car Care Month

The month of March 2012 posted some of the highest steady increases in gas prices throughout the Tampa Bay area and the country. Some analyst but mostly speculators are predicting the gas prices will hit $5 by summer. Why? Because of a number of factors the average consumer has very little control over starting with: 1) changes in crude oil prices based on worldwide consumption and regulated by Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) cartel, 2) U.S. refinery imbalances which are not capable of the handling the increase in demand for gasoline consumption, and 3) seasonal changes and holidays where Americans demand more gasoline for travel like in the summer. A note to add: Retail gas prices are generally distributed 50% to the cost of crude oil, 20% to the cost of refining the crude oil, 20% to the taxes levied by local, state, and the federal government, and 10% to advertising by the gas companies.

Since we are smart enough to know we cannot control a cartel, I suggest controlling how we drive, where we drive, and more importantly what we drive. April is National Car Care Month! Sometimes, the culprit to increased fuel consumption is your old friend sitting in your garage or carport or under the tree. That’s right! Your car is wasting gas and causing you to spend more at the pump. However, I have to be fair to your car. You, as the owner, are the contributing factor to the ways your cars waste gasoline.

Years ago before I became an officer in the U.S. Army, I was a young, light-wheeled vehicle mechanic. Every morning before we would checkout a vehicle from the motor pool we had to perform PMCS on the vehicles. PMCS stands for Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services! PMCS ensured the vehicles were in top operating condition i.e. current oil changes, proper tire pressure, tire thread wear, zero fluid leaks, proper idling, proper coolant…we had a laundry list of things which had to be checked before the vehicle hit the road.

Let me ask, ‘when was the last time you looked under your hood, at your tires, or in your trunk before you hit the road?’ Is it fair to say never, unless you get a dashboard light indicating something is wrong? Compare it to your body! When nothing can satisfy your thirst but water, you are already dehydrated. When a dashboard light (satisfy your thirst) comes on in your vehicle, you already have a problem (dehydrated). Crazy analogy right or is it? You take care of your body to have longevity. Shouldn’t you do the same for your vehicles? I suggest taking your car to a local service ‘ASE Certified’ shop and requesting a PMCS during National Car Care Month. Many shops like the 16 Bay area locations of Ice Cold Air Discount Auto Repair offer ‘FREE INSPECTIONS’ to check out you ride and they are ASE Certified. Be sure to take this article with you to clarify what a PMCS is.

I would love to hear your feedback and your agreement or disagreement to my OPED. Feel free to write me at OPED@legallysteal.com. S.E. Day is the consumer finance expert/advocate of the Legally Steal radio show and host of the All Things Cars segment on WFLA’s syndicated Daytime show.

A Conversation with Small Businesses, David Hensley

As we continue our month of interviewing Small Businesses, I had the opportunity to interview David Hensley, Chief Creative Officer and Designer of LAID Brand Hare and Body care products infused with PHEROttraction (natural pheromones).

My personal endorsement of the product, It's a Hit!! The product is AWESOME! I used the LAID Brand 'Dirty Clean' 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body wash and WOW! Seriously, I am super clean and a little goes a long way. BECAREFUL of the pheromones in the product, you may ending up biting yourself by mistake. It's Sexy! Go to www,LAIDBrand.com and see for yourself.

Listen to the interview. You will like it!!

A Conversation with Small Businesses, Cheryl Gowen

Cheryl is the CEO/President of Alternative Funding Options, Inc. (AFO). She has helped business owners for over 30 years find solutions that would improve

their company’s cash flow. She decided to start her own company in 2010 after realizing that there are so many different financing options available to

businesses but it can be very time consuming and confusing to sort it all out.

After extensive research, she has found the companies that offer the best solutions for the specific cash flow needs and wants to share that knowledge with

other business owners.

AFO helps all size businesses secure financing when they are not able to obtain it from a bank. Funding programs that AFO specializes in are for purchase orders, accounts receivable, inventory, asset based lending, equipment leasing and commercial real estate.

A Conversation with Small Businesses, Laurie Zoock

Laurie Zoock is a consumer credit consultant and consumer credit advocate, and she works diligently with her credit-challenged clients to get them back on track and educate them about their options, including teaching them how to develop positive credit. Zoock also partners with proprietary businesses offering options that help “turn the tables” on Lenders that did not comply with federal laws pursuant to property purchases, often benefitting the property owner. Zoock has appeared on Channel 10 CBS-TV (Tampa) as a featured guest, is a regular guest and co-host on Coach Cook’s Real Estate 1340 am Tan Talk radio, and spoken on News Radio 970 AM Tampa Bay. She regularly speaks to local Realty companies and Real Estate Investors Associations. Zoock has a professional sales and education background and was a NJ public access talk show host dedicated to helping non profits gain exposure. Laurie is also actively engaged as the Public Relations Chairperson for the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League.

Responsibilities of a Talk Show Host

Upload Photos and Videos

As a consumer advocate, talk show host I have a responsibility to my listening audience as well as my sponsors. I believe in the 1st admendment but many of us have abuse the 1st amendment and we us it to satisfy our own agenda against our neighbors.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Written in 1791, the 1st admendment was written to give every American citizen the right to address their government without fear of reprisal. The meaning was not for each neighbor to slander or disrespect thier fellow neighbor. As a host of a talk show I have the right to redress my government but I do not have the right to disrespect my neighbor in a public forum.

Rush Limbaugh, prehaps the most listened to and highest paid talk show host in America, simply does not understand this or the 1st amendment. His continued rant against his national neighbor last week was completely disrespectful and slanderous. However, I do not completely blame Rush for his behavior. The millions of listeners who give credence to this man and his disrespectful tongue as well as the sponsors who clamor for your spending power and give credence to this man and his disrespectful tongue are partly the blame. What is Rush's responsibility in all of this? He has none or at least he does not think he has any responsibility. He feels he can and will say what he wants without taking responsibility.

On his show today, he made the sponsors who decided not to support him anymore the culprits. According to CNN.com, Rush stated, "I'm sorry to see them go. They have profited handsomely from you. These advertisers who have split the scene have done very well from their access to you, my audience on this program. That's a business decision and it's theirs alone to make. They've decided they don't want you or your business anymore."

The American consumer made this jugernaut and only the American consumer can unmake this jugernaut. Sure, as American Citizens we have the consititutional right to say what we want but is it right to say it? Let me know your feedback!

NFL Pro Bowler Davin Joseph Talks With S.E. Day

Join me as I interview two-time pro bowler and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Right Guard, Davin Joseph about the Davin Joseph’s Events for Cause Foundation and why strengthening athletics and performing arts programs in public schools is vital to the future of our youth.

Davin is committed to giving back to our youth and keeping athletic and performing arts programs alive and well in public schools. He recently gave $15,000 to Blake high school in Tampa.

Davin was the only Buccaneer to be selected to play in this year's NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

Women of Influence Month Profiles Judy Gay

As a Power Connector for decision makers and industry leaders, Ms. Gay is an expert in developing and fostering business to business partnerships. She is recognized for helping business owners and leaders use their organizational memberships as a successful business strategy.

Currently she serves as the Executive Director of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce. Included on her list of community involvement is the Board of Governors, Centre Club; 2010 & 2011 Chair of the Centre Club Executive Women's Council; Committee Chair for the Member of the Year Awards, 2009 & 2010, Centre Club; Tampa Woman's Club member; and most recently was awarded Centre Club recognition for the most members recruited, 2011 and 2012. She is a graduate of Leadership Brandon & Leadership Hillsborough. While serving as the Committee Chair Relay for Life South Tampa both in 2010 and 2011, over $400,000 was raised.