Circuit City


Image by Ed Yourdon
This is (or was) the Circuit City store on Broadway, between 79th & 80th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has been in this location for years and years and years … but in late 2008, the company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and when they could find no buyers or financial support, they declared Chapter 7 and began liquidating. The "going out of business" sign above the entrance makes that pretty clear, and the various other signs in the windows create a real sense of urgency…

Note: this photo was published in a Feb 5, 2009 blog article entitled "After-Effects of Circuit City Bankruptcy." It was also published in a Feb 12, 2009 blog entitled "Surviving an economic recession – Survival tips," as well as a blog on the same date titled "Employment outlook for North Carolina." And it was published in a Feb 27, 2009 blog entitled "3 Ways A Small Business Can Survive An Economic Recession." It was also published in a March 2, 2009 Salon blog entitled "The plug is pulled on Circuit City," and a March 9, 2009 blog entitled "The Best Email I Got Today [Sad]." And it was published in a Mar 11, 2009 Brazilian blog article entitled "O melhor e-mail que recebi hoje ."

Good grief, this is getting ridiculous: the photo was also published in a June 4, 2009 blog titled "What Happens When a Small Business Declares Bankruptcy?" And it was published in a Feb 22, 2009 blog titled "Employment outlook for North Carolina." And it was published in a Jun 23, 2009 blog titled " Why Electronics Stores ‘Suck’." And it was published in a Jul 25, 2009 blog titled "Hanging Tough." I’ve recently discovered that it was also published in a Mar 13, 2009 PBS blog titled " Why Are So Many Companies Collapsing So Suddenly?"

The fun just doesn’t seem to stop: the photo was published again in an Aug 14, 2009 blog titled "Circuit City (what’s left of it) sells your name to the highest bidder." And on the same day, it was published in a blog titled "Three Steps to Keep a Job in Tough Economic Times," the URL for which I can’t seem to get Flickr to accept. Well, you’ll just have to take my word for it, or do your own Google search for a blog posting with that title… Meanwhile, it was also published in an Oct 10, 2009 blog titled "Declaring Yourself Bankrupt."

I also discovered it in a Mar 10, 2009 issue of the Brazilian edition of Gizmodo, in a blog posting titled "O melhor e-mail que recebi hoje," but someone had pasted in an announcement that said "CompUSA.com Retail Stores: the Grand Reopening" — which definitely was not in my original photo. And it was published in a Dec 28, 2009 blog titled "The Most Important Tech Products, Events, and People of 2009."

Moving into 2010, the photo was published in a Feb 4, 2010 blog titled "5 Reasons You May Want to Start a Side Business." And it was published in a Mar 5, 2010 blog titled "33,000 Lost Their Jobs Last Month — Read This Book If You’re One (Or Have Already Been Canned)." It was also published in a Mar 15, 2010 True/Slant blog titled "It’s time for the banks to bail out the U.S." And it was published in an Apr 12, 2010 blog titled "Personal Bankruptcies Hit a High and May Keep Rising." It was also published in a May 5, 2010 blog titled "5 Reasons You May Want to Start a Side Business." And it was published in a May 25, 2010 blog titled "Warning Signs of Business Bankruptcy." It was also published in a June 3, 2010 blog titled "Tough economic times demand tighter spending, but will new frugality last?" And it was published in a Jun 20, 2010 blog simply titled "Circuit City." It was also published in a Sep 29, 2010 blog titled "Credit Card Debt Management: Get Freedom From All Debts in a Convenient Manner ." And it was published in a Nov 10, 2010 blog titled "What is a good APR on a credit card for someone who has a fair/good credit history?" And it was published in a Nov 19, 2010 blog titled "Tips for the success of small online business."

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These are photos that I began taking in mid-December of 2008, after the government helpfully informed us that the recession (a word they had dared not use before, just as they refuse to use the word "depression" now) has actually been in effect since December 2007.

Having lived through roughly half a dozen previous recessions, with nothing but vague memories to mark their existence, I thought it would be useful to start gathering some photographic memories of the current one. It may or may not turn out to be as severe as the Great Depression of the 1930′s, and it may or may not produce the kind of grim photographs that we have of that era … but we won’t really know until it’s over, and our 20-20 hindsight might be better informed with some pictures.

Thus far, I have only a few pictures of signs showing steep discounts; these are interesting, but it’s the "human story" that I think will tell the more important story. But I’ve also noticed an increase in the number of homeless people on the street, asking for money, food, and handouts; but I have no direct evidence that it’s associated with the recession itself. In any case, I’m reluctant to take advantage of such people by taking casual photos of them; I’m sure more appropriate opportunities will present themselves, and I’ll add them to the album as I find them…

Debt Management Programs And Services

Outstanding credit card balances comprise a huge problem for today’s consumers. Consumer debt doubled between 1995 and 2005, and so have the number of existing agencies to help people pay off what they owe. Debt prevention and management services are a thriving business intended to relieve stress and pressure on those whose debt has spiraled out of control, and help get them back on the right track.

What are Debt Management Services?
Debt management programs are designed to help people who may be able to pay back their debt over time, but are having trouble getting a consolidation loan or who do not wish to pursue debt settlement. Debt management companies amass all of your credit cards, loans, and other unsecured debts and combine them into one monthly payment. The debt management service then pays each creditor, usually taking a nominal percentage in commission.

In order to settle up your accounts, a debt management service will contact all of your creditors to arrange lower interest rates and reduced charges whenever possible. Some services also offer credit counseling and other programs to help you achieve financial stability.

Types of Debt Management Services

Debt management is not the same as debt settlement or debt consolidation. It differs from debt settlement in that it does not change the amount of the debt owed – but instead restructures the existing debt payback schedule. Creditors may agree to lower interest rates on the debt to facilitate repayment. Debt settlement involves negotiating to pay back only a portion of a debt (rather than declaring bankruptcy and paying nothing), and debt consolidation loans allow you to combine several debts into one new loan at a lower interest rate. Both of these programs result in the creation of new payment terms. Debt management, on the other hand, enables you to pay back all or most of your existing debt without taking out a new loan, with a new intermediary helping you keep track of the payments.

Most debt management programs will offer credit counseling services, helping you create a new budget and spending plan to prevent you from sinking back into debt again. Others leave the budgeting process up to you. The common factor in all debt management services is that they receive one large monthly payment and break it down into smaller payments to disperse to each creditor or lender.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Debt management services are a practical way to simplify your finances for easier management of a large number of debts. They relieve you of some of the burden of by managing the payment and distribution of your credit card and loan payments.

Because it’s critical that all payments are dispersed to creditors in a timely manner, it’s wise to be very selective in choosing a debt management counselor. It’s a good idea to compare the rates and services of various providers to ensure that you’ll find the arrangement that best suits your situation. Some debt management programs may take a percentage of each payment, while others charge additional fees.

Generally, this service is reserved for unsecured debts, like credit cards and personal loans. Debt management is rarely used on secured debts like mortgages and car loans. 

Debt management programs can have a negative impact on your credit. Any changes to your loans or credit card debts that are negotiated by a debt management company can potentially appear on your credit history, and may be looked on unfavorably by future lenders. These marks on your credit, however, are generally less significant than missed or late payments, and definitely less harmful than debt settlement or bankruptcy.

Chartered Accountant Services, Chartered Accountants India

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They offer guidance and give valuable suggestions to businesses; like how they should deal and take advantage of the changing and existing business environment. These firms help businesses in dealing with magnanimous burden of legal complexities that companies come across on day to basis. The Government, also realizes the importance and expertise of these firms, therefore has set up statuary institutions to churn out qualified chartered accountants, cost and work accountants, company secretaries and has made it mandatory for companies of certain categories to get there financial reports audited by them.

The idea for creating Chartered-accountants.in portal arose from the fact, that today service providers’ expertise varies in all kind of legal, investment and management knowledge. Therefore, Chartered-accountants.in is an initiative to bring together these service providers who have expertise in their respective domains. This portal will make it easier for businesses to find the service providers with expertise in domains they are interested in. The portal gives excellent platform to businesses to search and contact service providers across the regions. Our portal has taken all due care to properly categorize these service providers. The categories that we have carefully selected for businesses to choose from are:

Chartered Accountants And Consultants

Patent and Trade Markers

Investment Consulting

Market Research Consultants and Agencies

Management Consulting

Insurance

Tax Planners, Practitioners and Consultants

Lawyers, Advocates and Other Legal Services

Consultants and Negotiators

Company Registration

Consultants ISO 9000 14000 Tqm

Import Export License

These Categories depict rich diversity in type of service providers existing in the market at the moment. The trend of diversification is expected to continue in future and we will continue to research and add appropriate categories/service providers for the convenience of your businesses.

Plan for recovery with debt management services

As Winston Churchill said during World War II, “he who fails to plan, is planning to fail.” He was absolutely 100% correct, especially when it comes to managing debt and navigating tricky or hazardous financial waters. Without clear, informed, impartial and experienced debt advice and debt management plans, carefully considered and put together by a debt management company who knows what they’re doing, you could be in trouble. Anyone in the unfortunate position of being in debt could easily end up finding themselves in more unnecessary bother if they ‘fail to plan’.

Of course even to get to the stage of seeking debt management services needs the realisation that there is a problem that needs solving. All too often people or organisations who are running at a loss and sinking ever deeper into the red are reluctant to face up to the realities of their situation. It’s all too common to simply ignore the signs, however clear they are and just wish things better. To trust that there will be an upturn. Unfortunately though, things rarely sort themselves out. Extracting yourself from the financial mire needs a lot of hard work, clear planning, the support of your creditors and more often than not the guidance and debt advice of a suitably skilled debt management company to pull it all together.

Debt management services come in many shapes and sizes. You don’t have to look too hard to find a whole host of different organisations peddling their wares. A quick Google search on anything from debt management or debt management services will quickly turn up hundreds of different options all likely proclaiming to be the easiest and the best.

Perhaps the smartest advice when seeking help is to make sure that you identify a company that offers free, impartial and experienced professional advice. Look for a partner who won’t charge you for their input and has no bias when it comes to making recommendations. That way you can be confident that you really are getting a solution that suits you and your specific requirements, not their quotas or other hidden agenda.

Plan to recover from your debt dilemma by working with a company you can trust

www.cambridge-credit.org — As Americans struggle to manage their finances through the economic downturn, many are turning to the debt servicing industry for assistance. Unfortunately, the public routinely confuses the types of services provided by debt settlement and debt management agencies, which differ significantly.Watch this week’s webisode from Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. to learn more. Host Community Outreach Director, Thomas J. Fox.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Accounting Services New York ?proper Deliberation is the Key to Success

The accounting service forms the toughest area to deal with, as even a minute error can alter the entire accounts. The accounting service New York is a vast area of service that handles the entire monetary domains that includes several processes like the generation of invoice, balance sheet, the trial balance, the profit-loss estimation, the economic reports and all issues related with the monetary section of the business. With the advancement of technologies, the accounting service around the globe has become easier and accurate. However, the stage of accounting needs extra deliberation to be more accurate in efficient usage of funds and other transactions.

The total amount of money attributed to the company’s account and the money debited from the customer’s account as a mode of payment are certain important points related to the accounting service. With the signing of a deal, at times the company may access some advanced cash from the clients. The accounting service is responsible for the safe handling of the advanced cheque, drafts or the cash as the payment made by the client and is responsible for the invoice generating by the company as per the billing statement. This is simply a part of official account service you offer. Moreover, there are various other areas, where the accounting services New York needs to participate actively.

The purchase of raw materials or petty office items, the major role is performed by the accounting service in managing the monetary transactions accurately by generating proves such as the bills or invoice. Another area where the accounting service needs proper deliberation is the tax filing session. To evaluate the exact tax amount that need to be filed, the accountants need to tally the whole accounts, and finance of the year.

Most of the times, the big scale business and accounting companies experience an overwhelmed accounting service managing. The best way to simplify the task in this case is to outsource the accounting service to some other relevant source. The outsourcing phenomenon saves the ultimate cost, the employee risk as well as the time consumed. Thus, outsourcing of accounts service is definitely a blessing for accountants in disguise. However, the accounting services New York obtained need to be an authorized one and therefore before outsourcing, the authorization of the receiver is to be checked for maintaining perfection.

The accounting service is an area of great importance for any kind of business irrespective of the size or working areas. Both the big business as well as the small business undertakings requires a perfect accounting service to attain success. However, the most important point of concern regarding the accounting service is proper deliberation as a minute error causes a huge loss to the company.

The accounting services New York holds highly skilled and experienced professional accountants to carry out the complicated task without even offering a minute mistake. Thus, the efficiency of the accounting service is evidently as deliberate attention is offered to the entire service. Now, you know where you will get highly proficient accounting services.

Woohoo “gifted” PRO account for 3 months


Image by .guilty

Debt Management Services Uk: Repay Multiple Debt With Ease

If you reside in the United Kingdom, then you are well aware of the rising expenses and the high cost of living. So, many of the citizens often find themselves adopting alternative means like purchase on credit or installment buying, to meet up with the demand of daily life and financial shortage. The various debts that one accumulates over the time are credit card debts, utility bills, loans and such other expenses. However, the piling up of such debts could lead to a situation, wherein the debtor is unable to repay the multiple debts with his limited financial resources and start to incur bad debts, spoiling his credit history and future financial prospects. Consistent non repayment of debts and piling loans could often lead to the pitiful situation of bankruptcy for an individual, if he does not take immediate steps to repay the debts. Now, one such feasible method of getting freedom from multiple debts is opting for the debt management services UK.

The companies providing debt management services UK have multi purpose benefits for the debtor, who applies for these services. Often the company providing debt management services UK, will send their executives to negotiate on behalf of their client with the concerned lenders and creditors, in order to reduce or freeze the penalties and charges on the multiple debts. The debt management company will also provide its client with a feasible debt management plan, which helps the individual in managing all his future funds and debts in a much more organized and convenient manner. Most importantly, the debt management company helps the debtor consolidate his multiple debts under a single, affordable payment, which is much easier to handle and pay off rather than various multiple debt amounts.

When the multiple debts of an individual have been compiled into a single payment by the debt management services UK, the company then extends a debt consolidation loan to the debtor, enabling him to repay all his debts at a single go. Such consolidation loan comes at a much lower rate of interest and therefore, can be easily repaid by the debtor through easy, monthly installments, if he can manage his funds in an appropriate manner. Such single loan repayment makes it much easier for the debtor to have more financial resources at his disposal each month, enabling him to spend more towards his personal cost of living, thereby raising his standard of living and providing him freedom from multiple debts.

So, as a debtor having the burden of multiple debts on your shoulder, if you too, are considering the option of getting the debt management services UK, to consolidate and repay your debts, then it maybe a good idea to gather some basic information about these services and the service providers. Most of the debt management companies have their online presence in the form of a website, which is the best source of information on these services. Once you have finalized a company, then you could easily apply through an online application form, while the rest is an easy process of few simple clicks of the mouse. Hence, get freedom from debts by adopting the safe option of debt consolidation and management from a reliable company providing such services in your area.

This is one of Debt Warriors Credit Boot-camp Video Series. We never expected that the sub-prime credit crisis would make this video timeless, but credit repair and winning your war on debt.
Video Rating: 4 / 5