Wes Tweegan

There are 4 components to your Entergy Bill...Energy Charge, Fuel Adjustment, Storm Restoration/Misc, and KwH used.

The Energy Charge per KwH remains pretty static...about $.083 per KwH
The Fuel Adjustment per KwH varies month-to-month, and was $.061 last month.
The Storm Restoration charge had been running about $.004 per KwH until June when it tripled to $.01345.
Those three components total $.158/KwH (almost 16 cents per KwH), with the most volatile of the three being the Fuel Adjustment charge. That single item, which nearly doubled since May (had been running about $.035/Kwh and is now over $.06/KwH) rivals the Energy Charge ($.083/KwH) as the most expensive component of the monthly Entergy bill. While it is a monthly adjustment, don't look for any real relief until natural gas prices begin to come down.
In summary, your only salvation at the moment is the opportunity to lower your kilowatt consumption...but that is easier said than done. Raise your thermostat as high as you can tolerate, turn off every light you're not using, and try to be more efficient with use of the clothes dryer, dishwasher, and oven (any appliance that uses heat, if you're all electric). Other than that, there isn't a whole lot you can do.

The thing with mattress makers is they're constantly changing the names of their product...and actually give different names to the "same" mattress sold at different stores. Makes it difficult to comparison shop. But I did a lot of research, and finally settled on "Carried Away" by Stearns & Foster. I found the same S&F mattress at Dillards (I believe its name was "Lucas Park")...and the prices were comparable (Memorial Day Sale). I went with Macy's because of their 90 day refund policy on mattresses...just in case I decided I didn't like it.

Yes, it's now 10 years old, but not the slightest hint yet of losing its firmness. It is a fantastic mattress. When it's time to buy another, I seriously doubt I'll look any further than Stearns & Foster, though I doubt I'll find this particular mattress. For some great information and advice, check out themattressexpert.com. This guy knows mattresses...and was a tremendous resource when I was in the market. Good luck. Your back will thank you.

I never changed the oil in my Chevy Vega. No need to change it....I was adding 4 quarts a month.

Alumni....when it should be alumnus

Shopping centers and their merchants are a reflection of the demographics. As great as it sounds to put a bunch if high end stores in a mall to "turn it around", that's just not the reality. Demographics dictate tenant mix....not the other way around.

The idea that you can just go out and buy insurance "when you need it" illustrates a serious misunderstanding of how the Affordable Care Act actually works. With very few exceptions (and sickness and injury aren't one of them), you can only buy health insurance thru the ACA Marketplace one time a year...between Nov 1st and Dec 15th. So, if you're diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer on February 1st, and you think you can just delay treatment until you get coverage, you're not only wrong...but dead wrong. In one year (almost to the day), since my diagnosis, my insurance carrier has been billed approximately $550,000 for my cancer surgery and treatments. I've paid roughly $13000 of that... in addition to about $23000 in monthly premiums...and the rest was either paid by BCBS and/or discounted via contractual max billing. The point being is that all it takes is one significant illness to bankrupt someone who thought it was a good idea to forego coverage "until they needed it". Some health issues can be successfully delayed until coverage is obtained...but the more serious ones cannot. Do you really want to take that chance?

I'm not positive....but I believe her recent blackface comment was the last straw. Quite possibly NBC was looking for an excuse to end the experiment...and she delivered it. That said, her blackface comment was not nearly egregious as some have complained. For those that missed it, she said that wearing blackface as a Halloween costume was no big deal. The left jumped on that big time...and, I think, NBC said "Enough".

Carolina kicked a 63 yd FG and won

If the house you're looking at is already listed, then you're only screwing yourself if you choose to "do it alone". The commission is already part of the deal, and you will not be able to "skirt the realtor". He/she is getting the agreed commission (5%, 6%, etc) whether you negotiate on your own, or not. So, why not bring in your own realtor to negotiate on your behalf, and protect your interest? Beware of the dual agent (the listing agent that tries to work both sides of the transaction). Few agents are ethically equipped to work both sides fairly; someone (usually the buyer) is going to consciously,or not, get screwed. So, never let the listing agent act as your agent (the Buyer's agent) in any sales transaction. He/she will be salivating over the unshared commission, but may be tempted to "miss" a few things important to you in order to get to the Act of Sale. If you, however, bring in your own realtor, then the two realtors (and their respective brokers) will split the commission per the terms of the listing agreement..and both will have likely earned their commission. Just so you know, it isn't necessarily a 50/50 split. Depending on the listing agreement, it could be 60/40, 55/45, 70/30, etc. Some listing agents will negotiate a more advantageous split for themselves with the owner. However, some of the less ethical selling agents can, and do, spurn listings with lower splits, and direct their clients to homes with more desirable commission schedules. So the listing agent who attempts to get greedy with a one-sided split might find themselves with a listing that other agents conveniently refuse to show.


In the end, the only way to "skirt a realtor" is to find a home on your own that is "For Sale by Owner". Then, and only then, might you save some dollars on the selling price... because the Seller won't be paying a commission to a listing agent. If you're not totally familiar with the sales process, though, you may want to bring an agent in to negotiate the deal and, again, protect your interest. To go it alone is best left to an experienced buyer... not a novice. There are way to many pitfalls in the typical real estate transaction that could make you regret the purchase A good realtor is easily worth their commission. Bad ones aren't...so choose wisely. Nice legs don't mean shite.

I can't understand all of the blame-game rhetoric I read on this board from people who have no details, and who know nothing.

Why is Orgeron being relentlessly nit-picked over the Canada departure? Canada has done little to make me think that this loss is too grave to overcome. He's been an ok OC, but not brilliant. If EO and MC don't see eye-to-eye, then let's move on. Let's not allow an unenviable situation fester, and create more angst and turmoil. Does Canada leaving mean that SE will ascend to the OC? I doubt it. He previously said as much. But if the job was offered, and if he accepted, what's the big deal? SE did an admiral job when he was thrust into the position last year....and I, for one, won't panic if he winds up there again next year.

I guess that my point is that there is way to much melting on this board over things about which we know very little. Chill.

Pretty sure there's a Ground Patti in Youngsville. Almost certain that I saw one this past Saturday while visiting there for my granddaughters birthday.