BP recently announced a rebate program to compensate its distributors 1-2 cents per gallon of fuel purchased going back to the date of the rig explosion. This compensation is meant to alleviate the sales declines suffered by these distributors from the nationwide BP boycotts. But the question remains, will this money trickle down to the station owners and/or consumers? I think not.

Gas station owners derive a good portion of their revenue and virtually all profit from the sale of items inside their stores and make little to no markup on the gasoline. Many BP station owners are reporting revenue declines of 10-40% because people who would ordinarily fill up (and grab a coffee or snack inside) are patronizing alternate gas stations. The solution that BP should be attempting is getting people back into the stores to purchase those convenience items that the station owners depend on to stay in business.

My solution: BP needs to begin a loyalty/rewards program for consumers that offers a rebate on every gallon of fuel purchased. This way the discount is not reflected on the price advertised at the street corner so that competitors will not just match the discount. BP could require you to signup for an account and give a membership card that will then entitle you to a 3 to 5 cent per gallon discount on fuel. This discount could be given directly at the pump in the form of a lower price after swiping your membership card, or in the form of a reward sent to you in the mail after you reach a certain rebate threshold.

By offering an incentive such as this, BP stations would see a dramatic rise in business not only at the pump but inside their convenience stores as well. In desperate economic times such as this, many people will choose a BP station to save a nickel per gallon despite what’s going on in the Gulf. This would also go a long way in repairing the PR nightmare that BP has been experiencing over the last couple months. The cost to BP would be minimal considering the larger positive impact it will have on their stations’ business, thus increasing BP’s overall franchise royalty revenue.

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The title of this post “If you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” is one of the final things Conan O’Brien said at the end of his final Tonight Show episode and really struck a chord with me. During the episode, O’Brien had Tom Hanks on the show and they reminisced about the old days when he was a young red head kid trying to impress an accomplished actor with his raw comedic talent. O’Brien expressed his hatred of cynicism and encouraged the young viewers to be kind and work hard to get what they want in life.

I’m feeling extremely motivated and inspired by his words tonight and will be keenly following his career and working really hard on my own future, and being kind along the way.

The bill will eliminate government subsidies to banks issuing Stafford Loans and will now make those loans funded directly by the government. While I don’t ordinarily like the government getting involved in private enterprise, I feel this move is needed. These banks have tremendous leverage and power over students by making Billions in profits on loans that are guaranteed to be repaid, and are even protected from bankruptcy discharge. These are the same banks that have received Billions in government bailout money because even with their massive student loan profits, they lost money on highly leveraged, risky investments. Companies like Citibank and Sallie Mae.

The cost of higher education is quickly reaching a point where many people are questioning whether the accumulation of debt is even worth the increased earning power a college degree may provide. I am in too deep to look back now and will have to finish my program in order to have something to show for my massive student loan debts.

I look forward to receiving a higher Pell Award next year and even greater savings on my Stafford Loans. I would love to see the government offer more incentives for student loan consolidation which I will be looking to take advantage of in a couple of years to make repayment easier and more cost effective.

Some of the cars given away include a Nissan Maxima and Saturn Ion. Hopefully the new wheels help those 20 people keep their jobs and make their lives a little easier. Thanks go out to Ludacris for giving back on Labor Day in a time of difficulty for most of the nation’s labor force.

I think the AP has every right to publish these photos and they should. Why is the Defense Secretary not defending the thousands of innocent bystanders whose dead bodies have been in the news countless times since the start of hostilities in the region. This double standard is bullshit and either all pictures of death should be banned in the media or freedom of the press should continue unaltered, I choose the latter.

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Under the current system, many students whose parents aren’t able to pay for their tuition and room expenses, loans must be taken out. But the Federally guaranteed Stafford Loans don’t even begin to cover the cost of attendance at most public schools. Private loans must be sought and at a much higher interest rate of up to 15% or more.

The new program will eliminate private lending and make Stafford-like loans sufficient to cover the cost of attendance. The savings provided by the change will amount to over $85 Billion through the first 10 years.

“Among other things, the savings will be used to significantly boost Pell Grant scholarships (need-based grants given to low-income students), to keep interest rates low on need-based federal student loans for years to come, to simplify the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, to invest in strengthening community colleges,” Rachel Racusen, the deputy communications director of the House Education and Labor Committee, said in an e-mail.

Traditional education lenders are opposed to the plan because it will immediately eliminate them from a very lucrative market. Since the new bankruptcy laws of 2005 went into effect, all student loans including those issed by private lenders are protected from discharge and must be repaid, virtually eliminating loan loss to the corporations that fund them.

I am looking forward to the passing of this new legislation and the savings it will bring myself and millions of fellow college students around the country.

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I also disagree with Congress’ attempt to demand a list of names of those AIG employees who received bonuses and did not return the money to the company. That is none of Congress’ business and those employees identities should be protected as all employees personal information should. But some grandstanding politicians will do anything to get re-elected and many of their constituents are on a witch hunt right now for these banking executives.

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