Dear Subscriber,

Government Rebate Checks
Most people are not spending the money on luxury items as the government intended. Since the costs of food and energy costs are rising, people are paying off bills, donating funds to charities and keeping some for emergency purposes.

Joseph LaVorgna, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank, thinks at least half the rebate money may go toward energy costs alone. "It's not going to give you the bang for the buck as originally envisioned," he said. "The odds of it having a longer-lasting impact on the economy are less. ... People were not planning to use so much of it on energy and food."

Diane Swonk, chief economist for Mesirow Financial in Chicago, also estimates that consumers will spend more than half of the rebates _ but much of it on the higher cost of living, citing evidence of a "very stressed consumer."  That would be dramatically higher than what they signaled in an Associated Press-Ipsos poll in February, when only 19 percent of respondents said they would spend their rebates. Some 45 percent said they planned to pay off bills, 32 percent said they would save it or invest it, and 4 percent said they would donate it to charity. Consumers in the past have tended to spend significantly more than they told pollsters they thought they would.

Source: Comcast News (AP 2008)

Movies
John and I saw “Iron Man” with my brother and sister-in-law and their 2 kids. For a 2- and 5-year old, they were pretty well behaved once the movie started. In my opinion, Iron Man was very well done and the special effects were worth paying the movie price. Robert Downey Jr. was convincing in this role and the ending implies a second movie.

I saw “The Hunting Party” with Richard Gere on DVD. It’s only because I like Richard Gere that I rented the movie. It reminded me of the movie “Live from Bagdad” except Gere’s character goes nuts due to the stress of being around explosions and terrorists who think his small group is CIA. Although I watch most movies to escape, this one reminded me of the U. S. soldiers still in Iraq. Let’s all say a prayer for them and do what you can to help them by sending supplies or letters.

LinorStore.com New Items
I am pleased to announce some new beaded items, Linda’s BookBeads™, which you can see at www.LinorStore.com and Linda’s Sterling Silver Swarovski birthstone rings, http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11538192, which can be custom made. Get your children or grandchildren’s birthstones made into a ring that you can wear every day or for special occasions.

Charitable Contributions
In May, a percentage of proceeds are going to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Fund.

Donations in June and July will help an actual Elgin family that I ran into at a garage sale that Jeanna H and her family were doing to raise funds for Tom Hugh. Tom has ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease and recently has been turned out of hospice care. Read more about it at http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/lifestyles/954207,3_6_EL17_TOMHUGH_S1.article. More importantly, find a small item to purchase at www.LinorStore.com or www.lindab142.etsy.com and a percentage of proceeds will benefit this worthy cause.

You can ask me to custom design a piece of jewelry or wearable beaded item for you. Each piece is originally designed by me and I use a combination of gemstone and glass beads to keep the prices affordable.

Upcoming Shows
Mention “Harvard” in the subject line of an email to me and you’ll get a discount.
May 31, Harvard Milk Days in Harvard, IL from 8-4
June 7, Printers Row Book Fair, Chicago, IWPA Tent, Linda’s Bookbeads™ only,
from 10-6

Share this ezine in its entirety with your friends and if your friend orders, you can get a 10% discount off your order. Email me with the word “Friend” in the subject line and I’ll adjust the pricing of your desired jewelry items.

Thanks for reading.

Linda Blatchford
Jewelry Designer www.LinorStore.com www.lindab142.etsy.com
Email: linor06@comcast.net