All Neighbors in Murfreesboro, TN
Top Neighbors: The magic behind the mirrors
You will never have to pay to be listed as a top neighbor. Period. That important detail clarified, let's discuss how we arrive at two "top neighbors" for a given region:
Localism is a bustling collection of hyper-local communities, and the top neighbors should reflect those members who are most active. When ranking users in a given region, several factors are considered. To get your foot in the proverbial door, you need to have posted at least one "Localism" article or photo for the region.
The very best way to quickly rise to #1 is to post high-quality local content. Keeping a steady strem of incoming posts and photos will massively tilt the scales in your favor.
What doesn't count toward the top neighbor ranking? ActiveRain points and community sponsorships. The top neighbor spots will always go to the most active members in a region. We want to create a level playing field that encourages the growth of communities — talent and dedication are required to win the day.
It's that dreaded time of the year again, time to start preparing your tax returns. And since 2008 was one of the toughest years in the history of our financial markets, this also may be a time that many of us learn exactly how much of a hit our investments and retirement accounts actually took this year. 
Marketing studies show that it costs companies nearly five times as much to get new customers than it does to keep the ones they already have. During tough times, companies have to fight even harder to attract and, more importantly, to keep your business. This means you suddenly have more power to negotiate for the best deals on everything from cable to credit cards and insurance premiums to telephone service and internet providers. Pull out your checkbook and review all of the services you currently use and how much you pay. Make a list of essential services and those you might be able to live without. Do a little research and see if you could be saving with different companies or by bundling services together. Then get on the phone and start negotiating. With competitors anxious to take your business, you may be able tosave yourself a lot of money simply by asking your providers for a better deal, especially if you've been a loyal customer. The best part is by saving a little money on the essential services that you need, you may not have to cancel the others that you like.
Before you file your taxes this year, don't forget about the $7500 tax credit for first-time home buyers, which was enacted by the 2008 American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Act. Designed to help stimulate interest in the housing market, this temporary provision provides a first-time home buyer (someone who hasn't owned a home in the last three years) a tax credit of up to $7500 for homes purchased between April 8, 2008 and July 1, 2009. Basically the tax credit, which must be repaid over 15 years, is an interest-free loan from the government to help you offset the costs of home ownership. 
By now, most of us are likely familiar with and are able to detect "phishing scams," phony emails sent from fraudulent websites to lure our personal information away from us. But, according to internet security experts at Trusteer, there is a new advanced phishing scheme in the works that doesn't rely on email. The new scam tricks users into giving away confidential information while online at secure banking websites.
