MasterCard 3Q profit up 38 pct as card use rises
NEW YORK - MasterCard says its third-quarter profit soared 38 percent on a big spike in card use.
The Purchase, N.Y.-based payments processor also attributed the strong results to new deals with certain banks to issue debit cards bearing its logo and new transaction processing deals overseas.
Mastercard's net income was $717 million, or $5.63 per share, on revenue of $1.8 billion. That exceeded Wall Street's expectations for profit of $4.81 per share, on revenue of $1.7 billion.
Purchase volume, the amount spent on debit and credit cards, rose 17 percent worldwide. In the U.S., spending is up 13 percent.
Mastercard Inc. says it increased rebates and incentives, a common practice in the industry aimed at winning business. The topic is one that concerns analysts, because it could weaken results in the future.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.
Read More»Healthy Lunch Snack Ideas
- Celery and Peanut butter – Wash and Cut celery into snack size pieces. Spread peanut butter inside the celery. For added sweetness, add raisins on top to make “ants on a log” (great for kids!).
- Banana and Almond Butter Wrap – Take a whole wheat tortilla wrap and spread peanut butter on it; then, place a peeled banana in the center and wrap the tortilla around it.
- Granola and Yogurt- Use an individually packaged yogurt or put yogurt in your own container. Bring granola separate in a plastic bag and add it to your yogurt when you’re ready to eat it. For added omega-3, add a tablespoon of chia seeds – they’re like flax seeds, but even better for you!
- Veggies and Hummus- Cut up your favorite veggies and dip them in hummus.
- Fruit – Fruit just by itself is a great snack – cut it up into manageable pieces and you’ll be more inclined to indulge.
- Tomato and Basil – even without the boccaccini cheese, tomato and basil together have great flavor! Add a sprinkle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste.
- Apples and peanut butter – An all time favorite- try to use the unsweetened peanut butter as the apple adds enough sugar to the mix.
- Cottage cheese on rye crisps – this is an easy snack now that you can get cottage cheese in those individual to go cups. Add chopped tomato on top for flavor.
The Weather Blues
Ever woke up feeling down for no apparent reason? Or feel in a slump multiple days back to back? I’m sure we have all felt this way at least once in our lives. The reason may just be due to the weather. For the month of May, there has been approximately 5 nice days where there was not rain or overcast for twenty hours out of the day. The sun was nowhere in sight for days at a time; leaving many people in a drag. Waking up daily to darkness was a putting a damper on my mood. The gloomy, damp atmosphere made me want to stay inside. Trying to motivate myself to get out of bed became a bit of a task. This is when the “Snooze” button became my best friend. Once I got over the fact that I would have to face the weather, I only would go to places that were absolutely necessary – my place of employment. I started feeling extremely lazy when I realized that I was ordering takeout rather than going to the grocery store for fresh food. The only good thing about the affect the weather has on your mood is that the good days are more appreciated because they have been few and far between. As I look forward to brighter days, I will have to take advantage of this time to build my repertoire of in-door hobbies.
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How To Hire A Babysitter
Every parent wants to be sure their child is in capable and nurturing hands when they can't physically be there. Hiring a reliable babysitter is a decision that requires a great deal of thinking and consideration based on several factors below.Whether you're choosing a babysitter from an agency, a posted ad, or through a friend of a friend, you'll always want to ask for and check up on references. A babysitter's years of experience are worthless without good references to back it up. You want to be sure his or her previous clients were happy with their services, and that the babysitter wasn't let go due to any negligence or misdoing on their part.
It is important that the babysitter you choose is knowledgeable in basic first aide and life-saving techniques. It is not too much to require or request that a regularly employed babysitter take a first aid and CPR classes, especially when dealing with infants or very young children, as first aide and CPR with infants can be delicate with a lot of room for error. Be sure your babysitter knows where you keep your first aid kit, emergency numbers, and can handle themselves calmly in an emergency.
Another thing to consider when choosing a babysitter is their background and reasons for babysitting. Are they someone who is pursuing childcare as a career and want to babysit as a means of gaining good experience working with children? Or are they someone who just wants to make some extra cash, and doesn't appear entirely interested in working with children? It's a good idea to enlist someone who seems to enjoy being with children, and who can come up with creative and fun activities for your children, rather than plopping them down in front of the television all night. A babysitter with a background or education in childcare can often add learned techniques, methods, and knowledge to their job as well.
Lastly, you must be sure to provide your babysitter with as much information about your child as possible. You should provide your babysitter with information on your child's daily routines, any safety or general rules they must follow, or any specific preferences you have when it comes to things like feeding or bedtime routines. Be very clear and specific, and encourage the babysitter to ask any questions to eliminate any misunderstandings or confusion. Giving a tour of the house is a good idea, as well as providing written instructions if you think there is too much to remember at first. A trial run is also a good idea. it gives you a chance to really get a feel for the babysitter and how comfortable they are with your needs and wants.
Following the above tips will help you find a good, reliable babysitter that you can trust and feel comfortable leaving with your children. Remember, leaving your children with a babysitter shouldn't be a stressful or worrisome experience! Read More»
Top Baby Names For 2010
Even though 2010 is already in full swing, many new parents are looking backwards in time for inspiration in naming their new child. These solid and traditional names are climbing back up the ranks in popularity as parents look for inspiration from grandparents and great grandparents. The past does not have complete dominance on the most popular baby names for the year, though. Pop culture is also wielding a heavy influence over the naming of little ones. Fictional characters and the names of movie stars are finding their way on to countless birth certificates.
New parents should look around for inspiration. Choosing a name you associate with happiness is always a great route, whether the name originates from long standing family traditions, movies or current literature. Religion often also plays a major role in picking out a little one’s name. Ease of pronunciation is also a factor to consider. How does your name choice flow with the baby’s last name? Some people also choose names that will allow the baby’s initials to form a word. Lastly, the meaning of the name can play a major role in the decision if you want a deep or meaningful name attached to your baby.
According to the Social Security Administration’s statistics, here are the most popular names, thus far, for the year of 2010.
Names for Baby Girls:
Emma: German in origin, meaning universal or all embracing.
Isabella: Hebrew and Spanish in origin, meaning (in both) consecrated to God.
Emily: Latin in origin, meaning rival or emulating.
Madison: Old English in origin; it is a derivative from a surname that means son of Maud.
Ava: Latin in origin, meaning blooming, as well as birdlike. Also Hebrew in origin, meaning life.
Olivia: Old Norse in origin, meaning kind one. Also Latin in origin, meaning Olive tree. Also Old French in origin, meaning peace.
Sophia: Greek in origin, meaning wisdom.
Abigail: Hebrew in origin, meaning a father’s joy.
Elizabeth: Hebrew in origin, meaning consecrated to God.
Chloe: Greek in origin, meaning lark.
Other popular girl names include: Samantha, Addison, Natalie, Mia, Alexis, Alyssa, Hannah, Ashley, Ella, Sarah, Grace, Taylor, Brianna, Lily, Hailey, Anna, Victoria, Kayla, Lillian, Lauren, Kaylee, Allison, Savannah and Nevaeh.
Names for Baby Boys:
Jacob: Hebrew in origin, meaning supplanter.
Michael: Hebrew in origin, meaning Who is like God.
Ethan: Latin in origin, meaning constant.
Joshua: Hebrew in origin, meaning God of Salvation.
Daniel: Hebrew in origin, meaning God is my judge.
Alexander: Greek in origin, meaning protector of mankind.
Anthony: Latin in origin, meaning priceless. Also Greek in origin, meaning flourishes.
William: Spanish in origin, meaning protector.
Christopher: Greek in origin, meaning God bearer.
Matthew: Hebrew and Scandinavian in origin, meaning (in both) Gift of God.
Other popular boy names include: Jayden, Andrew, Joseph, David, Noah, Aiden, James, Ryan, Logan, John, Nathan, Elijah, Christian, Gabriel, Benjamin, Jonathan, Tyler, Samuel, Nicholas, Gavin, Dylan, Jackson, Brandon and Caleb. Read More»
Being Single on Valentine’s Day Can Affect One’s Health
Does Being Single on Valentine's Day Affect Your Health?
Every year around Valentine's Day it seems like every celebrity doctor, whether they are doctors in real life or only on television, has an opinion on whether or not being single on Valentine's Day impacts your health.
Wandering through the maze of opinions can make finding facts difficult. Consider the following:
The Single People That Get Depressed On Valentine's Day
Many people fall into a depression as a result of being single on Valentine's Day. Seeing the happy couples and being left alone on February 14th while all of your friends wine and dine with their special someone at some posh restaurant in town can lead people to ask why was Valentine's Day invented anyway. Unfortunately, depression of the mood also leads to depression of other bodily systems, such as the immune system. People that are depressed frequently get sicker, live shorter lives and are overall less healthy than people that do not suffer from depression.
Furthermore, depressed people tend to withdrawal from others, finding ways to constantly be isolated. They commonly avoid social settings, lose touch with friends and family and do not enjoy social events that were previously enjoyed. Isolation can negatively affect both physical and mental health. Isolated people tend to spend a lot of time indoors, therefore not obtaining proper exercise or adequate amounts of sunlight. Inadequate exercise and sunlight can lead to obesity and vitamin D deficiency. Remaining isolated for long periods of time can lead to more severe depression and begin to cause a variety of anxiety disorders.
Single People That Get Happy On Valentine's Day
On the other hand, many people find that being single on Valentine's Day is a break from the Hallmark holidays and a time to enjoy one's own company. Some people spend the day happily single, choosing to take themselves out for a special meal or movie, or spend the evening reading a favorite book or watching a movie that their ex probably wouldn't have liked anyway. Some people see being single on Valentine's Day as a welcome day of solitude. Many men are thrilled to buy themselves a new toy as opposed to spend their Christmas bonus on a pair of diamond earrings for their girlfriends or wives. Many women couldn't be happier to spend the evening the way that they want to as opposed to pretend to enjoy the food at a restaurant that they really don't care for. Happy people tend to heal faster from injuries, fight off infection quicker and overall be healthier than depressed people.
Furthermore, happy people tend to be willing to take action to stay healthy. A happy person is more likely to partake in regular exercise and social activities than someone that is suffering from depression. Being physically active helps to maintain a healthy weight and adequate levels of serotonin. Maintaining social relationships is important to maintaining a mental and emotional state of wellness.
It can be concluded that being single on Valentine's Day is likely to impact a person's health. Whether being single on Valentine's Day impacts health in a positive or negative way is up to the individual and his or her mindset.
For some naughty Valentine's Day gift ideas and much more please visit the sex and relationship section on GKMen. Read More»