Author: Money Mechanics

(By Oil & Gas 360) Part II – As U.S. power markets move to reprice reliability, another shift is taking place: the role of oil and gas operators is being reconsidered in the context of grid stability. For much of the past decade, oil and gas have been viewed primarily through the lens of emissions and transition. That framing is now being supplemented by a more immediate concern, the need for dependable, dispatchable energy in a system that is becoming less predictable. Natural gas remains the most flexible large-scale generation resource available. Gas-fired plants can ramp quickly, respond to demand…

Dania Novack lived for nearly four decades in pricey Hawaii, publishing a local food magazine and raising two now-adult children. But after the 2023 Maui wildfires and a drawn-out, contentious and expensive divorce, she decided to return to the mainland for a more affordable retirement. With friends and family still in the Aloha State, she knew she’d visit often. So Novack started looking for a place with reasonable flight connections, a certain cultural vibe and a lower cost of living than, say, Southern California, where she grew up. Novack, now 65, took a road trip through Colorado, Oregon and Washington…

Tucked behind lush greenery in the heart of Encino, a sprawling hideaway with a surprising connection to some of Hollywood’s most beloved films and television shows has hit the market for $3.4 million.The six-bedroom, five-bathroom residence spans more than 4,300 square feet and blends seamless indoor-outdoor living with a creative legacy tied to major entertainment productions, having previously been owned by famed Hollywood composer film score composer Michael Giacchino, according to property records. During the years he spent living at the home—which he sold more than a decade ago—Giacchino wrote the soundtracks for the 2008 movie “Speed Racer,” composed music…

Please enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser or access the information through the links provided below. May 08, 2026 Federal Reserve Board announces approval of related applications by Columbia Bank MHC, and Columbia Financial, Inc. For release at 5:00 p.m. EDT The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced its approval of related applications by Columbia Bank MHC, and Columbia Financial, Inc., both of Fair Lawn, New Jersey. The approvals allow the banking organization to have a new top-tier holding company, Columbia Financial, Inc., which would become a savings and…

High prices are enduring, with the yellow metal consolidating high again. Gold’s durability way up here is remarkable considering the sheer extremity of January’s parabolic surge. Yet this is the fifth time gold has defied serious-drawdown odds in recent years. Such strength buttresses the case that gold is revaluing into a much-higher price regime going forward. That would be incredibly bullish for gold miners. During most of the past quarter-century or so, gold largely followed a common market pattern. Starting relatively low languishing out of favor, gold would slowly resume advancing. That gradually attracted back traders, accelerating gold’s upside as…

Takeaway: A mixed bag April jobs report will keep mortgage rates mostly steady as stronger-than-expected hiring lowers recession risk. But softer wage growth, a small underlying rise in unemployment, and the energy shock from the Iran war leave the Fed on hold for the foreseeable future. April’s jobs report was stronger than expected, suggesting the labor market has firmed up somewhat since the fall. However, the underlying picture is still more stable than strong. Employers added 115,000 jobs in April, well above the roughly 62,000 expected by forecasters. The recent monthly payroll numbers have been extremely volatile, in large part…

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysSmart plugs can automate dumb devices, but they shouldn’t power everything.Devices you can connect include lamps, chargers, fans, string lights, and TVs.Skip smart plugs for devices that heat up, have a compressor, or are over 1,500W.Smart plugs have some pretty great uses around the house, but they’re not meant to handle every single electrical device in your home. Using a smart plug incorrectly can lead to dangerous situations, including tripped circuits, damaged plugs, and even house fires. Knowing which devices can and can’t be used with smart plugs is vital.Also:…

Smiling senior couple with papers, calculators and bills at home. Senior couple calculating taxes at home. Mature man and woman wearing spectacles and looking their expenses together.gettyLongevity is often treated as primarily a medical planning situation, with conversations focused on healthcare advances, care taking solutions, Medicare, genetics, and lifestyle factors like diet and exercise. While important, they do not tell the full story of aging. A growing body of research suggests that longevity is shaped just as much by social and behavioral factors as it is by medical or financial ones. Relationships, connection, and purpose play a central role in…

The former general manager of a homeowners’ association in Cypress, TX has been charged with illicitly spending more than $53,000 of the HOA’s funds on DoorDash, Amazon, and other personal expenses.Shiesha Laquette Sparrow, 50, was arrested on a felony theft charge after officials with the Lakewood Forest Homeowners Association accused her of using the HOA’s credit cards to cover thousands of dollars in personal expenditures. Sparrow’s alleged crimes were discovered in September 2025, when a new general manager took over her position, according to a warrant affidavit filed by Bobby Ramirez, a corporal with the Harris County Constables Precinct 4.The…

(Image credit: Getty Images)All three main U.S. equity indexes were higher heading into the weekend after a better-than-expected jobs report suggested the U.S. economy is, so far, absorbing an energy shock from the war in the Middle East just fine. The S&P 500 wrapped up a sixth consecutive week of gains at another new closing high, and the Nasdaq Composite finished in record territory, too, as Apple (AAPL) and Intel (INTC) reached an agreement on chips for the iPhone maker’s devices.INTC (+13.9%) had extended its 2026 rally on rumors of a new manufacturing pact with Apple, and the semiconductor stock…