Once upon a time, there was a nation where, during an era of prosperity, large numbers of citizens used short-term, interest-only loans to purchase their homes. They were apparently unaware that once the good times ended, they would be saddled with unbearable debt. Which is exactly what happened in America roughly 75 years ago. During the Roaring '20s, the typical mortgage was an interest-only loan that ended with a massive balloon payment. That bears a ... [full story]

Dear Mr. Berko: I'm 56 and really concerned about the state of the economy, our high national debt, the subprime crisis, falling home prices, high cost of oil and gas, falling stock market and the falling dollar - and of course, my future in this country. I work for a large bank that is now in the process of laying off more employees. I've been here 24 years, earn a fair salary, have a decent ... [full story]

Dear Mr. Berko: I own one share of Berkshire Hathaway that I got from my dad in 2002 when it was selling for $67,000 a share. I'd like to know the businesses it owns; I know it owns such as Precision Steel Warehouse, where I used to work for nine years. And please tell what those private businesses are worth. Berkshire also owns big public companies. Would you tell me what their names are and ... [full story]

Dear Mr. Berko: I'm 78 years old and have an account with one of the larger brokerage firms worth $418,000. Like most investors, I'm getting real scared of the market. This stock account, my Social Security, my debt-free home and $21,000 in savings is what's left after 49 years of marriage. The divorce also cost me $600 a month in alimony. But worst of all is that back in June my account was worth $441,000 ... [full story]

He's done the fan thing, lived it. In fact, San Diego may have no greater fan of the Chargers than Brian Giles, East County born and raised. He played the game himself at Granite Hills High.   GAME OVER - Over the course of one playoff game, LaDainian Tomlinson went from civic icon to scapegoat. CNS Photo by K.C. Alfred.  Baseball, though, is where Giles came to truly understand the mentality and perspective of the sports fan. ... [full story]

You can only follow the money so far before the trail leads under the table. It is here that the Buick Invitational operates at a handicap. It is here, in golf's gray market, that the PGA Tour has a problem.   TREE TO GREEN - A couple of fans make the extra effort to get a prime viewing spot near the 13th green at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines. They got a chance to see ... [full story]

Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body" by Neil Shubin; Pantheon; 240 pages; $24. Back in 2006, University of Chicago paleontologist Neil Shubin and colleagues made international headlines when they announced their discovery of a Tiktaalik, a fish-like creature that lived 375 million years ago.   YOUR INNER FISH - Neil Shubin's new book is a remarkably enthusiastic and easy-to-read explanation of evolution. CNS Photo. What made the Tiktaalik (an Inuit ... [full story]

   When practicing your chipping, don’t always give yourself a perfect lie. You want to recreate situations you find out on the golf course, and from time to time we find ourselves with uneven lies. The main rule… [full story]

Few musicians in (or out of) rock 'n' roll have inspired as much praise, frustration and derision as has Ryan Adams.   HARD-WORKING - The career of Ryan Adams has been an up-and-down affair, with praise for some work, but criticism for his willingness to release album after album. CNS Photo courtesy of Jon Graboff. When he's in top form, this versatile singer, songwriter and bandleader is capable of inspired performances that can rise to magical levels, ... [full story]

Lupe Fiasco recently had the distinction of being the first musical guest to appear on the first episode of TV's "The Late Show With David Letterman" following the program's two-month, writers-strike-fueled hiatus. It was a fitting honor for the hip-hop maverick, who cites Billie Holiday, Tom Waits and Johnny Cash among his favorite artists, and credits "Sesame Street" and Dr. Seuss among his biggest songwriting influences.   FIASCO IN THE MAKING - Making albums requires a ... [full story]