StarBulletin.com

Brief asides


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POSTED: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

THAT'S SUPER

You could be that millionaire next door

If we had a dime for every old comic book bought decades ago, why, we'd be millionaires right now. An Action Comics No. 1 with a 10-cent cover price has fetched $1 million—yes, $1 million—at auction. In pristine condition, the 1938 edition's cover features Superman lifting a car. “;It's considered by most people as the most important book,”; John Dolmayan, a comic book enthusiast and dealer told the Associated Press. “;It kind of ushered in the age of the superheroes.”;

As any fan of PBS' “;Antique Roadshow”; knows, yesterday's trash can well turn into future treasure. Makes one lament those troves in the family attic that have long-ago disappeared.

SUCH A DEAL

Psssst! Wanna buy a Rolex?

The news that six Honolulu law firms fell for a fairly common e-mail scam, losing a combined $500,000 in the process, has to shake one's confidence in the street smarts of those duped—or at least, in their attention to detail. Goes to show, though, that even legal eagles can fly smack into that proverbial bogus Brooklyn Bridge.

NEW RULES

The best credit card regulations are your own

There appears to be a lot to like in the new credit card regs that went into effect Monday.

» More time to make monthly payments, with at least 21 days after bills are mailed or delivered.

» Opting out, in which cardholders can reject changes in terms by closing accounts and paying off the balance under the old terms.

» Under-age limits, in which anyone under 21 must either have an adult co-signer or give proof of enough income to repay debt.

But, as usual, there's also the hidden, darker side. Card companies can still raise interest rates on future card purchases, and there is no cap on how high they can go. Also, the new law doesn't cover business or corporate credit cards.

So keep reading the fine print. Better yet, pay off your outstanding monthly balance to avoid the snowball effect of late fees. Best yet, stop living beyond your means: Avoid credit debt if at all possible and pay cash instead.