Derrick Arlen

Home foreclosure rates increase and prices go down

2011-06-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

Foreclosure rates are going up in the United States as home prices continue to go down. Those shopping for a house should find this great news. However, those planning to sell a house might want to give it some more time.

Huge decline shown on report from FHFA

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reports this week that its home-price index fell in the current quarter faster than at any time since 2008. There was a 5.5 percent decline from last year. This is because prices went down 2.5 percent in last quarter. The report did not consist of all homes. Only Fannie Mae or Freddie Machomes were included. It excludes cash only sales.

Foreclosures remain a key factor

Edward DeMarco is the FHFA director right now. He said, “In many local real estate markets, particularly those hit hard by this cycle, foreclosures and other distressed properties are still a key factor in recorded and anticipated future sales and may be delaying price stability or recovery.” The prices of homes in foreclosure are dropping, according to RealtyTrac. During the first quarter, the average sale price was $168,321 which dropped 1.46 percent from a year ago and 1.89 percent from the quarter before. The rest of the homes are worth less since foreclosures lower the value of homes in the neighborhood.

Fewer foreclosures going to third parties

James Saccacio is the CEO of RealtyTrac. “While foreclosure sales continue to account for an unusually high percentage of all residential home sales, sales volume is well off the peak we saw in the first quarter of 2009, when nearly 350,000 foreclosure properties were sold to third parties,” he said. There was a 16 percent go down from the last quarter and 36 percent decline from a year ago in the number of homes sold to third parties which was at 158,434 in the first quarter.

States have different foreclosure rates

The percentage of houses on the industry from foreclosure is different in every state. It was at 41 percent in both Ohio and Illinois. Both California and Arizona had the same also. It was 45 percent for both. In Nevada, foreclosures were 53 percent of the industry.

Worry about scams in the foreclosure industry

More foreclosure scams have come about. They’re sometimes hard to see. Some corporations promise to protect from foreclosure for an upfront fee. The homeowners end up with nothing. The Federal Trade Commission no longer allows upfront fees for negotiations on mortgage reduction plans. This change was made in February.

Articles cited

Wall Street Journal

blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2011/05/25/home-prices-fall-at-fastest-pace-since-late-2008/?mod=google_news_blog

DS News

dsnews.com/articles/home-prices-post-biggest-drop-in-two-years-as-foreclosures-depress-market-2011-05-26

DS News

dsnews.com/articles/home-prices-post-biggest-drop-in-two-years-as-foreclosures-depress-market-2011-05-26

Daily Finance

dailyfinance.com/2011/05/27/foreclosure-prices-fall-again-how-your-state-stacks-up/

Small cars outselling electric vehicles

2011-05-30T02:24:00.000-07:00

The cost of gas has been going up for a while. Vehicle purchasing habits have been changing accordingly. {However, American consumers aren’t buying as many green vehicles for instance hybrids and electric automobiles as they are compact and subcompact vehicles that sip the gas tank|That said, individuals aren’t purchasing more hybrids or electrics. Instead of green vehicles, people have been buying smaller compact and subcompact cars that sip daintily from the tank|Compact and subcompact carsare still much more popular than green vehicles, as people still want traditional automobiles that only sip from the tank| Subcompact and compact cars are stil! l more favored than green cars like electrics or hybrids, as traditional automobiles that sip lightly from the tank are selling much better than greener but more costly and less useful opportunities|Small

Rutgers webcam trial accused pleads not guilty

2011-05-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

Former Rutgers University student, nineteen-year-old Dharun Ravi, gave a not guilty plea to 15 charges today in a New Brunswick, N.J. courtroom. Ravi has been accused of using a webcam for the reason of spying on his eighteen-year old roommate, Tyler Clementi, during a sexual encounter with another male. The incident, which supposedly resulted in Clementi’s suicide, sparked a national awareness of violence against young gays.

Chance of 10 years

When it comes to Tyler Clementi’s suicide, Dharun Ravi is being charged with 15 different related charges. While appearing in the courtroom, he didn’t say anything. Steve Altman is Ravi’s attorney. He gave the pleas for all of the charges. Probably the most severe charge is bias intimidation. The charge suggested Ravi was not impartial in his actions. It was Clementi’s sexual orientation that started it all. If convicted of just that charge, Ravi might end up in prison for 10 years. The charges also had evidence tampering in them. He is also charged with invasion of privacy.

How Clementi was ‘outed’ by his roommate

Ravi supposedly “outed” Clementi on his Twitter account by saying “Found out my roommate is gay” right after Ravi and Clementi became roommates. The comment was connected to a gay chat room Clementi was supposedly in.

Watching with a webcam

Ravi tweeted about this on September 19, 2010. He said, “Roommate asked for the room ill midnight. I went into Molly’s room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay.”

Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge and committed suicide on Sept. 22.

Trying to cover his tracks

The Twitter and text messages Ravi put out were erased, according to prosecutors.

Already have a status conference prepared

A status conference on the case has been scheduled by Judge Glenn Berman for July 25. Evidence should be shared before then by both the Middlesex County Prosecutors and Ravi’s lawyers.

Other witness gets off simple

Wei, a key witness, was charged with invasion of privacy also. She was put in a pretrial intervention program earlier this month. She can have all charges dropped in three years as long as she meets all of the court’s requirements.

Anger from the family

Right after the hearing, Clementi’s father said, “Our family is grateful for the active work of the prosecutor’s office in this case. We’re eager to see the criminal justice process move forward.”

Information from

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43135427/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Newser

newser.com/article/d9nd5i1g0/not-guilty-plea-entered-for-defendant-in-rutgers-webcam-case-linked-to-suicide.html

WABC

abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_jersey&id=8146113

Pawlenty states completely no to ethanol subsidies

2011-05-24T17:04:00.000-07:00

GOP presidential hopeful Pawlenty showed brass during his candidacy announcement, reports The Daily Caller. The previous Minnesota governor called ethanol subsidies yet another case of “handouts” the United States can no longer pay for. Intellectual Takeout points out that ethanol fuel supporters cling to the renewable fuel argument, but enough criticisms of ethanol exist to justify exploration of whether there needs to be government subsidies for it to begin with.

America and corn

It is very significant for United States farmers to grow corn. It has been this way for a long time. Even traditional bluegrass nuggets like “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn” equate the ability to grow corn with male virility:

“Why do you come for me to wed?
Can’t even make your own corn grain.
Single I am and will remain;
A lazy man I won’t maintain.”

More than just culture already

Corn is more than just something culture has brought to The United States now. It is something the automotive industry has been more interested in with ethanol as a renewable resource since fuel efficiency has become so significant. Many different political lobbies support ethanol fuel production. This contains the National Corn Growers Association.

Tim Pawlenty is just one of many that do not support the subsidy. He doesn’t think it is worth it. Using grains to produce an alternative fuel to gasoline has already begun to create shortages that have elevated the cost of corn. Pawlenty explained that it is more significant to have cheap grain than food. He thinks he can help the United States just like he helped Minnesota reduce ethanol subsidies while managing its fiscal challenges.

“I’m here today to tell Iowans the truth about federal energy subsidies,” said Pawlenty during his presidential candidacy announcement. “(That includes) federal subsidies for ethanol… (They must) be phased out gradually. We need to do it fairly. But we need to do it.”

How fuel efficiency will change with ethanol

Scientists explain that ethanol fuel has 34 percent less energy per unit of volume. This is when it is compared to traditional gasoline used in vehicles. A standard gas motor utilizes a lot less fuel than an ethanol engine. The ethanol engine could use as much as 50 percent more.

Ethanol’s viability is reconsidered when thinking about how ethanol fuel and greater miles per gallon are connected. As noted business journalists like Keith Crain are arguing the establishment of a national MPG standard is a bigger fish for the automotive industry to fry, there simply may not be room for the perceived impotency of ethanol fuel.

Articles cited

Auto News

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110523/OEM01/305239986/1137

The Daily Caller

dailycaller.com/2011/05/23/pawlenty-announces-2012-run-under-banner-of-truth-tells-iowans-that-ethanol-subsidies-must-be-phased-out/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel

Intellectual Takeout

intellectualtakeout.org/library/agriculture/ethanol-renewable-energy

National Corn Growers Association

ncga.com/

Tim Pawlenty

timpawlenty.com/

Tim Pawlenty, et al, on ethanol subsidies

youtube.com/watch?v=V5y6E2TQTw0

A neuroscientist says that mega human senses could be formed

2011-05-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

What would life be like if you had a Spider Man-like danger sense? Or maybe you could have Daredevil’s amazing radar sense? Dr. Bradley Voytek, U.C. Berkeley neuroscientists, believes it wouldn’t be far outside the bounds of normalcy, as human beings have potential super senses that they rarely spend time creating.

How we get the super senses

There are super senses that human beings can acquire, according to U.C. Berkeley neuroscientist Dr. Voytek. He said human beings have always had access to them. The human mind has amazing powers. Voytek reminds us of this attribute human beings have. In the brain, there are membranes. This is how our abilities such as seeing and hearing are able to work. The basic biology and cellular processes involved work apart from and in concert with our conscious awareness, yet the degree of sensitivity involved in perception is far from basic.

Senses according to Voytek

Quite arguably, claims Voytek, the upper and lower threshold of our abilities lie far beyond conventional wisdom. Humans are able to see two photons in the retina. That is the lowest a human can see. As such, it would be possible, in theory, to see a candle flame from miles away, provided the right landscape and weather conditions.

Most expect hearing to be between 20 Hz and 20,000 kHz. It is possible that a human could hear the Brownian motion vibrations with enough effort, or the particle theory random movement of atoms.

We also know human beings can smell as few as 30 molecules of substances at a time.

Nobody using the ’super senses’

Too much attention is needed to use mega sense which is why human beings don’t use them, according to Voytek. The amount of focus required is daunting for many people. Humans are required to focus intensely on one sense, ignoring the others, when testing the physical limits. Super-human senses could be reached when you consciously ignore other senses. The more we’re able to focus, the more very easily our brains can create strong 3-D images – at least where spatial perception is concerned.

Blind individuals examples

When losing a sense, other abilities become more acute. This has been believed for a long time. Ben Underwood and Terry Garrett are examples. They’re both blind. Teenage Underwood is able to perfectly navigate his surroundings – even on a skateboard or roller blades – via echolocation. Like a dolphin or bat, Underwood makes a clicking sound that enables his ears and brain to work together to create a Daredevil-like sonar sense. Both Garrett and Underwood are able to use sound to play video games as well.

As scientists like Dr. Voytek continue to develop their understanding of how the brain and our abilities work, we’ll be that much closer to understanding how we can develop the mega senses that often lie dormant within.

Citations

CBS News

cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/19/earlyshow/main1817689.shtml

Oscillatory Thoughts

blog.ketyov.com/2011/05/we-are-all-inattentive-superheroes.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_motion

Wired

wired.com/gamelife/2011/04/blind-gamer-plays-zelda-by-ear/

Ben Underwood has overcome his blindness without surgery

youtube.com/watch?v=G1QaCeosUmw

NBA mock draft 2011: Irving or nothing

2011-05-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

Basketball authorities like ESPN’s Bill Simmons and Chad Ford do not see large things coming out of the 2011 NBA Draft, but some solid picks will be accessible. Here are the top 10 NBA mock draft picks for 2011, in case your team needs help.

Cleveland Cavaliers could be drafting Kyrie Irving, Point Guard (Duke)

Kyrie Irving is really good and will be a top-15 point guard most likely, although he is not amazing. Baron Davis was never good enough for the Cavs. Irving may be just what the team needs.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Enes Kanter, Center (Turkey)

The Wolves needs to work on building itself up again even though Kevin Love had a fantastic season. A large man will need to be added to the team if Love is going to stick around. It is a gamble to pick the 6-foor-11, 272 pound Kanter, some think. Others think the intimidation of the high energy rebounder will give the team an advantage.

Utah Jazz: Derrick Williams, Small Forward (Arizona) as a possibility

Even though Williams was a power forward as a Wildcat, he will probably be a small forward in the NBA. However, if Utah throws up their hands over the remaining 2011 NBA Draft crop and decides to go for a popular pick, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette would be a PR slam dunk, if not a sound basketball decision.

Chances that Cleveland Cavaliers would pick Jonas Valanciunas, Center (Lithuania)

The Cavs need an active, big male beneath the boards to assist Anderson Varejao, and Valanciunas fits the description.

Toronto Raptors might pick Kemba Walker, PG (Connecticut)

Kemba Walker can be the best person to fill the point guard position Toronto really needs.

Washington Wizards have the option of Kawhi Leonard, Small Forward (San Diego State)

A relentless rebounder and explosive athlete, Leonard is the kind of wing player the Wizards have to run with John Wall.

Sacramento Kings may choose to have Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky

Beno Udrih could be a fantastic backup having Kings on the Knights.

Detroit Pistons to pick Jordan Hamilton, Small Forward (Texas)

With Tayshaun Prince departing as a free agent, small forward becomes priority. Hamilton can both shoot and rebound the ball.

Charlotte Bobcats picking Jimmer Fredette, SG (Brigham Young University)

If he’s still available, Charlotte will likely go for Fredette so that at least one player on the roster will be able to score consistently from outside. Otherwise, Bismack Biyombo from the Congo should amp up the frontcourt athleticism while aggressively challenging shots.

Milwaukee Bucks: Tristan Thompson, Power Forward (Texas) possibility

Thompson is 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds. He is a quite athletic male too. If the Bucks are not gun shy following the failed Yi Jianlian pick from 2007, they may go worldwide and snag Biyombo if he’s available.

Citations

Bleacher Report

bit.ly/kuOQ8z

Fox Sports

msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/2011-NBA-draft-lottery-winner-051711

The Sporting News

bit.ly/kYTnGq

2011 NBA Draft Lottery highlight: The final three

youtube.com/watch?v=GqWuPdf8u2o

Scandal means no bail for Strauss-Kahn

2011-05-21T05:44:00.000-07:00

The head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has been denied bail when arraigned on sexual assault charges. He allegedly tried to rape a maid in his hotel room, and was arrested and booked before he left on a flight to France. He is being held at Riker’s Island for the moment.

Charges for international financer

On Monday, May 16, the head of the IMF was ushered into a New York City courtroom to be arraigned for charges of sexual assault and false imprisonment, according to The Guardian, in one of the highest profile scandals among international diplomats in years. Because of false imprisonment and sexual assault, Strauss-Kahn was arrested on Saturday. He supposedly sexually assaulted a main at Sofitel which he stayed at in Times Square. According to Reuters, he was boarding a plan for France when he was arrested. Monday he went before a judge. Prosecuting attorneys labeled him a flight risk and observed that France wouldn’t extradite him if he was able to leave. He was denied bail and is now being held at Riker’s Island Correctional Facility.

IMF continues operations

Despite the head of the organization’s imprisonment, the International Monetary Fund is still carrying on, according to the LA Times. A meeting in Brussels was happening while Kahn was in arraignment to discuss the International Monetary Fund and European Union working together to do a joint bailout package for the Portugal debt crisis. The Greece debt crisis is still ongoing, and more aid to the struggling country was also slated to be topic for discussion. A newspaper in Athens carried the headline “the chambermaid blocks Greece!” in reaction to the scandal, and Strauss-Kahn is already a reviled figure there for forcing austerity measures to give the country emergency financial assistance. During all of this, Strauss-Kahn is stuck in The Tombs holding cells waiting for his next hearing. He is near the Riker’s Island Courthouse.

Scandal brought on fallout

Strauss-Kahn is a prominent figure in the Socialist party in his native France and had been expected to challenge current president Nikolas Sarkozy in the coming elections. He will most likely be changed. Francois Hollande or Martine Aubry could both do the job. His job at the International Monetary Fund is up for grabs, according to the Telegraph, and there are numerous individuals waiting in the wings to replace him. Supposedly, previous English prime minster Gordon Brown is hoping for the job. He doesn’t have an endorsement from current P.M. David Cameron though. Axel Weber as a previous finance minister of Germany is a possibility for the job. Christine Lagarde is also in the running as the current France finance minister.

Information from

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/finance/dominique-strauss-kahn/8517119/Christine-Lagarde-and-Axel-Weber-front-runners-for-Dominique-Strauss-Kahns-IMF-role.html

Los Angeles Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/05/ron-paul-imf-dominique-strauss-kahn.html

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/05/16/us-strausskahn-arrest-idUSTRE74D29F20110516

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-euro-talks-20110517,0,2339845.story

The Guardian

guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/17/dominique-strauss-kahn-court-appearance

The Guardian

guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/15/strauss-kahn-arrest-hits-french-elections

Ron Paul is indeed running for president again

2011-05-20T06:24:00.000-07:00

Congressman Ron Paul has just declared that he will run for president in 2012. It will be the 3rd time he has run for election to the highest office in the land. Paul is somewhat debated, as he’s considered a huge influence on the tea party groups of the past couple years and has been at odds with both aisles of Congress. The 75-year-old Texan ran in 1988 and 2008.

Might work the third time

When it comes to Republican presidential candidates, Ron Paul is a wild card. Paul, 75, is a Representative from Texas with a Libertarian streak that has put him at odds numerous times with Republican orthodoxy. The LA Times states that he was on “Good Morning America” when he declared that he planned to run for Republican also. It is the 3rd time that Ron Paul has entered the race in some capacity, having run previously in 1988 and 2008.

Tea Party wants Paul

Dr. Ron Paul, an obstetrician by trade, is considered a kind of “godfather” to tea party groups and causes. He is jokingly referred to as “Dr. No,” as a dual reference to his unwillingness to vote for any legislation he feels is not constitutionally permitted, according to the Christian Science Monitor. Some of the entities he considers unconstitutional include Social Security, Medicare and the Internal Revenue Service. Some say that he is just a very conservative man. A blog post on CNBC was written by him once. It talked about the importance of cannabis becoming legal. He is also a constant critic of aggressive foreign policy and the military-industrial complex. Paul is notoriously antagonistic to the Federal Reserve, which he wants to get rid of, according to Reuters.

November 2012 will make him 77

Paul will be older than the average age of death in Nov 2012. By Nov of next year, he will be 77 although he is only 75. Still, he feels believes winning the Republican primary is “an absolute possibility many, many times better” than at previous times. Young people like Paul over Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrinch and Mitt Romney. He also does great with fundraisers. When running in 2008, he elevated $35 million. He ran as a Libertarian in 1988 to be a presidential candidate too.

Articles cited

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-ron-paul-president-20110513,0,626706.story?track=rss

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/05/13/us-usa-campaign-paul-idUSTRE74C2XB20110513

CNBC

cnbc.com/id/36267220/End_Insanity_Of_The_War_on_Drugs_Start_With_Decriminalizing_Marijuana_at_The_Federal_Level

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/2011/0513/Election-101-Ron-Paul-sets-sights-on-2012.-Ten-things-to-know-about-him/Why-is-he-running-again

74 year old Harmon Killebrew is dead

2011-05-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Twins have revealed that Hall of Fame slugger Harmon Killebrew has succumbed to esophageal cancer. The powerfully built home run hitter who pelted Major League bleachers with hundreds of mementos was 74 years old. The AP states that Killebrew passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Scottsdale, Ariz., home on Tuesday, accompanied by wife Nita and their family.

Mayo Clinic dropped Killebrew for Hospice

Various media sources published a statement from Killebrew on Monday that Mayo Clinic doctors could not halt the onslaught of the esophageal cancer because it had reached an advanced stage. Until Killebrew would die, he would be in Hospice care. This was also part of his announcement. He had declared his cancer diagnosis only six months prior.

The best part of ‘The Killer’

As Killebrew hit balls from the right hand side hand side of the plate and was 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, pitchers were always nervous. Harmon “The Killer” Killebrew had huge arms and hands. The power in his hits was something everybody wanted to see. His 573 home runs over a 22-year career (1954-1975) currently put him at No. 11 on the all-time list, and he led the American League 6 times in home runs (1 time as a Washington Senator and five times as a Minnesota Twin) and in RBI three times. The official Major League Baseball logo is believed to be of Killebrew’s powerful swing.

“He hit line drives that put the opposition in jeopardy,” former Washington Senators scout Ossie Bluege once said. “And I don’t mean the infielders. I mean the outfielders.”

Yet it was perhaps Killebrew’s happy, soft-spoken nature that most endeared him to supporters.

“No individual has ever meant more to the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins territory than Harmon Killebrew,” Twins president Dave St. Peter said. “Killebrew’s legacy will be the class, dignity and humility he demonstrated each and every day as a Hall of Fame-quality husband, father, friend, teammate and man.”

Jeff Idelson is the Baseball Hall of Fame President. He even said, “It’s ironic that his nickname was ‘Killer,’ as he was one of the nicest, most generous individuals to ever walk the earth.”

Citations

Associated Press

nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/43062969/ns/sports-baseball/

Baseball Reference

baseball-reference.com/players/k/killeha01.shtml

Boston Globe

bo.st/iLkYND

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

startribune.com/sports/twins/122004519.html

‘We’re here to love and help one other,’ said Killebrew

youtube.com/watch?v=GV9oEeKhI6s

New Mexico male gets first bubonic plague case of the year

2011-05-14T01:04:00.000-07:00

A male in New Mexico has been confirmed as being infected with the bubonic plague; and has earned the distinction of being the first person to get it this year. Individuals that live in very remote or rural areas are susceptible to the disease, which is caught from fleas and has never actually gone away. More than a thousand people get it worldwide yearly, and the U.S. typically has about 12 cases per year.

New Mexico hospital to look after plague individual

The first person in the U.S. this year to have the bubonic plague is a 58 year old male from New Mexico. Who this male is has not been released yet. Time reports it is being kept secret for now. There are certain plague symptoms. The man had them all. He had very swollen lymph nodes, a fever, abdominal pain and groin pain. In plague patients, lymph glands swell to the point where they’re visible, which in the Middle Ages came to be referred to as a “bubo,” hence the name “bubonic plague.”. Lymph nodes are “bubo” in ancient Greek, Wikipedia explains.

No need to bring out the dead

On average, there are 13 bubonic plague cases each year while 1 to 40 are typically reported, the Centers for Disease Control states. Anywhere from 50 to 90 percent of cases are fatal if untreated, and 15 percent of treated cases are fatal. There were 2,118 cases reported in 2003 to the WHO. One hundred and eighty two of those ended in death. Of those cases, 98.7 percent were in Africa, as were 98.9 percent of the fatalities. New Mexico is the state that has the majority of the cases. The Miami New Times reports this odd occurrence that keeps happening. In 2009, there were 6 New Mexico plague cases. Since 1949, there have been 262 cases total. The LA Times reports that outbreaks of the plague were common in America until middle of the 20th century. Outbreaks were noted in San Francisco from 1900 to 1908, and epidemics occurred in Oakland in 1919 and LA from 1924 to 1925. There were 37 individuals killed in 1924 with the Los Angeles plague problems.

Fleas trigger disease

The Black Plague is also known as the Black Death and the bubonic plague. It is spread through Tersinis Pestris fleas that carry the bacteria. Feeding off of rodent such as prairie dogs, rats, chipmunks and ground squirrels is how the fleas spread it. Infected fleas can jump to pets like cats and dogs, then to their owners, or from rodents to individuals. After the fleas with bacteria jump on a person, it spreads the disease. Risk in the Southwest area is the greatest. Arizona, California, Nevada and Oregon have all reported cases of the plague, although half of cases come from New Mexico. Bubonic plague is non-infectious in individuals unless the disease spreads to the lungs and becomes pneumonic plague. Antibiotics are effective if administered within 24 hrs of symptoms emerging.

Citations

Time

healthland.time.com/2011/05/10/first-case-of-bubonic-plague-in-2011-appears-in-new-mexico/

Miami New Times

blogs.miaminewtimes.com/shortorder/2011/05/what_to_eat_if_you_catch_the_b.php

Centers for Disease Control

cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/index.htm

World Health Organization

who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs267/en/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubonic_plague

Los Angeles Times

articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/05/local/me-then5

Housing nevertheless supported as financial investment by Americans

2011-04-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing about the American people not a soul can deny, they are certainly steadfast. A recent survey indicated that the majority of Americans believe housing is still a good long term financial investment. It seems an odd thing to think, given the average value of a home has dropped by almost a third since 2006. Furthermore, more than a quarter of all homes are now worth less than the amount of money that is owed for them. Housing prices will recover eventually. It may take awhile, though.

Real estate confidence in Americans

There was a recent survey done that shows good news. It showed that the majority of Americans are confident that housing is a good financial investment to the future. The Pew Research Center, according to Reuters, found that 81 percent of Americans felt housing was still the best long term financial investment. There were 44 percent of responders that said they “somewhat agreed” and 37 percent that said they “strongly agreed” that a home was the best long term investment when 2,000 adults were surveyed by phone by part of the Pew Research Center called the Social Demographics Trends project. In three years, the housing values will likely recover according to most people while 23 percent said that they, if they could go back, wouldn’t have bought their house.

Spring to come

Realtors, according to MSNBC, are hoping that sales pick up during the spring and summer of 2011 and the current trend of slowing sales is reversed. Realtors and real estate industry analysts are concerned the number of underwater homes and lower demand will keep home sales and home values down for some time. However, the National Association of Realtors is expecting an increase in home sales of 7.4 percent this year. The tight lending practices are making several in the real estate industry upset. They say there is no way to recuperate without this change.

Downturn fuels skeptics

The housing industry is in a hard place right now. The American Dream is danger because of this. Robert Shiller, Case-Shiller Index co-founder, was quoted in a USA Today article that said security and lifestyle reasons are the only ones that people have to purchase a home. Another economist in the same piece found that a house only yields a 6 percent return on average. A lot of people may not get much of a return at all too considering depressed prices and fees.

Citations

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/04/12/us-usa-housing-survey-idUSTRE73B0T220110412

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/42521765/ns/business-real_estate/

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2011-03-20-home-ownership.htm

NFL lockout loans prey on athletes, say critics

2011-04-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

Consumer same day loans charge 15 to 25 percent for every $100 loaned. This amounts to $50 or $60 in most cases, which is hardly earth-shattering. But the larger dollar amounts involved in NFL “lockout loans,” a phenomenon spawned by the 2011 NFL lockout make such instant payday cash advances a more serious matter, regardless of the income disparity. In this case, lending agents are coming to the players with offers, knowing that the paychecks aren’t coming and cash needs continue to exist. Article source – NFL lockout loans: More money, more problems by MoneyBlogNewz.

Lockout loans: When 36 percent APR is dangerous

While a 36 percent APR attached to consumer same day loan of $300 or $400 produces too little revenue for a lender to operate, NFL lockout loans for more than $60,000 at as much as 36 percent APR generate a lot of interest very quickly. Yet players from at least 16 NFL teams have already applied for such large-scale instant cash loans, writes Yahoo! Sports.

Some players have been better off with the NFL Players Association lockout while others have had a very difficult time keeping up with finances. The NFLPA advised players to save at least three game checks from the previous season in anticipation of the 2011 lockout, however insiders report the advice may not have been heeded. In addition, the NFLPA has urged players to refinance their homes, fly coach and pursue moneymaking opportunities like autograph signings and speaking engagements in this extended off-season, writes MSNBC.

Paying NFL players a lot just to have them waste it

Sports psychologists suggest that star athletes are surrounded by enablers from a relatively young age. By the time players reach the professional ranks, it isn’t uncommon for them to lack real world financial knowledge, as they’ve never had to take responsibility for such things. Millions being given to somebody who was poor might also be an issue. These individuals might just spend it all up. This is perhaps why up to 80 percent of retired NFL players have declared bankruptcy, according to a Sports Illustrated estimate. Of the 1,700 players in the NFL, 380 of them are expected by MSNBC to be living paycheck to paycheck. This is regardless of the fact that $1.87 million was the annual salary for NFL players last year. About $320,000 was paid on average to a rookie. Still, after taxes and agent payments, players could end up poor.

A dissenting voice in support of lockout loans

Yahoo! Sports spoke with NFL athlete financial adviser Sherard Rogers who said the lockout loans are an excellent product. It might be really hard for any players that are used to spending.

“Every NFL team was valued at over $1 billion, so they can weather the storm of a lockout. But could players if there weren’t resources to cover this short-term labor dispute?” asked Rogers. “The key is to figure out how to solve the short-term liquidity issue and put the pieces in place to ensure they don’t have this liquidity issue again.”

Citations

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41855264/ns/business-personal_finance/41855226

Philly Sports Column

philly.sportscolumn.com/showthread.php?t=11751

The Real Athlete Blog

accessathletes.com/blog/blogDisplay.cfm?/Education-is-Key-for-Pro-Athletes-596

The Post Game

thepostgame.com/features/201104/tpg-exclusive-cash-strapped-nfl-players-seeking-high-risk-lockout-loans

Both sides are feeling the ‘deal heat’

youtu.be/CQD7MvhD3sI

Federal Reserve has no strategies to tighten credit supply yet

2011-04-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

The nations’ credit supply is a concern of the Federal Reserve, however the central bank does not intend to tighten the credit supply just as yet. The Federal Reserve has certain controls over the amount of accessible lending capital in the financial system. The central financial institution of the nation is being pressured to look into reigning in the credit supply, but insists it will not until the economy is in better shape.

Not ready yet, Fed claims

Several have started to worry that economic inflation might take place since there have been such increases in customer good costs for instance food and gasoline. Due to all of this change, several are worried about the Federal Reserve. They think the Federal Reserve should try restricting credit again. Members of the Fed, however, are convinced that the overall economy is too shaky to tighten the credit supply, according to MSNBC. At a recent speaking engagement at Yale University, Fed Vice Chair Janet Yellen said that conditions were not right, but the central financial institution would be easing off its current policy of keeping interest rates at near zero.

Not a low enough joblessness

Part of the Fed’s job is to control the supply of credit that the U.S. banking system has. Even the rates of interest charged are affected by this control. When a recession takes place, the Fed decides to lend to banks. In order to stimulate lending, these loans are close to zero percent interest. Then, anyone could be lent to by the bank including personal installmetn loans, mortgages or even to financial institutions. There are more parts than credit to the Federal Reserve’s operations. Nevertheless, credit is the most essential. If the Fed thinks that the price inflation is being too hard on the nation’s currency, the Fed can stop putting as much capital out there. The price of commodities like oil and food is increasing, which means that $1 does not go as far.

Where the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau comes in

Soon, rates of interest on loans will likely start going back up, as soon as the central bank feels comfortable with the economy. This is when the credit supply can be restricted by the Federal Reserve. Now there is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as well. That means banks will have more rules to follow meaning more fines. Elizabeth Warren is the spokesperson for the bureau who said there should be new rules put in place by 2012. Reuters reports that July is when the bureau will begin to operate. Soon, the financial system could be more hotly regulated although how much the CFPB can do has yet to be determined.

Articles cited

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/42520140/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/

CNBC

cnbc.com/id/42532601

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/04/11/us-cfpb-warren-idUSTRE73A5FQ20110411

Pre-paid debit cards may be latest new banking product

2011-04-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

It has been a few months since new card fees, banking rules and overdraft regulations went into impact. Pre-paid cards are potentially a new product that several large banks are considering. These cards would provide a new revenue stream for these large banks. Pre-paid card associations are lauding the product as a fantastic option, while consumer groups are warning that they could be very costly.

Many want prepaid cards now

There was an increase from 700,000 to 3.4 million in the number of active prepaid cards used between 2005 and 2009. The growth of the industry is anticipated to continue, according to the Wall Street Journal. By 2014, pre-paid cards are anticipated to have 7 million users. Payroll cards, not prepaid cards, are not incorporated in this number. There might be over 9 million in the prepaid card market in the United States combined.

The argument for prepaid cards

The majority of prepaid debit cards are offered by non-bank businesses. These are offered by several locations. These consist of grocery stores, convenience stores and instant payday loans stores. Pre-paid debit cards are generally offered by large brands for instance Target and Walmart. The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association employed the consulting firm, Bretton Woods Inc. This business did a report that said the person with a pre-paid card will pay much less than the average checking account holder in fees. When it comes to money management, prepaid cards are also good. Those with the cards can only spend what is already loaded on. Prepaid debit cards also offer a choice for consumers who don’t use a traditional bank.

The argument against pre-paid cards

Prepaid cards cost more than a checking account according to a Consumers Union report. This is the Customer States publisher. Nine of the 12 cards studied were more expensive than the five comparative checking accounts. Depending on what is used, checking fees range per checking account. They’re usually between $0 and $438 a year. Between $18 and $606 is charged for pre-paid debit cards. That’s the average range. Overdraft fees were used in studies on pre-paid cards, the analysis shows. These are not always charged. However, since Dodd-Frank consumer protection laws went into effect, only about 22 percent of checking consumers have opted into overdraft protection. Sometimes pre-paid cards are more expensive than checking accounts. It depends. All pre-paid card applicants have to be careful of which fees they are signing up for, even if they want the card.

Articles cited

Consumer Reports

news.consumerreports.org/money/2011/04/debit-cards-banks-checking-acounts-fees-consumers-union-analysis.html?EXTKEY=AAOLWP05

Bretton Woods

bretton-woods.com/71501/index.html

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704377004575651072113863694.html?mod=WSJ_PersonalFinance_PF4

Tax write offs you need to not try at home

2011-04-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 18 is tax day 2011, and some Americans will attempt to slip some very creative tax deductions by the Internal Revenue Service. Whether it is sperm donations or some other less than savory "business" expense, do not expect such things to go undetected. Do not take these as examples, but marvel at the ingenuity – or laziness, or lunacy – that went into these crazy tries at tax deductions. Resource for this article – Bizarre tax deductions to brighten your tax day by MoneyBlogNewz.

Minister looking for real estate

Dallas CPA Ken Sibley told Bankrate of one client – a minister – who attempted to claim travel and entertainment expenditures as tax deductions. After trying for years, the minister never found real estate investment properties, even though he was trying to. This could not be considered business expense. It could have if anything were purchased.

Charity doesn't include getting married

Getting married is not enough to deduct expenses. It can’t be a part of business expenses being deducted. Clients attending the wedding does not make it business related. A Massachusetts CPA said it will not work, regardless how you swing it. And remember: your betrothed is not a charity, so you can’t count wedding expenditures as charitable donations, either.

30 year recovery

New Jersey CPA Don Meyer spoke of the business manager of a famous entertainer who arranged for the purchase of a $2 million office building. It would be business expenditure and deducted as one. The manager wanted to use it that year for it. The business manager was at a loss though since the complete expense would take over 30 years to recover. The law would not change regardless how much money there was to spare.

Securing a lifetime of tax money

You can’t claim pets as security expenditure although you are able to deduct things are home for business expenditures. The Hunter Group of Fair Lawn, N.J., states that the Internal Revenue Service also will not pay for home security systems. One client tried to declare a security system under the rationale that if her home was invaded and she was slain, she’d no longer be able to pay taxes.

Risky business

Tax deductions for dues and subscriptions to professional and trade publications do work. You have to be in that field though. According to Quizlaw, these would go under miscellaneous as long as the 2 percent floor rule is met. This means it must account for 2 percent or more of the adjusted gross income.

A Massachusetts CPA explained that a self-employed real estate agent trying to get adult magazines written off should probably reconsider the business strategy.

There was a prostitute client that Don Meyer had once. She put "public relations" as her job title while declaring her income.

Citations

Bankrate

bankrate.com/finance/taxes/10-craziest-tax-deductions-for-2011-1.aspx

IRS

irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=204169,00.html

Quizlaw

quizlaw.com/federal_income_tax/can_i_deduct_dues_and_subscrip.php

On deducting haircuts and sperm donations

youtube.com/watch?v=uW6HWOekZ3M

Ryan budget strategy: Medicare reform to combat tax cuts for the rich

2011-04-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

Rep Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has presented a spending budget proposal with severe long-term spending cuts that contain Medicare reform . A proposal by Ryan changes Medicare into vouchers seniors would use to purchase insurance from private firms. Previous GOP tries to end Medicare failed when the public understood that tax cuts for the rich was the true reason for eliminating funding for the program. Post resource – Ryan budget plan: Medicare reform to offset tax cuts for the rich by MoneyBlogNewz.

GOP not happy about Medicare reform face

Last year, Republicans wanted to stop the health care reform. These caused warnings of Medicare benefit cuts. In 2011, a GOP budget proposal called “Path to Prosperity” purports to slash government spending by $5 trillion over the next decade. Medicare, as a program that gives 47 million older and disabled Americans medical care with $520 billion, is something Ryan would like to get rid of. The GOP strategy for Medicare reform calls for repealing the health care reform law that extends insurance coverage to 30 million Americans. Medicare would be swapped out in people younger than 54 by federal payments. This would make it so that private insurance from the government would be chosen by these people. It strips the poor and disabled from a right to health care under current federal law by converting Medicaid to a block grant for each state to design its own insurance plans. Retirees in the future would wait until age 67 to be eligible for Medicare.

GOP spending budget strategy targets poor, disabled and retirees

If the health care law is repealed under the Republican plan for Medicare reform, a lot of people without employer insurance may not be able to afford medical coverage or get insurance at any price if they have pre-existing conditions. States, which have gone broke during the economic downturn, may have their ability to offer vulnerable low-income people protection further eroded. The Congressional Budget Office had an analysis done of the program. It said that retirees would end up losing some insurance and having to pay more to get cared for. The government could completely change by 2030. Only a 3rd of health care costs would be covered.

Strategy for Ryan involved Medicare changes

The U.S. health care safety net is something Republicans have been against. For 50 years they have tried to get rid of it. To be able to do this, Ryan has used "Path to Prosperity" and deficit reductions as excuses. In addition to cutting spending, “Path to Prosperity” is a strategy for more tax cuts. To be able to get corporate taxes lower and make it so the individual tax bracket top is at 25 percent increase of 35 percent, Ryan is cutting Medicare to make the Bush tax cuts permanent. In a slick video presenting his spending budget proposal, Ryan does not mention the tax cuts, however he says cutting Medicare is the only way to conserve it. It’s a familiar Republican strategy. In 1995 Republicans warned that the deficit was a threat to the survival of the nation. They proposed saving Medicare by privatizing it. It was made clear that cutting Medicare was so a tax cut could happen by President Clinton. Apparently tax cuts for the rich were not alm! ost as popular as Medicare back then.

Information from

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-budget-replaces-medicare-with-vouchers-for-future-retirees-beneficiary-costs-seen-rising/2011/04/06/AFKnkEnC_story.html?nl_headlines

The New Republic

tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/86270/the-achilles-heel-the-path-prosperity

MSN Money

money.msn.com/health-and-life-insurance/article.aspx?post=4d5e9e3a-208b-4a1a-861c-50bcc5afe31f

Salon

salon.com/technology/how_the_world_works/2011/04/06/paul_ryans_plan_to_dismantle_the_great_society/index.html

Wal-Mart class action may not pass Supreme Court muster

2011-04-08T07:44:00.000-07:00

Tens of billions of dollars in damages is at stake in a Wal-Mart sex discrimination class action suit. The Supreme Court heard arguments from both sides in the largest workplace discrimination lawsuit ever filed. Conservative justices questioned the legitimacy of the lawsuit as a class action.

Businesses have to worry about Wal-Mart suit

The Wal-Mart sex discrimination suit is viewed by legal experts as one of probably the most significant cases to come before the Supreme Court regarding the rights of workers versus the rights of corporations. All corporations in the United States need to pay attention. It will affect nearly all of them. The suit claims that up to 1.6 million current and previous female Wal-Mart employees were paid less than men and given fewer chances at promotion. Back pay and punitive damages are being asked for. The case was allowed to continue in a combined, multiparty lawsuit at a trial in the U.S. Court of Appeals in the Bay Area. Whether or not the women that worked since 1998 at Wal-Mart can really do a class action lawsuit together could be decided by the Supreme Court.

Wal-Mart to lose business with suit

The sex discrimination lawsuit turning to class-action might hurt Wal-Mart quite a bit. A ruling against Wal-Mart would put intense pressure on the business to settle claims out of court. Wal-Mart would win effortlessly if the justice sides with it. This is since the individual lawsuits will not work nearly as well as one giant suit. The sex discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart might change the business world. This has brought on major U.S. corporations and employee advocates to follow it very closely. It’s possible that workers might end up flooding the courts with lawsuits though. This would be what happens if the plaintiffs win. A win by Wal-Mart would bring a huge sigh of relief from corporate boards nationwide.

suit causes debate

During arguments over the Wal-Mart sex discrimination lawsuit Tuesday, the Supreme Court questioned whether systematic discrimination took place. The plaintiffs' lawyer explained that women are impacted by stereotypes due to the corporate culture. About 3,400 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in the U.S. had this issue, he said. The comment Wal-Mart said explained that it is not legal to do a class-action lawsuit for all female employees considering there have only been discrimination instances in some stores by some managers. The claim of systematic discrimination was questioned based on the one fact that Wal-Mart managers are allowed to pay men or women whatever they please at their discretion. It won’t be long before a decision is made. It’s anticipated to occur in June.

Citations

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com/news/sc-dc-walmart-discrimination-20110329,0,3119421.story

CNN

cnn.com/2011/US/03/29/scotus.wal.mart/index.html?npt=NP1

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gbOXzrZv6IDB2xzX5jdDJegcXkug?docId=879cbb4c18b44a338291cb69015c93db

Dead horse kicked more by Center for Responsible Lending

2011-04-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

The Center for Responsible Lending has released a new report on payday loans, bashing the product. The CRL has lobbied for years to get pay day loans regulated out of business, though the organization has lobbied for regulation of other credit goods also. Payday lending will soon fall under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Some practices not good for personal loan companies

Payday lending is often reviled as predatory, as opponents accuse personal loan companies of trapping people into vicious cycles of debt. If the practice were to disappear, it would make the Center for Responsible Lending quite happy. This is an advocacy group for consumers. The organization has released a new report on payday lending, according to Daily Finance, asserting that individuals who take out pay day loans tend to get trapped into debt for more than a single pay period. The report is titled “Payday Loans Inc: Short on Credit, Long on Debt” and is accessible on the CRL’s website.

Lawsuits

Most payday lenders have to deal with a lot of criticism. There tends to be lots of regulation for them too. Some loan companies deserve it; the number of violations committed by personal loan companies as well as the number of lawsuits including class actions show that not all short term installment loans lenders are on the level. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will start to operate later this year which many hope will mean more regulation on payday loans. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can’t regulate rates of interest, although many are hoping for a cap. The CRL recommends the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should do as much.

Consumer risk to borrowing

Customers tend to fall into debt after beginning borrowing from payday lenders, according to payday loan and other credit scholarly literature. The CRL explained that typically a person will be indebted for a couple of years to payday lenders. At least it isn't 30 years of debt. A typical mortgage is 30 years long. That is also better than 10 years, the length of time that individuals are given to repay student loans. However, those debts do not have the stigma that payday loans have been bestowed with. Even though a person can be indebted to a charge card corporation for years and years, most people don't look badly at credit cards either.

Citations

Daily Finance

dailyfinance.com/story/credit/payday-loans-exposed-short-term-lenders-borrowers/19898661/

Responsible Lending

responsiblelending.org/payday-lending/research-analysis/payday-loan-inc.pdf

Microsoft throws down on EU Google antitrust grievance

2011-04-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

European Union authorities launched an antitrust investigation towards Google in November. The European companies filing the antitrust grievance consist of some owned by Microsoft. Google is charged with unfairly demoting them on search engine result pages and other anti-competitive behavior. Microsoft backed up the companies it holds interest in Europe and joined the Google antitrust criticism.

Huge complaint against Google by Microsoft

European customers are missing out because of the access Google is limiting with its services for instance YouTube, claims Microsoft. This is why an antitrust complaint in Europe was filed against Google by Microsoft. Currently, Google is already being investigated by the European Union Competition Commission for antitrust problems. Adding Microsoft could really help the issue. Microsoft's search engine Bing has been unable to get much attention in Europe while the Internet search market is about 95 percent under Google's thumb in Europe. There have, in the past, been a lot of antitrust grievances that Google has been used to dealing with about competition as it is Europe's center place for advertisers to go. Microsoft has decided to start fighting Google and complain after being in antitrust investigations for Windows for years and after paying the European commission billions in fines.

Obvious fights between Google and Bing

The Google antitrust complaint Microsoft filed in Europe is all about background technologies that unlock Google goods. An example would be "application programming interfaces" that are used. Microsoft alleges that Google fiddles with the application programming interfaces to interfere with access to YouTube by Bing and other competing search engines, thus herding their users toward Google. In particular, Microsoft said Google thwarts Windows Phones from working correctly with YouTube — problems Android and iPhone users don’t experience. Since Apple doesn't compete in the search engine industry with Google and Microsoft does with Bing, Microsoft claims the Windows phones are shafted. Another Microsoft claim is that Google is blocking advertisers from optimizing on other platforms that compete. The European Union antitrust probe is already looking into this though.

Problem Google faces in Europe

The EU Commission spokesman said that Google can speak. Its side of the story must also be heard. To be able to keep a consistency with Google ads, Google said the third-party software restraint is necessary. Advertisers are allowed to access any data that is accessible; there are no restraints. However Microsoft’s involvement in Europe raises the stakes. There might be a huge fine Google would have to face. This could possibly be up to 10 percent of global revenues in one year, which last year was $29 billion. The way business is done in Europe might have to change as well. Before Microsoft threw its hat into the ring, the EU commission said it would give Google a chance to keep away from a fine or conviction of wrongdoing by changing the way it does business in Europe.

Citations

Associated Press

finance.yahoo.com/news/Microsoft-throws-weight-apf-1337664829.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=6&asset=&ccode=

Los Angeles Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/03/microsoft-files-european-antitrust-complaint-against-google.html

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/04/01/technology/01google.html?src=busln

Fukushima disaster lays bare the true price of nuclear power

2011-04-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

nuclear power appeared on the verge of a renaissance, until the Fukushima disaster. Nuclear reactors worldwide are being looked at in a dimmer light as radiation from reactors damaged in the Japan earthquake spreads around the globe. Safeguards to harden nuclear reactors from natural disasters, as well as clean up costs, could make nuclear energy too costly to be profitable to investors in the future.

Getting nuclear power paid for

Increasing the use of nuclear power as a clean, reliable source of energy won the support of 62 percent of the public in a 2010 Gallup poll. In order to get nuclear power plants built, the Obama administration is preparing on providing $54.2 billion in loan guarantees for construction projects. The Vermont Law School's Institute for Energy and the Environment's Mark Cooper explained that building nuclear reactors in the United States was unlikely prior to the Fukushima disaster anyway. Cooper said that the United States nuclear industry was a bubble that was going to burst just like any. This was said in Ottawa, Canada, at a presentation at the House of Commons. The bubble started to inflate in 2001 when the Bush administration started heavily promoting nuclear energy with billions in loan guarantees. In 2008, many were upset about the nuclear industry. It was not doing as well as several hoped it would. Natural gas became a cheap choice while the recession began. ! The other clean energy possibilities helped bring it down also.

Nuclear power starting to cost more

In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, building new reactors could become even more cost prohibitive. After the 1979 Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania, construction costs for nuclear reactors rose 95 percent, according to Cooper’s research. Every person had to pay 40 percent more in electricity because of this. Construction costs went up 89 percent causing electricity to rise 42 percent in 1986 after the Ukraine Chernobyl disaster. The price of construction goes up quite a bit after accidents occur for nuclear reactors. This is since the safety needs to be addressed causing a design change. Because of the Fukushima incident, the United States already has the Nuclear Regulatory Commission together to start figuring out what changed have to be made.

An unacceptable risk to investors

Going forward from Fukushima, investors will view clean energy alternatives such as natural gas, wind and solar as more attractive than nuclear plants. Utilities might also pass on assuming the risk of nuclear plants. Financially, nuclear energy is not any longer a cheap option to other sources of energy. Onshore wind farms are 35 percent cheaper than the typical nuclear plant without considering nuclear accident cleanup costs. The world can get electricity from several alternative sources. The nuclear power costs to the economy are avoided with them. It is more lucrative for investors to invest in clean energy alternatives.

Articles cited

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/03/25/idUS423443138820110325

Fast Company

fastcompany.com/1742619/what-are-the-economics-of-nuclear-power-after-fukishima

The National

thenational.ae/lifestyle/personal-finance/japans-nuclear-woes-add-pressure-to-invest-in-green-energy

Dodd-Frank to cost upwards of $3 billion, states claim

2011-03-31T18:04:00.000-07:00

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act was intended to save U.S. customers a significant amount of money – but at what cost? With any governmental undertaking, there’s a financial burden taxpayers shoulder. According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, that burden will amount to as much as $2.9 billion over five years, the price of Wall Street reform.

More taxes will not mean more security in the financial industry

While it might seem as if taxpayers are being asked to pay without end, the Dodd-Frank Act reportedly won’t require full taxpayer subsidization to function, writes the Wall Street Journal. There are 11 agencies that are there to enforce the Dodd-Frank law. Six of them are already funded for probably the most part. Congressional appropriations cover three others while the Federal reserve will give money to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which money comes, not from working class individuals, however from revenues for instance assessments.

Having to pay to the government from banks

All of the Financial institutions will pay more in government taxes to the United States This is what the Dodd-Frank laws dictate. This has elevated concerns within the financial community that competitiveness will be hampered by over-regulation, and House Republicans have taken up that torch, using GAO report findings to support the idea that Dodd-Frank is too much for a slowly recovering economy to bear.

The GOP will be talking about the first year of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act as it will cost about $975 million to support all 11 agencies. The five year tag is closer to $2.9 billion. It will cost quite a bit to hire 2,600 full-time workers which contain the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's 1,225 workers.

Report for GAO had other highlights

The Journal explains that these things were noted in the GOP presentation to the House Financial services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations:

There was a Fed estimate done earlier this year. It stated that $77.5 million will be needed to implement the Dodd-Frank Act with 290 new full-time employees. Three new offices – the Office of Financial stability Policy and Research, Financial Market Infrastructures Risk Analytics and Financial Market Infrastructures Oversight – were created to run Dodd-Frank laws smoothly.
The first of the three Fed sub-offices, the Financial security Oversight Council, will pay seven full-time staff up to $7.9 million beginning in fiscal 2012.
The Office of Financial Research has $74.5 million earmarked for use in fiscal 2012 and will hire 135 full-time staff to perform duties under Dodd-Frank.

Information from

Senate

banking.senate.gov/public/_files/070110_Dodd_Frank_Wall_Street_Reform_comprehensive_summary_Final.pdf

Government Accountability Office

gao.gov/

Wall Street Journal

blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/03/28/dodd-frank-2-9-billion-over-5-years-gao-says/

GOP on what Dodd-Frank might cost small businesses

youtube.com/watch?v=6iB2fWk7Rho

The interchange fight from a small business perspective

2011-03-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

In July, new legislation is intended to cut back the interchange fees charged for card transactions to 12 cents. A few legislators have submitted new legislation that would remove this new requirement. The legislation cites these fee limits as a reason businesses can be “less competitive”. However for small business owners, like me, these limits are more significant than ever before.

Paying for a charge card

There are card interchange fees. These are any fees using a credit or debit card needs. Otherwise known as “swipe fees,” these fees range between 12 cents and 75 cents and are charged every time a card is swiped. On top of the "interchange fee," a percentage of the transaction is charged. The interchange and percentage fees go to pay the company that provides the card machine, the card processor and the banks involved with the transaction. These fees added up to $50 billion last year. Current interchange fees in the United States are about twice as much as those in Europe. To be able to help United States businesses become less competitive, congress members are attempting to push some legislation. This would make interchange fees go down.

Adding interchange fees can mean less business

For a small business, the decision of whether to accept cards is tough. It costs a lot of money for a business enterprise to pay for the credit card. This is because corporations have to pay for the credit card transactions, a percentage of the transaction and a monthly fee also. Some businesses do not have lots of extra money. It’s worse for these companies. Even with available alternatives that reduce cost, any small business could have to eventually pass on the cost to consumers through minimum purchases, higher costs or additional charges on card payments. More people are willing to use your product or service when you accept credit cards. Also, consumers are more likely to make bigger purchases.

What my experience is

I offer many services at a company I own with my husband. We never even considered not taking credit cards knowing it was necessary. It didn't make sense to pay the $20 to $100 monthly charge card terminal fee when we did not have a physical location and don't make too much money with it. We chose start-up Square to run our credit cards, which charges a flat percentage of every transaction and processes credit cards through smartphones. Sales are only at $300 a month. We only pay about $8 in credit card fees each month. The profit goes down quite a bit after adding on $30 in business taxes and $26 in sales tax. The suppliers have to be paid also. We could hire employees and charge customers less if there were less interchange fees on credit cards. Either way, card fees may not sound like much to a consumer, but those few percentage points are what can take a small business from “surviving” to “competitive.”

Information from

Market Watch

marketwatch.com/story/visa-mastercard-rise-on-swipe-fee-regulation-pact-2010-06-21

State university tuition increases to lead to more student debt

2011-03-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

Budgets are getting squeezed in practically every state in the United States. A climate of greater fiscal conservatism is setting in out of sheer necessity. One of the first targets has been financing for higher education, especially state run universities. Public universities have to institute tuition increases just to keep up.

Higher education budgets slashed in forty three states

MSNBC reports that there’s a trend that states have been following that likely won't change anytime soon. There are 43 states that have cut higher education financing because of the huge recession. Funding for advanced schooling is always on the chopping block when financially difficult times come. This is because raising taxes could possibly be really hard for a political campaign. Federal grant cuts and cuts from state funds are hurting higher education. tuition increases are all a part of this. More students will have to take out considerably larger unsecured loans for a post-secondary education.

Federal financing slashed

The federal legislators are considering cuts as well. Higher education is one of the things that can go. Federal Pell Grants, which provide financial aid depending on need, could possibly be reduced by up to $5.7 billion in the 2012 national spending budget, in accordance with the Christian Science Monitor. The maximum amount of the Pell might be reduced to just more than $4,000 per year, which is not enough to cover the cost of tuition at most four year universities. The cost of attending one year at a public, non-profit university is $16,140, in accordance with College Board.

Costs too much to go to college

The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is created and administered by College Board. It states that in the last 10 years, there has been an increase in public university enrollment by 33 percent. Since 2001, there has been a 6 percent increase in tuition at these public four-year universities which student have to pay. Larger personal financing are needed by students to pay for college. The cost will just keep going up.

Citations

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2011/0225/Washington-trims-Pell-Grants-How-will-students-pay-fall-tuition

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/42140407/ns/business-your_retirement/

College Board

trends.collegeboard.org/college_pricing/

Homeownership targeted by skeptics as lousy investment

2011-03-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

A hallmark of the "American Dream" is becoming a homeowner, among other things. A growing quantity of well qualified experts are starting to openly and notoriously challenge home ownership as an expense, as they assert it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny as a severe investment. There is some evidence that could support home-ownership skeptics' argument.

Housing market not the best place to invest money

There are numerous experts within the finance industry that are coming to seriously question the long-held assertion that owning a home is a good investment, according to USA Today. A book on home values from 1890 to 1990 was written by Case-Shiller Index co-founder and Yale economist Robert Shiller in 2000. After adjusting for inflation, Shiller found that home values had barely moved at all in terms of real value. Stocks on the Standard & Poor's index would get an 11 percent return typically while real estate only had a 6 percent return, according to former Federal Reserve economist Jack Francis. Not very many individuals are getting any profit out of their homes considering the change in real estate values in the past few years.

Prices and equity plunging

Home prices have gone down continuously since 2008. They haven't stopped this drop yet. Home sales and home prices both declined in Feb. 2011, in accordance with Reuters. During Feb. 2011, there was a four percent decrease in existing home prices while between Feb. 2010 and February 2011 there was a 5.2 percent decrease. A more disturbing, however less prominently disclosed statistic in the press is the amount of equity the average homeowner holds. As of Sept 2010, individuals had about 39.5 percent equity in their homes. This figure was shown in the “Flow of Funds Accounts of the United States” report the Federal Reserve recently released.

Need to try a new model

A home paying down as an investment depends on a lot of assumptions that can’t necessarily be taken for granted. A home could be sold for retirement money. This is assuming the 15 or 30 year fixed rate mortgage has been paid off previously. Most families move too often to accomplish that though. It is nearly impossible to do. Sometimes a home will sell for more than it cost to purchase. It can be a nullified profit though. The costs to get the home and sell it also add up. This will contain closing costs, real estate agent fees, property taxes and even home repairs. A mortgage loan lender can easily foreclose or reposes a home too if somebody defaults on their mortgage. When investing in stocks, bonds and mutual funds, they could be kept for as long as necessary.

Citations

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2011-03-20-home-ownership.htm

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/03/21/us-usa-economy-housing-idUSTRE72F3XG20110321

Federal Reserve

federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/Current/z1r-5.pdf

Federal Reserve

federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/current/default.htm

Maryland attempts to overturn native immunity in payday lending case

2011-03-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

In the U.S., state laws exist that regulate the business of personal unsecured loan corporations. Due to sovereign immunity, Native American lenders have been an exception. Such has been the case with Western Sky Financial, and the state of Maryland is challenging its claimed tribal immunity, states the Center for Public Integrity. Source of article – Maryland challenges sovereign immunity in tribal lending case by MoneyBlogNewz.

State laws do not apply to Western Sky

Owner of Western Sky Financial, Martin Webb, has the very same opinion. He claims the company is saved by its short term loans activity amongst Native American tribes from laws in the state. When trying to make a stricter unsecured loan rule in Maryland, the state is arguing this statement in court. Maryland claims Native American lenders use tribal immunity to skirt existing laws and offer short term loans to customers nationwide. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will make the decision which will change payday lenders that are native.

Possible laws being broken in Maryland by Western Sky in claims

Anne Norton is the Maryland deputy commissioner for financial regulation. She said that every little thing is black and white in the Western Sky Financial issue:

"I don't think there's a lot of gray area in terms of what is or is not permitted," Norton said. "Under our reading of both how tribal immunity is interpreted and how it's been applied by the Supreme Court, we feel that these are loans that violate Maryland law."

There can be a 33 percent APR cap on an unpaid balance with Maryland law. Right now, Maryland short term personal loan regulation does not apply to Western Sky Financial as it has, rather than a Maryland license, sovereign immunity as it is part of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe operating out of South Dakota and online. Rules for cash advance APR caps are varied from state to state. Nevertheless, Maryland's cap is three times smaller than most of these.

Indian Commerce Clause and legal precedence

With the Indian Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Webb's attorney states that the relationships between those in the tribe and outside of the tribe are regulated by tribes. As Webb claims membership in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, he believes his business should not have to recognize non-tribal payday lending laws.

While Maryland does recognize the sovereign immunity of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Norton argues that Western Sky Financial isn’t an arm of the tribe, and hence should not be protected.

What the court decides will be a mystery. Nobody knows what will happen yet. Legal experts expect Western Sky Financial to continue being protected since there have been far too several instances where the courts have ruled in favor of native tribes, such as the instance with Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa casino lending that the Wall Street Journal reported.

Articles cited

Public Integrity

publicintegrity.org/blog/entry/3052/

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703565804575238621598513454.html

Western Sky Financial

westernsky.com/

Western Sky Financial: No collateral required

youtube.com/watch?v=183C9NM4XMg

Consumers borrowing more cash however not from credit cards

2011-03-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

Credit cards are getting used less frequently by Americans, who are turning more towards personal loans and similar sources of credit. The January report on consumer borrowing was recently released by the Federal Reserve, and the data indicated that non-revolving sources of credit were utilized most as borrowing increased by several billion dollars. The report also covered use of charge cards. People are paying down their credit card debt in droves.

Larger amounts of debt with consumer borrowing

Americans are borrowing cash from lenders again, and it’s reflected in the recently released report by the Federal Reserve detailing economic activity from Jan. of 2011, according to Business Week. The January debt increase came from sources such as auto loans and personal loans that are non-revolving credit sources. The revolving lines such as credit cards were not the reason for this. Loan providers are in their fourth straight month of getting more companies while non-revolving debt increased by $9.26 billion. There was a $5 billion estimated increase in total consumer debts though. For the sixth straight month, auto lending went up. This is what led experts to believe the increase came from auto sales, states MSNBC.

Credit card use declines

The amount of debt that Americans hold on charge cards has gone down $4.25 billion. This decrease in credit card use has been going down for a while. Charge card debt has fallen in 28 of the past 29 months, however it increased in December 2010 for the first time since December 2008. A 7.45 percent decrease in credit card charge-offs for Jan was reported. A charge-off is when a charge card business writes off debt. The last five months in a row showed delinquencies and charge offs declining. Consumers are paying off charge cards faster than ever. Even the December buying trips for Christmas have been paid off pretty easily. There have been increases in charge card interest rates noted. Banks and companies haven't been able to add fees and change interest whenever they want causing them to have high rates of interest and fees to begin with.

More debt taken out by students

Part of the boost in non-revolving debts for the month of Jan 2011 was a $24.9 billion increase in student loans from the federal government. More than likely, the federal budget cuts will take away what is available meaning students can have to start using private loan providers rather than the government soon. The Christian Science Monitor reports that starting next year, the Pell Grant program is anticipated to have a $20 billion deficit. The House of Representatives most recent federal budget plan would cut $5 billion from the Pell Grant program. When it comes to investments, most people still consider college educations one of probably the most important. Still, college costs have gone up a ton in past years.

Articles cited

Business Week

businessweek.com/news/2011-03-07/consumer-credit-in-u-s-increased-5-01-billion-in-january.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41954342/ns/business-consumer_news/

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2011/0225/Washington-trims-Pell-Grants-How-will-students-pay-fall-tuition

As TARP finishes, thoughts combined about results of program

2011-03-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

The Troubled Asset Relief Program lived up to expectations, according to the director of the government bailout. Massad, appointed by the Treasury Department to direct Troubled Asset Relief Program, testified before the programs Congressional Oversight Panel Friday. He said TARP allowed the United States to avoid economic collapse at a cost much less than initially projected. However critics on the panel said Troubled Asset Relief Program helped Wall Street, not Main Street and in terms of economic recovery the plan was a failure.

The Treasury's opinion on the success of TARP

The TARP ended March 4 after spending about $411 billion to bail out Wall Street banks, the United States auto industry and homeowners at risk of foreclosure. The Treasury Department's Office of Financial Stability's assistant secretary, Timothy Massad, explained that Troubled Asset Relief Program helped get the economy in the United States out of a possible depression when there was nothing else to do so when talking to the Congressional Oversight Panel for Troubled Asset Relief Program. Troubled Asset Relief Program had a budget of $700 billion. This was authorized in October 2008 by Congress. Ultimately, $475 billion can be spent on it. The cost projection taxpayers were given for Troubled Asset Relief Program was $341 billion. About $25 billion could be all that is spent on it though. Big Wall Street banks, for instance Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and B of A, have paid back their bailout money. About $277 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program money was already p! aid back to the government.

Others worry about failure of TARP

The TARP-funded Home Affordable Modification Program was pointed out by the Congressional Oversight Panel as a program that did not work at all. This was what was used to prove that Wall Street, not The United States, benefited from the TARP program. The administration said 2 years ago that HAMP would help many Americans. About 4 million homeowners facing foreclosure would be helped through the plan. However, only about 600,000 homeowners have received loan modifications to date. House Republicans are attempting to get rid of the HAMP plan since the oversight panel said less than 800,000 foreclosures would be helped through the program. Massad doesn't like this idea. He warned against it. Tens of thousands of homeowners would be without help in this dreary economy if the plan finishes.

Possibility of a moral hazard going on

Wall Street banks are "too large to fail," in accordance with TARP critics on the oversight panel. Knowing they will be bailed out in future crises will encourage Wall Street banks to continue taking unnecessary risks to maximize profits. TARP critics refused to acknowledge Massad’s claim that TARP was a success since the banking system has returned to the status quo, unemployment remains unacceptably high and the United States economy remains weak. Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Laureate on the oversight panel, said that in the ultimate objective of economic recovery, TARP was a “dismal failure.”.

Citations

Market Watch

marketwatch.com/story/treasury-tarp-ranks-among-best-crisis-responses-2011-03-04

ABC News

blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/03/treasury-official-praises-tarp-expresses-concern-for-housing-sector.html

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/03/04/usa-financial-bailout-idUSN0422157520110304?pageNumber=2

Internal Revenue Service increases the debt threshold that triggers a property tax lien

2011-03-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Procedures concerning property tax liens have been revamped by the Internal Revenue Service to go a little easier on taxpayers. The Internal Revenue Service has increased the amount of back taxes owed that will initiate a lien, as well as the amount owed to qualify for compromise offers. Credit reports for delinquent working class individuals may also be less negatively affected by an Internal Revenue Service policy to withdraw, rather than release tax liens when the bill is paid.

IRS calls off the dogs (sort of)

When Americans have an unpaid tax debt, the Internal Revenue Service issues a lien which establishes a legal claim to the delinquent taxpayer’s property. An IRS tax lien gives the agency priority over a taxpayer’s other creditors. There are brand new IRS rules on tax lien thresholds right now. It was raised from $5,000 to $10,000. If installment payments through a financial institution account are made for back taxes less than $25,000, the IRS can be willing to take a tax lien off. A withdrawn lien could be taken off of the credit history instead of releasing it. In the past, liens were "released" instead. This did not take it off of credit reports though.

There are more changes

Less than the full amount of back taxes is owed by a taxpayer when an offer-in-compromise agreement is made. More taxpayers qualify for this with brand new tax collection changes the Internal Revenue Service has put into place. Individuals and small businesses have elevated the offer-in-compromise agreement qualification debt from $25,000 to $50,000. The offer-in-compromise agreements have had a raise in the annual limit income too. It went up to $100,000 from $50,000. The agency will even start making the effort to speak with working class individuals applying for a compromise, rather than frustrating them with confusing letters in the mail. Automobile payments could be made instead with the Internal Revenue Service now too.

Getting help from the National Taxpayer Advocate

National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson is probably the reason for the IRS tax lien changes. Individuals attempting to pay debts are hurt by the Internal Revenue Service. This is what Olson argued. America's bad economy has lead to more lien filings. There was a 14 percent increase last year alone. In 1999, tax liens were much lower. There has been a 550 percent increase ever since then. Liens are filed by the Internal Revenue Service automatically. This is when a taxpayer's ability to pay debts is unclear and they reach the limit. The Internal Revenue Service also lacks evidence that tax liens are worth the cost of enforcing them.

Citations

Market Watch

marketwatch.com/story/irs-eases-up-on-people-who-cant-pay-tax-bill-2011-02-24

CBS Money Watch

moneywatch.bnet.com/investing/blog/make-money/stop-the-irs-from-destroying-your-credit-4-moves/870/

Journal of Accountancy

journalofaccountancy.com/Web/20113894.htm

United States embassy closes in Tripoli as sanctions loom in opposition to Libya

2011-03-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

Escalating violence has forced the U.S. Embassy in Libya to close. Demonstrators have only been galvanized by the harsh reaction from the regime of Moammar Gadhafi, as more people are calling for his regime to abdicate after four decades at the helm of the country. The international community is calling for his resignation as well, if not full prosecution for war crimes. Sanctions are being implemented against Libya.

Mayhem in Tripoli during Gadhafi's rule

It has been really hard to handle Libya for dictator Moammar Gadhafi that everyone wants to leave. In fact, the battleground for handle of the country is taking place in Tripoli. Crowds of demonstrators have been terminated upon, but have remained resilient in the face of mortal danger from African mercenaries and members of the Libyan army nevertheless loyal to Gadhafi. Reuters states that the United States State Department has stopped any American Embassy operations due to the Libyan instability and has used a chartered ferry to move embassy members out of Tripoli. Currently, the embassy is open nevertheless. Staff could be evacuated soon though.

Chance of sanctions against Libya

In response to Moammer Gadhafi tactics that have hurt several while attempting to keep control of his country that he has been in handle of for decades, the White House is thinking about putting economic sanctions against Libya up. CNN reports the U.S. already cut off all military cooperation with Libya while President Obama and the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon can have a meeting soon to discuss the sanctions. Because of being too soft on the Libya situation, Obama has already been criticized.

Calling for Gadhafi to quit

The New York Times reports that International leaders have been asking that Colonel Gadhafi quit. President of France Nicolas Sarkozy said that Gadhafi needs to resign while "the world will hold you to account" was what British Prime Minister David Cameron had to say. Gadhafi will not leave while he is nevertheless alive though as he has vowed he will "die a martyr".

Articles cited

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/02/25/us-libya-usa-idUSTRE71K6D520110225?pageNumber=1

CNN

cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/25/libya.us.reaction/

NY Times

nytimes.com/2011/02/26/world/middleeast/26diplomacy.html

January report states that American consumers are spending less

2011-03-05T12:24:00.000-08:00

Every month, the federal government produces a report on consumer saving and investing rates. Economists and the government often take these numbers very seriously. They’re seen as the best indicator for how the economy is chugging along. Some lawmakers are calling the spending report a poll on how Americans feel about the payroll tax cut. Post resource – Consumer spending report shows improved savings rate by MoneyBlogNewz.

Surprises in personal earnings

There’s a monthly report on personal revenue and investing that came out from the United States Commerce Department. A few surprises were in there. Personal income increased overall. It increased to $133.2 billion which is a 1 percent increase. Investing power in the U.S. increased a lot. There was a $428 increase per person. The Increased costs of fuel, food and housing meant that there was a very low disposable income increase though. It was less than a 0.7 percent increase. A 0.4 percent increase was what other figures said the disposable earnings are. This is the "real" disposable earnings, these figures say.

Rate of personal spending increases

In Jan, personal income and personal spending did both go up. They were at different rates though. The United States consumer spending barely went up. There was a 0.2 percent increase total. Other personal earnings increases were saved. About $677.1 billion was saved by Americans. This was in January 2011 total. This puts the personal savings rate at more than the increase in personal earnings. Customers are taking better care of their money as shown with the higher savings rate. The decreased tax burden doesn’t necessarily translate to spending, as the taxes are showing up in small amounts in paydays, instead of as a lump-sum payment.

The figures mean what?

Most economists predict the future based off reports. The saving and spending rates are integrated in this. Rarely are the estimations of monthly earnings, savings and investing economists offer entirely correct. It is important to note how Americans are changing. The average American has a different attitude towards spending. Americans spent more money than they were making for years before the economic collapse. Since less money is going to the economy with the increased savings rate, the economy will really not recover as easily. With individuals needing less credit and avoiding high-risk financial goods, it’s really good for long term recovery to have a higher savings rate. This reduced demand means the U.S. financial system could develop a more stable base and weather future downturns more very easily.

Citations

CNN

money.cnn.com/2011/02/28/news/economy/personal_income_spending/index.htm

Census

census.gov/main/www/popclock.html

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-28/u-s-january-personal-income-and-spending-text-.html

United States sustains collective bargaining, states surveys

2011-03-04T23:24:00.000-08:00

A recent New York Times/CBS News poll indicates a majority of individuals in the United States support the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions. The exact same vast majority tended to fall on the side of not cutting public employee pay to shrink deficit gaps. The countrywide poll surveyed 984 adults, the majority of whom did not have a union member in the household.

Collective bargaining something Americans appear to want

Numerous Democrats from the Wisconsin Senate recently ducked a vote that could demolish collective bargaining, and the majority of U.S. residents who participated in the New York Times/CBS News telephone poll supported collective bargaining. When it came to support of labor unions though, only a third of the 284 polled supported them. In fact, the unions were opposed by a quarter of them. Every person else hadn't decided yet.

There was a lot of support for public employee unions though. The "extreme" deficit recovery things that Republican governors try to do such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and OH Gov. John Kasich were what 2 to one poll participants objected too. Democrats and Independents outnumbered the slim most of Republicans who favored the loss of some collective bargaining rights, and as a result, poll results were 56 percent against and 37 percent for public employee pay cuts.

Overpayment of public workers

Many of the governors are worried about public employees getting too greedy. The health insurance and pension plans are probably too big while employees are overpaid. About 61 percent of responders to the poll suggested that pay was "about right" or "too low" for public employees though. In the response, the idea of whether firefighters, teachers and others should get government benefits was divided. This involves things such as pension collection and early retirement.

It's just ‘A job that needs to be done’

Retired 67-year-old Democratic poll respondent Phil Merritt of Crossville, Tenn., told the New York Times that collective bargaining is essential for U.S. families.

"I feel they do a job that needs to be done. If you work hard, you should be able to have a home, save for retirement and send your kids to college," Merritt said. "Most public employees have to struggle to do those things, and generally both spouses must work."

The Republicans viewpoint on the situation

Republican Warren Lemma, 56, who works in Longview, TX as an electrical contractor supported the collective bargaining rights going away. The money to pay these benefits isn't around right now.

"Retirement benefits shouldn’t be taken from those near retirement, but the system should be changed for workers just starting out," Lemma said. "The only way the system will change is to do something about union control, and the only way to do that is to remove collective bargaining."

Outcomes from USA Today and Gallup Poll are pretty comparable

This opinion on collective bargaining rights was shown again in another poll. This was a USA Today/Gallup Poll that was done. The anti-collective bargaining law was opposed by 61 percent of respondents while 33 percent were for it. Figuring out how to solve the problem was something nobody could decide on, between tax hikes and government spending cuts, even though 2 thirds said a spending budget issue needs to get fixed.

Articles cited

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/03/01/us/01poll.html?_r=1&hp

The Caucus NYT blog

thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/fewer-voters-from-union-households-in-2010/

USA Today

usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-22-poll-public-unions-wisconsin_N.htm

Fascism and its effect on collective bargaining rights

youtube.com/watch?v=7gILmhwwbTg

New minority to be eligible for a new scholarship

2011-03-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

”Non-Hispanic white” individuals, according to the Census, will soon be the minority in the United States. Scholarships for this brand new minority are already being offered. The Former Majority Association for Equality gathered together a nonprofit status last year to address this need. The scholarship is offered for a relatively large subset of individuals. A 3.0 GPA and one-quarter Caucasian lineage is needed. Source for this article – Texas white men scholarship offers $500 to Caucasian students by MoneyBlogNewz.

Beginnings of the Former Majority Association for Equality

The Former Majority Association was started by TX State University student Colby Bohannon. Bohannon tried to find ways to fund his education after coming back from Iraq and going to school. He noticed that women and those who were not White were given probably the most scholarships. He started the association for this very reason.

The scholarship in TX for $500

Any person with a 3.0 grade point average who’s at least 25 percent non-Hispanic can get a FMAE scholarship. A statement was made on the FMAE site. It claims the group “has no political aspirations, financial agenda or radical social philosophies whatsoever.” The group wanted to make the distribution of scholarships more even. This incorporated getting white men scholarships. Schools accept the $500 white males scholarship easily. It’s just like any.

Face of America changes

Since the United States doesn't have a white men majority anymore currently, the FMAE scholarship was offered, just like other "white males scholarships" that have been offered. About 48.6 percent of United States births are non-white while women are about 55 percent of the population, the recent Census stated. Some say that these changing statistics mean that scholarships based on race or gender should be eliminated entirely; others argue the factors should be adjusted to match current statistics.

Articles cited

Census

census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-544.pdf

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704312104575298512006681060.html

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-texas-scholarships-idUSTRE71P25M20110226

FMAFE

fmafe.org/About_F.M.A.html

Charlie Sheen illuminates Today Show, GMA with Adonis grandeur

2011-03-03T10:44:00.000-08:00

Sheen informed "The Today Show" audience that he has power over addiction that mere mortals don’t possess, states the National Post. Like an otherworldly Adonis (seen states to have the Greek figure’s DNA inside), Sheen has the alleged god-like power to kick any addiction and climb any mountain. Post resource – Charlie Sheen lights up Today Show, GMA with Adonis grandeur by MoneyBlogNewz.

Good Morning Charlie Sheen on ‘Good Morning America’

Charlie Sheen says he is an Adonis meaning he can manage trials better than anybody else even though the narcotic abuse, 9-11 conspiracies, prostitutes, brawls, canyon cars and no employment are all things that would really get a person down. On "Good Morning America," he claimed to be on a drug:

"It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available. If you try it once, you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

Sheen on ‘Alex Jones’

On the Alex Jones radio show, Sheen said that he can manage anything until he power naps "like an F-18" due to the Adonis DNA he has. In accordance with CBS, "Two and a Half Men" is stuck in deep sleep because on “The Jones Show” Charlie Sheen chucked what some consider an anti-Semitic remark at Chuck Lorre, the creator, writer and executive producer of the show. Sheen says he cares about the production crew that depends upon the money from "Two and a Half Men," however they’re out of work too, as production has been scrapped.

Sheen thinks AA is not for him

Sheen, the male who told Alex Jones he is a "rock star from Mars," has no use for AA and drug rehab, in accordance with the New York Times. He told "Today" that it was simply a matter of "unlearning 22 years of fiction," which flies in the face of conventional wisdom espoused by addictive medicine specialists like Dr. Drew Pinsky, who has said on numerous occasions that Sheen is in severe denial.

Sheen told the "Today Show" audience that he can pass any drug test because he has "poetry at his fingertips.". On relapsing, he said:

"I just don't do it. (That’s) written for normal people who don't have tiger blood and Adonis DNA."

Articles cited

National Post

arts.nationalpost.com/2011/02/28/the-best-quotes-from-charlie-sheens-today-show-abc-appearances/

New York Times

mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/charlie-sheen-says-hell-sue-cbs/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adonis

Charlie Sheen on ‘The Alex Jones Show’ for the conspiracy-minded

youtube.com/watch?v=QGdshc0AtOE

Robert Kennedy assassination isn't recollected by Sirhan Sirhan

2011-03-02T21:04:00.000-08:00

Sirhan Sirhan was found guilty over forty years ago of murdering Robert F. Kennedy. Sirhan has no recollection of killing Kennedy whatsoever. Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant was wrestled to the ground brandishing a revolver which he had fired until it was empty. The attorney representing Sirhan claims that Sirhan was the victim of an elaborate brainwashing plot which compelled him to kill Kennedy. Post resource – Sirhan Sirhan claims to not remember Robert Kennedy shooting by MoneyBlogNewz.

There was brainwashing in Sirhan's case, according to lawyer

MSNBC states the attorney of Sirhan Sirhan plans to argue that, there was brainwashing done to Sirhan leading to him murdering Robert F. Kennedy, at a parole listening to. In 1968, Sirhan got found guilty of shooting Kennedy. Kennedy was known as the Lawyer General to the JFK administration while also being the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy. The brainwashing scheme that occurred was something that Sirhan's attorney, William F. Pepper, compared to the film "The Manchurian Candidate." This was about a man that assassinates a politician after being brainwashed. Pepper maintains that the conditioning Sirhan received resulted in Sirhan shooting Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in LA in June of 1968.

Recollection of Kennedy shooting disappeared

Shooting Robert Kennedy was not something Sirhan could remember. This is something he has claimed. The Daily Mail reports that while referencing the Six Days War of 1967 which Kennedy supported Israel in, Sirhan said that he did the criminal offense "for my country" "with 20 years of malice aforethought" in his trial. Initially, he got sentenced to death. It didn't take place though since the death penalty was opposed by the Kennedy family. Life in prison became his sentence after the Furman vs. GA Supreme Court case. The case made it so that, from 1972 to 1976, the death penalty was not legal in the nation.

Asking for parole not occurring

There hasn't been a lot of effort on Sirhan Sirhan's part to get out of jail. He hasn't pursued parole strongly. He rarely attends hearings, mostly sending an attorney, and he has dropped to send counsel on several occasions. It isn't likely that he will be released considering he has been unwilling to show up to the scene to prove his innocence. Hotel staff got Sirhan to the ground while he was still firing the gun along with Kennedy supporters for instance journalist George Plimpton and Olympic athlete Rafer Johnson.

Citations

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41822218/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts

Daily Mail

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1361455/Robert-Kennedy-assassin-Sirhan-Bishara-claims-I-brainwashed-freedom-bid.html

Financial institution earnings drop as new laws for credit cards start working

2011-02-25T16:44:00.000-08:00

Regulation which took effect past year altered how interest rates and fees on charge cards could possibly be changed by the card company. The new laws require more disclosure for card holders, which lenders aren’t thrilled about. Guerrilla style fees and interest rate raises are actually decreasing as a result. Because of the lost revenue, Bank of America and many businesses are losing value from charge card units.

Bank of America realizes loss from charge card unit

The bank's charge card unit for B of A had a financial statement come out about it. Bloomberg reports that this can be changed now. The FIA Card services were worth $20.3 billion less in 2008 than it was in 2009. Bank of America announced this change for late 2009 from $10.4 billion to $20.3 billion. In other words, the business adjusted previous filings to reflect a greater loss of value than previously thought. An adjustment of "goodwill" value or the value of an asset above industry value is what the write down is rather than a cash loss. There were excused made by the financial institution as to why the $10 billion drop in worth for 2009 had to be made. It was because of "deteriorating credit quality" and regulatory conditions.

It was because of the CARD Act

Several loan providers for charge cards are having issues like Bank of America. The new regulations are to blame including the Charge card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act, or the CARD Act. It is posited the act means less access to advance cash for further lending, though this means the law is working. CNN reports that fewer people have been getting late fees and sudden interest rate changes due to the CARD Act.

New card law a smashing success

There have been perfect results because of the CARD Act. Before the CARD Act, 15 percent of cardholders had interest rates elevated to them. Now it is only at 2 percent. Before the Act started in Feb. 2010, about $901 million was paid in late fees while it dropped by November 2010 to $427 million. The CARD Act is making it harder for corporations to take more money than necessary, which means the Act is working.

Information from

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-21/bofa-almost-doubles-credit-card-unit-writedown-to-20-3-billion.html

CNN

money.cnn.com/2011/02/22/news/economy/credit_card_act/?cnn=yes

Anonymous entrepreneur purchases sex.com

2011-02-25T15:44:00.000-08:00

A new Guinness World Record has been declared. This is a record for how much money has been spent. Probably the most expensive domain ever purchased – sex.com – has been entered into the record books. The owner of the website, however, has said he "does not have immediate plans for commercialization.”

Record set on Guinness for most costly domain

Guinness World Records certified today that sex.com is “the most expensive internet address website name.” Sedo is a domain-broker business that sells high-value domain names. It was the one that sold the domain. In the last few years, pizza.com, Vodka.com and Russia.com all sold for seven figure numbers. Even though the dot come domains are very popular, the new domains are really valued high too for instance .xxx. A record was set when sex.com sold in Jan of this year. $13 million was paid for it.

Getting sex.com impulsively

An interview was given by the new owner to TechCrunch even though he plans on remaining private. Right now, sex.com redirects to an advertising site with no content of its own. The owner has a team "working on possibilities" to commercialize the site. There are "no immediate plans" for it right now though. The last owner of sex.com was Escom, LLC, which went bankrupt since the site wasn't commercialized well. Reports are the 125,000 visitors a day bring in “seven figures a year.”.

Possibilities for commercializing sex.com

Seven figures are brought in by probably the most expensive domain in the world. Nevertheless, advertising other ways is currently being considered. Sex.com might eventually become a pharmaceutical website, technology site or the obvious — an adult site. Sex.com may be a publicly offered company if the goals of the owner can be met. Having a business model focused on adult content wouldn’t prevent sex.com from creating a public company. As adult industry businesses, Playboy and New Frontier Media are publicly traded.

Citations

Forbes

forbes.com/2001/05/25/0524porn.html

Tech Crunch

techcrunch.com/2011/01/04/so-you-just-bought-sex-com-for-13-million-now-what/

Plastic heart beats for 3 days and nights, kicks off trend

2011-02-17T23:24:00.000-08:00

You will find an incredible number of products in vaults at the Smithsonian. Many individuals do not get a chance to see most of those. The Smithsonian Institution releases photos of many of their warehoused items. On Valentine’s Day, the Smithsonian unveiled a photo of the first plastic heart. That first synthetic heart beat for 3 full days. This kind of medical engineering undoubtedly took a huge personal loan to create. Source of article – Plastic heart beats for three days, kicks off revolution by MoneyBlogNewz.

Start of plastic heart

The first plastic heart ever to be implanted in a human being was installed in 1969. Dr. Domingo Liotta evolved the plastic heart although Dr. Denton A. Cooley implanted it. Without authorization, the plastic heart was taken out of Dr. Liotta's lab by Dr. Cooley and implanted. There were three days and nights of the plastic heart beating in the patient. Then, a human transplant heart was found to be put in. Despite the human heart, the patient died, but the plastic heart kicked off a plastic heart revolution. The Smithsonian Institution has the plastic heart now. On St. Valentine's Day, it unveiled pictures of the heart.

Modifications in plastic heart development

In 1969, the first "plastic" heart got implanted. The FDA didn't approve it until 2004 though. In 1982, the Jarvick-7 was the first plastic heart transplant that would beat for a long time. A human heart is still used for permanent transplant although a plastic heart can be used as a temporary replacement after being approved in 2004. The AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart was approved by the FDA in 2006. This allowed a permanent plastic heart transplant. A 13-pound machine in a backpack is needed in order to keep a plastic heart going. Each year, it is maintained on $18,000.

How likely is a self-contained heart to occur?

The dream of a plastic heart that started in 1969 has nevertheless not come to full fruition. Though plastic hearts that keep an individual alive are now accessible, they require maintenance and heavy equipment to be kept very close. Between the three-day plastic heart and the 13 pound backpack heart, there were 30 years. That means that it may be decades before a self-contained heart is created even though researchers are working on it.

Citations

News Desk

newsdesk.si.edu/snapshot/liotta-cooley-artificial-heart

New York Times

nytimes.com/2007/11/27/health/27docs.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=denton%20cooley&st=cse

American Heart Association

americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4444

B of A to stop providing reverse home loans

2011-02-11T01:24:00.000-08:00

As of Feb. 8, 2011, Bank of America is pulling itself out of one financial sector. Reverse home loans will no longer be serviced by the bank. In the last few years, reverse mortgages have not proved nearly as profitable. A very large number of reverse home loans are ending up in the equivalent of default.

Reverse home loans at B of A

Reverse home loans were provided by B of A starting in 2006. Reverse Mortgage America was bought in 2007 by Bank of America. Bank of America took over all home loans and reverse mortgages in Reno, Nevada, and many other places in the nation with from Countrywide Financial Corporation. This was after Bank of America bought the company in 2008. All reverse mortgage operations could be shut down in Bank of America as of early 2011. That means other divisions of the financial institution will prepare to receive the 600 employees. You will find several applying for reverse home loans or holding them currently. All these people will be serviced by B of A still.

Less interest in a reverse home loan business

Reverse home loans — in which homeowners sell their home back to the financial institution over time — have dropped in popularity. In 2009, over a third of new reverse mortgages written were dropped, while in 2010 it dropped again. The number of homeowners who are technically in default on their reverse mortgages is also increasing. A reverse mortgage default is more difficult to parse, because going into “default” means not paying taxes on the property or keeping it maintained. Many seniors are facing the choice of applying for no fax payday loans to keep their home maintained or lose their main source of secondary income.

The benefit of reverse home loans

Reverse mortgages are currently losing popularity. Many senior citizens are outliving their reverse home loans, or defaulting from lack of maintenance on the home. Getting equity out of a home is very important to some that like reverse home loans. They don't have to try to sell it either. It could be a good idea to get reverse home loans at times. However, they are used inappropriately much of the time.

Citations

Miami Herald

miamiherald.com/2011/02/03/2048507/reverse-mortgages-going-to-default.html

Nasdaq

community.nasdaq.com/News/2011-02/bofa-getting-out-of-reverse-mortgages.aspx?storyid=56592

More people viewed Super Bowl XLV than any other Television program

2011-02-11T00:04:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl XLV sent the Nielsen ratings tumblers spinning out of control. At one hundred and eleven million viewers, the Packers-Steelers Super Bowl shattered the all-time Nielsen record set by last year’s Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers’ win trumped the 106.5 million viewers for last year’s Super Bowl, and it even trounced the 1983 season finale of "M*A*S*H," which drew 106 million Television viewers. Article source – Super Bowl XLV boasts record 111 million viewers by Newsytype.com.

Number of individuals tuned to the Super Bowl

There were 162.9 million people that watched the Super bowl XLV according to some media. However, that number doesn’t represent the actual number of viewers; it’s a "reach" number that relates to advertisers. The people in that count viewed less than six minutes of the game. It wasn't the whole game watched. The 111 million figures are for viewers who stuck around longer, even through the performance of the Black Eyed Peas during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Football and 'Glee' enthusiasts didn't cross over

After the game got over, most viewers tuned out. This was the case even though a new episode of "Glee" was playing. After the game got over, 84 million of the one hundred and eleven million got out, claims Nielsen Media Research. CBS had only 27 million viewers this year that stayed after the Super Bowl. This is relatively low considering when "Undercover Boss" played last year, there were 39 million viewers that stayed and watched.

For the top 2 Super Bowl programs in history, neither got close. A 1996 episode of "Friends" drew 53 million viewers, and the 2001 premiere episode of another "reality" show, "Survivor: The Australian Outback" got 45 million viewers.

Audience dies off in the East

Due to when "Glee" started, many feel like this affected the drop off after the Super Bowl. Because of the Super Bowl XLV post-game show, "Glee" started at 10:30 p.m. Eastern. One major reason why the drop off occurred could have been due to the Nielsen sector going to bed in the Easter time zone.

Articles cited

Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/TVblog/2011/02/glee-post-super-bowl-episode-a.html

Super Bowl XLV Doritos commercial

youtube.com/watch?v=qRMMBXx3kqk

Honoring sunlight on Imbolic, Candlemas, and Groundhog day

2011-02-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

Finding a reason to celebrate in February isn’t really tough. Feb. 2 is a day of celebration around the world. Some traditions mark Feb. 2 as Candlemas, Imbolic, or a day of purification. A lot of people mark early February as the day for a famous groundhog to make his visual appearance. It is getting close to the time to take out a payday cash advance and plan your spring escape. Resource for this article – How Candlemas and Imbolic became Punxsutawney Phil's Day by MoneyBlogNewz.

Earlier Candlemas

Half way between equinox and solstice is February 2 which is a "cross-quarter" day within the "wheel of the year" division of seasons. In agrarian society, this was the day to start preparing the soil for growing grain. Much of the plowing work was often done within the dark portion of the day, requiring candles. "Candle mass" was used to symbolize renewal, purification and the new year dawning.

World festivities of Candlemas

In some European countries, Candlemas is also known as “Imbolic.”. "Ol-melc" is the word it comes from which means ewe's milk. This was because after winter was over, sheep gave milk once again. In order to celebrate planting and harvest in the future, a goddess statue was washed and carried through the field. You will find also Jewish and Christian traditions to consider. The day is celebrated due to these. St. Brigid is the Christian patron saint of grain, and her day is often recognized by planting seeds and baking bread. Jewish Mary would have purified herself the same day as Candlemas/Imbolic also. This is because it is 40 days after the festivity of Jesus' birth. In short, it is a day of purification, planting and honoring of the coming growing season.

How Candlemas evolved into Groundhog Day

Humans would start, with animals too, to leave the house and work in the fields again during Imbolic or Candlemas. German settlers within the 18th century who celebrated Candlemas brought with them the tradition that if a hedgehog saw its shadow on Candlemas, there would be six more weeks of winter. February 2, 1887, was the first time that Punxsutawney Phil had to come out of his hole to predict the weather. Punxsutawney Phil is right about 39 percent of the time. February 2 is the day to appreciate light, warmth and springtime whether you commemorate Candlemas, Imbolic, St. Brigid's Day, Mary's purification or you just watch Punxsutawney Phil come out of his hole.

Information from

School of the Seasons

schooloftheseasons.com/candlemas.html

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/8298417/The-history-of-Groundhog-Day.html

Dieting doesn't reduce risk of illness unless you keep it off

2011-02-02T17:44:00.000-08:00

If you are considering losing pounds, you’ll probably hear this. Losing pounds reduces your chance of illness. A chance factor of disease is lots of money spent on diet programs. New studies have found that losing weight doesn’t necessarily reduce your illness risk. Don’t simply take out a payday cash advance and buy into these plans, do a little research first.

Just a few years needed to gain back diet weight

It’s a well-known fact that losing weight helps you be healthier. Risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and cancer all go down when weight is lost. Diet plans are often touted as a way to lose pounds and reduce this chance. Most people end up gaining the weight right back with diet plans. Almost everybody who followed a diet program and lost pounds put it back on in the next few years, according the Journal of Obesity.

This kind of dieting has bad effects

The tendency that many people have to re-gain pounds after losing it on diet plans is known as yo-yo going on a diet. Typically, more weight is gained than is lost by someone who uses several different diet programs. That means they are even more at risk for health problems. Diet plans may not help you at all. They may increase the chance that you have. An even higher risk of health problems could effortlessly occur for the whole nation since over 73 percent of Americans are considered overweight or obese.

Diet packages that decrease illness risk

Most diet plans will not help you lose the pounds and maintain it. The only way to do it’s to stay away from "diet programs." Probably the most successful way to do it would be to change your lifestyle completely including diet, exercise and environment. Encouraging lifestyle changes takes a systematic approach, but it could be difficult, at best, to make happen. Some diet programs can actually increase illness chance by cutting out helpful nutrients or encouraging unhealthy eating — so lifestyle changes are the only healthy way to go.

Information from

Fox News

foxnews.com/health/2011/01/26/diet-programs-help-dodge-disease-risk/

Hedge fund director Paulson - Criminal or master?

2011-02-02T06:44:00.000-08:00

Paulson made enormous amounts of dollars betting against the United States housing market, receiving a cash loan each time a homeowner foreclosed. The real estate bubble burst and investment choices in United States financials have made John Paulson a rich man. He won’t be taking out a short term installment loan to cover his home mortgage anytime soon.

John Paulson and the Citigroup venture

John Paulson is anything that is wrong with Wall Street, according to many. Paulson has been considered a "guru" as he made $15 billion in 2007 simply betting against the U.S. real estate industry. Now, he is changing his mind on what to do. He bet the U.S. economy would soon rebound. This involved a series of investments in various indexes, as well as an "after the fall" outlay in favor of rebounding house prices and a bet on high gold prices. Paulson & Co. did really well this year with an investment in Citigroup. About $1 billion was earned by this. Citigroup had a 50 percent increase in price in the past year.

Currently, Paulson & Co. owns a ton of money in investments. About $35 billion is what the business is responsible for. Where most hedge funds eschewed the more volatile elements of the market last year, Reuters reports that Paulson and company took small financial lumps early in 2010, yet managed to swing things around into double-digit gains. The Paulson Advantage Plus Fund rose 17 percent for the year, while Paulson’s gold investments jumped 35 percent in 2010.

Why the 17 percent is getting noticed

The Globe and Mail might have a reasonable point concerning the scope of John Paulson’s success when it states that the Paulson Advantage Plus Fund’s 17 percent gain isn’t all that different than the 15 percent gain experienced by the S&P 500. This isn't necessarily true though. The 17 percent is still good. Even though John Paulson did invest "against-the-bubble" hurting the economy in order to make himself millions, the federal regulators did not do anything about this. The majority are upset about this though. They say it isn't an excuse to do what he did.

Information from

The Guardian

guardian.co.uk/books/2010/mar/07/the-greatest-trade-ever-by-gregory-zuckerman-review-heather-stewart

The Globe and Mail

theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/markets/markets-blog/paulsons-5-billion-haul-big-deal/article1886319/

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/01/25/us-hedgefunds-paulson-idUSTRE70O4G820110125

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_default_swap

John Paulson and Joe Stiglitz on the mispricing of risk

youtube.com/watch?v=l8G-b315B6E

Taco Bell false marketing suit says taco meat isn't beef

2011-01-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

The taco beef in some Taco Bell products is touted as beef, however a closer examination of its contents refutes that notion. Taco Bell promotes food items presented as containing ground beef. However beef makes up only 35 percent of the meat-like filling. Taco Bell has been targeted in a class action suit accusing it of false advertising after the substance it fills its tacos and burritos with was found to contain very little real beef. Maybe if they had taken out a good personal bank loan, they could have paid for real meat. Source for this article – Taco Bell class action suit says its taco meat is not really beef by MoneyBlogNewz.

What the Taco Bell class action lawsuit is

Claims made in Taco Bell marketing that its taco beef is "ground beef," or "seasoned ground beef" are hard to digest for a CA woman who wants to keep the "Mexican-inspired" food chain honest. The Taco Bell taco beef has a lot of additives and fillers in it from oatmeal to silica. She got a law firm to work for her after realizing this. Beasly, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles of Montgomery, Ala., filed a Taco Bell class-action suit in CA Jan. 21 on her behalf. The Taco Bell class action lawsuit claims that Taco Bell taco beef is really "filling" that are 65 percent extenders, preservatives and other chemicals.

Why Taco Bell Taco meat is not beef

The Taco Bell false marketing suit is situated on the official definition of ground beef determined by the United States Department of Agriculture. Fresh or frozen beef with no more than 30 percent fat with zero water, phosphates, binders or extenders is how the United States Department of Agriculture defines ground beef. In Taco Bell meat is potassium phosphate, sodium phosphate, "isolated oat product," silicon dioxide and water. The USDA definition of "taco filing" cannot even be met by Taco Bell taco beef. This is because 40 percent has to be fresh beef for that to be the case.

What you're really eating at Taco Bell

Taco Bell explains it is not marketing incorrectly while customers agree although the facts of the Taco Bell class action lawsuit are not denied. The money is the reason why the woman who did the lawsuit claims it is being done. The beef within the food at Taco Bell is not beef, she states. This means the company ought to stop advertising beef.

Citations

New York Daily News

nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/01/25/2011-01-25_taco_bell_is_using_false_advertising_when_it_calls_its_food_beef_according_to_la.html

Daily Tech

dailytech.com/Class+Action+Lawsuit+Has+a+Beef+with+Taco+Bells+Meat/article20743.htm

Taco Bell

tacobell.com/menuitem/Beefy-Crunch-Burrito

al.com

blog.al.com/montgomery/2011/01/taco_bell_responds_to_suit_mil.html

National Hug Day and Totally free Hugs Campaign create an ideal partnership

2011-01-25T02:24:00.000-08:00

A hug is sometimes all you need. It can make things better, without any strings attached. The joy that a hug can bring needs celebration. National Hug Day fulfills that exact need. Free hugs are meant as a random act of kindness. The legal system, though, has gotten engaged. National Hug Day will not require any payday loans to participate in, just give someone a hug. Article resource – National Hug Day, celebrates healing power of hugs by MoneyBlogNewz.

The beginnings of National Hug Day

In order to commemorate hugs, National Hug Day started in 1986 in the United States. The date of National Hug Day and the name “National Hug Day” was registered with the United States Trademark office. The man who registered National Hug Day as Jan 21 was Rev. Kevin Zaborney. He also registered National Whiner's Day as December 26. The United States, Canada, England, Australia, Germany and Poland all now commemorate National Hug Day.

What you should learn about National Hug Day

In order to celebrate, National Hug Day, you just do, just like National Whipped Cream Day and International Beer Day. There is a National Hug Day Group. The "most huggable people" are named from this group. The Chilean miners were named for 2011. Though not officially associated, National Hug Day is also a great day to check out the Totally free Hugs Campaign. In order to spread happiness as an act of kindness, the Totally free Hugs Strategy will just give hugs to strangers in public places.

There are several legal issues National Hug Day has to handle

There is some controversy to both National Hug Day and the Totally free Hugs Campaign. Australian resident Juan Mann started to give out free hugs. June 2004 was when this started. He became famous first for his Free Hugs Strategy, and then again when the city he was offering totally free hugs banned him for not carrying public liability insurance. The issue was eventually resolved, but it means that simply offering free hugs on National Hug Day, Jan. 21, could get you in trouble, unless you keep in mind that not everybody wants a hug, and also you ought to always offer, never force. All city regulations on what you are doing should be looked up first so you don't get in trouble with the law.

Information from

Free Hugs Campaign

freehugscampaign.org/

National Hugging Day

nationalhuggingday.com/

Supposed cold fusion reactor demonstrated by Italian scientists

2011-01-24T16:04:00.000-08:00

Cold fusion, the ultimate goal of physics, guarantees a practically unlimited supply of clean power. Cold fusion is an exotic method to create a nuclear reaction. It is considered extremely hard under the identified laws of physics. That makes no difference to Italian entrepreneurs who claim to have developed a cold fusion reactor for commercial use. No doubt they took out significant unsecured loans to make this occur.

Experiencing laws of physics line up with cold fusion

Cold fusion was first declared by a pair of physicists in 1989, however other physicists failed to replicate their results and cold fusion was dismissed as junk science. Italian researchers Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi were at the University of Bologna the Friday that past where they exhibited a cold fusion reactor even though cold fusion is nevertheless regarded as to be impossible. They explain that cold fusion gives the gadget power. They don't exactly know how it works though. There was a rejection when they applied for a patent. This is as the accepted laws of physics did not work with their theory. But they’re confident a commercial cold fusion reactor can be developed in as little as three months.

Nuclear fission versus cold fusion

There’s a lot of power the sun creates. This is with the nuclear fusion though. In order to make cold fusion, the atomic nuclei of nickel and hydrogen are fused with each other at room temperature, claims Rossi and Focardi. The reaction produces copper and a lot of power within the form of heat. Atomic reactors and nuclear weapons generate power via nuclear fission — which splits atoms to release power along with an excellent deal of radiation and toxic waste. Only 400 watts of power is needed to make 12,400 watts in accordance with the Italians that believe in cold fusion. They claimed a commercial version of their cold fusion reactor could produce eight times more power than it takes to operate. The cost of the cold fusion power would be relatively cheap. In fact, about 1 cent per kilowatt-hour would be charged. The average cost of coal generated power within the U.S. in 2004 was 7.62 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Shortly to see at a power plant

There was a paper on cold fusion that was written by Rossi and Focardi. The peer-reviewed journals refused to accept it though. They created their own online journal “The Journal of Nuclear Physics,” and published it themselves. They say operating their cold fusion reactor is as simple as flicking a switch and following the instructions. Their reactor would be refueled every six months by an authorized dealer. There has been interest shown. A Greek utility company has shown this.

Information from

Popsci.com

popsci.com/science/article/2011-01/italian-scientists-claim-dubious-cold-fusion-breakthrough

Physorg

physorg.com/news/2011-01-italian-scientists-cold-fusion-video.html

Coal Education

coaleducation.org/ky_coal_facts/electricity/average_cost.htm

Sarah Palin blood libel comments insensitive to shooting victims

2011-01-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

Palin went on Facebook Wednesday to equate links between her gun-toting political persona and the Arizona shooting as "blood libel." Blood libel is the latest add-on to a rising list of ignorant meanderings referred to as “Palinisms” that contain “refudiate” and “death panel.” Really, blood libel is an ancient anti-Semitic slander accusing Jews of murdering Christian children to get their blood for Passover ceremonies. Palin is going to need to take out a huge payday loan to buy her foot out of her mouth if she is not careful. Article source – Blood libel the latest Palinism that is nothing to laugh about by MoneyBlogNewz.

What you need to know on the Palin blood libel

There is a reason why Sarah Palin came out with her blood libel speech. It is because the map of U.S. congressional districts that has democrats marked with gun sight crosshairs on it posted to her Facebook has gotten a lot of criticism. Democrat Gabrielle Giffords who is in the hospital fighting for her life after getting shot in the head in Tucson January 9 is one of those on the map. In the eight minute speech, Palin mentioned "Congresswoman Giffords" who had a "beautiful moment" on the House floor reading the First Amendment last week while talking about herself the rest of the time. Last May Palin showed how much she knows about the First Amendment as she said that some negative coverage of a Republican congressional candidate in Idaho “a violation of the freedom of the press.”

How you should recognize blood libel

The term blood libel turned up in a Wall Street Journal op-ed by Glenn Reynolds Monday criticizing liberals for linking the Arizona shooting to statements Palin made, such as “Don’t retreat. Reload.”. The term blood libel can be traced in the past though. The real place blood libel comes from is the idea that many believed Jews wanted human blood to use for Passover. Supposedly Christian children were used to get this blood. A young boy would be kidnapped and executed after torture which is what blood libel states.

The irony associated with Palin's blood libel speech

Palin, the former Republican governor of Alaska who is now a right wing media pundit, chastised “media pundits” in her speech “who should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the hatred and violence they purport to condemn.” She would have known that her criticism of hatred and violence had a theme in there were Jews were actually prosecuted for it which she would have known if she weren't ignorant. Palin didn't realize that Rep. Giffords is Jewish apparently as she is very Christian.

Information from

CNN

politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/12/palin-says-efforts-to-lay-blame-reprehensible/?npt=NP1

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/18/sarah-palin-palinisms_n_685346.html#s127848&title=undefined

Business Insider

businessinsider.com/sarah-palin-accuses-media-of-blood-libel-but-apparently-doesnt-understand-the-term-2011-1

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel

What you should know about winter car myths

2011-01-14T18:24:00.000-08:00

Time will come when winter makes your roadway experience more challenging. That is why it’s important to know the truth on winter car myths. Don’t miss this advice on improving visibility, heating up your engine and keeping from sliding off the road and into a ditch of vehicular catastrophe. Source of article – Sort through winter car myths and warm up to winter driving by Car Deal Expert.

Traction in snow may not get better with sandbags

Popular Mechanics suggests that you consider what you drive before you assume that sandbags will help with snow traction. If you have a front-heavy, rear-wheel drive with discount tires, another 100 pounds can indeed help. It may actually be worse to have sandbags in the snow as they cause over-steering on icy roads something if you have a more modern vehicle that has all wheel drive or front-wheel drive.

Get the engine warm

You don't need to start an engine during the day to make sure it doesn't freeze if it has been sitting in the cold all night and you need it to run in the morning. If your car needs such babying, change the spark plugs to fix the real problem. You may end up just wasting gas and putting in more engine wear when you do the "warm up" starts like this that dilute the oil with unburned oil.

Hardest season for batteries isn't winter

Sometimes the oil has gummed up. Usually this just means that the engine can only turn over with more current from the battery. Thus, there’s more of a battery drain. Add the slower chemical reactions inside the battery because of the cold, and you have a double whammy. Winter isn't that bad on batteries though. Usually they need replacing in the summer. Intense heat can boil a battery dry, so keep up your winter and summer car maintenance.

Wiper fluid and windshield wiper trouble

Often in the winter the windshield wiper fluid nozzle will stop working. Many believe this is because it must be frozen. However, it’s the grunge hidden in that icy sludge that has gummed it up, in most cases. Clean the nozzles|The nozzles need to get cleaned|You can fix this easily. The nozzles should get cleaned}. And if your wiper fluid system isn’t retaining fluid, check for leaks around the plastic gasket where the hose attaches to the wiper fluid reservoir tank.

Run the defroster to stop the windshield wipers from causing streaking with ice on them. Rain-X is an example of a window treatment you could get. Also, new wiper blades help out.

Information from

Popular Mechanics

popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair/4301503

Winter tires and Dom DeLouise

youtube.com/watch?v=tNIJYlFgex0

Wage downturn has desperate U.S. workers backed into corner

2011-01-14T16:04:00.000-08:00

Making even a small amount of money is better than having no income at all. Yet those people who are discovering jobs after extended unemployment are finding that earnings losses are typical. Despite many years of experience, workers suffering through the latest wage downturn might never get back to where they were. Such is the "new normal" within the United States labor market. Regardless how numerous payday loans a lot of people take out they will never be able to live the lifestyle they had before the economic recession.

Sticky wages isn't happening this time

Historically, even during some of the highest times of unemployment in U.S. history, wage downturns have been slow. There is a term economist's use. "Sticky" wages are what these are called. The recession wages aren't sticky at all. Reports of educated, highly skilled workers who have been laid off, only to finally get a job that pays a fraction of what they made before – from several dollars less per hour down to something resembling minimum wage – are frighteningly common. The U.S. Department of Labor explains the numbers. About 36 percent of newly employed workers are making 20 percent or less than what they made before this job.

Losses like this in earnings aren't common by any means. The Great Depression and the 1981-82 recession are the only times that U.S. history has shown this to happen. The 1981-82 recession wasn't even as bad as has been shown right now with the wage downturn.

Unemployment and negative wage pressure

There is a huge competition for jobs right now which means businesses can pay new employers less which will continue through 2011 now that unemployment has been over 9 percent for over 20 months. Workers either have to return to college to renovate their skill sets or accept the low offer and fall into the negative wage pressure.

The benefit businesses have

While individual workers do not benefit directly from the wage downturn, Columbia University labor economist Till von Wachter argues that in theory, being able to pay lower wages makes companies more competitive by allowing them to hire more workers. The U.S. economic recovery would do better this way.

Articles cited

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304248704575574213897770830.html

In some countries, this is what low wage protests look like

youtube.com/watch?v=oKX7o5dXJEM

Solar panels from China banned in military spending bill

2011-01-13T23:24:00.000-08:00

No country within the world makes more solar panels than China. Solar panels are providing a benefit to the U.S. military in Afghanistan where traditional options for energy are not practical. The military spending bill signed into law Jan. 7 excludes solar power panels from China as an official visit to the U.S. by Hu Jintao, China’s president, is scheduled for next week. Applying for a payday loan to be energy efficient could pay off in China.

China’s clean energy racket

Solar panels may be a contentious issue in China/U.S. trade talks next week. The Beijing government subsidizes the Chinese solar panel manufacturers. In the $29 billion international market, this accounts for about half. China has been accused by members of Congress of breaking free trade rules that the World Trade Organization laid out while the U.S. is trying to keep china from leading in the clean energy industry. Solar panel buyers end up getting clean energy subsidies in the U.S. although solar panel manufacturers are subsidized by China. Chinese solar power manufacturers then double-dip, dumping most of their product in the U.S. to benefit from its government subsidies.

Letting the clean energy dispute take over the trade talks between the U.S. and China

Requiring the U.S. military to buy only American-made solar panels is bound to generate criticism from Chinese officials on the eve of Hu’s visit. There were many objections from China a few years ago when the 900 billion economic stimulus package passed. This was because a "buy American" provision was added for the construction materials such as steel that was bought by the government. The whole $600 billion economic stimulus package that China passed in 2009 had to be spent in its own country too. The Chinese clean energy subsidies are going to be in a case brought before the WTO by the Obama administration. The U.S. and European companies are at a competitive disadvantage supposedly because of illegal government subsidies that China has on solar and wind energy exports.

Buying a European solar energy company is China

It seems the U.S. is only interested in getting trade restrictions on solar panels put in place. China wants to be the top dog in the clean energy industries though. The China National BlueStar Corp. made a purchase recently though. The Norwegian solar panel manufacturer Elkem was bought for $2 billion by the company. China’s acquisition of Elkem gives it cutting edge solar energy technology made by a company entrenched in the European market.

Information from

New York Times

finance.yahoo.com/news/Pentagon-Must-Buy-American-nytimes-512023817.html?x=0&.v=1

UPI

upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/01/10/No-foreign-solar-panels-for-US-military/UPI-50331294678189/

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0111/Solar-panels-China-buys-Norwegian-unit

Republicans revel in reading of U.S. Constitution text

2011-01-12T20:44:00.000-08:00

To satisfy their Tea Party masters, House Republicans launched the 112th Congress with a reading of the United States Constitution text. As with all of political theater, the GOP-led sideshow was coupled with controversy and melodrama. Republicans chose to omit certain paragraphs of the United States Constitution text and also the recitation was marred by an anti-Obama agitator. Looks like someone could be needing payday loans to purchase their way out of trouble. Source for this article – U.S. Constitution text read on House floor to placate Tea Party by MoneyBlogNewz.

Many things from Tea Party seen

In the House, the U.S. Constitution was read as a Republican gesture to Tea Party activists. This was after the election for 2010 was handed to republicans due to the Tea Party efforts. It took an hour and a half to finish the reading. It was a symbolic gesture to emphasize a new Republican rule requiring that all proposed bills must cite the section of U.S. Constitution text that permits them to become law. Speaker of the House, R-Ohio's Rep. John Boehner read it. The words stated:

“We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Nobody wants the Three Fifths Clause in there

Partisan bickering over the U.S. Constitution text began before it was read. Any parts of the Constitution that had an amendment changing it needed to be deleted, if you ask Republicans. There was one section in particular argued. That "Three-Fifths Clause" was the section. The Three-Fifths Clause states slaves are only to be considered “three fifths of all other persons.”. Representative Jesse Jackson, D-Ill, gave his opinion. He said, “Many of us don’t want that to be lost upon reading of our sacred document.” Amendments can pass anything to change the Constitution such as the Three Fifths Clause change. This should remind all that the nation and Constitution change together.

'Help us Jesus!’ from woman

The final bipartisan gesture for the 112th Congress between Republicans and Democrats was likely the reading of the U.S. Constitution. The section that requires a person to be a "natural born citizen", read by Frank Pallone, D-N.J., was where things went wrong. In the audience, a woman yelled, “Except Obama, except Obama, help us Jesus!” The woman was taken away and arrested.

Information from

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-representatives-read-constitution-floor/story?id=12555114&page=2

Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/01/huck_finning_the_constitution.html

NPR

npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/01/06/132708560/birther-disrupts-u-s-house-constitution-reading

Multiple Mississippi banks took bailout money, says Fed

2011-01-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

The Federal Reserve has been criticized for its lack of transparency, so now the law is catching up. A recent record information which banks took bailout funds, and just how much, reports the Associated Press. In areas like Mississippi, where big money is more visible, banks took bailout money to the tune of numerous millions, as outlined by the Mississippi newspaper The Dispatch. Resource for this article – Multiple Mississippi banks took bailout money, says Fed by MoneyBlogNewz.

Lehman collapse causes more short term loans to come from the Fed

After Lehman Brothers disintegrated in Sept 2008, the Federal Reserve began issuing short term loans to banks at what can be called a manic pace. The financial system began seeing trillions of dollars pumped into it. Over 21,000 transactions throughout the nation were used to do that. Foreign central banks, financial corporations and banks all got United States taxpayer dollars. These taxpayers didn't even realize it. The stimulus dollars didn't end up making the credit market better with the short term loans from the Federal Reserve.

Handouts for the Mississippi banks

Many Mississippi banks were named by the Federal Reserve reports the AP. The largest bank in the state, Tupelo depending BancorpSouth, got eight short term loans, or Term Auction Facility (TAF) loans, between $50 million and $300 million from the Fed although it already had $13.6 billion in assets. A dozen short term loans between $50 million and $150 million were given to the Jackson, Miss., Trustmark National Bank that has $9.4 billion in assets. One $5 million short term loan from the Fed was given to the Senatobia, Miss., Sycamore Bank.

Don't be concerned as a Mississippi banker

Howard McMillian is the dean in Jackson Miss., of the Else School of Management at Millsaps College. He says that don't take your money from the bank out of concern. All of the short term loans in Mississippi were backed up with collateral and paid with full interest as outlined by the Federal Reserve.

“(The TAF program) was created to meet some short-term liquidity needs, and it had nothing to do with a shortage of capital reserve or anything like that,” said McMillan to the AP. “There’s really no cause for concern.”

Articles cited

CDispatch

cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=9164

Chinese stealth fighter sends global shockwaves

2011-01-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

China is on top of the world now, and it continues to create technological strides. The New York Times reports that sketchy data regarding a brand new Chinese stealth fighter has continued to stir the pot. The fifth generation stealth fighter aircraft labeled J-20 has some wondering about the stealth fighter Chinese standing — if it is ready to fly.

Getting the Chinese stealth fighter going

China's first radar evading stealth fighter jet, the J-20, is what the Chinese stealth fighter is. You will find different accounts that come from China and from international media. It’s believed the J-20 could be flight tested Thursday though after it was runway tested Wednesday on a China airbase. China’s state-run media states that this is all conjecture, however.

Designed Chinese fighter in photographs

The first J-20 article ran on Monday. Aviation Week & Space Technology ran the article. Mostly indistinct photographs showed what was allegedly the Chinese stealth fighter on the tarmac of an airfield near Chengdu. Similar photos have appeared on various blogs, dating back to mid-December, accounts the New York Times.

There was "authoritative" word that Kanwa Defense Weekly editor Andrei Chang got. She said that, if the weather allows, the Chinese stealth fighter J-20 will be making its first official flight. In order to get interest and more nationalism in China, there has been an intentional leak of the stealth fighter Chinese standing. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is going to have more to think about Sunday in his visit to Beijing. Chang says that is the real reason for the announcement.

"They want to show the U.S., show Mr. Gates, their muscle," said Chang.

Stealth fighter China at the rear of

Various international news reports state that the J-20 Chinese stealth fighter is "well behind" Russia’s T-50 stealth fighter jet and the U.S.-made F-22 and F-35, in both technological sophistication and ability to avoid radar. Experts who have analyzed the sketchy photographic evidence believe the J-20 could be capable of launching cruise missiles and be eligible for mid-air refueling. About 10 to 15 more years are needed by China to catch up with its stealth fighter. Russia and the United States are that far ahead.

Articles cited

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/01/06/world/asia/06china.html?_r=2

Patriotic unveiling of J-20 Chinese stealth fighter

youtube.com/watch?v=uOOHTthSo3E

Harmon Killebrew states he is battling esophageal cancer

2011-01-05T17:44:00.000-08:00

Baseball Hall of Famer Killebrew declared Thursday he has esophageal cancer. In accordance with the American Cancer Society, esophageal cancer is three to 4 times more likely to happen in males than women, and approximately 15,000 people die from the disease within the U.S. each year. This is something that Killebrew cannot use a pay day loan to fix, he just has to hope for the best with treatment that is accessible.

The effects esophageal cancer could have on ‘Killer’

There was a statement issued by 74 year old Harmon Killebrew on Thursday, reports Northwest Cable News. Apparently he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. While the survivability rate for esophageal cancer is better than some other forms of cancer, the former Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins slugger is preparing himself for a battle. The Mayo Clinic can be where he is treated. This is one of the most experienced, with esophageal cancer, medical centers in the world.

“While my condition is very serious,” said Killebrew in a statement, “I have confidence in my doctors and the medical staff, and I anticipate a full recovery.”

One of the greatest athletes to hail from the state of ID, Harmon “Killer” Killebrew hit 573 home runs during his Major League Baseball career, which ranks 11th on the all-time list. When playing he played for the Washington Senators (1954 to 1960, the Minnesota Twins (1961-1974 and also for the Kansas City Royals last (1975). Between the 1990s and 2000s, baseball and home run statistics got deflated. Nevertheless, Killebrew has some of the best home run statistics.

Comprehending esophageal cancer

The Mayo Clinic states that esophageal cancer occurs within the esophagus, the tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach. Esophageal cancer typically originates in the cells that line the inside of the esophagus, although medical experts indicate that it can happen anywhere along the esophagus. There is one common place that esophageal cancer is typically found in the U.S. This is the part of the esophagus that connects to the stomach.

The American Cancer Society explains that esophageal cancer symptoms don’t usually show up until it’s starting to be too late. Difficulty swallowing, chest pain, weight loss, frequent choking and various forms of pain are among noticeable symptoms. There are a few different common treatments. These include radiation therapy, surgery or chemotherapy.

Articles cited

American Cancer Society

cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@nho/documents/document/esophagealcancerpdf.pdf

May Clinic

mayoclinic.com/health/esophageal-cancer/DS00500

Northwest Cable News

nwcn.com/sports/Pride-of-Payette-Harmon-Killebrew-has-cancer-112671059.html

Harmonic history

youtube.com/watch?v=hffB9um2Q8g

Index finger size might indicate prostate cancer risk

2010-12-31T17:24:00.000-08:00

Prostate cancer is a cancer type that can appear within the prostate gland portion of the male reproductive system. The cancer grows at a slow pace, but can very easily spread to the bones and lymph nodes. Scientists mark diet and genetics as key culprits, and a new study within the British Journal of Cancer points to another possible genetic marker. The new research states that index finger length might be a visible marker for prostate cancer potential.

Size of right index finger may have connection to prostate cancer

Of males 15 and older, 1,524 of 3,044 healthy men had prostate cancer. The index finger measurement was shown to matter in this study. If a man’s index finger is longer than the ring finger of the very same hand, he is at lower possibility of developing prostate cancer. There’s a 33 percent greater chance if this is not the case. There were 23 percent that had longer index fingers and shorter were 57 percent. The rest had about the same size fingers. The index and ring were almost equal.

The study findings supported a research done with Korean mean. There were 366 in that study. Men younger than 60 and 87 have a smaller chance of cancer of the prostate. This is typically the case.

Testosterone and estrogen subjection

The length of fingers is determined before the birth of a child while scientists believe the size has to do with the amount of testosterone present. Too much testosterone will increase the chances of prostate cancer. It will also cause the ring finger to be longer than the index finger. The future chances of breast cancer in women are expected to correlate with the amount of estrogen present at birth for women.

Many scientists think that it’s too simple to use the findings of cancer of the prostate although it may be a good idea to have a look at your index fingers. Other factors might very well be involved, and the methodology of the study has been questioned. There may be some error though thinking about the finger lengths was self reported by participants.

Information from

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703814804576035641517516376.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsForth

News coverage of prostate cancer study

youtube.com/watch?v=NyIzchk8_hY

Gasoline costs taking bigger bite of United States household earnings

2010-12-29T18:24:00.000-08:00

Households will have to budget more cash for gasoline in 2011. Crude oil futures passed $90 a barrel last week. Analysts say an improving global economic outlook and a devalued United States dollar have contributed to the escalation. Across the majority of the U.S. average gas costs are above $3 a gallon and experts say there is no turning back.

Receiving a strain on gasoline costs with earnings

Average gasoline costs are over $3 a gallon within the United States It hasn’t been that bad since 2008, in October. Oil prices are also more than $90 a barrel for the 1st time since Oct 2008. Within the past month, average prices in the United States for gas have gone up four percent with a 16 percent increase from a year ago; accounts the American Automobile Association. The average driver spent $305 on gas in Dec., according to the Oil Price Information Service. PortiaGroup accounts that 7.6 percent of median home earnings in 2010 was spent on gasoline. That is a 4.2 percent increase from the oil shock of 2008 and a 6.5 percent increase just from last year.

The driving gas costs compared

TX tycoon T. Boone Pickens forecasted that by 2011 crude oil would go over $100 a barrel although gas costs were already rising in November when this occurred. Oil was predicted to be at $100 a barrel in 2008 by Pickens. In July that year oil reached $145 a barrel. The summer of 2008 was a very expensive time for gasoline. About $4 a gallon was paid. The price increases caused consumers to drive less. The habits had to be fixed. Costs adjusted since there was less of a demand. The increases in gas have not stopped the demand though. That is the main difference for Dec. 2010. An increase in trading activity for oil futures and a falling U.S. dollar are driving the current spike in gas costs.

The max of gas prices

Previous president of Shell Oil explained that gasoline costs will continue to rise in order to hit 5 dollars a gallon in 2012. John Hofmeister told Platt’s Energy Week that consumers can expect gas prices to soar along with global oil demand. Other analysts agree that $5 a gallon gas is inevitable, but say the global economy won’t grow fast enough to reach that price by 2012. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Nations explained in Dec. that next year there will probably be a lower growth in global oil demand. Even with oil approaching $100 a barrel, OPEC hasn’t increased production.

Citations

CNN

cnn.com/2010/12/27/markets/oil_commodities/?npt=NP1

Dallas Morning News

dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-energy2011_25bus.ART0.State.Edition1.36ce7e9.html

HR Morning.com

hrmorning.com/gas-price-outlook-not-good-for-your-commuters/

Mortgages and bank loans are less likely to go underwater now

2010-12-24T16:04:00.000-08:00

Less home loan financial institution loans are ending up underwater these days. Underwater is where a home is devalued to the point where the owner owes more than the property is worth. Several underwater homes result in being foreclosed.

Financial institution loans going underwater fewer often

USA Today reports that you will find fewer people that are underwater under their home which means they owe more in bank loans than the property is worth. Underwater mortgages have become a problem for lots of American homeowners, who went out to get a loan for a home, only for the value to plummet. Recreational and retirement hot spots like Nevada, AZ and FL were hit hard, with greater numbers of foreclosures and real estate prices dropping through the floor. In some urban areas, such as Chicago, the rate of foreclosures hasn't been as bad as in other cities, especially in metro areas that are still heavy industrial centers.

Portion due to foreclosures

The decline in underwater home loans has been slight, only 0.5 percent. A large portion of the reduction in individuals paying installment loans for more than a property is worth is likely due to the sheer number of homes that have been foreclosed, taking numerous home loans off the books. There have been some incentives offered from the government, however talking lenders into reducing debt when many a loan business is struggling is a tough sell.

Home values will probably not go up

For a while it’s expected that the housing industry will not go up. The housing industry will have a hard time rebounding as you will find tougher restrictions on credit, fewer individuals are confident enough or even able to qualify for a home and there are record numbers of foreclosures. There will probably be a slow recovery if it happens at all. The slow growth will help a lot though.

Citations

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2010-12-13-underwater-mortgages_N.htm

State of NY sues Ernst and Young for civil fraud

2010-12-24T12:24:00.000-08:00

Underhanded manipulations of financial records won’t fly in NY any more, claims Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. The accountancy practice of Ernst and Young is currently Cuomo’s target. He is suing the company for alleged civil fraud. Ernst and Young is being accused by the State of New York of cooking the books for now insolvent Lehman Brothers, which fooled investors into thinking Lehman was a good purchase for a number of years. Source for this article – State of New York sues Ernst and Young for civil fraud by MoneyBlogNewz.

Fooling investors gets Ernst and Young sued by NY

The Lehman Brothers would hide the truth from investors with the help of Ernst and Young even though individuals were intended to be told. Not only that, however the business advised “Repo 105″ debt to be taken out by Lehman. The “sale” of short term installment loans is used to get money with Repo 105. Then, debt is paid down with this cash. Companies will look as though they are paying down liabilities and reducing leverages. A business will do this until after a published balance sheet comes out. After the glittering report is released, the business then borrows cash and repurchases its original assets, which would be uninspiring to investors if they ever found out.

All of this made Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. appear to be a much less risky investment than it was in reality.

Being called ‘An enormous bookkeeping scam’

Andrew Cuomo bluntly stated that Ernst and Young “substantially assisted” Lehman Brothers in committing “massive accounting fraudulence,” states on which Ernst and Young have declined to comment so far.

According to bookkeeping records, Ernst and Young collected $150 million in fees from Lehman from 2001 to 2008. During that time, Lehman shifted an estimated $50 billion in assets off its balance sheet and moved them to foreign banks when it was time to report financials. The Repo 105 bookkeeping fraud was then finished as Lehman brought them back.

Ernst and Young had Kevin Reilly as a partner. It said that this was “acceptable” to Attorney General Cuomo.

Articles cited

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704259704576033540546160536.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repo_105

FOX Business Network coverage of Ernst and Young scandal

youtube.com/watch?v=MPBotxpqE5E

Obtaining a personal bank loan in Honolulu, HI

2010-12-24T04:04:00.000-08:00

Whenever you need help, financially, speed is of the essence. You shouldn’t have to wait hrs and days just to get an answer. It really could be quick and easy, though. Whenever you need cash, you need it quickly. Article source – Bad credit personal loans for Honolulu by MoneyBlogNewz.

Hawaii the place for personel loans for you

Getting a personel loans in Honolulu, Hawaii, shouldn’t take you weeks or months. You shouldn't have to find a bank, fill out an application, and wait for an answer at the phone. You can do it much faster than that. An online cash loans application doesn't take long to fill out. Only three minutes are needed to fill it out. The answer only takes a few minutes more to get. It can be fast. You won't have to wait for the phone to ring. Credit reports don't matter either. It isn't hard at all. It is relatively simple actually.

Honolulu a bad credit score loans something you can get

Credit record basics are easy. They are simple too. It’s a record on how well you pay your bills on time and use credit available to you. For those who have good credit, it can help you with a lot of things. If you forget about a deposit or make a late payment, you may end up with a black mart on your report. That is the bad news. Just because you have a poor credit report doesn't mean you are a bad person. It means that you had rough times you went through. You may just need a poor credit loan in order to rebuild or build your credit for the first time.

Honolulu personal cash loan application

Honolulu personal loans require just a couple basic pieces of information. You could be able to qualify for a personal loans more than likely if you have an identification, a banking account, an income and a phone number. Once you are approved for personnel loans, the money could be directly deposited into your account with your bank within hours. It will get there and then be something you are able to spend. You don't have any restrictions on what it is spent with. Pay your bills on time, keep your account with your bank from going to the red, or even just having money to do what you need whenever you want. No matter why you need a personnel loans, our bad credit loan application gets you your money quickly and easily. Is there other things you want? This can be a good time to apply. Just do it.

Drop-side cribs no more authorized in U.S.

2010-12-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

Generations of American children used drop-side baby cribs during their babyhood, largely because mom and dad liked the low price and convenience of access to the child. But as the Associated Press reports, the years of drop-side baby cribs has formally come to an end. After the fatalities of more than 30 newborns and toddlers since 2000 and millions of crib company recalls because of malfunctioning equipment, the CPSC has voted with one voice to prohibit the manufacture, sale and resale of drop-side baby cribs in the United States. People might now have to take out a payday loan to purchase a higher quality and legal crib for their infant.

Anti drop-side cribs rule takes effect June 2011

Drop-side cribs will be prohibited for private use, also as in hotels and childcare centers. Childcare centers could have one year from the official date of the June 2011 ban to purchase new, non-drop-side cribs.

Drop side-crib issues at stake

Numerous like drop-side cribs better because they’re cheaper as they’re made with cheaper wood and plastic than other cribs. Hardware malfunction related to design and cheap materials can cause the drop-side crib rail to partially detach, creating a gap in which an infant or toddler’s head can become caught. There have been a total of 32 deaths in United States infants and toddlers since 2000 as a result of strangulation or suffocation with the beds. Also, 14 other fatalities have been due to the drop side crib. A drop-side crib ban is something the CPSC has been thinking about for a while.

Cribs from companies like Evenflo, Delta Enterprise Corp. and Pottery Barn Children have been part of the 9 million drop-side crib recalls over the past five years.

Cribs in United States have ‘one of the strongest in the world’ for standards

Inez Tenenbaum is the CPSC Chair. He said that because of the drop-side crib policy, the United States is considered one of the most stringent in the world on the matter. Larger and stronger children could be safer in cribs when pushing or shaking them after new testing standards catch manufacturing defects. There will even be better instructions as to how to assemble the crib. After the CPSC vote went through, Tenenbaum explained the standard will now "help to ensure that young kids rest more safely".

Articles cited

About.com

babyproducts.about.com/od/sleepbedding/a/drop_side_cribs_safety.htm

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/40678788/ns/politics/from/toolbar

Do you know what Canada knows about drop-side cribs?

youtube.com/watch?v=eMKcIumVM2Q

Senate tax cut bill passes by incredibly wide margin

2010-12-23T21:24:00.000-08:00

Very little resistance was offered as the Senate tax cut bill gets approved by a massive border. The bill will extend the Bush tax cuts and produce some other key changes. However, the bill nevertheless has a long way to go before it can become legislation. It must still be approved by the House.

Senate tax bill passes easily

The Senate in Washington D.C. has been viewed closely lately. Many wanted to know if the Bush era tax cuts would be extended with the tax bill. The last legislation to pass before the "lame duck Congress" starts next year is this. It is probably the most significant anyway. The Senate voted in favor of the $858 billion bill by a margin of 81 to 19, according to the brand new York Times. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) hailed the tax cut bill passing as an act of great cooperation between the two parties to accomplish a substantial task on behalf of the American people. However, the difficulty lies within the bill passing the House of Representatives, which the bill has to in order to become law.

The tax cut bill

The tax bill will extend the tax cuts from the Bush administration. The boost in taxes for the richest 2 % of earners is canceled. The way the estate tax is now will continue. This will go into 2011. An estate can be taxed if it is over $5 million for individuals or $10 million for couples. It may have a 35 percent tax then. Any states with an unemployment rate over 8.5 percent could be getting unemployment benefits extended from 26 weeks to 99 weeks. Any workers making less than $106,000 a year will also get payroll tax cuts on Social Security.

House has to pass bill

The House of Representatives had to pass the bill before it could become law. There is a democratic majority within the House at present. It will only be one more couple weeks before the Republican majority lame duck session begins. Congressional democrats are not all thrilled with the compromises made in the bill. Luckily, the bill did pass in the House meaning in 2011, Americans won't have to worry about income taxes increasing.

Details from

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/12/16/us/politics/16cong.html

Administration - Principal reduction keeps foreclosures in check

2010-12-22T11:24:00.000-08:00

A struggle over principal reduction as a way to keep underwater home loans and foreclosures from increasing is being waged in WA. The Obama Administration is intending to convince Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to join a system that decreases the balance of underwater mortgage loans. Even though specialists say Fannie and Freddie’s participation is vital, the regulator of those agencies is barring them from participating. Source of article – Administration – Principal reduction keeps foreclosures in check by MoneyBlogNewz.

Halting the foreclosure problem in its tracks

Principal reduction — reducing the amount owed on a mortgage loan — is viewed as a benefit to both borrowers and lenders. Foreclosures benefit nobody, and in case you are an underwater borrowers, this is meant to help you keep your home. Underwater home loans account for 25 percent of all mortgages. Home values continuously dropping is causing the number of underwater home values to continue to grow. The Home Affordable Modification System added the principal reduction plan to it in wants of saving 1.5 million underwater home loans.

Principal reduction plan needs Fannie and Freddie

Part of the HAMP program offered banks that reduced principal on underwater mortgages additional subsidies. Qualifying borrows have to owe more than 15 percent than what their home is worth and have to be up-do-date on their mortgage repayments. If Freddie and Fannie don't perform nice and join this plan, it probably will not last very long. Freddie and Fannie combined own over fifty percent of home loans. So far banks have been reluctant to support principal reduction. If Fannie and Freddie step up and join, it’s assumed that more large banks will join also.

The reason why will not Fannie and Freddie perform together

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have stayed on the sidelines as the regulator of the agencies, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, opposes their participation. Back in 2008 when the Government took over the mortgage industry Freddie and Fannie had been having the loses thrown at them by FHFA. In the past 2 years the agencies have cost U.S. working class individuals about $134 billion, and those losses are expected to increase. The Obama Administration is pressuring the FHFA to let Fannie and Freddie in. Long term losses can be lowered with short term principal reduction. But the FHFA claims as long as underwater borrowers keep making their payments as is, Fannie and Freddie will keep taking their money.

Citations

Pro Publica

propublica.org/article/fannie-and-freddies-govt-regulator-opposes-reducing-mortgages-for-strugglin

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703963704576005990436624546.html

Mortgage11.com

mortgage11.com/2010/12/hamp-loan-modification-help-to-know-more-on-principal-reduction-for-underwater-homeowners/

Brand new economical year, new $1 trillion-plus omnibus bill

2010-12-21T21:44:00.000-08:00

For the forthcoming monetary year, Senate Democrats have proposed a $ 1.2 trillion omnibus investing bill which has the Republicans on the war path. The 1,924-page spending bill wants $ 1.27 trillion to fund numerous federal programs. But what U.S. Senate Republicans discovered particularly stunning would be the 20,000-plus earmarks. What type of personal loan would the us government need to take out to finance the deal? Article resource – $1 trillion-plus omnibus spending bill riles GOP senators by MoneyBlogNewz.

Bill being called omnibus

The Republican party's stance on deficit spending is reflected in Sen. John Thune's (R-S.D.) reaction to the omnibus bill. While Senate Democrats insist the nearly $1.27 trillion price tag is necessary for the federal government to run smoothly, Sen. Thune called the bill "reckless spending" and stated his party’s opinion the bill shouldn’t even make it to the floor for a vote.

Omnibus highlights by category

The Washington Post reports that spending would go to the Pentagon. Practically $688 billion would be just for that. On the domestic front, $43 billion would be set aside for the Department of Homeland Security, $10 billion would go to Border Patrol, and state and local police force agencies would receive $3.8 billion. There might be some benefits for college students too. About $25 billion would go to financial aid for students.

$29 billion less than the president wanted

President Obama's original request has been lowered by $29 billion with the omnibus. All experts looking at austerity measures said it was a bad idea although the omnibus plan would be keeping spending at the same level as the last fiscal year. The national debt is presently at about $13.8 trillion, and in a mere 25 years – by 2035 – that number is expected to triple if austerity measures aren’t enacted.

Everyone blaming the other

It is shown that Republicans have taken part in a ton of the deficit spending although numerous citizens can easily see that massive increased in deficit spending will be bad for getting the U.S. out of debt. The U.S. government has to stay away from bankruptcy in order to avoid losing all pork projects. Also, the people will lose all respect for the government in America if this happens.

Information from

College News

collegenews.com/index.php?/article/1_trillion_omnibus_spending_bill_03245909876/

Republicans on the omnibus war path

youtube.com/watch?v=M1zW_2uvR1U

Amanda Beard to release book: In the Water They Can’t See You Cry

2010-12-20T15:24:00.000-08:00

She is a swimmer and a model, but now Beard is looking at being an author. Her private memoirs could be released in 2012. "In the Water They can't See You Cry" will explain Beard's life outside her swimming profession. The novel can be launched just before Beard competes in the London Olympic Games. This novel could possibly be well worth a payday cash loan to buy and browse through. Resource for this article – Amanda Beard to release book: In the Water They Can't See You Cry by MoneyBlogNewz.

Known as swimmer is Beard

Amanda Bears is only 29 years old, yet she has a life that has a lot going on in it. During the 1996 summer Olympics, she was the 14 year old there. In swimming history, she was the second youngest American Olympic medalist during those Olympics. She has since competed in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 summer Olympic Games. She can be seen once again in the summer Olympics. In 2012, she plans to compete.

Life span struggles what Amanda Beard has had to handle

The book Beard wrote can be about her living. This could be beyond of the swimming pool competition. Her “harrowing journey through drugs, alcohol and eating disorders," are described supposedly. The young athlete was forced into the spotlight early, and that took its toll. The novel is being written in lots of detail by Beard so she can “help others, especially high school and college-aged women, who might be dealing with some of the very same issues.”

Locating a method to move ahead while you mature

The book "In the Water They can't See You Cry" could be focused on the history of Amanda Beard. Becoming an adult will be the focus. The swimmer was in the public eye during all of this as it occurred. She modeled in "FHM" and "Playboy" and is a popular model. A well known fashion photographer is her husband. This means she is the subject of photos a lot. She has been seen in campaigns for Individuals for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Defenders of Wildlife as she is a huge vegetarian.

Citations

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Beard

Twitter

twitter.com/AmandaRayBeard

Bypass financial institutions with peer to peer lenders

2010-12-20T14:24:00.000-08:00

A lot of people do not really like working with banks, and there isn’t a whole lot wrong with that sometimes. People looking to get a loan however get around the middle man would do well to look into peer to peer loan providers. With peer to peer financing, individuals who want to be lent money are put in touch with people who have capital. It is also highly profitable for investors and for borrowers. This really is assisting men and women more regularly; considering how a lot of states are controlling the paydayloan industry. Source of article – Peer to peer loan lenders bypass bank middlemen by MoneyBlogNewz.

Financing from peer to peer takes the middle man out

You may be looking for an unsecured loan for many reasons including debt consolidation and home improvement. You don't have to go to traditional loan companies like banks for this. There’s a new service called peer to peer lending that become popular in the last few years. Peer to peer lending is fairly simple. You will go to a website and apply for a loan if you are interested in borrowing money. If the service accepts the applicant, then the person who applied may get offered a loan by any party that has cash to lend. You can choose whether or not you need the loan. It can be accepted or denied. The funding comes from investors, which is how lots of banks get financing capital. It also has returns for investors equal to or better than the stock market, based on Forbes.

There are services which are different

Peer to peer lending services have been popping up all over the place, the main difference between them have to do with the offering of the loan. Investors have the option of pledging cash together in a loan bundle. Prosper is another peer to peer service. Loan applicants will get competing offers from investors and lenders. It isn't guaranteed that a fantastic loan or the loan you want might come up since interest rates and terms vary.

It isn't just simple money

Just like banks, most of these services refuse to serve applicants with bad credit scores. Interest rates on these services are typically lower than an installment loan from a financial institution or finance company.

Articles cited

Forbes

forbes.com/forbes/2010/1220/investing-lending-club-credit-cards-personal-loans-for-fun.html

School board shooting video shows Panama City, FL, shootout

2010-12-19T15:04:00.000-08:00

In a scene that appears almost unique, a school board meeting in Panama City, Florida, was interrupted by a shootout. The school board meeting was taken over by a male waving a handgun. The entire Panama City, Florida school board shooting was captured on tape. The video has been released to all major news outlets. The video surveillance system is looking for being a great investment from a pay day loan.

Video clip of school board video displays Duke

A stationary video camera is always at the Panama City, FL, school board meetings. Ex-convict Duke was cause on the camera coming into the Tues night meeting. He first spray-painted the “V for Vendetta” logo on the wall. He then pulled out a gun. It was a handgun. He was captured during the whole school board shooting video clip. There were several minutes of this.

Physical violence is recorded within the video

You are able to watch it. Go to youtube.com/watch?v=3xSh7X6Vogk

Heroism demonstrated in Panama City shooting

The heroism of the school board members was shown in the school board shooting video clip. A board member was dismissed out of the room just to come back and make an effort to disarm Duke with her purse. This was Ginger Littleton. The superintendent of the Panama City, FL schools, Bill Husfelt, tried to stop the gunman in conversation. The gunman wanted to be dead, as he stated. Duke is somebody nobody really knows much about. He ranted about the abuses of the wealthy in Dec. on a Facebook page he created though. Duke was convicted in October of 1999. This was for aggravated stalking apparently.

School board shooting at security guard on the case

Though Duke had taken over the Panama City, FL, school board meeting for a few minutes, it was when shots were fired that security guard Mike Jones reacted. Protocol in this situation demanded that he wait for backup, but Mike Jones instead went into the school board room. Clay Duke was shot by the security guard. It was non-fatal. While on the ground, Duke fatally shot himself. The school board shooting video clip is very clear. From start to finish, it is shown.

Information from

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/40674270/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts

Twitter acainews spam connected to broken into Gawker

2010-12-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

If you believe the hype, acai berries are magic fruits, with tons of antioxidant benefits. But scientific studies have found this to be nothing more than trash – and Twitter users can relate. Mashable accounts that a large number of Twitter users have suffered through a new ad spam assault called "acainews". Conservative estimates place the number of not authorized zombie tweets having sprung from acainews attacks to be at least 10,000. This could demand Twitter to obtain a huge cash advance to fix this before they lose consumers.

Acainews links on Twitter to be avoided by users

Reports indicate the Twitter marketing trash is linked to tweets that link to domains that consist of the phrase "acainews.". While the exact mechanism through which the acai berry Twitter worm travels from one computer to the next is currently unclear, users are advised to stay away from clicking any link that leads to an acainews-related domain. Acainews is the fastest moving Twitter assault. This is what experts explain.

Starting of acai berry might have originated from Gawker

There was early speculation that Twitter accounts had been jeopardized by a third-party service. The acainews worm is "very likely" linked to the Gawker blog getting hacked recently, reports Mashable. This is what the head of Twitter's Trust and Safety team, Del Harvey, explained. Many of the Gawker accounts were connected to Twitter accounts while about 1.3 million Gawker accounts had data exposed. Any Twitter users who are linked to the Gawker blog are given advice by Harvey. He claims that Twitter passwords should be changed.

Code not involved with account compromise

Mashable explains that code doesn't seem to be transferring to computers using the acainews, said Damon Cortesi of TweetStats. When Gawker was broken into, the Twitter accounts were just compromised. You have enough reason to stay from acainews now. Mix all this data with the truth that "no" was what Oprah herself said to acai berries.

Info from

Mashable

mashable.com/2010/12/13/acai-berry-twitter-worm-warning/

Web MD

webmd.com/diet/guide/acai-berries-and-acai-berry-juice-what-are-the-health-benefits

Oprah and Dr. Oz say ‘no’ to acai berries

youtube.com/watch?v=eN2Vcf0tiw8

Online payday advances for Topeka, Kansas

2010-12-18T09:24:00.000-08:00

An advance payday advance for Topeka may sound intimidating, however it’s the easiest way to get fast cash you will find. In 2 hours or less, you are able to get cash in your bank account. A payday loan really is that fast and simple. A Topeka payday loan can be the simple way to make ends meet through tough times.

Topeka the place for payroll loans

In Topeka, Kansas, it isn't hard to get a pay day loan. Only a few minutes for applying are needed. Our no-obligation application form needs just three minutes to fill out. Only another 180 seconds is needed after that. Then, a payday advance lender for your situation will respond to you. You get to look at the full payday advance offers. They’re easy to read. If you like an offer, you are able to digitally sign the loan and also the money can be on its way.

Topeka payday loans in advance

Getting money easily and easily is why advance pay day loan are typically chosen. Credit checks are typically absent. You are able to still qualify for the loan with poor credit, no credit, limited income or even as a military member. You are going to have to have income, an identification, a banking account, a phone number and be legally an adult to get a loan.

Paying back Topeka loans

It is easy to get a Topeka, Kansas payday loans and easy to pay it back too. Once you’ve read over the terms and conditions for your loan and approve it, the money is sent directly to your bank account. The payment to pay back your payday loan could be debited from your account with your bank whether it be a onetime payment or installment payment. It is as simple as it sounds. You can get the money for no matter what you need it for. It can be there fast too. The money is also super easy to pay back. This can be on the date you agree to, of course. A Topeka payday advance loan may be really helpful for you to rebuild or build your credit as you could have predictability inside your finances.

Expiring tax credit means no more immediate money for green automobiles

2010-12-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

Shoppers looking for instant cash from a hybrid automobile tax credit had better purchase soon as the tax credit is ended. The tax rebate for purchasing a few hybrid cars and trucks will expire in January 2011. The rebate also applies to some diesels. Plug in electrics will still have a rebate available, though. Investing in a hybrid could keep you from the need to register for a payday loan to fill the vehicle’s gas tank. Resource for this article – Instant money from hybrid vehicle tax rebate expiring by MoneyBlogNewz.

Tax rebate for purchasing green vehicles to run out

As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the government came out with a new tax credit that gave any person who bought a hybrid car or certain diesel powered car instant cash. Any person who used the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit ended up with a fantastic incentive to obtain a greener automobile with a loan company to finance it. However, based on USA Today, that incentive is expiring. Buying a hybrid automobile like the Toyota Motors Prius or even the Volkswagen Jetta TDI which is a diesel model will not get you a break on your income tax bill anymore starting in Jan 2011.

Some rebates nevertheless accessible

Though the bulk of the rebates are expiring, there are some that will still be available. Tax rebates will nevertheless be available for plug-in electric vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf. An individual is required to get a personal loan for a lot more to get those cars though. Without the money from the tax bill being taken away, the Leaf will cost you $32,000 and the Volt will cost you $40,000. The Prius is one example of a vehicle no more available within the rebate that goes for under $25,000. After an auto maker has sold 60,000 green vehicles, there will no longer be a rebate to the automobile. That was part of the bill as well.

Leaping on possibility

There are nevertheless a few rebates accessible on a few hybrid or diesel models, however only two weeks remain for the credit to be used. There is a list on USA Today and Consumer Accounts of which cars qualify for a rebate until Jan. 1, 2011.

Info from

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/12/federal-hybrid-diesel-tax-credits-run-out-at-end-of-month/1

Consumer Reports

blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/12/hybrid-and-diesel-tax-credits-will-soon-expire.html

Golden Globe 2011 nominations shock a few

2010-12-18T02:04:00.000-08:00

Tues early morning, the Golden Globe nominations were announced. The list of Golden Globe nominees looked similar to that which was expected, including 5 nominations for "Glee" and 7 for "The King's Speech". A few shocks were in the nominations list, however, which includes "The Tourist". Quite a few individuals are preparing to register to get a payday cash advance loan so that they can go to the award program. Post resource – Golden Globe Nominations 2011 contain a few surprises by MoneyBlogNewz.

Those who might be nominated for Golden Globe 2011

Tuesday night, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the nominations for the Golden Globe awards. The film Golden Globe nominations for 2011 include “The King’s Speech,” “The Social Network,” “The Children are All Right,” “Black Swan,” “The Tourist” and “Inception.” It is surprising to the "The Tourist" on the collection thinking about it was a box office flop that wasn't anticipated. You are able to go to GoldenGlobes.org to see a collection of the 2011 Golden Globe nominations.

TV Golden Globe nominations for 2011

The Golden Globe TV nominations for 2011 are heavily weighted towards non-network TV. The notable exceptions consist of “Glee,” which got five 2011 Golden Globe nominations. The nominations for Golden Globe awards in 2011 are heavily weighted towards HBO, Showtime, AMC and TBS. In other words, unless you have cable or watch your TV online, you’re missing out on many 2011 Golden Globe nominated television shows.

1st, Miss Golden Globe 2011 was declared

Golden Globe nominations for 2011 were very exciting to hear. Before that though, there was the statement of Miss Golden Globe. Miss Golden Globe is typically chosen as a child of a well-known celeb. She is there to help with the 2011 Golden Globe nominations and Golden Globe ceremony. Gia Mantegna was chosen as Miss Golden Globe for 2011. She was shown in "Medium" and "The Secret Life of the American Teenager". The Golden Globe nominations for 2011 are merely a lead-up to the Golden Globe award ceremony. The HFPA will present the Golden Globe awards on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 on NBC. The comic Ricky Gervai will be taking part in the show. He was asked to host it in fact.

Citations

Golden Globe

goldenglobes.org/blog/2010/12/the-68th-annual-golden-globe-awards-nominations/

Payday advances and bad credit financial loans for Littleton

2010-12-17T11:04:00.000-08:00

Financial help in Littleton, CO, takes just a few minutes. Payday loans for CO can be deposited into your bank account in just 2 hrs. Whenever you need a way to make financial ends meet, you might need help. These fast payday loans are just the help you need.

Go to Littleton, Colorado to get a cash now

When in Littleton, you may be concerned about filing for an online payday loans. Don't be because it is quick to do and very safe. A Littleton payday advance application takes no time at all. Only six minutes could be needed at the most. The money could be deposited into your banking account after you've been approved for fast paydayloan. It really is that simple and stress-free. Payday loans for Colorado can help you fill that financial gap, no matter what your situation is beforehand.

How to get poor credit loans in Littleton

Having bad credit can make even basic financial transactions feel insurmountable. Bank loan applications, along with other things, require credit checks most of the time. When you apply for a payday advance or online payday loans, you won’t need to worry. These loans don't typically require a credit check. A phone number, an identification card, a job or income and a account with the bank are all required. If you have them, you should be fine. You can help your credit get better when it also prevents your credit report from getting hit again when paying your bills on time.

Getting your payday advance loans in Littleton

You should apply online if you would like a payday advance loan in Littleton. Our entirely no-obligation application not only takes a few minutes, but is available 24 hours a day. The time of day doesn't matter when it comes to responses for you. It will come within a few minutes no matter what. That means no waiting for a store to open, no waiting for a response. It is quick and simple to gather money that you need. You even can get it wherever you are. When time comes to pay back your fast paydayloans, it could be debited directly from your account with the bank. No stress, no aggravation — just plain and simple money when and where you need it, with as little hassle as possible.

Do you need a cash advance while in Littleton, Colorado?

When in Littleton, you may be concerned about filing for an online payday loan. Don't be because it is quick to do and very safe. A Littleton payday advance application takes no time at all. Only six minutes will be needed at the most. Getting approved for a fast payday loan means getting money right away. It will go straight into your bank account for you. The loan is that simple to get. Hardly any stress is involved. Payday loans for Colorado can help you fill that financial gap, no matter what your situation is beforehand.

How to get bad credit loans in Littleton

Having bad credit can make even basic financial transactions feel insurmountable. Credit checks are needed in order to get bank loans. Other applications need this too. You don't even have to worry about it when applying for a payday advance or online payday loan. Usually, no credit check is conducted for these loans. As long as you have a bank account, a job or income, an identification card and a phone number, you’re done. You need to pay your bills on time in order to improve your credit at all. It also will stop your credit from showing another hit on it.

Littleton payday advance loans for you

The secret of getting payday advance loans in Littleton is applying online. You can fill out our no-obligation application anytime during the day as it is open all the time and will only take you a few minutes. No matter what time you apply, you can get a response within a few minutes. You don't have to wait for a response or a store to open. You can get the money where you need it, when you need it and it is quick and simple. The payday loan will be debited from your bank account when it is time to pay it back. No stress, no frustration — just plain and simple money when and where you need it, with as little hassle as possible.

Finding and repairing the stack overflow at line 0 error

2010-12-16T19:24:00.000-08:00

A universal errors that appears in many places, stack overflow at line 0 may show up in many places. Javascript or java-enabled functions are the cause of this error in some cases. In case you are using Internet Explorer, then it is most likely the cause. There are generally multiple actions required to repair stack overflow at line 0. Don’t sign up for a payday loans to repair the errors, discover how you are able to here. Article source – Finding and fixing the stack overflow at line 0 error by MoneyBlogNewz.

What it means to have stack overflow line at 0

Understanding the language of error messages generally means breaking it down into parts. You will find two things to understand from the “stack overflow at line 0″ message. Stack overflow is an error, very basically, where a program requests more memory than is allocated to it by its programming. Where the error “lives” in the code is what “at line 0″ says. Most code doesn’t have a “line 0″ anywhere in it. That means “stack overflow at line 0″ is just a code within the program someplace that has an overflow error.

The most you will see common stack overflow at line 0 for

Most commonly, the stack overflow at line 0 error is appearing in Internet Explorer. Unless you are doing your own coding, the stack overflow at line 0 error means that Internet Explorer is requesting more memory than it should. Needing an update in Javascript, an add-in that isn’t really working and even too numerous plugins can all be the cause.

Ways the stack overflow at line 0 error can be fixed

There are numerous ways to go about fixing the stack overflow at line 0 error. If you are experienced in code, you are able to try reducing the amount of memory requested by your call stack. If you are like the rest of us, fixing the stack overflow at line 0 error takes a few more steps. First, try to determine what is causing the stack overflow at line 0 message. Does it happen on a specific web page? Then you have to make sure your Javascript and browser are both up to date. You can open a program called “Internet Explorer (No Add-ons)” that you find when looking your Windows computer which will run IW with no add-ons if the error happens when opening Internet Explorer. It is also a good idea to reset your Internet Explorer. The instructions here will show you how.

Articles cited

Wiki Answers

wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_I_fix_a_stack_overflow_in_line_0

What it means to have stack overflow line at 0

The best way to identify error messages is to break it into parts. This is easily done. There is more than just one thing to get from the “stack overflow at line 0″ message. There are two things actually. The error of stack overflow happens in a program. When more memory than the program allocates to it is demanded, the error occurs. ”At line 0″ is where the error “lives” in the code. It is where you can find it. There is not, however, any “line 0″ in most code — meaning that the “stack overflow at line 0″ just indicates there is a stack overflow error somewhere in the code for a program.

Most common stack overflow at line 0 error

The stack overflow at line 0 error happens most often in the same place. Internet Explorer is where it is. If you are coding yourself, then the stack overflow at line 0 will mean something else. However, in Internet Explorer, it means that more memory than should be is being requested. This could be the result of an update in Javascript, an add-in of some kind that has malfunctioned or too many plugins.

The stack overflow at line 0 error can be fixed

There are many ways to go about fixing the stack overflow at line 0 error. You can trying reducing the amount of memory your call stack is requesting if you have code experience. More than that is needed to fix the stack overflow at line 0 problem though. That is for anyone who isn’t someone who can code. There is the first thing you should do. It involves finding where the stack overflow at line 0 message is coming from. If it happens when you open a particular web page, make sure your browser is updated and you have the most recent copy of Javascript. You can open a program called “Internet Explorer (No Add-ons)” that you find when searching your Windows computer which will run IW with no add-ons if the error happens when opening Internet Explorer. Instructions here will show you how to reset your Internet Explorer.

Citations

Wiki Answers

wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_I_fix_a_stack_overflow_in_line_0

Jeopardy winners to face off with AI

2010-12-16T01:04:00.000-08:00

Artificial intelligence has been a fiery topic in science fact and science fiction for many years. A program in a position to generate independent thought and actions with human-like facility might have many sensible applications, such as helping doctors with their medical determinations. Now the Associated Press accounts that "Jeopardy" producers and International Business Machines want to test the facility of a supercomputer against 2 game show champions. In the event the computer is the winner do you think they are going to register for a cash today to cover her or him? Article source – Jeopardy champions to face off with artificial intelligence by MoneyBlogNewz.

Will ‘Jeopardy’ have Ken Jennings and Rutter in it?

Ken Jennings and Rutter, the 2 most successful champions in the history of the "Jeopardy" game show, will play two games in opposition to "Watson," an artificial intelligence program created by the exact same department of International Business Machines that created the software for Deep Blue, the supercomputer that defeated chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. There can be three days of machine-versus-man matches that occur in 2011. From February 14-16, they will occur, according to the "Jeopardy" producers. $1 million will go to the winner.

Changing the confront

It was amazing to see Deep Blue going up against Garry Kasparov in chess. Nobody believed logical computation was possible. However, the "Jeopardy" man-versus-machine challenge will frequently deal in more subtle areas of comprehension, for instance puns, riddles and rhymes. It won’t merely be who – or what – can recall knowledge more quickly, but which contestant can exercise the mental agility to perform more subtle tasks with aplomb.

IBM has its cash on Watson, named after IBM founder Thomas J. Watson. Watson winning could be really good for IBM. It plans on donating the money to charity. Half the winnings can be given to charity for both Jennings and Rutter if they are to win, said AP.

Both Rutter and Jennings made history with the game show

In game show history with "Jeopardy," Jennings and Rutter are just a couple of probably the most successful winners. Jennings set a "Jeopardy" record by winning 74 straight games during the 2004-2005 season, while Rutter won more cash than any person in "Jeopardy" historical past with approximately $3.3 million.

Citations

Star Tribune

startribune.com/science/111842464.html

Watson in action

youtube.com/watch?v=FC3IryWr4c8

BPA may be absorbed through money and receipts

2010-12-15T23:24:00.000-08:00

For those trying to stay away from BPA, cash and receipts are 2 new sources they might have to try and avoid. Bisphenol A is very controversial. The chemical has been discovered in over ninety % of $1 bills examined by these groups. The levels of Bisphenol A found are well within amounts considered "safe" by U.S. and European governments. Those $1 bills could potentially force many individuals to obtain a personal loan for healthcare expenses if they have too much contact with the bills. Source of article – BPA chemical found on money possibly transferred from receipts by MoneyBlogNewz.

All the facts about BPA

The organic chemical Bisphenol A is generally found in plastics. It is also called BPA. Generally BPA is used for hardening. Polycarbonate and epoxy resins are hardened. BPA can be used also to line the metal that is in cans of food. BPA mimics estrogen in the body. BPA is linked to things such as cancer, thyroid dysfunction, obesity and even neurological disorders in animal studies. It has also been found that BPA exposure at high enough levels can permanently alter DNA. In fact, Canada takes extreme caution with Bisphenol A. It is toxic there. In the United States, BPA is a “chemical of concern,” though not yet seriously regulated.

BPA used on receipts

There is some "preliminary evidence" to suggest BPA is on receipts. Three studies released this year show this. All thermal receipts use BPA in them with ink. It is blended into a powder. The ink is released and prints whenever the powder is heated or pressed. Thermal receipts are used in a wide variety of restaurants, retail stores and shops. The receipts are easy to rub the powder off of. A "microdose" of BPA is given in this case. A study was done on it. Individuals would not “receive more than about 2.5 percent of the tolerable daily intake of BPA from handling a single receipt.”

Money carrying BPA on it

After the study that found BPA could be transferred from receipts, researchers turned their attention to money. A study had been done with 22 $1 bills by the Washington Toxic Coalition. They found that 21 of them had "significant" amounts of BPA on them. Money would have gotten the BPA on them from being with receipts. This isn't proven yet and is just a theory. This is, of course, a very small study that should not be considered authoritative without further research. Bisphenol A would be classified as a toxic substance if the Congress passes a bill like the Toxic Substances Control Act, but until then just handle money as little as possible when trying to minimize exposure to BPA.

Articles cited

Science News

sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/61764/title/Receipts_a_large_%E2%80%94_and_largely_ignored_%E2%80%94_source_of_BPA

Time

healthland.time.com/2010/12/08/dirty-money-traces-of-bpa-found-on-currency/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A#World_Health_Organization

Inside the payroll tax holiday and the way to experience a pleased one

2010-12-14T00:44:00.000-08:00

The Bush tax cut deal includes a payroll tax holiday that offers most working Americans a two percent increase. Legislators regard a payroll tax holiday as a way to stimulate the economic system. The theory is that customers will spend the extra earnings. However it is likely that consumers will save rather than spend if they know what is good for them. If all goes as prepared, people should have less of a have to get a paydayloans.

The economy changing based on the payroll tax holiday

The employees' share of income tax will go from 5.2 percent to 4.2 % if the payroll tax holiday proposal goes via. This is only up to $106,000 though. Firms like Deutche Bank revised the predictions for 2011 from 3.3 percent to 4.1 % with economic growth following the tax deal had been announced. Here’s the math behind that reasoning:

Wages and salaries in the U.S. in 2010 total $6.44 trillion. That figure grew nearly 5 percent in the second and third quarter. If that rate continues, wages and salaries will total about $6.75 trillion a year from now. Deutche Bank estimates about 85 percent of total wages and salaries are dinged by the payroll tax. A 2 percent reduction in that tax puts $115 billion back in workers’ wallets. Based on the current personal savings rate of 5.8 percent, $108 billion — 0.7 % of estimated 2011 GDP — would be spent. Therefore, 3.3 + 0.7 = 4.1 %.

What will really happen with the Permanent Income Hypothesis

Some believe Deutche Bank is overly optimistic. Since informed consumers will realize the 2 % raise will only last just a little while, suggests John Carney at CNBC, the payroll tax holiday won't increase spending that much. Economists call this the Permanent Income Hypothesis. People don't spend what they are making, rather what is expected to come in later. The financial crisis changed people. Before it, people spent more than they earned and would not save at all. Then the bottom fell out. Now people spend less and conserve more because expectations for the future are diminished.

The payroll tax holiday plans

The payroll tax holiday is exciting as additional money. What should be done with it? If you don’t run out and spend it, SmartMoney suggests putting that 2 percent raise into a 401(k), a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. The money will then be worth something. It will still be worth something after 2012 when the payroll tax holiday ends. Next year, the health care costs will likely rise. This may be what you'll spend it on. Another suggestion is to spend it — on new appliances that can conserve hundreds of dollars on energy in the coming years.

Citations

SmartMoney

smartmoney.com/personal-finance/taxes/what-to-do-with-a-payroll-tax-cut/#ixzz17WrUvmtU

CNBC

cnbc.com/id/40553481

Business Insider

businessinsider.com/deutsche-bank-explains-why-the-payroll-tax-holiday-is-a-game-changer-and-could-push-gdp-to-41-2010-12

Children are reason Tonya Craft dismisses ex lover from suit

2010-12-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

A kindergarten instructor from Chickamauga, Tenn. named Craft had her life taken away when she was false accused of child sex abuse. Craft was ruled not guilty. However she found herself in a custody dispute that continued to hold the attention of the media. Her ex-husband and his spouse were also named in a $25 million lawsuit against her accusers, however Craft removed him from the list to focus on a parenting plan.

Craft litigation to know

Tonya Craft was acquitted in Might of 22 counts of child molestation. She ended up receiving lawful bills up to $500,000 during the two-year lawful battle while also losing her hob and her house. Her two children were taken from her also. The trial is considered a "witch hunt" to all those supporting Tonya Craft. There were bloggers following the Craft litigation that suggests the Craft conviction was all the judge and prosecutors wanted. Craft was divorced by her husband and the judge sitting on the case who represented her husband. This is what cato-at-liberty.org explains. The judge refused to step down from his post. This took place even though the defense attorneys filed a motion for the judge's recusal. Status updates on Facebook including witness comments were put up by the prosecutor.

Henke getting much more than warranted from Craft

The custody battle was resolved in a private meeting between Tonya Craft and Joal Henke after years of custody issues. Craft dropped the $25 million federal suit that included Henke and his spouse while also agreeing to share custody of children. The suit will nevertheless be filed against all who accused her of sex abuse. This includes parents of kids, police officers, prosecutors and the school district that employed her.

Tonya Craft finds ways to forgive

Aiden, Tonya Craft's daughter, was one of the children who accused Craft of child molestation. The Craft trial didn't have confessions from Aiden. She never said she was molested by her mother. But prosecutors insisted the child corroborated testimony of two of her friends — testimony documented as inconsistent — that Craft touched them inappropriately. Craft and her daughter have healed their relationship, she said on the "Today" show Monday. She said it is "as if nothing ever happened" with the trial. The plans next for Craft involve law school. She wants others falsely charged to be able to get help from her.

Citations

Today Show

today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40528974/ns/today-today_people/

The Chattanoogan

chattanoogan.com/articles/article_189930.asp

Rome News Tribune

romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/10328610/article-Tonya-Craft-custody-hearing-begins-in-Hamilton-County–Tenn–courtroom?instance=home_news_lead_story

In under a month, Microsoft Kinect sales hit 2.5 million

2010-12-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

When people think of motion-controlled games, the Nintendo Wii is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But it hasn’t been that way for a while, ever since Microsoft’s Kinect motion-sensing video game program was launched last month. Across the country, parents and kids alike are pouring into retailers planning to get their hands on a Kinect console that promises exciting games and an increased improvement to the Xbox 360 gaming experience.

Kinect already sells 2.5 million

Microsoft made an announcement Monday that 2.5 million Kinects have already been sold just after 25 days of launching it. This had been over Black Friday weekend. A total of 5 million is what the business plans on selling. This is just over the holidays.

“We are thrilled about the consumer reaction to Kinect,” Don Mattrick who is the president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft explained, “and are working hard with our retail and manufacturing partners to expedite production and shipments of Kinect to restock shelves as fast as possible to keep up with demand.”

Kinect is sold in 38 countries at more than 60,000 stores.

Microsoft Kinect – how it works

The Microsoft Kinect is cool because you don't need controllers. Say goodbye to buying new controllers each and every time one breaks. With the Kinect system, you are able to turn your Xbox 360 into a voice-activated console. But it does way more than just that. Video recapturing and facial recognition is within the console as well. It could be used for everything from selecting favorite TV shows to creating digital artwork. Do you love the Xbox Live? Then there is a good chance the Kinect is for you. Using the cameras and microphones, you can have a webcam-like chat with multiple friends at once, enhancing the Xbox Live experience.

Positive Kinect reviews and sales

The most-liked feature of Microsoft’s Kinect is that, unlike the Wii and PlayStation Move, it gets rid of the need for buttons altogether — your body is the controller. After seeing all the Kinect reviews and also the sales associated with it, it makes perfect sense that the next big thing in video games will be motion-sensing consoles.

Articles cited

Kinect Sales

microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/nov10/11-29msxboxblackfridaymopr.mspx

Will the bankers or us be totally free?

2010-12-11T23:44:00.000-08:00

Alex Jones of Infowars wants all of us to view the global financial crisis with a critical eye. Austerity is becoming the norm, and we ought to all wonder: "Is it going to be the bankers or all of us that survive"? A feudal system of serfdom for the middle class is fast approaching, argues Jones. The middle class will once again be servants to lords, in this case the masters of the financial world. Source of article – Will it be the bankers or us who survive the recession by Money Blog Newz.

Bankers or us: a derivative mess

Derivatives must be considered when it comes to asking whether the crisis can be survived by us or the bankers, says Alex Jones. The non-assets that are traded are a volatile speculation on how the future will treat commodities. "Over $1.5 quadrillion" in the assets can't possibly be paid back the United States ever. The banks and bankers who received the majority of bailout funds are the same ones who say that derivatives use things like pension funds of retired Americans for payment meaning austerity is necessary. Jones believes this imbalance of power, where the rich get much richer and the poor lose money hand over fist, should be any right-thinking person’s call to action. "Will it be the bankers – or us?" asks Jones.

Power over banks and austerity

Keeping member nations from going bankrupt is a job the European Union is struggling with. Jones suggests that The United States is seeing this too. The taxpayer bailout funds have been helping the central banks do very well. Wages, pensions, insurance and child health care will all be cut under austerity conditions for the average taxpaying citizen. The average citizen in The United States that pays taxes will start to see programs cut with all the austerity conditions. Things like wages, pensions, insurance and child health care are all examples. Jones suggests that everyone needs to challenge the Federal Reserve and private central banks. Everyone who doesn't want to be a slave to debt does anyway.

Trojan horse what the bailout is looking like

Jones says that everyone needs to re-evaluate what is going on since the same Wall Street bankers who began the financial crisis are the ones who are getting rewarded with the financial industry bailout. Is the middle class going to end up losing or will the bankers be giving up their power?

Articles cited

Info Wars

infowars.com/its-the-bankers-or-us/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_%28finance%29

Alex Jones’ thoughts on rejecting central banks

youtube.com/watch?v=YmiFB9hJxus

Road to citizenship using the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act

2010-12-10T23:04:00.000-08:00

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the DREAM Act. This election came mostly across on party lines. The Development, Relief and Education Act, creates a way for young adults who came to the country as children a way to become citizens. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, is not assured yet, however. The U.S. Senate has promised a filibuster. Payday loans might even be within the future for those invovled with the DREAM Act. Source of article – DREAM Act vote offers citizenship for service or schooling by Money Blog Newz.

The ‘path to citizenship’ is now the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act

Kids brought to the U.S. as an illegal immigrant before becoming 16 years old is what the DREAM Act is supposed to be focused on. Young adults who apply for citizenship through the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would be given a six-year “temporary” status. During that time, they would be required to go to college on their own dime or serve within the United States military.

What the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would do

The debate over the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act has been very heated. Some are calling this an “amnesty” bill that would give 2 million illegal immigrants a right to be in the country legally. The immigrants being able to pay in-state tuition for college is something that most are angry about. It is continually pointed out that many of the young adults didn't come to the country by their own free will. They were forced to come. The immigrants have to be able to "prove themselves" to be worthy of living in the states during the "trial period" of six years. They wouldn't be allowed PELL grants or welfare during this time.

Election status of Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act

Though the DREAM Act passed the House of representatives on a 216-198 mostly party-line election; it may not become law. It’s possible that a filibuster might happen in the U.S. Senate. That would mean the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act might never pass. The Homeland Security Secretary and Education Secretary have both come out in support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. The federal deficit might reduce by $1.4 billion if the DREAM Act does pass due to the increased economic activity and reduced enforcement costs, claims the Congressional Spending budget office. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act will go into law if it is able to pass the Senate. President Obama said he would sign it too.

Judgment in Concorde accident pins blame on airline auto technician

2010-12-10T05:44:00.000-08:00

On July 25, 2000 an Air France Concorde crashed shortly following taking off from Charles De Gaulle airport. The cause of the Concorde accident was determined to be a strip of metal dropped onto the runway from a Continental Airlines DC-10 that had taken off in front of the doomed jet. Mon, a French courtroom ruled that Continental and one of its mechanics were guilty of criminal negligence that caused the Concorde accident.

Want to know exactly why there was an accident with the Concorde?

About ten years ago, there is a Concorde accident. Four individuals on ground were killed along with all 109 individuals on board. There is an official 2004 accident report that came out stating one of the Concorde's tires was blown out. This was due to a 17-inch long strip of titanium that fell off the Continental DC-10. Chunks of rubber punctured a fuel tank in the port wing. A trail of flame was left by the plane as it lifted off leaking jet fuel ignited. The Concorde crashed into a motel about 10 miles north of Paris. Air France paid compensation to the victims’ families in return for agreeing not to sue the airline for the Concorde accident.

The Concorde accident choice

The litigation for the Concorde crash was short lived. Only four months were needed. Continental Air Lines was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, fined 202,000 Euros ($268,400) and ordered to pay Air France $1 million. Then 30 percent of damages awarded to victims were required to be paid by Concorde manufacturer EADS which was supposedly involved within the accident. For the involuntary manslaughter, the French courtroom prosecuted many individuals involved in design, testing and certification. However, John Taylor was the only person found guilty as the Continental mechanic. He was convicted of violating rules prohibiting the use of titanium–a hard metal deemed a puncture risk–and not installing it properly.

Just how people respond to Concorde crash trial

Taylor’s culpability within the Concorde accident was punished with a 2,000 Euro ($2,656) fine and 15-month suspended sentence. Continental called the judgment “absurd.”. Taylor’s lawyers said they will appeal. Criticism was given to the litigation. This was as the Concorde crash investigation was pushed aside by a French criminal probe. Taylor’s conviction came a decade after the crash and seven years following the Concorde stopped flying. Any person who had real info about the Concorde accident ended up not telling any person about this due to fear of being persecuted which is exactly why legal expert said it was a bad idea to have criminal charges.

Citations

CNN

cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/12/06/france.concorde.trial/index.html?npt=NP1

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8184189/Concorde-crash-Questions-answered.html

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-03/concorde-crash-trial-may-intimidate-witnesses-harm-safety-lawyers-say.html

Google e-book store lets you lease publications

2010-12-09T20:04:00.000-08:00

Today, Dec. 6, Google made a large move into retail. The Google e-bookstore opened up on Monday. Google is trying to maximize readability of the e-books. This includes storing book purchases “on the cloud”. The issues of whom and the way one owns a book, though, are more difficult.

Now able to buy e-books from Google

The Google e-bookstore has officially been launched as of Monday, Dec. 6. All "public domain" novels are accessible for free while current books are available from $9 to $20 at the Google electronic book shop. There are 35,000 national publishers and about 4,000 publisher partners in the United States that have partnered to work with Google electronic book services. Google e-books also have partnered using the American Booksellers Association, Powell’s and other book sellers. The Java-based e-reader displays the print page number and both ePub and PDF format for the books. Your Google account is where you shop all your Google electronic books that you purchase in order to access them from your system.

Google e-books consumer support accessible

Google tried to enter the retail sector for Google e-books once before. Google tried to pull of the retail product of the Google Nexus One. There were lots of customer service complaints even though the phone did relatively well. It isn’t likely that the Google electronic books support will fail entirely on the good-or-bad consumer support, but it will play a role in how popular the support proves to be.

Owning Google e-books getting queries

There is a move of customers to the e-books industry. The way the cash is being spent is being inquired a ton. Purchasing an e-book could be considered “renting” a copy of the book, instead of really purchasing it. The business still owned the novel and has it on the servers. It can be accessed by you though. This fuzzy line of ownership makes it tough to do many of the things that a physical novel is good for. You can't carry it around if your battery dies or even mark the pages while lending it to a friend if you love it is extremely hard. This year, Amazon made changes. These affected those who already purchased electronic books also. E-books purchased on the Google store or anywhere else could be very useful. It is also significant to get printed novels occasionally. This is certain.

Citations

Tech Crunch

techcrunch.com/2010/12/06/google-ebooks-e-reading-takes-to-the-cloud/

E-cigs are not substances, rules D.C. appeals court

2010-12-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

Electronic cigarettes are a product that has been on the market for more than a year. The Food and Drug Administration made a move to try and end sale of e-cigarettes. They called them “unapproved drug delivery devices”. Today, however, the U.S. Courtroom of Appeals ruled the FDA doesn’t have authority to regulate them as anything other than tobacco.

The electronic cigarette facts

E-cigarettes are also known as "e-cigs." They are vaporizer in a small and tube shaped form. They have a liquid solution in them. You inhale it after it is vaporized. Electronic cigarettes are typically packaged with a nicotine solution meant for inhalation. Usually, electronic cigarettes are considered "safer" than normal ones. These are the traditional smoking cigarettes.

Food and Drug Administration argues against electronic cigarettes

E-cigarettes aren’t things the FDA wants around. A ban was almost placed to them this year already. They wanted to put a warning on the e-cigarettes. "Unapproved drug delivery devices" would have been the labeling. The importing of electronic cigarettes was banned by the FDA. In fact, shipments of it weren't designed to be accepted by customs officials. The Food and Drug Administration currently regulates nicotine gums and patches as substances and certifies their safety and efficacy. The exact same standards of efficacy are what the FDA think should be on electronic cigarettes.

After ruling, Food and Drug Administration has to stay from the electronic cigarettes market

The FDA tried to get electronic cigarettes banned. This brought on an injunction to be filed by two different companies. NJOY and Smoking Anywhere, 2 businesses that develop and market e-cigarettes, argued that electronic cigarettes should not be subject to FDA review. A lower court and now the United States of America Court of Appeals have ruled that electronic cigarettes are subject to regulation through the 2000 tobacco control act. In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration tried to regulate all tobacco products, however the Supreme Courtroom ruled against the move, 5-4. The Food and Drug Administration is supported on electronic cigarettes by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free children. In fact, it responded to the ruling saying, "This ruling invites the creation of a wild west of products containing highly addictive nicotine, an alarming prospect for public health."

Articles cited

Business Week

businessweek.com/news/2010-12-07/fda-loses-appeal-can-t-regulate-e-cigarettes-as-drug.html

New York Times

prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/e-cigarettes-win-appeals-ruling/?src=twt&twt=nytimeshealth

Holiday gifts from your cooking area, made new once again

2010-12-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

Christmas quality recipes for presents usually fall into 2 categories – cookies or candy. A few brand new Christmas recipes for giving can be just what the elves ordered. A single day of work is all you might have to get a gift for everybody on your list.

Christmas recipes for gifts – Remix classic cocoa

It is very easy to remix a “classic” Christmas recipe that is also quite easy to put together. If you have 1 cup cocoa powder, 1 ½ cups powdered sugar and 5 cups powdered milk, you can make an awesome hot cocoa mix. All you need to do is crush 20 peppermint candies and mix it all together. You can also replace the peppermint candies with a package of cherry Kool-Aid for cherry hot cocoa, or 1 cup instant coffee granules for a mocha mix. On the instructions, you should tell the person you're giving it to, to mix 3 tablespoons with hot water or milk.

Give the gift this Christmas of homemade soda

Are you a quite ambitious person? You might want to try homemade soda then for holiday gift. You can either carbonate it "naturally" or "artificially". You may want to artificially carbonate it if you or a friend has a keg system. Naturally carbonated sodas use yeast, and while the results can vary a bit from batch to batch, it could be done safely. You may want to start collecting used plastic soda bottles with lids. You can either do two liter or 20 ounce bottles. You will have to sanitize them. While you're at it, sanitize a funnel and a five gallon bucket. Most stores should be able to give you what you need. You need 1 gallon of hot water, 2 cups of sugar and 2 tablespoons of some kind of soda or flavoring extract for it. It is really easy if you’re artificially carbonating. Carbonate it after pouring into the keg system. If naturally carbonating, add 1/4 teaspoon champagne yeast (available at any home-brew supply shop), pour into bottles and sto! re in a room temperature space for three days. After they are bottled, label the and refrigerate them and you also have an excellent Christmas gift ready for others.

Flavored vinegars as Christmas gifts

If you have any friends that like salad, you might want to go with flavored vinegar. It is easy to make and is great as a kick to dressing. Stuff any sterilized jar about 1/3 full of bruised herbs, then fill with boiling vinegar. Seal and let steep within the fridge for two weeks, and it’s ready to be gifted.

WikiLeaks exposes State Department secrets in latest launch

2010-12-08T01:04:00.000-08:00

WikiLeaks published 250,000 documents stolen from the State Department online Sunday. State Department cables published by WikiLeaks display how world leaders relate to each other and how the United States of America tries to throw its weight around. The White House and foreign leaders issued their official rebukes of the most recent WikiLeaks provocation, which was delayed by a hack that briefly disabled the site.

State department cables leaked onto WikiLeaks

The U.S. outlook on international diplomacy was shown to the world on WikiLeaks. This was when the State Department cables were released. Key issues covered within the leaked State Department documents include the viewpoint of western and Middle Eastern governments on how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program and how the United States arranged economic sanctions against Iran. Other insights contain how North Korea has been aiding Iran’s nuclear program and an apparent order from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for diplomats to spy on foreign governments.

Diplomatic gossip exposed through the gossip

As Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has links to organized crime, he was called an "alpha-dog" in the WikiLeaks launch while King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is trying to convince the United States of America to make some kind of an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Compared to Adolf Hitler in the report is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Also, Afghan President Hamid Karzai is "driven by paranoia" supposedly. It seems like the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi always has a "voluptuous blonde" Ukranian nurse near him. She is always there. Governments around the world ridiculed the most recent WikiLeaks release with predictable responses about how the paperwork endangers diplomats, intelligence operatives and informants.

Hacker unsuccessfully attempts to end WikiLeaks

Between 1966 and early 2010, the State Department released cables that WikiLeaks states to hold 251,288 of. A few hrs ahead of the document launch, WikiLeaks tweeted that it was being hacked with a “mass dispersed denial of service attack.”. "Strained relationships and embarrassment" is all that is in the WikiLeaks documents. National security in the United States of America isn’t endangered through them. The business has a plan to launch more paperwork. Within the next few weeks and months this will be happening.

Citations

CNN

cnn.com/2010/US/11/29/wikileaks/index.html?npt=NP1

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/28/AR2010112802395_2.html?wpisrc=nl_headline&sid=ST2010112802494

Washington Post

voanews.com/english/news/World-Leaders-Officials-Watch-WikiLeaks-with-Curiosity-Concern-110966864.html

Amazon and WikiLeaks can't get on Amazon servers

2010-12-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

Amazon will not have WikiLeaks on its servers any longer. WikiLeaks lately relocated the website to Amazon Web Services, a website hosting service, after denial of service to attacks. WikiLeaks has created an epic controversy, and Amazon does not want to be tainted by it.

WikiLeaks off Amazon servers in protest

The “Cablegate” series happened with WikiLeaks. Then, the sit faced some DDOS, or distributed denial of service. This caused Amazon Web Services to take up the site. It happened quite quickly. The Guardian reports that Senator Joe Lieberman asked companies in The United States to start boycotting WikiLeaks which in turn had the Amazon Web Service kick the site off. "Fine our $ are now spent to employ people in Europe" was what WikiLeaks posted on its Twitter page after this happened. The business also said that Amazon needed to "get out of the business of selling books" if Amazon wasn't going to follow the first Amendment.

In Europe, Julian Assange is a wanted man

The head of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has a warrant for his arrest from the Swedish government. Assange has been an on-again, off-again fugitive from Sweden for sexual assault charges, according to the Christian Science Monitor. Assange can be arrested in any nation he is found in though as the Interpol, which is the international police organization, issued a "red notice". The warrant is more of a suggestion than anything else. Australia, Assange’s home country, and also the United States are mulling criminal charges. When asked about the situation, Assange's mother said that he is "fighting baddies, if you like" and is doing what he believes is right.

Anger stirs

The release of diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks, among other releases, has provoked strong reactions from the international community. Seems like WikiLeaks is probably not able to operate much longer although nobody knows what is going to end up happening with Julian Assange.

Info from

The Guardian

guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/01/wikileaks-website-cables-servers-amazon?CMP=twt_gu

Twitter

twitter.com/wikileaks

CS Monitor

csmonitor.com/World/Global-Issues/2010/1201/WikiLeaks-Julian-Assange-is-merely-fighting-baddies-says-his-mom

Fall 2011 UC tuition rise will be 8 percent

2010-12-06T22:44:00.000-08:00

Higher education is an expensive proposition, and because of the University of California Board of Regents, it’s going to become more costly for students to get a University of California education. Thus, the Associated Press accounts the board has unanimously agreed to a University of California tuition hike of eight %, which will go into impact with the fall 2011 term. Financial aid could be extended to more students, however.

University of California tuition boost, again

An average of $822 increase per academic year could be paid by the students as a result of University of California tuition raise. This boost is on top of an earlier 32 percent raise that UC already implemented. $180 million revenue increase is expected from this tuition hike. Financial aid will increase by only one third of that total amount.

Earlier this month, the California State University system approved a tuition increase of 15.5 percent. This increases annual tuition from $4,230 to $4,884 beginning within the fall of 2011.

Student protest resulted in arrests

The day before the UC Board of Regents agreed to raise tuition, multiple student protests erupted outside board headquarters in San Francisco. One officer had to pull out his gun to keep the students from turning violent when many others were forced to use pepper spray. This resulted in 13 arrests; 11 students and 2 others involved. When the hike had been being implemented there was a chorus of objection as people sang, "the boost is unFEElievable."

University of California students receive very little

UC Merced biosciences major Saema Adeeb told the San Francisco Gate that her family earns too much for her to qualify for financial aid, so she is probably not able to return to the University of California system. The cost of school is leading some students to steel just to eat because they can't afford both. That is what Jasmine Hill, UCLA president told the board before they made their decision.

Info from

Washington Examiner

washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/university-of-california-regents-vote-on-fee-hike-108892974.html

San Francisco Gate

sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/17/MNEO1GDLBJ.DTL

America’s corporate universities

youtube.com/watch?v=9iopSdBFchM

Swastika-branding incident 1st to test new hate crimes legislations

2010-12-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

The state of race relations between Navajo and Anglos in Farmington, N.M., might have hit low tide once more, because of the swastika-branding actions of three young males. Three young white men attacked a 22-year-old Navajo man who’s mentally disabled, accounts the Associated Press. Using a hot coat hanger, the three perpetrators branded a swastika symbol to the Navajo man’s arm. This swastika-branding crime appears to be just the examination case on which authorities have been waiting to spring the nation’s newly opened hate crime laws. Post resource – Swastika-branding incident first to test new hate crimes law by Money Blog Newz.

Swastika-branding not the only damage

According to Farmington authorities, the horrific swastika-branding wasn’t all that the three males did to their victim. Marker was used to draw a picture of a penis on the Navajo man's body. They also wrote "KKK" and "White Power" on his body. Apparently the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act didn't stop the 3 men from offending. The offenders could face 10 years in prison if convicted. The sentence could possibly be extended to life if the govt can prove kidnapping was involved in the swastika-branding incident.

Changes to hate crimes law paved the way

At first, one would have to have been in a federally protected activity like voting or attending school in order for the United States legislations on hate crimes to apply to the victim. The Farmington swastika-branding event was the 1st case since the modifications by Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, or Matthew Shepard Act for short, came into impact. The law now protects civil rights for instance gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Beginning a relationships pact

In Farmington City Hall this month, Farmington leaders and elders from the Navajo Nation got together to sign a pledge that would promise both sides to work better for a relationship between the two. The predominantly white city of Farmington has a decades-old history of conflict using the Navajo.

Violence can only be stopped with education based on Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission Chairman Duane "Chili" Yazzie. Of course "there will always be individuals who just don't get it." Farmington Mayor Tommy Roberts thinks the race relationships can get better over time even with these people.

Articles cited

Star Tribune

startribune.com/nation/110996299.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiacyKUzyaP37D_ncyD_2yckUr

Media coverage when the swastika-branding first occurred

youtube.com/watch?v=MSrML53oY9w

Google makes a deal for Groupon enterprise

2010-12-05T21:44:00.000-08:00

Groupon is a new, however respected local enterprise giant. Search giant Google has not only noticed, however has made a $ 5.3 billion offer for the company. This is a strategic move for Google. Small and medium businesses are expected to move from search marketing, and this might help Google give them another option.

Exactly where Groupon is located

The Chicago community enterprise marketer Groupon was began 2 years ago. It has grown quite a bit in just the last couple of years. There are 2,500 individuals hired by the company all over the world. Every year, it makes half a billion in revenue. Every single day, a discounted offer gets sent to e-mailed subscribers. That is the way the business works. Groupon is a great way for small and medium local business to get well known. This is how customers get brought in. The goal of Groupon is to get deals to customers that they’re more likely to buy. Tracking buying habits and demographics is part of the way to do this.

Local search issue at Google

Though Google is the major leader in web search, it has an issue targeting small and medium local businesses. Within the next 5 years, the paid local search on Google is expected to go down 20 percent or more. Small companies tend to use and then drop Google advertising and sponsored search results. Ad revenue on Google only comes from local businesses just a little bit. In fact, only 18 percent does. The Facebook Places launch has Facebook competing with Google for community companies. If Google is to blame because of the problems in Europe with how search engine results are ranked, there could possibly be lots of problems with anti-trust.

What can happen with the Groupon/Google Package

Groupon might do well to accept Google's $5.3 billion offer. The deal would be good for both companies. Groupon, a relative infant within the tech world, would get a huge return on its initial investment. Google would be given access to a huge trove of customer data – every little thing from consumer e-mails to pricing data and spending habits. Google would likely use the possibility to continue its expansion beyond simple search and paid search revenue. In 2009, Google tried to buy Yelp for the exact same reason which is why this deal is not new. There is a difference though with the Google-Groupon package. Local buying options might be changed for many consumers.

Info from

All Things Digital

kara.allthingsd.com/20101129/googles-groupon-offer-5-3-billion-with-700-million-earnout/

Adage

adage.com/digital/article?article_id=147349

Will Spider-Man on Broadway function or flop?

2010-12-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

"Spider-Man – Turn Off The Dark" is a Broadway musical with its own drama. The play is the most costly production ever on Broadway. Many Broadway critics have already called the show a major washout. Technological difficulties and cost overruns are a huge issue for the musical. Article source – Spider-Man – Turn Off The Dark – flop or fantastic Broadway? by Money Blog Newz.

About ‘Spider-Man – Turn Off The Dark’

The comic books and movies with "Spider-Man" inspired a Broadway musical to be written called "Spider-Man – Turn off the Dark." It’s a "rock and roll circus drama" supposedly. Julie Taymor, as the Broadway legend, is directing the show while Bono and The Edge are composing the music. The show includes gigantic LED screens as set pieces, more than 2 dozen flying scenes, and a new villain. The show required many new masks to be made by Taymor. Her success from "The Lion King" has helped her a lot

Why there have been ‘Spider-Man’ setbacks

"Spider-Man" was intended to be ready in Jan 2010. That was when performances were set for. The death of a producer and major cost overruns, as well as safety concerns, led to major setbacks within the opening of “Spider-Man.”. November 28 was when the first performance took place. The official opening of "Spider-Man – Turn off the Dar" will not be taking place until next year. January 11, 2011 is the official date right now. In the weeks leading up to the first preview performances, several actors and actresses were injured during the flying scenes. The preview performance had to be stopped four times. Technical issues made this happen.

The price of generating ‘Spider-Man’

The “Spider-Man” musical is fighting several mitigating factors. Many tourists have already gone home in January making it difficult for musicals on Broadway. “Spider-Man” has cost about $65 million to produce, thus far. The show costs a weekly performance cost too. This is about $1 million. The producers might need to get payday loans no faxing in order to keep the production alive. This is only if they do not start selling seats like crazy. On Broadway, no show has been as costly as "Spider-Man." It’s now making history. The $65 million price tag, though, is nevertheless $35 million less than the price of the original “Spider-Man” movie.

Citations

LA Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/11/broadways-spider-man-musical-begins-previews-on-a-shaky-note.html

Billboard

billboard.com/news/u2-s-spider-man-musical-gets-off-to-rocky-1004130953.story#/news/u2-s-spider-man-musical-gets-off-to-rocky-1004130953.story

December holiday seasons for 2010

2010-12-04T22:44:00.000-08:00

December is a month of celebrations and holiday seasons. The list of Dec holiday seasons for 2010 includes much more than just the standard holiday seasons. For most everybody, there is something to celebrate in December holidays for 2010.

Month-long December holiday seasons 2010

You will find many month-long celebrations that come for the Dec Holidays this year. Universal Human Rights Calendar month is recognized in December. This is done so human rights for all could be recognized. December is also Safe Toys and Gifts Calendar month. This is a great holiday for December considering thousands of toys are given and received during the month. In Dec, a listing of unsafe toys is released. This is so when buying presents, only safe toys will hopefully be bought.

Holidays this year which are nonreligious and recognized in December

In Dec, World AIDS day is recognized. This is the first day of the month. In order to look for treatment and raise AIDS infection awareness, the day is celebrated. National Pie Day is celebrated on December first also. Dec. 2 is National Fritters day, and Dec. 4 is National Cookie Day. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is celebrated on December 7. December 2010 could be the 69th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Don't forget December 8 either. National Brownie Day is one of the best. To commemorate Wilbur Wright, December 17 is Wright Brothers Day. Also, the 107th anniversary of the first flight of Orville is celebrated with Pan-American Aviation day that same day. If you feel like being a bit odd, Dec. 18 is National Wear a Plunger on your Head Day. Three holidays fall on Dec 21. Look on the Bright Side Day,
National Humbug Day and Forefather's Day all fall then.

Spiritual Dec holiday seasons 2010

On sundown on Dec. 1, Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, begins. On Tues, December 7, or 1432 AH on the Islamic calendar, the Dec holiday of 2010 of the Islamic New Year is celebrated. Catholics and other Christians will commemorate on Dec 8 with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Commemorate the Winter Solstice on Dec 21. This is when religions celebrate the turning season. Festivus, a holiday began by Seinfeld, is on Dec. 23. This year Christmas Day, Dec 25, will fall on a Saturday. You will begin the seven day Kwanzaa celebration in December. The 16th will start this. A ton of holiday seasons could be recognized in Dec 2010 for a full month.

Citations

Healthy Stuff

healthystuff.org/departments/toys/

Thinkfinity

thinkfinity.org/universal-human-rights-month

Preparing Christmas present ideas on a spending budget

2010-12-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2010 is quickly approaching, and if you are like most individuals striving to make ends meet this year, you are likely to need some help funding your Christmas presents for the season. These easy suggestions will help you get probably the most out of the Christmas festivities, and you also don’t have to invest a ton of cash enjoying them, either.

Christmas gifts 2010 with a spending budget

You really should budget your Christmas gift ideas. It’s pretty easy to do. First you have to figure out what you are able to invest this year. You have to know your holiday total budget. Taking note of your recurring monthly expenses – for instance rent, auto payments, food, utilities, etc – will help you come up with a precise, reasonable dollar amount to spend on presents.

With unexpected expenditures, you might like to have cash set aside. About $50 should do.

The way to budget for Christmas presents

Try considering some of the fun and inexpensive gift ideas. Do not make an effort to get too several suggestions ready all at once. Start by creating a basic list of everybody that you have to get gifts for this year. Then, next to each name, write down the items you plan on getting for each person on that checklist. You don't have to get each and every person a gift. You are able to instead get presents for the whole family. Once you are done with your list, it’s time to go searching for Christmas savings deals. Stay as close to your list as you are able to by preparing ahead of time.

Hunting for the winter holiday

Go try to find the Christmas deals this season now that you have a list ready to go. Window-shopping online is a fantastic way to do this. Look at the items you are going to buy with your checklist. Write down all the best deals so you are prepared to shop. You know never how much more cash you can save by simply taking your time to shop.

It is said 'Tis the season' to be happy for what you’ve

It’s easy to budget whenever you are creative. It is fun to budget Christmas gift ideas this way. However, Christmas time is a lot more than just presents, cookies and mistletoes. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without loving friends and family there with you. Just make sure to invest time with those you love. It won't cost you a penny.

Special occasion money saving suggestions 2010 - Budget, discount and go shopping

2010-12-04T06:44:00.000-08:00

It is the season to shop! Everyone can agree that the holidays are certainly the best time to go out and save a variety of money on items you’ve always wanted. However, it is also a time of hardship, as most people are either unemployed or wait until the last minute to put together a holiday cash game plan. Nevertheless, there are many things you are able to do to conserve this year; all you really need is to stay focused, particularly on methods to conserve cash.

A holiday money spending budget sheet

Make sure you know how much you can spend when you’re getting together your holiday money. This means you will have to figure in your monthly expenditures: rent, food, gas, utilities, etc. Once you come up with a reasonable dollar amount, make sure to stick to it. You might also want to spending budget in at least $50 over that limit for unexpected expenditures.

Start up a list of what you want

Anyone you need to get gifts for needs to be on your list. Don't go overboard and pick things that won't be used. You do have to write what you're going to put on each person's list though. You don't want to get things that won't be used. What is the point if it just sits there?

Remember, you can skip buying individual gifts and get one item for an entire family or group.

Go bargain shopping

All the things you want to purchase have to be put on that list. Go try to find it numerous places though. You are able to look online for deals as you will find a lot of online places. Comparison shopping is the most important thing you can do. Make sure you don't just choose a deal just to discover it later for a lot cheaper. Make sure you take your time when it comes to buying. It could be better that way. It is only going to be a little while longer that there are great holiday savings. Make sure you budget and get ready.

Obtaining pay-day money financial loans for Baltimore

2010-12-03T21:44:00.000-08:00

In Baltimore, when you need financial help, you need it now. A full application process takes just a few minutes. This means you don’t have to wait weeks for an answer. It takes just a couple minutes to get bad credit loans. It really is that simple and easy. Article resource – Baltimore, Maryland payday loans online by Money Blog Newz.

Baltimore advance payday loans

It only takes a few minutes of your time for a payday advance in Baltimore, Maryland. The application process lasts only about four minutes, and requires just a couple basic pieces of details. Your details is kept secure with 128 bit encryption and transmitted to the Baltimore loan companies that best meet your situation. You do not have to accept any offer you receive. Once you have been approved you get to make the final decision on if you need to accept an offer or not.

In Baltimore and want poor credit loans?

Hardly everyone has credit that is perfect. Some people out there just have to rebuild their poor credit. Keeping a positive balance with your bank account and making payments on time can be really helpful in rebuilding like this. You could end up paying about a thousand percent interest on just one overdraft fee at your bank account. You might want to consider a pay-day cash loan. You won't have to pay as much interest and your credit might be safe also. A payday advance may really help you out with short-term financial problems. It is not meant to be used for long-term finances though.

Obtaining Baltimore advance pay-day loans

Getting a payday advance loan requires you to be at least 18. That is the age requirement. Having a state or federal identification is necessary as well. A little bit of other information is required to get a cash advance. It isn't much at all. The bank account details are necessary. This is how the loan can be deposited into your bank account immediately. When time comes to pay back your loan, the amount that you’ve already agreed to could be debited directly from your account. The best Baltimore short-term financial loans for situation could be given to you and in a timely manner.

Black Friday consumers used more immediate money than charge cards

2010-12-01T21:44:00.000-08:00

This year, Black Friday consumers decided to overwhelmingly use instant cash rather than credit cards. Much more individuals are using their own cash than burying themselves in debt. There was a 50 percent rise in use of fast money instead of charge cards on Black Friday.

Instead of using credit cards, much more are paying with cash

Black Friday is usually one of the biggest binges for use of credit cards. Black Friday consumers fill malls and stores nationwide, trying to score great stuff at rock bottom prices. Many people paid with money this year though. Adding debt with charge cards wasn't much of an option for some. It’s better, after all, to cut back and maybe skip buying the new iPod for a week or 2, instead of get out the VISA, MasterCard or Discover and wind up running for a payday advance come Jan. Reuter's reports that Americans are starting to leave the cards alone while being aware. In 2009, 30.9 percent of Black Friday consumers used credit cards, according to a study by America's Research group and UBS while Black Friday 2010 ended up having only 16.3 percent utilizing credit cards.

Being dependable with what you purchase

This year, less was spent also while less people ended up needing payday loans because of credit card debt. Money, checks and debit cards were utilized much more this year to have about $41 per purchase rather than the charge card purchase of $87. There was more of a consumer spending. It seems responsible spending has helped.

The majority of debt is bad

Debt isn’t such a fantastic thing. More individuals seem to be getting acutely aware of this idea. It is really good that individuals have been able to conserve for large buys while also restraining themselves from getting large installment loans.

Articles cited

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AT43S20101130

Government collars drunken Nuclear weapons transport chauffeurs

2010-11-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

Transporting Nuclear weapons is serious business. According to the Washington Post, however, some govt drivers did not read the memo. U.S. Energy Department accounts indicate that there were recently sixteen occurrences involving intoxicated Nuclear weapons transportation chauffeurs. Though the people being investigated are government drivers, there is no evidence any of them operated an automobile while intoxicated. The offending drivers were apprehended by law enforcement after displays of public drunkenness in hotel bars between 2007 and 2009. Source of article – Government collars drunken nuclear weapons transport drivers by Personal Money Store.

Drivers on Nuclear weapons mission intoxicated

Drinking on a "secure transportation mission" is probably not the best idea. When nuclear weapons are involved, it’s an even worse idea. There were many hotels checked into by the different chauffeurs during long-range missions they were on. While drivers were at hotels, the cars and payloads were put in "safe harbor" locations. A DUI arrest is much worse than public intoxication which is what they were imprisoned for while drinking at hotel bars. The mission could have ended very badly though making it much worse really.

National Nuclear Security Administration reports made it clear that no evidence was found that drunk Nuclear weapons drivers really operated their autos while intoxicated. There was no release of radiation or fatal accident after more than 100 million miles of safeguarded Nuclear weapons transportation, according to the NNSA Office of Secure Transportation.

Requirements using the alcohol testing

Every time reasonable suspicion for alcohol consumption screening is there, Nuclear weapons transportation chauffeurs had to take an alcohol consumption test while also taking one once annually. Within 10 hrs of beginning work, consuming alcohol consumption is not allowed for chauffeurs. Agents who show a blood alcohol count of 0.02 or more are sent home.

According to NNSA reports, the small number of alcohol-related occurrences that have been detected within the past have resulted in offending agents being removed from mission status immediately. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a zero tolerance policy like this. Nuclear weapons transportation is the first thing that should be treated this way. Edolphus Towns, the House Oversight and Govt Reform Committee Chairman, explained that there’s a "potential vulnerability" within the system that needs to be fixed immediately.

Information from

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/22/AR2010112202172.html

‘A potential vulnerability’

youtube.com/watch?v=UtVbODqYN2c

Several insider trading rings looked into by Securities and Exchange Commission

2010-11-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

The drama in a major insider trading probe intensified Mon. In an action related to the insider trading probe, 2 hedge funds in Greenwich, Connecticut, were raided by the FBI. More than 30 companies in the financial industry were subpoenaed last fall by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is looking into deals leading up to the economic crisis that might result in charges before year’s end.

Three-year Securities and Exchange Commission investigation bears fruit

Insider trading involves profiting from purchasing stock in businesses that are about to be bought before the deals are known to the public. The price will go up on the stocks after the deal is announced. This is when the inside trader will sell them for money. The Securities and Exchange Commission is putting the finishing touches on a three-year probe that is expected to result in insider trading charges against independent consultants, Wall Street banks, hedge funds and mutual funds across the U.S. Based on the Wall Street Journal, insider trading rings are what civil and criminal probes are looking for. Millions in illegal profit was made by these trading rings.

Target is Goldman Sachs

Part of the SEC insider trading investigation involves looking into Goldman Sachs bankers. Supposedly these bankers leaked details leading up the economic crisis about the health care takeover deals. Another focus of the investigation is on “expert network” firms hiring former employees of companies targeted for acquisition that pass along advice to hedge fund investors. Integrity Research Associates reports that a ton of hedge funds use expert networks. In fact, over a 3rd does this. Independent analysts and research boutiques are also feeling the heat.

FBI will probably assign some jail time

Before the end of the year, criminal and civil insider trading charges are expected to be filed. Because the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. prosecutors are included along with the SEC, analysts expect some hard jail time to be included. This is not the exact same at all as the civil suit for mortgage fraud last summer. This is what the Securities and Exchange Commission went against Goldman Sachs for. The only reason Goldman Sachs got out of that situation was by paying a large penalty fee. The Wall Street firm had never seen a payoff that large before. About 2 weeks of Goldman Sachs profits were used to pay for the $550 million fee.

Citations

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704170404575624831742191288.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/40317931/ns/business-us_business/

Politics Daily

politicsdaily.com/2010/07/16/goldman-sachs-fine-in-fraud-case-wall-street-firm-can-afford-it/

World Toilet Day focuses of a sterilization within the world

2010-11-26T22:44:00.000-08:00

World Toilet Day is an actual awareness day. It might look like a joke, however the day is for a very serious issue. The World Toilet Organization announced World Toilet Day in 2001. The day is intended to bring awareness to correct sterilization. Money invested in correct sanitation shows benefits in almost each social group. The issue is for more than just health.

World Toilet Day remembrance for all

In 2001, World Toilet Day began. About 2.6 billion people around the world don’t have access to proper sanitation. This lack of sanitation kills 1.8 million people per year. Lack of proper sanitation leads to infection and the death of more than 5,000 people a day in lesser-developed countries. Kids and women are those affected by the lack of sanitation most often. Many are encouraged to discuss and donate so that correct sanitation can be put in place for those across the world with World Toilet Day. "The Big Squat" is organized in order to get people to realize that in third-world countries there is terrible sanitation.

World Toilet Day and economy

World Toilet Day brings attention to the effects of lack of sanitation. Disadvantaged areas improve substantially through sanitation. In fact, each $1 in sanitation gives an average return of $9 in economic impact. Natural Disasters typically harm sanitation. People stop caring about sanitation when their lives are at risk. In Haiti, the lack of proper sanitation is what is causing the widespread cholera outbreak.

Debate over World Toilet Day

There is definitely going to be some controversy with World Toilet Day even if it is just trying to show what proper sanitation is all about. "Flush" or water toilets are used in the U.S. and are said to be the best although the "best" sanitation may really be something else. The water usage of flush toilets is estimated at about 30 % of all water usage. You are able to save a lot of water an money with composting toilets and waterless toilets. They also help keep disease under control if used in the right way too.

Details from

World Toilt

worldtoilet.org/wtd/squat.asp

Facebook

facebook.com/pages/World-Toilet-Day-November-19th/199340305908

Toilet Tab ABCs

toiletabcs.com/toilet-water-conservation.html

Thanksgiving recipes for kids - Having the entire family included

2010-11-25T04:04:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving day can feel like a large theatrical production. Usually, entire families are together for the day. There aren’t exactly lots of good Thanksgiving quality recipes for children, though. There are Thanksgiving recipes for kids of all ages that you are able to use to get them involved and interested – and keep everybody happy.

What to make with children on Thanksgiving

You are likely trying to find Thanksgiving recipes for kids. These might be for food only eaten by children too. It is better, though, to actually involve kids in making something that everyone can enjoy. Thanksgiving recipes that are "classic" can be hard to do with children. They involve dangerous situations such as hot ovens and boiling water. You can add come kid friendly Thanksgiving recipes though. They can be built-into your meal with a bit of effort.

A Thanksgiving drink recipe as an option for kids

Drinks are probably the simplest way to get children involved with Thanksgiving recipes. Non-alcoholic drinks could be mixed by children as young as four or five. An adult will mix two cans of limeade concentrate with an 8 ounce bag of frozen strawberries before your Thanksgiving party. Then in two smaller containers you will re-freeze the mixture. Have the kids on Thanksgiving Day make a fancy strawberry lime slush punch by mixing the drink concentrate with 1 liter of lemon-lime soda.

Doing a cranberry relish recipe for Thanksgiving with your kids

For older children that can use a blender or a food processor, cranberry relish is a great Thanksgiving recipe for children. First pick the sweetener that you want to use whether it be ¾ cup of honey, agave nectar or even sugar. Then you will mix this with two cups of raw cranberries, an orange, one teaspoon vanilla and ½ cup orange juice. The mixture needs to get put in a food processor or blender. Make sure it gets mixed really well together. You may want to thin the mixture with some orange juice if it is too thick.

Having Thanksgiving help from kids

Whatever Thanksgiving recipes for children you choose, keep in mind that letting kids’ help make your classic meal better is infinitely more productive than dealing with an extra dish. Even the youngest of kids can help mash potatoes or fill water glasses on the table. Stay away from having all the extra work this year. Make the kids table have the classic meal as well.

Transportation Security Administration confiscates nail clippers from gun-toting soldier

2010-11-24T17:44:00.000-08:00

Based on Red State, TSA has an additional reason to hang its head. A recent event involving a business of soldiers returning home from Afghanistan makes TSA look ridiculous once again. Despite the belief that U.S. Customs had already inspected the solders’ possessions and separated them from their ammo before putting them on the flight out of Afghanistan – and the soldiers hadn’t left the plane before touching down in Indianapolis – TSA confiscated nail trimmers from one of the soldiers once the plane was on U.S. soil.

The threat of nail clippers versus an M4 carbine rifle

While TSA had been technically following the rules, the tiny nail clippers that were confiscated pale in comparison to the M4 carbine rifle the solder had been carrying. A pair of nail clippers could do hardly anything compared to a weapon within the hands of a highly trained soldier even if it didn't have ammo. Such as it is, this event is yet an additional opportunity for the media to have a field day with TSA, an organization that has been within the news quite a bit recently for full body scanners, groping pat downs and the people who are fed up with it all. Now there’s even a Twitter-based contest called #touchedbytsa, where the prize is an iPod Touch.

More about TSA nailclippers

Red State reports that airport security had to take all 330 on board into a holding plane after landing the plan in Indianapolis. At least 100 of the soldiers on the flight carried firearms with them. These included M-240 machine guns, M9 pistols and M4 carbines. None of the weapons were loaded at all. The U.S. Customs secured all of the ammo too. TSA reportedly considered making all the soldiers unpack their baggage for piece-by-piece re-inspection, although Customs had already screened it.

Red State said bomb-sniffing dogs went over the soldiers' luggage. It took about an hour to do. It was hours of the soldiers just sitting there. TSA found the nail clippers after inspecting them again. Before this nobody knew about the clippers. TSA had no knowledge of it. The media explained that this had been just a TSA power trip. That's what it seemed like anyway. Some think finding the nail clippers had been a bonus. The TSA had been glad to find them.

Articles cited

Red State

redstate.com/erick/2010/11/18/another-tsa-outrage/

The true danger of nail clippers

youtube.com/watch?v=aZw3qpnaK3o

Win totally free iPod Touch after grope with #touchedbyTSA twitter update

2010-11-23T07:24:00.000-08:00

A free iPad Touch is the prize for Thanskgiving air vacationers willing to be #touchedbyTSA . People flying on November 23rd become eligible when they refuse a full body scan and share having their body searched manually with the hashtag #touchedbyTSA. While Loopt makes light of debatable airport Security policies, the Transportation Security Administration is protecting them by reminding travelers that airline terrorism remains a genuine threat.

Might be #touchedbyTSA or get a full body scan

The reason why the #touchedbyTSA promotion is going via is because of the full body scanners. Everyone is mad about these scanners that essentially show the person naked on the screen as they are searched. People who refuse to walk through the scanners have to submit to a manual body search or leave the airport. On Nov. 23, the busiest day at airports during the Thanksgiving holiday, possibly many air travelers who would have normally acquiesced to a full body scan will opt for the manual body search, simply for the chance to win a free iPod Touch via #touchedbyTSA.

Issues involved with #touchedbyTSA

It appears that #touchedbyTSA couldn't possibly be something the TSA is happy with. Full body scanners are very helpful. They find hidden weapons and devices under clothing the best. Yet because all a person has to do is stand in them for a few seconds, they accelerate the screening process and make passenger flow via airports more efficient. One of the busiest travel days of the year is likely going to have a ton of delays involved with it because of the #touchedbyTSA promotion and the National Opt-Out of Airport Scanners day on November 23. The full body scanners used are being protested with National Opt-Out of Airport Scanners Day. The grass roots group 'We Won't Fly' started this protest.

Protests anger TSA

It appears like the TSA is getting a lot of crap from people recently about every little thing. That isn't going to stop TSA head John Pistole. The TSA is sincerely working on a balance between passengers' rights and protecting them too he told Senate in a hearing this week about staying ahead of the airline terrorism threat. Each passenger being secure on flights is the priority that he has in mind. Air travelers should "work together" with the TSA on this. He hopes they want to secure their safety as much as he does.

Articles cited

CNN

npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/11/16/131364772/tsa-head-defends-enhanced-pat-downs-and-safety-of-scanners

NPR

npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/11/16/131364772/tsa-head-defends-enhanced-pat-downs-and-safety-of-scanners

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Travel/tsa-john-pistole-chief-defends-patdown-procedure-congress/story?id=12162454

Davis apologizes for Garfield Veterans Day strip

2010-11-22T23:04:00.000-08:00

Veterans’ Day is set aside for solemn remembrance of the sacrifices the women and men of the Armed forces have made for their country. "Garfield" comic strip creator Davis had no intention of besmirching this year’s celebration, however his syndication network wasn’t quite so aware, accounts Cable News Network. The "Garfield" Jim Davis’ syndication company made a decision to run on Veterans’ Day seemed to make fun of the presence of a Veterans’ Day festivity, although Davis says that was not his intention at all. Article resource – Garfield creator Jim Davis apologizes for Veterans Day strip by Personal Money Store.

Squished veterans not celebrated by Jim Davis

The only reason an apology had been necessary for Jim Davis had been because Veterans’ Day had been when it ran. The "Garfield" strip had to be apologized for. It had been simply a case of unintentionally bad timing, splashed across the pages of newspapers nationwide. In the offending cartoon, Garfield threatens a spider with a rolled-up newspaper. The spider makes an impassioned statement regarding the path to immortality:

"If you squish me, I shall become famous! They will hold an annual day of remembrance in my honor, you fat slob."

It doesn't matter too much since the spider gets squished by Garfield anyway. In the last panel, a teacher spider presiding over a class of little spiders asks the question "Does everyone here know why we celebrate ‘National Stupid Day?’"

It was ‘The worst timing ever’

That strip running on Veterans day caused Jim Davis to say this. However, he pointed out in a statement to friends, fans and veterans the strip has no literal connection to Veterans Day. He also explained that over a year ago he made that strip.

”I don’t use a calendar that lists holidays and other notable days, so when this strip had been put within the queue, I had no idea it would run on Veterans Day,” Davis evidently explained.

Considering that Jim Davis’ brother served in Vietnam and his son performed tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, it seems unlikely that Davis would take a dim view of Veterans’ Day.

In the whole world, ‘Garfield’ is used most

The "Guinness Book of World Records" said that the "most widely syndicated comic strip within the world" was "Garfield" in 2002. Garfield the cat is a pop culture icon is books, movies and countless merchandise.

Details from

CNN

edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/11/12/garfield.ill.timed.comic/

Jim Davis on the process of making the fat cat

youtube.com/watch?v=vsisKmbVkIw