State of emergency happens when considering Tehachapi fire and all other Californian fires

In Sacramento this morning, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Kern County. The Tehachapi fire, also known as the west fire, has been contained 25 percent. The Bull Fire is only 5 percent contained. Firefighters and containment finally are getting used by cash-strapped California through this state of emergency.

Tehachapi fire background

10 miles south of Tehachapi lies a small town where the Tehachapi fire started on Tuesday. Residents of the Old West Ranch were evacuated after the blaze started. The ranch that split up forming the community is how the fire was named with the name West Fire. A grinder was in dry grass while people started cutting scrap metal in it, beginning the fire. Now you will find 40 homes that no longer stand also as 1,400 acres that were burned. 150 other homes have had to evacuate.

Bull Fire info

The Bull Fire began in Kernville, California and burns 16,000 acres already. Eight homes and six outbuilding were burnt down totally within the first day. The fire has hurt two firefighters so far. The cause of the Bull Fire has yet to be determined, and it is only about 5 percent contained.

Wildfires costs

In budget-strapped California, fighting wildfire is an incredibly expensive proposition. Not only the human cost of possible firefighter deaths, but the financial cost. Fighting fires every day costs between $1 million and $2.5 million. An “average” wildfire fighting year for the U.S. Forest Service costs $500 million or more. Many agencies are responsible to pay these costs in California. The California State Spending budget does most of it. This covers fire fighting and nothing else. Being in a State of Emergency means being able to spend money without knowing where they’re spending it from.

Catalonia bullfighting ban's real reasons

Spain and bullfighting go hand in hand. The Spanish province had, on July 28, bullfighting banned. The bullfighting ban can have to start by year 2010 in Spain. Animal rights activists cheered when the Catalonian parliament in Barcelona passed a resolution banning bullfighting. But individuals close to the story said the bullfighting ban wasn’t about animal cruelty. It was a political act of Catalon nationalism as the province tries to set itself apart from the rest of Spain.

Catalonia bullfighting ban about politics

Politics is the primary focus of the Catalonia bullfighting ban. About 15 bullfights happen every year within the one Catalonian bullring, reports NPR. Those against bullfighting said it was very cruel when those for it said Spanish Culture was at stake. Many think breaking from Spanish tradition is a good thing because it will set Catalonia apart from the rest of Spain. The bullfighting ban in and around Barcelona is expected to have little effect on the suffering of the bulls. Annually, 1,000 bullfights are witnessed in Spain.

Anti-bullfighting drives a wedge between Catalonia and Madrid

The Catalonia bullfighting ban was taken seriously by fans and Spanish conservatives. The Associated Press reports the center-right Popular Party, which vigorously supports a unified Spain run from Madrid, sees a stinging anti-Spanish rebuke within the grass roots, anti-bullfighting drive which started in the region last year. Catalonia has always been one to separate from the pack considering their own language they have as well as the culture that is separate from the rest of Spain. Many in Spain have seen the pressure here for a bullfighting ban as a political statement by Catalonia to stand out from the rest of the country.

Bullfighting ban is rebellion for rebellion’s sake

The Catalonia bullfighting ban indeed has nothing to do with sympathy for the bulls bleeding to death within the bullring, as outlined by Spanish travel blogger Damian Corrigan. Writing for About.com, Corrigan said Catalonia’s self-indulgent struggle for freedom is illogical and irrelevant in today’s Europe. The political separatist movement blurs causes like anti-bullfighting to the point where Catalonians appear to stand for nothing else but less taxes going to Madrid. Rebellion is unimportant when your political stance doesn’t matter either.

Further reading

NPR

npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/07/28/128817532/bullfighting-banned-in-spanish-province

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hoSaaIUwsevwg2RB34sY8mHh7tNAD9H82A704

About.com

gospain.about.com/b/2010/07/28/barcelona-bullfighting-ban.htm

Real competition for Ticketmaster emerges in TicketFly

A small competitor within the ticket-sales market, dominated by Livenation and Ticketmaster, is emerging with TicketFly. A cheaper, easier to use, and faster ticketing system, TicketFly has a real chance of beating Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster’s business is a big one – but TicketFly may just have a chance of competing. Source of article – TicketFly – FreeFest helps give Ticketmaster real competition by Personal Money Store.

Venues defecting to TicketFly

Since its 2008 founding, TicketFly has been busy putting its $ 3 million in funding to good use. The first thing the company did was “poach” more than 50 venues from Ticketmaster/Livenation. Numerous venues ultimately control who gets to sell their tickets. By poaching away these venues, TicketFly was able to jump-start its ticket sales. TicketFly claims that to customers, there could be much less charged in convenience fees and “printing fees.” Ticketmaster has become known for the high fees it piles on top of ticket cost. Despite legal questions of a monopoly, Ticketmaster has been adding venues to its concert-promotion packages.

How TicketFly claims to be better

The prices TicketFly charges have had a lot of promises. Just on the basis of fees, TicketFly tickets will cost 30 percent less than Ticketmaster. TicketFly will even give discounts to customers who spread the word about TicketFly through social marketing. TicketFly also promises fast updates of ticket information. TicketFly promises, in short, that they’ll be faster and cheaper for everyone.

FreeFest pairs TicketFly and Virgin

TicketFly partnered with Virgin Mobile to distribute free FreeFest tickets. Anyone who attended a Virgin Mobile festival in the past was designed to get an email for two free tickets. The rest of the tickets go on pre-sale at 10 a.m. on July 24. The Virgin Mobile partnership is a big thing for TicketFly. Because the Ticketmaster/Livenation conglomerate controls a good 50 percent of ticket sales and venues within the United States, it has a lot of pull.

Steal others' data with the Facebook torrent

A hacker created the Facebook torrent that is accessible to anybody who wants files from Facebook data. 171 million Facebook users had their info stolen by a web sprawling code made by Ron Bowes. The file, about 2.8 GB, has been posted online as a torrent. Facebook made their comment on the issue saying all the info is what can be found with a search engine and doesn’t matter all that much. Many feel like this is just another example of how easy it is to hack Facebook with all of the privacy issues they’ve been having recently. Source for this article – Facebook torrent hack makes free download of personal user data by Personal Money Store.

171 million Facebook users exposed

Profile URLs, names, and user IDs of 171 million Facebook users are now being displayed for everyone who wants to get the info. Pirate Bay is where Bowes, who heads Skull Security, has decided to place this torrent for the world, reports the Daily Tech. 13,000 downloads were active July 28, early in the morning. In this torrent, individuals can see any details Facebook users posted to their profile or forgot to take off. Anyone who worked out their privacy settings to say only friends could see their information aren’t in this torrent that Bowes created.

Privacy a problem for Facebook

The Facebook torrent comes at a bad time when Facebook is already suffering the losses from their change on privacy settings to allow commercial use. BBC News has a statement from Facebook saying nobody is going to be hurt by the privacy changed since personal info people “agreed to make public” on their own. Tech Crunch thinks that in light of recent events, it would probably be a good precaution to change all your settings on Facebook so they’re “friends only.” Letting “Everyone” see your Facebook info involves a hacker who can grab your personal data, package it and sell it to the highest bidder.

Permanent info with the Facebook torrent

Google, Bing and Facebooksearch are all engines that will show the information that is within the Facebook torrent. The Facebook torrent contains a simple snapshot in one moment in time of Facebook that will last forever, reports Future. In case you are in it, you will never have that details deleted, even if you make an effort to delete you account completely or change your privacy settings to something else.

Friends of users main focus of Facebook torrent

In addition to the personal data for one fifth of all Facebook users, the Facebook torrent contains the programs Bowes used to mine the data. Tech Crunch explains that Bowes wants more than just searchable users and intends to get the rest. Users are quitting when hoping Facebook will switch privacy settings to be friends only by default-

Go to Account and Privacy Settings and Applications, Games, and Websites (link near the bottom, in a box) and Public Search and (Uncheck box).

More on this topic

Daily Tech

dailytech.com/Info+on+100M+Facebook+Users+Harvested+and+Posted+in+Torrent++Legally/article19198.htm

Tech Crunch

techcrunch.com/2010/07/28/hacker-proves-facebooks-public-data-is-public/

Future of the Internet

futureoftheinternet.org/facebooks-ocean-of-names-becomes-a-torrent

Somebody to blow the whistle with the Wall street reform

President Obama signed into law the Wall Street reform bill. Everyone who has support in this bill probably do not learn about the whistle-blower provision of it yet, reports the Los Angeles Times. Private sectors can be responsible for catching anyone who beaks the rules causing them to get 10 to 30 percent of fines or settlement fees that the government receives. Post resource – Wall Street reform involves a new whistle-blower provision by Personal Money Store.

A whistle-blower provision to catch Ponzi and insider trading schemes

According to the Times, citizens will “provide the Securities and Exchange Commission with original information that reveals the fraud and leads to a successful recovery,” with the whistle-blower provision. Troubles are seen by experts although lawmakers just want this provision to give the incentive to strengthen Wall Street. Someone who spots a problem will go to the SEC than to management which could possibly be a problem for numerous companies. This could also bring in a low of new claims with how numerous aggressive law firms there are out there. In both cases, a “society of paid informants,” as Walter Olson of the Cato Institute puts it, would be the result.

Whistle blower trying to get ‘fast’ cash

Imagine if this whistle-blower provision had been in place when Goldman Sachs settled with the SEC for $ 550 million. If a whistle-blower had turned in the tip leading to Goldman Sachs’ censure, that whistle-blower would have made at least $ 55 million in quick cash. That’s money going back to the taxpayer, points out Stephen Kohn of the Washington-based National Whistleblowers Center. We do remember that “quick cash” is relative mostly. Despite the fact that a whistle blower can have to wait till the legal proceedings are through, money received could possibly be paying off. However, the government must recover at least $ 1 million for the whistle-blower provision to go into effect for an informant.

Find more info on this topic

Los Angeles Times
latimes.com/business/la-fi-reform-whistleblower-20100723,0,6099636.story
An example of whistle-blowing in high government
youtube.com/watch?v=xq8aopATYyw

Auto repair tips that won't break the financial institution

Over time, a windshield will develop cracks. Left unchecked, those spider webs in glass can lead to shattering. The safety implications of this are clear, particularly in a collision, as an airbag won’t protect you from flying glass. You certainly can’t go without a windshield, for reasons of safety and garnering the attention of authorities. For these reasons, knowing a thing or two about auto glass repair is essential for maintaining your roadway safety. Article resource – Don’t drive off without this auto glass repair knowledge by Car Deal Expert.

Auto glass repair – know the standards

Auto glass repair is a job that is worth doing right, instead of quickly and cheaply. According to Automotive Troubleshooting Secrets, a quick fix isn’t worth the money you’d save. First and foremost, make certain your new windshield is installed by a tech certified by the Federal Motor Car Safety Standards (FMVSS). The urethane adhesive they use should also be certified by the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS). That adhesive should be within the bounds of its expiration date, as well. If the product has expired, don’t use it. Oh, and make certain the adhesive passes your automaker’s factory standard (check the owner’s manual) and is airbag-rated if your automobile has that safety feature. AGRSS standards and expiration dates should also be applied to any priming materials.

What should certified installers be doing?

If you’re using a tech to fix the glass, make certain they’re National Glass Association-documented so that these questions will all check out:

• Make sure the windshield is centered perfectly
• Does the molding fit perfectly and sit flat around the windshield circumference?
• Check to make certain the windshield is flush to the frame
• Chekc the windshield wiper motor is still in working condition

Do not use an installer unless they’re FMVSS certified

There are plenty of auto glass repair shops out there, but some of them may not carry FMVSS certification. When work is completed by FMVSS-certified technicians, they should affix an FMVSS label to the windshield. It’s a mark of quality, a sign that this work has been done well. Accepting cheap glasswork as an option is simply a bad idea.

Further reading

automotivetroubleshootingsecrets.com/auto%20glass%20repair.htm

Clinton wedding bill could be $ 2 million

On July 31, Marc Mezvinsky and Chelsea Clinton could be exchanging vows. The Clinton wedding is getting a lot of attention, thanks to a large pricetag and bigger names as guests. The ultra-secretive wedding is rumored to be prepared for Astor Courts in Rhinebeck, New York.

Information about the Clinton wedding

With a guest list of just more than 500 individuals, including many previous heads of state, Chelsea Clinton’s wedding is certain to be a big affair. The information of the wedding are being kept very secret. There are a few information that are relatively well-agreed on, though. The mother of the bride will be wearing Oscar de la Renta. Vera Wang is designing the bride’s dress. The guest list involves friends of the family such as previous British prime ministers and Oprah.

The cost of Chelsea Clinton’s wedding

The cost of the Clinton wedding is one of the biggest part of the news. Though official figures have not been released, estimates are that the price tag can be about $ 2 million. The venue, which is a former Astor Estate, will cost $ 400,000 to rent. The wedding party could be paying about $ 1,500 per person for the dinner. About $ 250,000 will be spent on flowers. A less glamorous price tag is the security — expected to run between a quarter and a half of a million dollars. The job of previous president Bill Clinton? “Pick up the bill and lose 15 pounds.”

Is the Clinton wedding conspicuous consumption?

Conspicuous consumption accusations are being thrown at the Clinton wedding already. Some wonder if Marc Mazvinsky and Chelsea Clinton’s wedding is a reserved affair, or if they’re just showing off. The recent wedding between Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher cost about half a million dollars. The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton will probably cost $ 5 million or more.

Information on the Starcraft II reviews

July 27 at midnight, a whole new community of gamers will emerge with the release of “Starcraft II- Wings of Liberty”. A single or multiplayer game intended and released by the Activision-Blizzard partnership, “Starcraft II” managed to outsell “Halo Reach” before it was even released. Extensive system needs could be needed to play “Starcraft II” so make certain you’re prepared and ready in case you are waiting for the release. Post resource – Starcraft II- Reviews, release and torrent information by Personal Money Store.

‘Starcraft II’ reviews

Unusually for Activision-Blizzard, you will find no “Starcraft II” reviews legitimately available before the release date. Pre-release copies weren’t accessible to journalists this time around. The beta version is what all “Starcraft II” reviews you are able to discover are based upon off of. ”Starcraft II” can be played by everybody at the same time. Legitimate reviews will likely first come from countries like Russia, South Korea and Japan who hit midnight before the U.S..

Getting ‘Starcraft II’

In 1998, 11 million copies of the original “Starcraft” were sold. Pre-ordered copies of “Starcraft II” have already hit 800,000 meaning it could be a hit. The illegal downloading of “Starcraft II” is likely to be popular also although it is highly discouraged. Many gamers will search for a “Starcraft II” torrent to try out before picking up their copy at midnight.

‘Starcraft II’ system needs

“Starcraft II” has been developed for release on both the PC and Mac as well as some video consoles. This is what you’ll need for a PC:

• Windows XP, Vista or 7 with service pack updates
• 2.6 GHz Pentium or AMD processor
• You would like a video card with 128 MB PCle GeForce 6600 GT
• 12 GB hard drive space
• 1.5 GB RAM
• DVD-ROM Drive
• If you would like to try multiplayer, you’ll need broadband internet
• At least a 1024 x 720 display

On the Mac, the system requirements consist of:

• Mac OS X 10.5.8, 10.5.6 or better
• You need an Intel processor
• NVIDA GeForce 8600m GT video card
• 12 GB hard drive space
• Have available at least 2 GB RAM
• DVD-ROM drive
• Broadband internet if you need to play multiplayer
• 1024 x 720 as a minimum display

Additional reading

Web Game Development
securenext.com/

Interest rates lawsuit for Capital One

Raising credit card interest rates on customers without telling them has gotten Capital One in trouble, again. A class action lawsuit accusing Capital One of violating the Truth in Lending Act by raising credit card interest rates without warning was dismissed by a federal judge earlier. The 9th Circuit thought the lawsuit should be reinstated on July 22. Now you will find credit card rules making it illegal to raise credit card rates without informing consumers. Article source – Capital One sued again for deceptive interest rate increases by Personal Money Store.

Lawsuit for Capital One

Deceptive lending and being unfair competition are the reasons for the Capital One class action suit as they are said to change interest rates without “clear and conspicuous” warnings first. Raquel Rubio was a consumer who had been with the company for years and never gave them problems and, according to Courthouse News Service, then saw her interest nearly double suddenly.

Capital One deception

Rubio began the lawsuit against capital one since they broke the Truth in Lending Act and were unfair competition. A federal judge dismissed the class action, ruling that Capital One satisfies its obligation to be clear and truthful by stating that the rates and fees were subject to change. Capital One is able to “amend or change any part of your Agreement, including periodic rates and other charges, or add or remove requirements … at any time.”

Fine print deception from Capital One

An appeal is what made the Capital One class action lawsuit come back to life. A three-judge panel ruled that Capital One can’t represent that the rates are “fixed” if they are not. Rubio received, according to Reuters, a credit card offer in the mail from Capital One with a 6.99 percent rate in February 2004. The solicitation incorporated a required table that said in 10-point type the rate could rise if Rubio missed a payment, exceeded her credit limit or had a payment returned. It also said “subject to change” while the agreement Rubio ended up with the next month said she could “amend or change any part” of the agreement “at any time”. 15.99 percent became the rate Rubio had to pay as of August 2007 although she hadn’t broken the Capital One agreement.

Citations

Courthouse News Service

courthousenews.com/2010/07/22/29062.htm

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSN2116752120100721

Adding one-quarter more lending power to the International Monetary Fund

The International Monetary Fund has announced that it will try to boost its lending power to $ 1 trillion this November. The Group of 20 Summit in South Korea will consider this request. Responding to financial crises takes a lot of money, and also the IMF hopes to improve their emergency cash today availability for future troubles. Source for this article – International Monetary Fund seeks to increase lending power by Personal Money Store.

The ability of the IMF to lend

The IMF can lend about $ 750 billion to various countries. Struggling countries get advance loans from the IMF when they need help. The money is typically used to help stabilize banks and financial systems, take on system-wide reforms, and buy upgrades for infrastructure. It is very rare for a first-world country to get a loan through the IMF. A couple of first-world countries have said that they’re not willing to take IMF loans because they would appear unstable, even if they need it.

Getting more money to lend

The IMF is governed and funded by a large consortium of countries. Many of these countries could be in attendance at the G-20 summit in South Korea in November. If these countries grant the IMF an additional $ 250 billion, they’ll be the ones on the hook for the bill. The IMF does not have a big bank account with $ 750 billion in it, but the countries that make up the IMF provide the money.

Limitations on IMF money

The IMF adds various conditions to any cash loan they provide. Countries must undertake a number of reforms if they do take a loan from the IMF. There is a lot of controversy over the reforms required by the IMF. Some claim the fast loans given by the IMF end up doing more harm than good. If the IMF does increase lending capacity to $ 1 trillion, it can be able to provide more loans. There is nevertheless a debate over if the world economy would benefit from the increased number of loans, though.

Groupon- The secrets of social saving

Groupon lets you’ve a social network that you share coupons on as well. Becaue of the great deals offered along with the social networking aspect, individuals are able to conserve money. There is a sister site in Europe when 40 cities participate in the US. Groupon isn’t the only way to conserve money with a group, though.

Groupon infromation

A “groupon” deal means you’re getting a bulk discount. If a certain number of people sign up for the deal of the day, then every person gets the discount. If not enough people sign up, then nobody gets the discount. This is treated like a group discount many of the time. The product of the day has to be something every person on Groupon wants.

Where you can find a Groupon

Groupon is in 40 US “markets”. Europe calls Groupon MyCityDeal and is a “sister” business. Groupon and MyCityDeal will all become the same company soon.

Need a Groupon?

Great deals can be found with Groupon. Even if a Groupon city is too far away for you, you will find other deals available. In other cities, you will find other things like Groupon. If you don’t live in a major urban center, deals from Groupon or other sites do not prove very useful. Try typing “group coupon” with your city in a search engine. Your friends might already be a part of one so talking to them may help.

Starting Groupon yourself

You are likely going to be able to have your own Groupon if you want one badly enough. Group discounts is how Groupon works. If you’ve something you’d love to get a group discount on, then call the vendor. Get a count of how numerous individuals you need and discover the people. Discover anyone else who could be interested. You can buy once you have enough people interested!

Recalculating miles per gallon for hybrids

230 miles per gallon were intended to be within the Chevy Volt, with first GM estimates. The government formula that was used to calculate this number, though, was never officially approved. This means the estimation of miles per gallon for most hybrids will have to be recalculated — not just the Chevy Volt.

Hybrid mpg calculation

Hybrid calculations of mileage were hard for the EPA to figure out. Miles divided by fuel is how “real” miles per gallon is calculated usually. However, the EPA estimates of mileage are more complicated. The mileage changes based on city driving, highway driving, and maintenance. The formula also has to change considering the numerous different variables of hybrids. In order to get an accurate estimate of the mpg a vehicle will get, the EPA uses relatively complicated formulas.

Chevy Volt difficulties with calculation

In calculating the mpg rating of the Chevy Volt, GM used a formula created by the government. The formula never hit “final approval” if you ask the EPA. 230 miles per gallon were intended to be what the Volt got as they stated when selling. ”Working collaboratively,” the government and GM came up with a new formula. It is likely the Volt could be rated at between 70 and 140 miles per gallon, depending on the new calculations.

Electric needing to be balanced too

Regulators have always had a hard time with electric cars. The fluctuation of energy and fuel make comparisons with money hard to do. Electric cars can’t apply miles per gallon. It is nearly extremely hard to determine considering the mileage of a hybrid is affected more by variables like habits while driving. The EPA is trying to answer this question though.

Tea Party admits racism, boots racist Tea Party Express leader

A pattern of racism by Mark Williams, founder of the Tea Party Express, got him and his organization kicked out of the National Tea Party Federation. Williams, the chairman of the Tea Party Express, wrote a racist satire on the group’s website last week in response to an NAACP resolution calling out the Tea Party to denounce the racists in its movement. When the NAACP voted on the Tea Party resolution at its convention last week, the Tea Party denied the presence of racism in its rank and file. But when the media got a hold of Williams’ racist satire, the Tea Party promptly expelled him for being a racist.

Tea Party racism exemplified in Tea Party Express

Williams founded the Tea Party Express and built it into one of one of the most powerful factions of the Tea Party movement. The New York Daily News reports that raising $ 2.3 million and helping Republican Scott Brown get elected to the late Ted Kennedy’s seat are among the Tea Party Express’ achievements under Williams. Last month Williams stepped down as chair to lead a campaign against a mosque project in New York known as the ground zero mosque, which he has described as a monument to 9/11 attackers where Muslims will “worship the terrorist money-god”. Williams called Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer a “Jewish Uncle Tom who would have turned rat on Anne Frank” for supporting the project.

Tea Party Express leader says Muslims worship a “monkey god”

While the Tea Party Express’ Williams was saying that Muslims worship a monkey god, the Tea Party twisted the meaning of the NAACP resolution requesting that the movement cull the racists from its membership. Tea Party officials and right wing news pundits said the NAACP was calling the Tea Party a racist organization. They retorted by calling the NAACP racist. But claims made in the NAACP resolution became obvious after teapartyexpress.org published a racist satire written by Williams.

Slavery a joke to Tea Party Express

The Tea Party movement expelled Williams and his Tea Party Express after he wrote a letter, labeled as “satire,” from NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous to President Lincoln . This particular excerpt from the letter was posted by Fox News:
“Perhaps the most racist point of all within the Tea Parties is their demand that government ’stop raising our taxes.’ That is outrageous! How will we coloreds ever get a wide-screen TV in every room if non-coloreds get to keep what they earn?” he wrote. “Mr. Lincoln, you were the greatest racist ever. We had a fantastic gig. 3 squares, room and board, all our decisions made by the massa within the house. Please repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments and let us get back to where we belong.”

Will NAACP Tea Party resolution give Tea Party a backbone?

Long term Tea Party interests may benefit from booting the Tea Party Express. The Huffington Post reports that now the movement must take responsibility for having an organizational structure. After the NAACP resolution, the Tea Party can’t use its grass roots, free-form nature as an excuse to condone such behavior.

More information about this topic at these websites

nydailynews.com

foxnews.com

huffingtonpost.com

Is the five second rule actually true?

Food waste is something we should strive to avoid. According to Wikipedia, wasted food (raw or cooked) costs the U.K. £10.2 billion annually ($ 15.5 billion). The U.S. never even touches 15 percent of what they produce in food, which costs the nation $ 43 billion annually. You’d think the five second rule – where dropped food is assumed to be fit to eat so long as it is scooped off the floor in less than five seconds – would be encouraged by economists. As outlined by Chicago Tribune, a Clemson University study by food scientist Paul Dawson totally rebukes the validity of any such five second rule. Article source – Is the five second rule giving way to a zero second rule by Personal Money Store.

Make the five second rule a zero second rule to be safe, says Dawson

Dawson reminds that salmonella and other harmful bacteria can survive for as long as four weeks on the surfaces of your home, so the five second rule is too risky to utilize. The Connecticut College study that used apple slices and Skittles is Dawson’s main opposer. The old study claimed the apple took one minute before infection, while the candy took all of five minutes. Then there was the University of Maine study that equated the five second rule with reduced food waste and immunity improvement in kids.

Mind the location, not a time interval

The five second rule is pseudo-science, claim Dawson and supporting researchers. A kitchen or bathroom floor will typically be home to many more harmful germs that cause illness, as outlined by numerous scientific studies. However, if a bagel drops on the sidewalk, it’s OK to pick it up and brush it off. Amazingly, public sidewalks can be considerably cleaner, as they don’t provide as numerous germ-favorable substances.

Five seconds with your mind

Like everyone else, the Tribune knows that you’ll pick up something if you really want it. Thus, sugary snacks tend to be recovered more than vegetables. It is also interesting to note that research seems to disprove gender stereotypes: women are more likely to eat dropped food than men.

More info on this topic

featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2010/07/debunking-the-fivesecond-dropped-food-rule.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_waste

Interesting solutions for DIY issues

When needing to fix your car, numerous DIY solutions may be accessible to you. Off beat auto fixes are offered by Mike Allen who works with Popular Mechanics. Source of article – Offbeat auto fixes for the DIY road warrior by Car Deal Expert.

Fuse box troubles fixes with odd solution number one

The first example used by Allen is of a driver stranded on a mountainside. A kind passerby asks if he can take a look at the car while making special not of the fuse box. What the stranded motorist learned is that relay fuses found in automotive fuse boxes are frequently alike, making a relay fuse swap possible. All the fuses do is connect functions with the car. The owner manual on hand will show which fuses connect to which functions. Smart drivers will already have this chart on their fuse boxes for emergencies like this. The traveler’s problem is that his fuel pump is dead. The fuse is changed from something unnecessary on the car right now to the fuel pump slot.

Diet soda and eggs to help with radiator in offbeat solution 2

Hole within the radiator? Raw eggs cracked to the radiator is a suggestion by Allen. Do not use anything but the radiator for this. The idea is that the egg white will sink down and plug the hole temporarily. If the radiator hole made the levels of fluid go down, look at your drink and see if it can help you. Topping off with diet soda (without sugar to clog the water pump) helps. Beer and iced tea will also work in a pinch. Try not to top it off with anything that contains many sugar.

Oil and nature combined again for a third tip

Driving rough roads punishes your vehicle. If rock meets oil pan, a hole and subsequent oil leak could be the result. The answer to your problem could be where the problem was created. The hole could be plugged, if you ask Allen, with a simple twig. Hammer it to the oil puncture after carving it into the shape you need. You will have to cut off the end of the stick so that it doesn’t catch on anything and make the problem worse. If there is not enough oil left in the crankcase before you fix it, you can top it off with water before continuing. Allen explains, “The oil-pump pickup is not on the exact bottom – the remaining oil will float on top of the water”. Remember, this is only an emergency technique. Your car can be much better off with actual motor oil.

Cleaning up a gas tank hole with a fourth offbeat auto fix

This is almost the exact same as the previous tip except it’s with a gas tank. For those who have a bar of soap on hand, carve a chunk out of it. Hammer the hole-sized chunk in and get to town as quickly as possible. You’ll be much better off if you keep away from using “Dukes of Hazard” as an example by siphoning gas. You’ll have to leave your car or get ready for a long trip of pushing it to a garage.

Discover more about this topic here

Popular Mechanics

popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair/4331569

Fixing the oil pan and clearing away the foliage

youtube.com/watch?v=F1eb_5lR97Q

Good Inception reviews aren't just a dream, they are reality

Reviews are beginning to pile up for the new Christopher Nolan film, Inception, which debuted Friday, July 16. Some of the reviews are glowing. In fairness, the Batman films Nolan directed were excellent. Leonardo DiCaprio is indeed a fine actor, and those things guarantee some good reviews. Some critics gave the film some considerable stick. Apparently, the film just rubbed them the wrong way. Article resource – Inception reviews are mostly exceptional by Personal Money Store.

Inception gets good reviews at its inception

Inception reviews are already piling up on Rotten Tomatoes, and most of RT seems to love the film. It has an 83 percent fresh rating there. Roger Ebert gave it four stars. He also said the movie was “wholly original, cut from new cloth” and he isn’t really alone in thinking that’s a rare thing. If it is really that good, extra cash should pour into box offices worldwide.

Not for every person though

Nothing really pleases every person. Some reviewers were harsh. Kurt Loder of MTV unloaded on it, asking “are they handing out joints at the box office for ‘Inception’? That would make the movie considerably more fun.” Most critics think the film confusing, though well acted and visually interesting.

The sum total

The Inception reviews are mostly good. There also appears to be some speculation concerning the Inception ending, and there won’t be a spoiler here. Consensus is apparently that if you absolutely need a clear Point A to Point B and an ending that wraps things up in a neat little bow, then this film is not for you.

Discover more details on this topic

rottentomatoes.com/m/inception/

rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100714/REVIEWS/100719997

mtv.com/news/articles/1643791/20100715/story.jhtml

Senate passes Wall Street reform bill

The United States Senate has officially passed the Wall Street reform bill. The Senate first voted to stop discussion and finish the voting. 50 of the 51 needed votes for passing the bill were already promised, so an easy passage was expected. The bill passed 60 to 39. The bill will now go to the President’s desk. President Obama is expected to make the decision to sign or veto the bill by sometime next week.

Wall Street reform bill finally passes

The Senate first had to vote to kill discussion. According to CNN Money, the vote to stop debate passed 60 to 38. Soon afterwards, the final vote began. The financial reform legislation has been floundering for over a year, as it was introduced in 2009. The bill needed some key Senate Republicans to offer their support for it in exchange for alterations. There is nevertheless Republican opposition to the bill in both houses.

What the bill will do

The bill is largely aimed at Wall Street. Certain trading practices are affected, concerning certain securities, derivatives, and debt bundling. The Wall Street reform bill also creates mandatory middle men, so firms are more insulated from each other. An advisory and regulatory board will be created that will choose the fate of huge firms that are collapsing. The bill also creates a consumer financial protection agency, which will aim to shore up mortgage loans, credit cards, and other consumer lending such as pay day loan. The Federal Reserve will house the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The critics sound off

The Wall Street Journal asked some economists whether they would have voted for it, and only half said they would. The economists the WSJ surveyed mostly believed the effects would be minimal at best. John Boehner, R – OH, the House Minority Leader has already said it should be repealed, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, has said the bill will “stifle growth and kill jobs .” The bill authorizes an audit of the Federal Reserve only after it makes emergency cash loans and doesn’t address Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae at all.

Find more information here

money.cnn.com/2010/07/15/news/economy/Wall_Street_reform_bill_vote/index.htm

money.cnn.com/2010/06/25/news/economy/whats_in_the_reform_bill/index.htm?postversion=2010063018

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703722804575369050948609966.html

Getting a loan within the UK could require taking a test

Getting loans is going to be harder within the United Kingdom with the new rules they are considering. After the Learning and Skills Council discovered that 9 out of 10 customers could not calculate basic financial numbers, ministers took note. Those who need loans could be required to take a test first.

Lack of financial knowledge concern

As a response to the global financial crisis, the United Kingdom formed a Consumer Financial Education Body. Figures which were just lately released by that group found that almost three-quarters — 74 percent — of all Britons with mortgages could not answer basic questions. For example, most did not know how a 1 percent rise within the bank rate would affect their loans, payday or bills. This lack of knowledge about the basics of the best personal loans can have huge impacts on the financial health of the entire country.

A possible solution?

One potential solution that has been proposed by government agencies within the UK is a required test. A test will be taken by customers getting a loan. The test would make sure consumers know basic features of the loan and financial products they are using. The questions might even have interest rate or the term of the loan they are getting in it. Many think there should be a simple declaration given that the terms of the loan have been read and understood.

Reviewing how loans are sold to consumers

Within the United Kingdom, the loan practices are co-run by the Treasury and Business departments of the government. This also could possibly be something requiring the interest that will be paid by the end to be shown by lenders. There could possibly be a change in how bankruptcy works also helping people to “start over.".

VIP loans investigated by committee for ethics on Senate

Many of those in Washington DC are concerned about the ethics of VIP cash loans their staff has. These “VIP” or “sweetheart” loans were all made by Countrywide, which was most recently purchased by Bank of The US. These VIP cash advances may end up causing ethical or legal problems for a couple of senators.

VIP loan given out by Countrywide

In documents most recently released by Bank of The US, it was revealed that Countrywide wrote a huge number of “sweetheart” loans. These low interest rate, no credit check loan products appear to are targeted to senators’ staffs. Republican Senator Issa, who filed an ethics complaint stemming from these loans, points out a “high concentration” of loans to D.C. staffers. Many feel these loans were written because Countrywide wanted some influence within the white house with some senators. The loans were made mostly in 2002 and 2003.

Complaints about ethics and loans

Senator Issa filed the ethics complaints against several senators. These reports which were filed caused Senator Dodd and Senator Conrad to be “scolded” by the Ethics committee, although that’s the extent of it. Within the scolding, they were told to “be more careful to keep away from the appearance of favoritism from Countrywide.” Despite the scolding, both senators were cleared of actual rules violations. Probably the most recent ethics complaint being made blames Senator Robert Bennett. Twelve of the 30 named “VIP loans” went to members of his staff.

Loan recipients names

The investigation on Countrywide VIP cheap loans is being done by an Oversight and Government Reform committee from the Senate. Bank of The United States has to give the government all documents involving VIP loans that they have incorporated anything that has “US Senate” written down as their employer. Anything received from Countrywide was already given to the government by Bank of American and 37,000 documents are what they have received so far. If the names come out, then the upcoming election could possibly be detrimental for some.

Issue discussed by Senator Burnett

In detail, Republican Senator Burnett, retiring, spoke about the ethics complaint filed against him. Senator Burnett informed every person that he doesn’t pay any attention to where his employers put their money or take their money from. Mortgages and unsecured personal loans they received are none of his business so he never made it his business.

What will everyone get from the NAACP and Tea Party fight?

Broadsides have been fired between the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The two sides are bickering over various things. The Tea Party is pushing racist messages, as outlined by the NAACP. The Tea Party says the NAACP is covering up for racism and criminal behavior within the New Black Panther Party. Pundits on both sides have begun to sound off.

The NAACP says

Demonstrators outside of Tea Party rallies have been photographed with signs that numerous, including the NAACP, say are racist. Of course, the people in the photographs do not represent the entire Tea Party, but the NAACP is assigning guilt by association. In fact, Tea Party rally organizers are starting to ban that sort from attending.

The Tea Party side

The Tea Party folks have fired back that the NAACP is racist for covering for the New Black Panther Party committing voting crimes. The US Attorney’s office was investigation voting crimes committed by the NBPP that may have been racially motivated around the 2008 election. The attorneys on the case were ordered to drop the case, perhaps by Obama appointed officials.

Who’s the bad guy on this one?

The only thing this debate does is create more non-debates for Fox, MSNBC, and talk radio to jaw about and sell ad space. But while this is going to amount to more ad revenue for political pundits, the bickering back and forth doesn’t do anything to advance the cause of either side, and doesn’t do anything to combat real racism.

Credit cards are desperately needed by small companies

Small companies can nevertheless get credit. This credit doesn’t come as a business loan from a bank or Small business Administration. Now many small businesses use credit cards to help. There isn’t very much funding accessible to everyone unless they have a Fortune 500 business these days. Source of article – Small businesses relying more on credit cards by Personal Money Store.

Many more small business credit cards

To get their credit, small companies are using credit cards reports CNN Money. Companies are approved for credit cards as easily as they’re denied for business loans. The first quarter of 2010 saw a reduction of $ 40 billion in lending to small businesses, which is the lowest level since 2008. Since June this year, there is no more money for lending in the stimulus package, and in 2009, not even half of small businesses got the lending they needed.

What’s keeping banks from lending?

The normal way a small company gets a loan to get off the ground, or help them expand, is through either a small or mid-size bank. The Small business Administration helps also. However, smaller banks don’t have as much liquidity as they used to, and also the SBA stimulus funding has run dry. Things are put up as collateral, like property, when business owners apply for a loan. Since property is not as valuable anymore, less credit is going to be made accessible. Credit cards then become the only source of credit accessible. If a piece of property isn’t really as valuable anymore, it’s hard for a business to get mortgage loan modification to free up cash.

Someone is reaping all the benefits

An short term loan from the SBA contains a minimum term of seven years. If one starts making minimum places only, credit cards will never get paid off. Business credit cards not being under the CARD Act is the only difference between business credit cards and regular credit cards. Big banks are the source of funding for credit cards. Citibank, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JP Morgan Chase are some of the banks that lend a lot to credit cards. Who got one of the most bailout funds?

More information available at these websites

CNN Money

cnn. com/2010/07/14/smallbusiness/bernanke_lending_credit_cards. fortune/

NY Times piece about SBA loans

boss. blogs. nytimes. com/2010/07/11/s-b-a-lending-plunged-in-june/

Nuclear scientist initially from Iran shows up at home, Ayatollah, with nothing

Returning home was an Iranian nuclear scientist that defected in 2009 to the USA. The CIA allegedly kidnapped Shahram Amiri, if you ask him. U.S. officials say he defected on his own free will and apparently got homesick. The whole time, Amiri could have been an agent that was there for the Iranian government, some believe. The US got information on the Iranian nuclear weapons program so they aren’t complaining. Amiri left $ 5 million in CIA cash behind. Propaganda is still coming out of this by the Iranian government still.

Iranian nuclear scientist said he was kidnapped, tortured

The Islamic Republic News Agency reports that Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi greeted Sharhram Amiri, Tehran believes was kidnapped and tortured in the US, at the Imam Khomeini International Airport. CNN reports that an official in the know said despite the CIA cash loan, the U.S. came out ahead within the deal, with data about Iranian nuclear online websites and Iranian nuclear weapons. CNN was told about Amiri, “We have his insights — original details on the Iranian nuclear program that proved useful — and now the Iranians have him. Plainly, we got the better end of things.”.

Iranian nuke defector left $ 5 million/span>

After being paid $ 5 million in CIA cash til payday for the details given on the Iranian nuclear weapons program, the Iranian nuke defector left many of the money. ABC News reports the CIA commonly puts this kind of money in escrow so that an informant is rationed funds at the agency’s discretion. Since the money is in escrow, it can’t be received all at once by the snitch. It is uncertain how much Amiri received before he changed his mind but in escrow is still most of the money. Anything he got is now beyond his reach, thanks to sanctions against Iran.

Iranian government gloats and crows

There were clear signs that the Iranian government used the Iranian nuclear scientist for propaganda. Reporters in Tehran were told, as outlined by the Guardian, by Amiri that he was tortured while in the US for 14 months so he had to lie about Iran’s nuclear program. Being an expert within the field is something he denied. He was invited to address the parliament’s committee on national security after the media in Iran, controlled by the state, gave so much coverage to his return. Siasat-e Ruz reports the end of CIA dominance, power of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and failure of western intelligence.

When it comes to nukes in Iran, who has the truth?

Last month, two videos surfaced on the Internet of a man claiming to be Amiri who said he escaped from U.S. agents and was hiding in Virginia. How he made a video while he was held against his will was what one CIA official wonders in a CNN article. The Guardian article said Iranian bloggers suggest Amiri was a “controlled” agent and pointed to previous examples of undercover operations to discredit opposition activists. “If it was something they wanted to sweep under the carpet, they wouldn’t have given it this huge amount of media coverage,” the Guardian quoted one Iranian analyst.

Discover more details

CNN
cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/07/15/iran.researcher.claims/index.html?npt=NP1
ABC News
abcnews.go.com/Blotter/shahram-amiri-iran-nuke-defector-left-million-cia/story?id=11171171
The Guardian
guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/15/shamram-amiri-returns-iran-nuclear

NAACP convention votes on condemning Tea Party racism

Some members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People think the Tea Party is racist. At the NAACP convention in Kansas City this week, NAACP members will vote Tuesday on a resolution that condemns the Tea Party for racism. Some Tea Party members said the NAACP is calling the kettle black. In the mean time, a black community leader in Atlanta said the NAACP convention could use its time better by following the grass roots example of the Tea Party movement.

News images suggest Tea Party racism

Many suspect the Tea Party of racism, especially after seeing news coverage of angry protesters holding posters that mock President Obama. Reports of black congressmen being spit on by Tea Party members during the health care reform debate haven’t helped the movement's image either. The Washington Post reports that the NAACP Tea Party resolution says members of the movement have “displayed signs and posters intended to degrade people of color typically and President Barack Obama specifically” and calls “the racist elements” within the Tea Party “a threat to progress ".

Tea Party retaliates, calling NAACP racist

The NAACP Tea Party resolution also calls on “the leadership and members of the Tea Party to recognize the historic and present racist factions within it and to repudiate those factions". It also says the Tea Party opposes government programs that help working individuals and people of color. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Tea Party leaders said a few individual members, not the movement itself, have conveyed the image of Tea Party racism. Racism won't be tolerated at Tea Party rallies, said Jenny Beth Martin of the online network Tea Party Patriots, but she also admitted that racism had been evident at past Tea Party protests. Accusing the movement of racism is ironic according to Tea Party Patriot Mary Meckler, who said the NAACP is racist.

NAACP – Tea Party a role model?

Whether the debate is about Tea Party racism or NAACP racism, Charing Ball, a black media personality in Atlanta, says the NAACP is missing the point. Ball understands the emotions behind the NAACP Tea Party resolution. But he wonders why, writing within the Atlanta Post, the NAACP is spinning its wheels on meaningless gestures instead of getting its hands dirty for real racial justice. Ball points out that the NAACP could ensure more progress on racial justice by adopting Tea Party methods. The NAACP could better meet the needs of the black community today at the grass roots by rallying voters and training and nurturing young candidates.

More info available at these websites

washingtonpost.com

latimes.com

atlantapost.com

Mel Gibson tapes prove crackpots better off silent

The recent scandal concerning Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva, his new daughter’s mother, has led to many publicity for him. It’s all bad. Lawsuits and a domestic violence charge are both looking like they might happen. Rumors have been circulating about a domestic dispute that happened. It doesn’t help that there was a release of all these rumored “Mel Gibson tapes” This could seriously hurt his career.

The Mel Gibson tapes – a withering verbal assault

He should have found out how he can sell the “Mel Gibson tapes”. He would be making a fortune, especially if he trademarked the phrase. He might not be able to recover from this if they are real (see Radaronline.com). William Morris Endeavor already dropped him from their agency. Without an agent, he won’t get the SAG card he needs to act or direct. Gibson may no longer have a job.

Quickly gone is tolerance

There probably can’t be a “Lethal Weapons 5″ after the “Mel Gibson tapes” problem. People can say anything they want, even if it is misguided. The government can’t do anything about what people are saying. Other consequences may arise though.

Why we get from the crazy person?

Is the name John Rocker an old one? The Atlanta Braves kicked out the baseball player who made racist comments. Look at Rush Limbaugh. ESPN kicked him out after the Donovan McNabb debacle. Then there was NFL player Larry Johnson. Following the homophobic comments he said, he was released immediately. Of course he had stopped playing well at that point. Just because somebody is racist or prejudice doesn’t mean they can stay around working people.

More details about this topic at these websites

RadarOnline.com

radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/07/exclusive-audio-out-control-mel-gibson-says-hell-burn-down-house-after-demanding

Rupee gets new currency symbol as India gains financial clout

The obscure topic of currency symbols was hot online Thursday when India unveiled a new mark for the Indian Rupee that could be official in international financial markets. Before the new currency symbol for the rupee was announced, the abbreviations Rs, Re, or INR represented it in the marketplace. India’s Union Cabinet is expected to finalize the new currency symbol, a cross between the Roman letter R and its Hindi equivalent with a double slash, on June 24. Implementing the new rupee symbol, based on recent history with the new Euro symbol, may take a couple of years and cost billions of dollars.

Rupee’s rise calls for a new currency symbol

India, the second largest democracy within the world, was lacking a unique currency symbol in world financial markets. The Deccan Chronicle reports the new rupee symbol is the winner of a design competition to create a currency symbol representing the historical and cultural ethos of India. Confusion in world financial markets by neighboring countries that use abbreviated Rs for their currency symbol will end with the new rupee symbol, Indian officials said. The rupee may also be more tradeable in the west with a distinct identity as India strives to become one of the world’s financial leaders.

Will rupee be accepted by elite club of currencies?

Until now unique currency symbols existing only for the U.S. dollar, European Euro, British Pound, and Japanese Yen. The BBC reports that India has declared itself one of the elite world economies with its new rupee symbol. The rupee symbol contest attracted as many as 36,000 entries that a panel of artists, officials and bankers selected from. A design from a design teacher at the Indian Institute of Technology was declared the winner. The winning prize was Rs 2.5 lakh which is about $ 5,350.

Introduction of euro symbol took billions

Its costly to implement a new currency, as outlined by experts. Suite 101 reports that it is extremely difficult to design because it involves rigorous testing across a wide range of technical applications like the web, banners, and mobile phones. Plus, it needs to be adaptable to computer keyboards and a large investment is needed to print a new banknote design. When the euro symbol was introduced in 1999, the BBC article said, Europe’s biggest companies had to update computer systems to the tune of more than $ 50 billion.

More info about this topic at these websites

deccanchronicle.com

bbc.co.uk

suite101.com

Federal agency investigating Freddie and Fannie investments

This morning, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced that it will be investigating the investments of mortgage companies Freddie and Fannie. The agency issued subpoenas about the bank loan details and securities that the two large companies purchased. If there was a lack of information in any of the paperwork for the securities, the sellers can be liable for the cost of those securities.

Article source: Federal agency investigating Freddie and Fannie investments by Personal Money Store

Fannie and Freddie’s investments

Mortgage lenders Fannie and Freddie made investments in mortgage securities that are turning out to be questionable. The value of these packaged securities dropped . Many of these packaged securities integrated mortgage short term loan for individuals with poor credit. There is a belief that Fannie and Freddie fanned the flames of the bubble by being so willing to purchase these securities.

Loan details subpoenaed

After taking control of Fannie and Freddie, the Federal Housing Finance Agency issued 6$ separate subpoenas. The agency has been attempting to get details on these loans for a when, but has encountered resistance. There is some concern the sellers of these packaged securities obscured the reality of the risk behind the loans.

What the subpoenas could change

The subpoenas issued to sellers of these debt loans seek to determine whether some info was not shared. Paying for the loss could possibly be the responsibility of the firms that sold the packages, if they did hide information. Thus far, Fannie and Freddie have lost more than $1$ 5 billion of taxpayer money. If there are any lies discovered within the loan documents, then the sellers can have to pay for money lost. The businesses that offered these quick personal loans products may very well have gone out of business.

Changes to student loan programs make repayment easier for numerous

With the fall semester of 2010 coming up for students, recent changes to student loan programs are taking effect. Some of the biggest changes consist of an alteration of income depending repayment standards. This help for graduates with student loan debt will reduce payments on this easy cash loans for some. New rules and formulas for student loans will, within the end, help make higher education more affordable for most.

Dropping student loan rates

July 1, the rates on a form of small personal loan subsidized by the government dropped. Rates for Stafford loans that were subsidized dropped from 5.6 percent to 4.5 percent. Subsidized loans that originated before July 1, 2010 will maintain the exact same rate as before.

Income based upon repayment and the changes to it

The changes to student loan programs that may have the biggest effect are all of the changes to income depending repayment formulas. Many recent graduates are discovering that with a tough job market and banks with no money to lend, it’s practically difficult to make student loan payments. The program introduced last year is adjusted by the income depending repayment recalculation. The point of income-based repayment is to keep debt manageable for all of the students who are saddled with huge loans and few job prospects.

Removing the marriage penalty

For married couples who have two sets of student loans, the new income based repayment formula will no longer penalize married couples. Combined loan payment amounts could be used to calculate eligibility as long as couples are likely to file their taxes jointly. Only a single money loan balance could be measured against total household income.

Repayment balance vs current balance

Previously, income based upon repayment was calculated using the amount borrowers owed when they first entered the repayment period. Now, income-based repayment estimates could be calculated using the current amount nevertheless owed. This will end up helping reduce the load on previous students who have had loans in deferment, building interest without making payments.

Consumers have legal protection from collection agency harassment

Debt collection has been a growth industry within the U.S. thanks to the Great Recession. Creditors are unloading debt to collection agencies for pennies on the dollar. On consumers, collection agencies are coming down even harder. About collection agency harassment, there have been more consumer complaints. Law firms that are using debt collection software are in all the courtrooms. But consumers need to know that they can hire an attorney to sue debt collectors for abusive practices. Article source – Consumers have legal protection from collection agency harassment by Personal Money Store.

Collection agencies – abuse, violence and bogus claims

More collection agencies are trying to get money out of people. CNN reports that harassing phone calls, abusive language and physical violence are becoming a bigger part of the collection agency business. As outlined by the New York Times, a single law firm can use computer software to file thousands of debt collection cases, often based on inaccurate or incomplete info supplied by creditors who sold the debt. According to the Post-Bulletin in Minneapolis, accounts have been tapped, wages seized and people threatened with arrest for debts they do not owe or for inflated amounts.

Collection agency harassment skyrockets

Complaints of collection agency harassment went up by 50 percent in 2009, as outlined by the Federal Trade Commission. The CNN article said they’re on track to jump 13 percent more in 2010 which is depending on FTC complaints filed within the first six months. The top complaint is repeated calls. It is common for debt collectors to harass consumers with calls for extended periods of time. When they get someone to answer the phone, they’re more likely to be abusive. Complaints of collection agencies using obscene or abusive language spiked 35 percent last year. Complaints of debt collectors threatening or resorting to violence doubled last year.

Now debt collection software sues indiscriminately

While harassment by collection agencies is increasing, they are also hiring lawyers to sue. The New York Times article explained that a debt buyer sends a law firm a database that contains consumer data including names, home addresses, outstanding balances and the date of default. The law firm runs the data through debt collection software that runs suits through the legal system automatically, including the collection letters, summonses and lawsuits. Most consumers who get sued by debt collection software tend to fail to show up in court, and those who do rarely have a lawyer. A court judgment gives debt buyers the ability to collect on the debt through things like wage or property garnishment.

The bankruptcy laws fuel debt collection industry

The debt collection industry exploded beginning in 2005 with sweeping changes to federal bankruptcy laws that made it harder for people to get a fresh start. Individuals defaulted on loans which then expanded the debt buyers’ market. As outlined by the Post-Bulletin article, the nation’s five publicly traded debt buyers last year paid $ 835 million to acquire $ 20 billion in old debts. Credit card debt makes up almost all of the total But almost every type of charged-off debt, from unpaid cell phone accounts to hospital bills is for sale. Debt buyers base their claims on data up to 15 years old that can be extremely hard to verify, and they’re ready to hound individuals for years.

Consumers sue to get besides collection agencies

More common are aggressive tactics. The CNN article said collection agencies calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., demanding more money than what is owed, revealing a consumer’s debt to a third party or threatening “dire consequences” like prosecution, jail time, property seizure or job loss. These practices are considered illegal under the FTC’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Consumers can take a collector to court for harassment. If they win, the collection agency has to pay for any damages caused by the harassment, also as court and attorney fees.

Discover more details

CNN on Yahoo

finance.yahoo.com/news/Debt-collectors-sock-it-to-cnnm-2499699064.html?x=&.v=4

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/07/13/business/13collection.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Post Bulletin

postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=7&a=460512

Learning how to outfox car salespeople is important

Car salespeople may say their approach is soft and fluffy, but the honest truth is that psychological tricks are waiting within the grass for consumers. Typically it’s perfectly legal. This is why it pays to know the techniques car salespeople are bound to use in pursuit of your money.

Article resource: Be aware of the tricks car salespeople use to make the sale by Car Deal Expert

Car salespeople are trying to make a living

Recessionary times require extra sales ingenuity from car salespeople. Therefore, you must know the tricks of the tricksters. All About Auto Zone gets credit for the basics; Car Deal Expert fills in the gaps.

1. Emotional appeal is catchy

Buying a new car quickens the pulse. Even used cars can be exciting. Car salespeople will try to tap to the emotional highs of expectation to guide you into a purchase. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, you’ll want to keep your logical brain ready in reserve to analyze whether a deal is as good as the salesperson is trying to make you feel.

2. Do not believe the friendship talk

While many car salespeople don’t start their day with the stated goal of ruining a poor consumer’s life, it can sure end up that way. Keep in mind that car salespeople are there to make money, not friends. Your car salesperson could possibly be friendly by nature, but you can’t let your guard down and assume they are truly a friend. Use logic and do not be distracted by talk of summer grilling. They’re using their training to get you to relax and fall into their hands.

3. Know your trade-in value

Look up the Blue Book or equivalent value for any car you are considering for trade-in. Otherwise, you won’t know just how much the dealer is trying to undersell you. It’s not hard to track this info down. Look it upon online or get a copy at the bookstore before you go to the lot.

4. High trade-in and high selling price

Here’s something that can happen when your best-friend car salesperson gives you a high trade-in value. There can be a huge trade off. You may face a barrage of hard-sell opportunities, a higher selling price or even higher rate of interest (why not use Car Deal Expert instead?)

5. Offer stands until you step off the lot

Don’t believe this one. If your car salesperson insists you need to buy today or the special will end, you should be concerned about the whole transaction. Be on your guard.

6. The salesperson is overly emphatic over your ability to afford payments

Your car salesperson can show you the numbers, but if they try to steer you into believing any set of numbers will work for you, it could possibly be fishy. Going above and beyond the call of duty to distract you from the numbers is a red flag. You know your spending budget; they know how to try to talk you out of said spending budget. Psychological brinksmanship is to be expected, just watch out for the hard sell.

More details about this topic at these websites:

http://www.cartechhome.com/2009/02/6-tricks-new-car-salesman-used.html

Personal finances on the slide despite national upturn?

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP for short) most recently published the results of a poll that showed that Americans are optimistic about a national economic recovery within the next half year. But as Bloomberg indicates, the bad news is that these exact same Americans lack faith in their own personal finances. Americans worry that savings, college money and retirement arrangements are simply beyond their kin. Post resource – The economy may be increasing, but what about our personal finances by Personal Money Store.

Personal finances don’t light up the headlines like recession busting

The CFP survey results indicate that 44 percent of respondents expect an upturn within the U.S. economy before their own personal finances, in contrast to 28 percent who believe a “double dip” recession will occur. CFP chair Robert Glovsky told Bloomberg that “Americans are usually hopeful, and much of the economic news leads us to conclude that we are out of the recession, and a double dip is unlikely”.

But this optimism doesn’t stick to the personal finance problem, it seems. Personal finances keep two-thirds of the CFP respondents up at night, despite the fact consumer confidence is up overall and there was a .2 percent decrease in declared unemployment from May 2010 to June 2010. Many consumers believe they need fast cash, but are frequently ineligible for a bank loan as a result of still-tight credit market. They may have found that a poor credit personel loans is a viable way out of the problem, but this doesn’t bode well if there is no future plan to deal with emergencies that prey upon personal finances.

A three-pronged personal finance nightmare

CFP survey findings from the 1,000-member sample group (aged 18 and over) showed that most feared whether they’d be able to conserve money, pay for college and prepare for a financially stable retirement. Adding to the worries surrounding their personal finances, 80 percent of respondents felt that Congress and federal regulators hadn’t taken an active enough role in pushing legislation to regulate financial markets. But soon that may be addressed by the upcoming financial reform bill.

More information

bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-13/americans-are-more-optimistic-about-economy-than-own-finances-survey-says.html

cfp.net/media/release.asp?id=253

G Ticket- Option Ticketmaster – Why wait?

Is G ticket, Google’s option to Ticketmaster, just a rumor? G Ticket might be born from the wishful thinking of music fans who have grown tired of Ticketmaster’s service fees. Adding to the general public dissatisfaction is the Ticketmaster monopoly the nation’s largest concert promoter was approved by the Department of Justice in June. The company’s stranglehold on live entertainment is stronger than ever. But until G Ticket becomes a reality (if it ever does), concertgoers have many online approaches to avoid Ticketmaster fees.

Resource for this article: Why wait for G Ticket, Google’s choice to Ticketmaster by Personal Money Store

G Ticket and what to expect

With an alternative to Ticketmaster, what would concertgoers expect? Probably every little thing they experience with the alleged Ticketmaster monopoly. Because of the fees, a lot of people do not like Ticketmaster. It was reported by Variety that ticket prices for the top 100 tours have risen 142 percent since the mid ’90s. What would G Ticket offer that Ticketmaster can’t besides tickets? Maybe email alerts about events coming to your area? Industry news feeds? Maybe lower fees? That’s what they’re looking for.

G ticket-rumor at the moment

Until a player like the rumored G Ticket comes along; concertgoers can find many methods to do keep away from Ticketmaster fees. To sell seats, Ticketmaster works directly with venues. It is a more reliable source. Then you take into account the fees. But online competition can drive down prices for buyers willing to sniff out deals. You’ll still pay fees, but you won’t need a personal cash loan to see the show.

Stay away from Ticketmaster fees

Online, the resale market of tickets is thriving. It was reported by the Associated Press that tickets become available on the resale market from smaller ticket brokers that list inventories online or from consumers who have tickets to an event they cannot attend. Some online websites purchase and sell tickets. The websites aren’t breaking laws since they aren’t selling at the event.

Ticket resellers have the best deals

Prowling the resale market can unearth killer deals, especially for really good seats. StubHub has a 10 percent service fee and is the biggest ticket reseller. Other ticket resellers consist of RazorGator.com, TicketLiquidator.com and TicketNetwork.com. The Associated Press article said that prices and availability fluctuate wildly. Check as many ticket resellers as you can find before purchasing and always factor in all of the service charges when you’re shopping around. Ultimately, not a soul wants to eat their tickets, so if you want to take your chances and wait until the last minute, you’ll find the best deal.

Discover more information:

Variety

variety.com/article/VR1118020885.html?categoryId=16&cs=1

Associated Press

msnbc.msn.com/id/37741778/38034117

Stub Hub

stubhub.com/all-tickets/?gcid=C12289×486&keyword=10115704&creative=3839896060&gclid=CI7-9Yz43qICFQkpawod8xaaog

Is cyber attack defender Perfect Citizen really Big Brother?

The computer networks of public and private entities will now be monitored by “Perfect Citizen” a federal program headed by the National Security Agency (NSA). The purpose of Perfect Citizen is to prevent cyber attacks against resources considered vital to national security such as public utilities and power plants. The program is disconcerting to some who see large-scale NSA surveillance as Big Brother, while to others Perfect Citizen is a reassuring safety net.

Source for this article: Is Perfect Citizen national security, or Big Brother in disguise? by Personal Money Store

Is Perfect Citizen too much authority for the NSA

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the Perfect Citizen story. The Journal reports that the government’s chief eavesdroppers, the NSA will deploy a set of sensors within the computer networks of entities deemed critical that is triggered by spikes that could be warnings of a cyber attack. A classified contract worth up to $ 1 million was just lately awarded to Ratheon, the defense contractor for phase one of Perfect Citizen. Perfect Citizen is an intrusion by the NSA into domestic affairs for some industry and government officials who learn about the program. Others say it the NSA surveillance is long overdue Internet security for preventing an emerging threat, and the NSA is the only agency with the gear and experience to handle the job.

Public companies get access to NSA data

The Journal article explains that Perfect Citizen will be applied to older computer networks that were designed before Internet security was an issue. Every little thing from air-traffic control to subways are run by many of those networks. Since they have been linked to the Internet, they’re more efficient, but extremely vulnerable to cyber attack. Perfect Citizen will collect intelligence that the NSA said it will share will all companies to use for optimizing Internet security.

Can Big Brother be trusted to behave?

A lot of people are uneasy about Perfect Citizen, maybe because of its Orwellian title. PC World reports that they’re concerned that Perfect Citizen is just getting started and that all domestic network activity will eventually be monitored by the NSA. Access to the computer networks of entities like public utilities might also provide the NSA with access to details concerning the power usage or travel plans of private companies and individual citizens. For now, not a soul really knows if Perfect Citizen can enforce national security without trampling on the rights of private citizens.

More data available at these sites:

wsj.com

www.nsa.gov

pcworld.com

To fix antenna issues, Apple has a new iPhone software update

The Apple iPhone 4 antenna reception drama continued Friday. The company announced that the iPhone 4 antenna issue will be remedied with an iPhone software update. According to Apple, there isn't a reception problem. Defective software resulted in an inaccurate representation of signal strength. The screen shows different bars than there really is. Since the reception is weak to start with, gripping the phone by its lower right side further obscures the signal. Not everyone believes this.

Resource for this article: Apple claims that iPhone software update will fix antenna issues by Personal Money Store

A catch to the software update for iPhone

A media firestorm ensued when complaints came from iPhone 4 owners upset that their ultimate gadget lost reception when held a certain way, which became known as the “death grip.” First Apple dismissed the complaint. Then the Apple/AT and T class action lawsuits started happening. Apple has officially admitted that the iPhone 4 antenna issue exists. The business promises an iPhone software update in a couple of weeks will help — but there’s a catch. Although signal strength can be correctly represented, it won’t do anything about the reception issues that outraged iPhone 4 users are suffering through now.

Apply might sell iPhone covers

At first, Apple issued a statement saying that $ 30 protective bumpers can lessen the reception issue. The problem occurs when a user’s bare skin bridges the two antennas that are in the edge of the phone. You will find a couple of other covers that cost less. Ign.com reported that for $ 14.95, a product called GelaSkins are effective in preventing the iPhone 4 death grip issue. But Engadget reports the yellow Lance Armstrong Livestrong rubber bracelet works just also, and it is only a buck.

Apple throws AT and T under the bus

Apple's official position is on their website. Rob Pegoraro at The Washington Post explains that Apple “gracefully throws AT and T under the bus,” insisting the iPhone 4 antenna reception issue isn’t a hardware problem.” Apple said, the business was stunned to discover that AT and T's formula to calculate how bars displayed signal strength is “totally wrong.” The iPhone software update also applies to the earlier iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G. Evidently the AT and T bug affects all of them, although none of those iPhone owners hired lawyers to file lawsuits about it.

Tested is the wisdom of iPhone software update

You will find many who don't agree with Apple's explanation of their problem. According to Apple Insider a New York business owner said just touching the bottom left of the phone would cause a call to drop within 10 seconds, in plain view of the cell tower. Also, the iPhone 4 gets better reception than any of the other phones. Also, cupping the iPhone 4 tightly can result in a loss of 24.6 dB of signal. The tests also certainly proved the iPhone cover lessened the effects of the iPhone 4 death grip dramatically.

Apple iPhone software update or Apple iPhone bumper? Keep tuned in …

Find more data here:

CNN

cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/07/02/apple.iphone.apology/index.html?npt=NP1

Rob Pegoraro at The Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2010/07/apple_blames_iphone_4_receptio.html

Apple Insider

appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/02/apple_gives_a_business_free_bumpers_for_iphone_4_reception_issues.html

Mel Gibson and racist comments to add to restraining order

In what was at first called an “amicable” breakup, the Mel Gibson racist comments which were caught on tape have called that description into question. Ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, in recording conversations as evidence, caught Mel Gibson making racist comments on tape. The dueling restraining orders and accusations of everything from threats to shaking their young child indicate the implosion of this couple’s relationship is easily reaching nuclear range.

Source for this article: Mel Gibson – Racist comments add to restraining order by Personal Money Store

History of Mel Gibson racist comments

Mel Gibson’s most recent comments were recorded by Oksana because she felt “threatened” by Gibson. In the recording, he threatens to burn down her house, says he hopes that she “gets raped by n*****s.” This isn't the first time Mel Gibson made racist comments. During a DUI arrest that happened just a couple of years ago, Mel Gibson was recorded making racist comments about Jewish individuals and more.

The Oksana Grigorieva and Mel Gibson relationship

Mel Oksana have a bad relationship.Mel Gibson divorced his wife in 2009. Before separating, the couple dated a year and had a child. Since the separation, Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva have both filed restraining orders. Mel Gibson has accused Oksana of shaking their young baby, when Oksana has accused Mel Gibson of numerous different death threats and abuse.

Mel Gibson and his financial reality

Mel Gibson’s divorce from his wife of 30 years is proving to be a very expensive one. $1 billion is what Mel Gibson's estate is worth. Legally, Robyn Gibson should get half or more of that. A $500 million divorce settlement would dwarf the previous divorce-settlement records. This latest racist rant has also called into question Mel Gibson’s employability. Though, even if he can’t bring in any more income, Mel Gibson could probably easily live on a $500 million fortune.

Tar balls end up on Texas beaches after weather stops oil spill cleanup

Tar balls have reached Texas beaches, and also the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010 has now hit the shoreline of every gulf state. Driven by winds from Hurricane Alex, the BP oil spill is spreading as bad weather continued to stop the cleanup efforts. Tar balls have also reached Louisiana’s Lake Ponchetrain as oil creeps inland. As the BP oil spill approaches 130 million gallons, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expanded the no-fishing zone within the gulf and said tar balls have a good chance of washing ashore as far away as Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Source for this article: Tar balls hit Texas beaches as weather disrupts cleanup of the oil spill by Personal Money Store

Texas in denial as tar balls hit beaches

Tar balls were found on Sunday in eastern Galveston Island in Texas were from the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010, as outlined by the U.S. Coast Guard. It was reported by the Houston Chronicle that officials believe the tar balls reached the Galveston area from a ship that got tar balls stuck or attached to its side traveling through the BP oil spill area. Ships passing through the BP oil spill are supposed to go through a decontamination station before reaching the coastline. Texas authorities nevertheless insist that the oil slick that has fouled the beaches of other Gulf states is not coming anywhere towards them.

Bad weather stops cleanup of the oil spill

Oil spill company BP said it’s stepping up oil skimming efforts, despite the fact bad weather has made that extremely hard. Gulf tourism faced a very sad Fourth of July weekend that had nothing to do with the stormy weather. AOL News reports that Hurricane Alex shut down oil skimming last week and a new tropical system is brewing east of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. A new storm may strike Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday, as reported by AccuWeather.com. Strong winds and high seas still held up oil skimming, burning oil or laying boom Tuesday.

Oil skimming ship that was huge was tested

Oil spill cleanup efforts may soon be aided by a vessel billed as the world’s biggest oil skimmer. As outlined by the New York Times, the Taiwanese-flagged ship A Whale is three and a half football fields long and 10 stories high. It’s outfitted with vents on its bow, which are intended to skim as much as 21 million gallons of oil-tainted water each day. So far, the stiff wind has made it impossible. A Whale is one of more than 6,563 ships, along with some 113 aircraft that BP is paying for in the oil spill cleanup. BP’s price tag for the spill has hit $3.12 billion.

Tar balls were forecasted for Miami

As skimming is on hold and also the BP oil leak continues to spew to the sea, NOAA forecasts the loop current brings a 61-80 percent chance that tar balls will reach within 20 miles of the coasts of the Florida Keys, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. USA Today reports that NOAA said the coastlines most likely — 81 to 100 percent — to be hit by oil extend from the Mississippi River Delta to the western panhandle of Florida, where tar balls are already washing ashore. NOAA says Chances are slight — 1 to 20 percent — that oil will reach the Eastern Seaboard, and it is “increasingly unlikely” that oil will affect areas above North Carolina as the Gulf Stream moves from the continental United States at Cape Hatteras.

Discover more about this topic here:

Houston Chronicle

chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7096109.html

AOL News

aolnews.com/article/tar-balls-reach-texas-shores-amid-new-storm-threat/19542753

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/07/06/us/06latest.html?scp=1&sq=A Whale oil spill&st=cse

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/07/us-report-bp-spill-likely-to-reach-florida-keys-miami/1