Explosive device still within the Coral Gables Bank

Bank of America was taken hostage in Coral Gables, Florida. There’s an investigation into the kidnapping that preceded this hostage situation. At approximately 11:42 this morning, Coral Gables police confirmed the last person was out of the bank and the Miami hostage scenario was over.

Several hostages stuck in the Bank of America at Coral Gables
Reporters have been informed the Coral Gables Bank of America heist began on Thursday night. The connection isn’t certain, however is being investigated. The person who was kidnapped had to strap themselves to a bomb. Allegedly, the individual entered the financial institution before it opened. At 8 a.m., officials were notified of the Miami-area hostage situation and started their response. The transportation infrastructure around the Coral Gables Bank of America was shut down, as were the schools right across the street from the bank.

Robbery and home attack in Miami area linked

There was a home attack within the Miami Nob Hill apartments Thursday. This home invasion might have been a kidnapping, and has been linked to the bank robbery. Police are on the lookout for two individuals driving a red Mustang. The FBI and police have not yet said if the people responsible really entered the financial institution themselves. Either way, it was a Bank of America employee that was strapped to the explosive device. It is also not yet clear if the Coral Gables Bank of America was being robbed for a quick no fax payday loans no credit check or if the Miami hostage scenario was intended to create a distraction for some other crime.

Hostages leave before the bomb was diffused

There has been confirmation the Coral Gables Bank was taken hostage. By 11:20 a.m. local time, the last person held hostage exited the building. However, FBI and police confirm that the explosive device squad is still on the scene. While the explosive device was diffused, officials stayed on the scene — though hostages were taken for medical treatment. Until every little thing was declared safe, the highways, public transportation, and schools were all kept closed.

Find more info on this subject

Miami Herald

miamiherald.com/2010/09/24/1840420/police-hostage-situation-at-coral.html

CBS

cbs4.com/local/bank.robbery.coral.2.1929612.html

Apple rules cellular market with a fraction of market share

Apple’s iPhone is causing outrage within the mobile industry with its outrageous performance. Apple’s emphasis on brand and refusal to compete on price has resulted in the biggest chunk of cellular market earnings despite having the smallest market share. Even “Antennagate,” which could have killed many handsets, could not stop Apple from setting sales records with the iPhone 4. Even with Android on the rise, cellular market experts say Apple’s iPhone is so lucrative it’s unlikely the company feels threatened. Resource for this article – Apple dominates mobile industry with a fraction of market share by Newystype.com.

Apple prospers through innovation

The iPhone has always attracted a good deal of media attention. However the true nature of Apple’s money-making machine was detailed by Fortune on CNN.com. Fund market analyst Canaccord Genuity gave Apple stock a “buy” rating and price target of $ 356 per share. The experts used data about Apple’s performance to back up its advice to buy the company’s stock. From January to June this year, Apple sold 17 million iPhones. That total represents a share of the market of just 3 percent. The three biggest cell phone makers within the world, Samsung, Nokia and LG, dominated with a combined 400 million units sold. Apple racked up the numbers where they counted. The company amassed 39 percent of market profits in that time frame. Apple left its heavyweight rivals competing among themselves for 32 percent. The significance of Apple’s performance was put in context by Canaccord Genuity. As a rule, cell phone manufacturers are lucky to make 10 perc! ent operating margins, or any profit at all. It’s estimated that Apple makes about 50 percent gross margin and more than 30 percent operating margin for its iPhone.

What’s powering Apple’s business design?

Capturing just 3 percent of a market while reaping 40 percent of its profit was extremely hard. Then Apple created the iPhone. Apple has far outgained its rivals with more than slick marketing campaigns, according to Jason Mick at Daily Tech. A big factor is the carrier iPhone owners love to hate. Apple has wrought an exceedingly rich contract from AT and T, who is using the iPhone to gain customers. Apple also leverages the operating system to gain cost efficiencies from a lesser grade of hardware. It uses the recognition of its products to get high volumes at lower prices. Apple’s battle plan has resulted in piles of money to spend on innovation in the iPhone/Android war. Beating Android, Mick said, probably isn’t at the top of Apple’s list. All Apple has to do is keep its loyal customers happy.

The unstoppable iPhone

Even a so-called public relations debacle such as Antennagate could not disrupt the iPhone’s momentum. The media’s flogging of “Death Grip” reception interference failed to choke off sales of the iPhone 4G. Antennagate reached its peak in July. After Consumer Reports said it would not recommend the iPhone, experts predicted a disaster that never came. Recently, the magazine reiterated its position on the product. Apple could care less as the iPhone, as reported by Computerworld, finished first in J.D. Power and Associates’ smartphone consumer satisfaction survey for the fourth year in a row.

Further reading

CNN

CNN.com

Daily Tech

dailytech.com

Computerworld

computerworld.com

September 29 is when you can acquire totally free Budweiser beer for National Happy Hour

Adolphus Bush introduced in 1876 the Budweiser “Bohemian-style” pale lager which instantly was a success. For al-beers sold in the United States, the Busch family corporation, Anheuser-Busch, got a 50.9 % market share based on the St. Louis Business Journal record from 2008. Anheuser-Busch sold most of its stock later that year. It was bought by InBev, the Belgian-Brazilian beer magnate. Sales went down because the “King of Beers” became “de Koning van Bieren” in America. Anheuser-Busch InBev plans to give away free beer on September 29 during National Happy Hour as Budweiser, accounts St. Louis Today.

Free Budweiser makes for good advertising too

Participating bars and restaurants will be offering about 500,000 free Budweiser beer samples. These will come, based on local and state rules, in 6- and 12-ounce sample sizes. The company is attempting to raise the market share between September 25 and October 3 with the “Grab some Buds” marketing campaign. The hope is to receive it back to the 26 percent it was in 1988 from the 9.3 % it is now. Drinkers in their mid-20s could be the biggest target of this campaign. This is mostly due to the study that shows de Koning van Bieren hasn’t even been touched by drinkers ages 21 to 27.

Anheuser-Busch InBev President Dave Peacock said, “We want to close that gap,” to St. Louis Today.

Texas sells the deep fried beer

If you are of drinking age and happen to make it to the 2010 Texas State Fair, find Mark Zable. He makes deep-fried beer which complements the de Koning van Bieren beers with it. After filling pretzel dough with beer, he dunks for 20 seconds the dough into 375-degree oil. The dough could be cooked enough after that time. Of course, the alcohol won’t be burned off though. The London Telegraph reports that diners find the treat delicious, and that Zable is trying to patent the cooking process, which may or may not include other secret ingredients.

Mark Zable uses a special beer. He uses Guinness. Sorry, Koning van Bieren.

Additional reading

London Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/7973944/Deep-fried-beer-invented-in-Texas.html

St. Louis Business Journal

bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/04/21/daily42.html

St. Louis Today

stltoday.com/business/article_a7801e6d-16b3-5ad7-ba55-08475f94a313.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweiser_(Anheuser-Busch)

What’s up with free beer?

youtube.com/watch?v=B1PaVo00U3c

Leasing with poor credit may need some strategy

Many things have led us to the point where it is difficult to lease with bad credit. These things contain mortgage lending meltdowns, joblessness, foreclosures and the housing crisis. Many have no control over some things that happen to them. These individuals may have low credit although they don’t deserve it. But a decent place to live, or simply a roof over one’s head, is a fundamental need that have to be met. Lease has to be paid no matter what. You might need to start strategizing if you have poor credit. Make sure you’ve the money to pay lease though. Article source – Renting with bad credit demands a strategy for success by Personal Money Store.

Know credit rating facts

It’s tough for renters with bad credit to lease an apartment or house, whether the economy is good or bad. According to AOL Real Estate, three factors are used to determine if a renter is good or not for Landlords. These factors are income, employment history and credit scores. The first priority a renter must address is to know where they stand with their credit. You are able to always discover your free credit report. Annualcreditreport.com makes this available to everyone. This is the official government site for the free credit history everyone is entitled to by law once a year. Credit scores are also available. These have to be purchased through nationwide credit reporting agencies that use this site.

Go places that do not do credit checks

It is very easy to lease with bad credit if there is no credit check done. Try to make this happen. According to CNN, houses or apartments rented by an independent owner may be more easygoing than properties managed by a professional management company. You’re best off checking bulletin boards, Craigslist and free newspapers. Landlords marketing in these venues try not to invest any cash in advertising rental units, and the odds are better they won’t do credit checks. When you ask about the place, ask them about the criteria they use to evaluate renters. You’ll do well if a credit check is not on their list.

Other possibilities for leasing on bad credit

The reality for renters with bad credit is that most landlords require a credit check and a completed application before they’ll lease an apartment. About.com explains that opportunities are always available. Getting someone to vouch for your financial responsibility can help offset low credit. A family member or good friend with good credit can also act as a co-signer on the lease. You also may be helped out for those who have a roommate with good credit. Your credit will not be built up at all without your name on the lease for rental history though.

Additional reading

AOL Real Estate

realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/08/renting-with-bad-credit/

CNN Money.com

money.cnn.com/2010/09/14/pf/saving/renting_with_bad_credit/index.htm

About.com

credit.about.com/od/toughcreditissues/a/aptbadcredit.htm

When and just how home mortgage refinancing can be a good suggestion

Home loan financial institutions aren’t financing home sales, however they are refinancing mortgages to the tune of 80 percent of their business. Record low home loan rates have existing homeowners considering refinancing to lower their monthly payments or shorten the term of the mortgage. Whether they succeed accomplishing that with refinancing a mortgage depends on such factors as rates of interest and taxes. Homeowners must also know about the long-term effects resulting from the decision between refinancing with a 15-year or 30-year mortgage.

with few house sales, refinancing supports lenders

By refinancing a mortgage, a homeowner can conserve thousands of dollars in home finance loan payments each year. An article in SmartMoney on the phenomenon said that the amount of homeowners choosing to refinance mortgages has gone via the roof. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, refinancing accounted for 80.5 percent of total mortgage lending. MBA records on refinancing activity from 1990 to 2008 average nearly half that percentage of mortgage lending. A 30-year mortgage averaged a fixed rate of 4.51 percent on Sept. 10. A 15-year fixed mortgage averaged 4.02 percent on the very same date. During the same period last year average rates for 30-year fixed and 15-year fixed mortgages were 5.54 and 4.97 percent.

Making an informed refinancing decision

Saving money with lower monthly payments is attractive, but not each homeowner should refinance a mortgage. Saving a worthwhile sum over the life of the home finance loan should be the primary goal of refinancing. Key numbers within the equation that have to be nailed down are closing costs and monthly savings. Factoring the monthly payment savings into the total closing costs shows how long it takes to start coming out ahead. Homeowners have to look ahead. Refinancing makes sense if they plan to stay within the house longer than it takes to break even on the closing costs. Occasionally taxes can fool uninformed refinancers. An essential detail that can’t be overlooked is that the interest paid on a mortgage is tax-deductible. Closing costs typically save nothing over time, when interest payments do. At the same time, upping money flow by refinancing with a 30-year mortgage results in more long term interest paid.

An incident for an extended term, with a twist

The clear benefit of 15-year refinancing is lower total interest costs. However, Kathy M. Kristof at the Los Angeles Times writes that a shorter-term loan means a higher monthly payment. Even for homeowners who can afford a higher monthly payment, there may be smarter ways for them to invest their money. To illustrate, Kristof describes a situation with a $300,000 mortgage. A homeowner pays a total of $399,420 at the end of a 15-year term. The total cost of a 30-year mortgage is $547,223. However, the 30-year mortgage has a monthly payment $700 less. With the mortgage 15-years on, if the homeowner put that $700 a month into a balanced mix of stocks that has demonstrated an average return over 83 years of 9.6 percent, the net would be $270,305. Halfway to the 30-year loan, the proceeds could retire the $198,701 balance. That would leave $80,000 to play with. Of course, investing within the stock market would be risky, but in this case, it would bring a greater reward than ! refinancing a 15-year mortgage.

More on this topic

SmartMoney

smartmoney.com

New York Times

newyourktimes.com

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com

An argument to get a V8

Fuel efficiency in automobiles is something that each and every driver should be aware of. Nobody likes draining the banking account as they fill up the tank. Thus, getting an energy sipping vehicle is always a good idea. This has been a major concern of the auto industry for a long time, and the best-selling cars on the market are all small sedans that get good mileage with 4- and some 6-cylinder motors. That said, there are some autos that are better off with an 8-cylinder engine, and would really get better gas mileage.

Simple science

Fuel efficiency, gas mileage, whichever you need to call it is related to mechanical efficiency. The ratio of energy used in a task to the amount of work done is the mechanical efficiency. The more energy is used, the lesser the efficiency. The equation is simple:

Efficiency = Input/Output

Smaller engines, in other words, that have to work harder than large ones, are a lesser amount of efficient. Therefore, there are consequences. A lesser amount of efficiency means less performance. Thus, it also will not get the optimal gas mileage.

Larger could be much better

There is something V-8 motors were always loved for. They put out more horsepower. However, many of the cars that come with an 8-cylinder standard are already large. Trucks, especially full size pickups, are probably the most common. The Chevy Silverado 1500, for example, has a V8 and gets 15 mpg in the city. Nevertheless, here comes the twist. The Corvette has the very same 6.2 L V8. However, this is where the main difference comes in. The Corvette gets 26 mpg. The Corvette has to do a lesser amount of efforts, which is why.

{Less efforts is additionally a lesser amount of strain|Work additionally is strain|Less effort means simpler efforts|Simpler signifies a lesser amount of tense efforts|Less strain equals more productivity

If you drive a somewhat larger car, like a minivan or a midsize SUV, the mileage drops off with a smaller motor. Even if it is a turbocharged smaller motor. Believe it or not, you will actually get better gas mileage in a vehicle that is not a full size pickup or SUV like a Suburban or Expedition if you opt for a more powerful motor. The engine won’t efforts as hard, will perform far better and last longer due to a lesser amount of mechanical strain over its lifetime.

Additional reading

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_advantage

Much more subprime used vehicle loans available

As Stevie Ray Vaughan so accurately puts it in the song “Crossfire,” “Money’s tight; nothing’s free.”. With all of the falling credit scores and also the recession, it is particularly true within the U.S. car-buying public. Wards Auto reports that used automobile sales are outpacing new auto sales, and also the market for subprime used car lending options has kept pace, a possible sign that things may be heating up on the financing front in The United States.

Non-prime and subprime loans a positive sign for credit liquidity

Autos have to sell to make the automotive market get better while credit has to flow, whether it is subprime or not. There isn’t an in-house financing option target coming from dealers. That does not mean that U.S. Citizens aren’t naturally leaning towards that kind of lending. But product availability remains a problem. Wards reports Ed Rykulski, automobile manager for Al Serra Auto Plaza of Grand Blanc, Mich., saying, “We employ 18 salespersons within the sales center and buy seriously at the auctions to keep sales at 2009 levels, when we sold 3,212 used units.”

More saleswomen employed to serve subprime female buyers

Many more women are being hired as saleswoman claims Nancy Koehrman of Taylor Used Car Center near Toledo, Ohio.

“Women customers prefer women to be handling the car selling and also the finance and insurance side, too, especially if they’ve been classified as subprime,” Koehrman told Wards.

But subprime used vehicle lending options are hardly exclusive to women. A FICO score of 599 or lower is had by one quarter of U.S. adult consumers, reports Fair, Isacc and Co. Inc. That’s 43 million individuals!. A lot of the market could be hit here. Consumers with FICOs from 650-699 are frequently being declined for standard car loans, which moves them in the subprime pool.

Inventory getting bigger with off-lease stock

Rykulski indicated to Wards the Serra group obtains much of its second-hand stock from off-lease automobiles. Of any Ward’s 500 members, which are dealerships that get good marks for reliability and other factors, Grand Blanc used auto center is one of the largest. Unfortunately, as used automobiles are currently common even with non-subprime customers, it is still difficult to keep sufficient inventory on hand.

Car Deal Expert is the place to go for good rates on used car loans

Additional reading

Wards Auto

wardsauto.com/home/subprime_used_cars_100920/

Key provisions of recent healthcare regulation enter into the works September 23

Six months ago the health care law passed. The brand new health care system within the U.S. is going to enter into effect beginning September 23. Some parts of the healthcare reform won’t start for years as they’re debated more hotly. Thursday can be when coverage will start for even people with pre-existing conditions. Republicans are increasing their anti-health care reform rhetoric. President Obama has responded with his own vigorous defense of the new health care law. The Health care reform law is something many Americans wanted until it really is beginning to kick in.

Health care reform for majority delayed until 2011

Health care reform will start for many soon. Of course, most Americans will see the health care reform bill in their lives until next year. After September 23, changes will happen automatically for new health care plans, says the Wall Street Journal. Until plans renew for employees with work health insurance right now as a job benefit, around January 1, changes won’t be seen. The changes valid Sept. 23 were intended as a bridge until 2014, when subsidies for health plans will be available for people who cannot afford them. Americans could be fined if they do not have health insurance at that point.

Starting up some health insurance

Key changes that enter into effect for new health plans started after Sept. 23 integrated the following, courtesy of CNN:

Children under age 19 can no longer be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. The exact same goes for adults in 2014.

Insurance corporations can no longer drop a consumer when they get sick or search for mistakes on their application for the purpose to deny payment when they get sick.

Preventive care for instance physicals, mammograms and colonoscopies no longer require a co-payment or deductible.

Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, for instance lifesaving treatments.

Patients no longer have to get prior authorization from their insurance company or a doctor’s referral to see a pediatrician or OB/GYN.

Insurance corporations must discontinue prior authorization for ER services. Plus, they can’t charge higher co-payments for out-of-network ER providers.

Insurance corporations cannot refuse a claim in appeal, and have to continue paying for treatment until the appeal is resolved.

Public opinion stopped by White House with answers

Republican misinformation campaigns have fueled public opinion about health care reform. A recent Rasmussen poll counted 61 percent in favor of repealing the health care law. The Los Angeles Times reports that to fend off Republican attacks, the White House has unveiled a new site, whitehouse.gov/healthreform. Showing the regulation is really making a difference is the hope of the site. It is shown by having ordinary Americans show their stories. Obama was in a meeting Wednesday with state insurance commissioners where he spoke on September 23 and what provisions could be made by saying:

“These things are designed not to have government more involved in health care. They’re designed for making sure that you have basic protections with your interactions with your insurance company, that you are getting what you paid for, that you have some basic measures of protection.”

Discover more information on this subject

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100922-706473.html

CNN

money.cnn.com/2010/09/22/news/economy/health_reform_six_month_anniversary_package/index.htm

Los Angeles times

latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-new-health-benefits-20100923,,6153569.story

O'Donnell placed doubt with witchcraft confession

Tea Party Republican Senate candidate O’Donnell of Delaware has already made what has proven to be a dubious name for herself with some of the more controversial elements of personal background and campaign platform. First was the innovative way O’Donnell referred to her collegiate history. The born-again Protestant has also gone embarrassingly public with her anti-masturbation views. Of late, O’Donnell’s past has surfaced once more, including newer, stranger flavors to her political pie. On a 1999 episode of the Bill Maher talk show “Politically Incorrect,” O’Donnell said witchcraft had played a role in her life. She told the stunned panel that she had “dabbled in witchcraft.” Post resource – Christine O’Donnell tried witchcraft, continues hexing elections by Newystype.com.

O’Donnell’s witchcraft comment might point to Wicca

Christine O’Donnell may not know witchcraft, according to the Wiccan details available at the Australian website Witchcraft.com. To elaborate, O’Donnell claims that one time she went on a group date, the entire group was fascinated by what she claims was a “Satanic altar”. According to Witchcraft.com, Wicca is a term intended to counteract society’s negative stereotypes for that religious faith. Natural cycles and their beauty are celebrated in sacred ceremony that consists of nothing found in bad horror films. Nature is neither good nor evil, and such is the way Wicca is categorized. Whether Christine O’Donnell’s Senate aspirations will continue to endure is questionable, but fellow Republicans reportedly would love to determine her either keep quiet or vanish to the mists of Avalon.

‘I never joined a coven,’ said O’Donnell

So-called “witchcraft” was evidently a teenage phase for O’Donnell. O’Donnell isn’t a Wiccan now, however that does not matter much to the reputation cops of the political stage. Even GOP strategist exemplar Karl Rove is at a loss when it comes to bailing this woman out. He has clearly stated his belief that O’Donnell cannot win Delaware against her Democratic competition. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana has called for O’Donnell to clarify her witchcraft statements. On “Fox News Sunday” lately, Rove even went so far as to say he is “seriously concerned” about O’Donnell’s history and character.

Governmental policies as floor exhibit

As if Christine O’Donnell and witchcraft weren’t enough, now Raw Story reports that the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a complaint against O’Donnell. Reported by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, O’Donnell allegedly used $ 20,000 of campaign money for her own personal needs. If O’Donnell is indeed guilty, such would not be unheard of in the game of politics. However, such actions are never acceptable. The concept of Christine O’Donnell claiming that she’s all about responsible government spending is interesting in this case, to say the least.

More on this topic

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0920/Latest-challenge-facing-Christine-O-Donnell-witchcraft-TV-clip

OpEd News

opednews.com/articles/Good-Gag-Delaware-GOP-Le-by-Robert-S-Becker-100920-9.html

Raw Story

rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/watchdog-christine-odonnell-criminal/

Witchcraft

witchcraft.com.au/

Great Recession finished a year ago, but expansion economic downturn continues

Recession is a technical term that technically does not apply to what the U.S. is at the moment going through. The economy is still in a terrible condition even though June 2009 was when the government said Monday the economic downturn officially ended. The economic downturn began in December 2007 and lasted for 18 months — the longest slide since World War II. The economy’s prolonged freefall had earned it the title of “Great Recession” long before it was officially announced over. The economy is growing, but that does not mean it can be back to normal anytime soon. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is seeking to keep away from a “growth recession” in which economic expansion is too slow to stem rising unemployment.

Recession like Depression

The National Bureau of Economic Research states that the longest economic downturn since the Great Depression finished last summer when the economy started to grow again. The Los Angeles Times reports that a relapse, or double-dip, would be a new recession. The Great Recession is second to the Great Depression in length. The Economic downturn was only 18 months even though the Depression was between 1929 and 1933, making it 43 months. There were two recessions tying for 3rd place. These were in 1973-75 and 1981-82. More than 8 million people lost their jobs, and also the labor market could take years to recuperate. The NBER said probably the most damaging factors in this economic downturn was rapid productivity expansion, which deleted jobs as output was marginally sustained.

Paper end to Recession

The expansion that is being seen may not be enough to do anything, claims NBER. NEBR defines a recession as, according to the Washington Post, “a period of falling economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real gross domestic product (GDP), real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales.” According to the panel, GDP and industrial production bottomed out in June 2009. Employment, however, did not begin expanding until December 2009. Conditions getting better aren’t a requirement for the recession to be over. This is what the NEBR said.

Anatomy of a growth recession

The growth economic downturn is shown as the unemployment rate weakens even though the economy expands. According to Bloomberg, In the first quarter, there was a 3.7 percent growth while it dropped in 2010’s second quarter to a 1.6 percent annual rate for economic expansion. Numerous were excited when they heard the fourth quarter of 2009 showed a 5 percent rate of growth. The consumer spending needed to strengthen the economy isn’t occurring with the unemployment rate at 9.5 percent. Fed chairman Ben Bernake says the economy may be healed. This would take tools the agency has. With interest rates near zero, some think the next step for the Fed is to purchase more Treasuries, or government debt. Numerous people think that people just need jobs. This would help America’s economy a lot.

Further reading

Los Angeles times

latimes.com/business/la-fi-recession-20100920,,4014811.story

Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/political-economy/2010/09/its_official_the_great_recessi.html

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-19/escaping-double-dip-to-growth-recession-means-no-unemployment-relief-seen.html

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day Sept 17

The Constitution of the U.S. is being taught in schools all over the country. This is only since the document signed 223 years ago. According to Fox News, public educational institutions are all getting funding from the government to do these programs in 2010. September. 17 was formally named “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day” in 2004, as the result of a law championed from the late West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd.

Earlier roots of Constitution Day

In 1940, Congress authorized President Franklin Roosevelt to decree the third Sunday of May as “I Am an American Day,” a celebration of those who had taken the steps and obtained American citizenship. In 1952, Congress passed a law that moved the date to Sept. 17 and renamed it “Citizenship Day.”. In 2004, the law passed by Byrd made sure that government employees learned about the Constitution. Also, any school receiving government aid was required to teach about the Constitution on Sept 17.

Constitution being celebrated

University and federal locaters have many seminars from coast to coast. On Constitution Day, Americans will participate in speeches, presentations, films, parties and panel discussions. “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart is publicizing his rally – which actually does not occur until October – however its focus on reason seems appropriate on Constitution Day. This is also a day to talk about history. Numerous talk about 9/11.

Constitution Week celebrated by President Obama

Constitution Week, September 17 through September 23, is a time that Barack Obama hopes citizens will recognize the rights we have. ”I encourage federal, state, and local officials, also as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and courses that recognize our Constitution and reaffirm our rights and obligations as citizens of this good Nation,” is what Obama exclaimed. During a conference on Television, we saw this.

More on this topic

Bryd’s Law

frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite: 36USC106

Fox News

foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/17/federal-schools-universities-celebrate-constitution-day/

U.S. Department of Education Constitution Day

ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/constitutionday.html

Indoctrinate your children well… and know they love you

youtube.com/watch?v=JNvYIT-GtM0

The first Palin DWTS routine was pretty good

It appears that media buzz mandates which contestant on “Dancing with the Stars” is one of the most essential. This season is off to a start as the Palin “Dancing with the Stars” season. Bristol herself hasn’t done really much to speak of, however her mother Sarah Palin certainly commands enough attention these days. Bristol actually was competent. There is star power all around for the fall season of the show. This year is heavy on stooges from reality TV, and each and every season has fewer people that did things like act or something else. Besides the strong presence of people who seem to have not really done much of note, it should be a good season. Source of article – The Bristol Palin Dancing With the Stars debut — not bad by Personal Money Store.

Not the strongest start up

The Bristol Palin “Dancing with the Stars” performance was really not too bad. Bristol Palin tied with Florence Henderson, the mom from “The Brady Bunch” with 18, as outlined by CNN. As for the rest of the scores, Margaret Cho, David Hasselhoff and Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino all failed to get higher than a 15. Michael Bolton did slightly better. He scored a 16. Kurt Warner got a 19, and so did Audrina Partridge from “The Hills”. The best score for an athlete, a 22, went to former Laker Rick Fox. Kyle Massey, a teen actor from Disney Channel shows, scored a 23, as did vocalist Brandy, in a sort-of reunion with David Hasselhoff, after their tenures on “America’s Got Talent” Nevertheless, who the winner was going to be was never in doubt.

Nobody puts Baby in a corner

It i9s type of disappointing that the buzz over this season is about the offspring of a governor that never finished a term. Jennifer Grey, from “Dirty Dancing” is one of the contestants. Grey starred within the 80s classic with Patrick Swayze, and her character was the titular Baby in the phrase “no one puts Baby in a corner” The big draw for fans is to view if she nevertheless has her dancing shoes. That kind of makes the Jennifer Grey “Dancing with the Stars” appearance that much more special. It turns out Grey does, as she and partner Derek Hough scored 24 out of 30 for the win.

It can be a strong year

This, along with every other year, should be incredibly buzzworthy and for good reason. There is potential for some real fireworks. Granted, it is a celebrity-reality show, so it is also a great excuse to parade individuals that have piqued public interest.

More on this topic

CNN

cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/21/dancing.recap.ew/index.html

By 2011, there's no more Ford Ranger

After 2011, no new Ford Rangers could be made within the U.S. The light pickup made by Ford has remained essentially unchanged for years. The Ranger did not get much of a change in any way, because there was no have to change the best selling light pickup. Ford has decided to let the Ranger go, and the truck will no longer be made after 2011. The company is deciding to focus instead on the Ecoboost equipped F-150 as the option for a fuel efficient pickup.

The Ford Ranger

Throughout the 1990s, the Ranger was incredibly popular. It was actually the best selling light pickup in North America. It was everything a person could want in a compact pickup. The Ranger was priced less than a full size truck and got about 20 miles to the gallon. It was known for reliability. The Ranger was also equal to any task on or off road. That said, the market share went down following awhile. Nissan, Toyota, and other companies figured out that some people wanted crew cab seating in a light truck. The peak came in 1999, according to Wikipedia. That year, Ford sold over 348,000 Rangers. That was the high water mark. By 2009, sales had slipped to 55,000.

It had a good run

Ford had to come up with something else, or redesign the Ranger. Ford decided to come up with something else. The truck is getting redesigned for overseas markets, according to USA Today, however the new version will not be accessible within the United States of America. Ford could be trying to push the turbo V-6 F150 instead. It seems a slightly dubious move. The F150 costs thousands more than the Ranger, and the Ecoboost V-6 has an additional premium attached to it as well. Fleet sales have been the bulk of Ranger sales for the last few years running.

Oh, plus a facility is closing

Adding insult to injury, Ford is also closing the plant that used for making the Ranger. The truck is within the firing line, and the plant goes with it. Ford will shutter the Ford plant in St. Paul, Minn. Ford attempted to revive the model with a crew cab however found it sold better under a different name. That model is still getting sold. It’s called the Explorer Sport Trac.

Further reading

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger#Yearly_American_sales

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/09/ford-ranger-small-pickup-older-than-sand-dead-in-us-redesigned-for-rest-of-planet/1

Order separates Shannon Sharpe and Michele Bundy

Original reports from sources like Sports by Brooks indicate that previous NFL great Shannon Sharpe has stepped down from his co-host position around the CBS sports program “NFL Today”. Michele Bundy has been approved for a temporary protective order guarding her from Sharpe, who allegedly committed sexual attack against her. At this time, Shannon Sharpe has not been charged with a crime. Nevertheless, it is clear that Sharpe has stepped down from his TV host position because of the recent turn of events.

Michele Bundy claims Sharpe committed sexual attack

Since 1994, Shannon Sharpe – twin brother of former NFL star Sterling – has faced 10 separate court cases involving previous sex partners. In this instance, Michele Bundy claims Sharpe forced her to have sex with him by threatening her life. Columbia Broadcasting System has remained silent in regards to Bundy’s states, and all Sharpe has said on the matter publicly is that he will clear up legal matters before returning to “NFL Today”. Other lawful matters on Sharpe’s plate include child support trouble with Melinda Wilson. In 2004, Erika Evans – the mother of one of Sharpe’s kids – filed a misdemeanor battery charge against him, but the court charge was dropped in favor of dispute mediation.

Not a shining example

Bleacher Report casts some light on the question of whether this event with Michele Bundy will harm Shannon Sharpe’s chances of being enshrined within the National Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. His accomplishments as a player are unquestioned, and he has come close to being elected in each of his first two years of eligibility. Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs may have amassed stats more gaudy than Shannon Sharpe’s, but that shouldn’t keep him out of the Hall.

Morals clause doesn’t element in

What should the NFL do – if anything – concerning a good choices clause in the HOF selection process? League bylaws spell out that only on-field adventures be chronicled when selection decisions are made. Yet how can football fans forget Lawrence Taylor, who was enshrined in 1999 despite a very checkered off-field acumen, asks Bleacher Report. He got in without any trouble because he was a dominant defensive player. All of these things inform us as to Taylor’s character, but his dominance on the football field was all that was necessary for the Hall of Fame.

Sharpe will get one more chance at the Hall of Feb. 5, 2011. Will Shannon Sharpe be a shoo-in for that list, or will the Michele Bundy event push him toward borderline status?

Further reading

Bleacher Report

bleacherreport.com/articles/463238-shannon-sharpe-leaves-cbs-where-now

Sports by Brooks

sportsbybrooks.com/restraining-order-issued-against-shannon-sharpe-28968

WTO Authorities rule Boeing broke international trade laws and regulations

Airline travel is severely harmed with the global recession which is why expanding fleets for new airlines is no longer a thing requested. Large government subsidies are accepted by aircraft producers that are trying to boost the net income in any way possible. Reuters explains what the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled with regards to the American airline manufacturer, Boeing. Boeing was said to have an unfair edge on European competitor, Airbus, because it took out the government subsidies specifically for this purpose. The European union challenged the $20 billion in subsidies.

Boeing and Airbus get the finger pointed toward them by WTO

It is said the World Trade Organization ruling against Boeing is confidential. It won’t be released to the public until sometime in 2011. It is released to some of course. United States and European officials were able to see it. It is also known that both Boeing and Airbus have appealed various findings in the case already. Reuters explains that relations between aerospace travel within the transatlantic are bad right now. This is why it is weird the WTO ruling may mean Boeing and Airbus may have to come up with a settlement. Airbus was previously condemned in June 2010 for taking a sizable money advance in the form of a government subsidy from the EU.

You will find some research contracts and tax breaks going on

It is like we are playing with kids. One kid seems upset that one more kid is intending to do what he got in trouble for a few days ago. NASA and also the Pentagon gave Boeing $17 billion in research contracts. Also, It got a sweet tax break in Washington State of $4 billion, says European sources. Even though technically there is no rule about accepting government aid, the WTO said international trade laws and regulations were broken when accepting the tax breaks and government contracts. Airbus was glad that it could get Boeing in trouble for what it was doing. Thus, Boeing felt their actions in accepting government subsidies were acceptable.

Getting President Obama to help

EU trade spokesman John Clancy told Reuters that “negotiations at the highest political level” will be the only action that will lead to a long term solution to the feud between Boeing and Airbus. United States of America officials have claimed they will not come to the table until the EU no longer subsidizes the production of the Airbus A350. The United States thinks that what the World Trade Organization decided against is the very same thing the EU is doing. Boeing said that Airbus is doing anything wrong with the EU although Boeing is doing nothing to hurt the transatlantic aerospace market.

Find more info on this subject

Airbus

airbus.com/

Boeing

boeing.com

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68E47T20100915

WTO and Boeing have had better days

youtube.com/watch?v=50fqfmWbXiY

Toyota Motors claims speed is recorded incorrect on crash data boxes

A new piece of data has been shown within the investigation of Toyota by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration that is about cars all of a sudden accelerating. The info came straight from the executive vice president of research and development. That is Takeshi Uchiyamada who gave the info. Automotive News explains that speed data is wrong with a software bug found in Toyota crash data boxes, states Uchiyamada.

These are just crash data boxes

Toyota Motors previously admitted through the NHTSA investigation that crash data provided by event data recorders (EDR) in certain autos was problematic, yet Uchiyamada has tried to clarify that “We have been able to determine that there is no defect within the event data recorders.”. The software bug has supposedly been fixed so he was referring to the mechanics of the system. For those who don’t know, the EDR in an automobile records information related to position of the throttle and the way much pressure was being applied to the brake at the time of the collision. Sources say crash data boxes are there mostly to record speed.

Toyota says there have been no electronic glitches

Electronic errors weren’t causing the automobile to accelerate states Toyota after viewing data from the 3,000 unintended acceleration complaints. Foreign objects, bad floor mats and driver error and numerous other causes have been suggested by the automaker. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration stated there really are no electronic troubles. Numerous do not know if the crash data box is reliable or not. It is nevertheless questioned. Suspicion mostly arose as a result of crash data form 2007 showing a Toyota Motors Tundra pickup driving at 170 mph. Uchiyamada’s conclusion in light of that information is that “the EDR can’t be trusted,” at least not when it comes to speed.

Recalling more Toyotas

Just since November 2009, 13 million vehicles have been recalled by Toyota Motors, says Automotive News. More than 10 million of those, most related to unintended acceleration, were in the U.S. alone.

If you would like to seek out the best auto loan rates available, try Car Deal Expert

Further reading

Auto News

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100914/OEM/100919951/1424

Crash data boxes aren’t event data recorders

youtube.com/watch?v=KzYLJHgUf0k

Iran only thinks to let Shourd of every person head out

Kurdistan had some visitors, comprising of Turkey, Iraq and Iran. These visitors hiked there in July 2009. The title originated from the Kurds which is the majority of people who live there. Iranian authorities took all hikers into custody and accused them of espionage and of being spies. Authorities keep changing their minds by initially saying they’d release one, then not, and then actually did release a hiker, Sarah Shourd. The U.S. would not pay the $500,000 that Iranian authorizes demanded for her release. The other hikers remain in custody, one of which is her fiancé.

Spying with a hike

All three captured hikers, Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, work in the Middle East. Bauer is the one Shourd is engaged to. Kurdistan was the choice they made to trip at because within the southern parts of Iraq, it is probably the most free. A village in Iraq Kurdistan, Zalem, is where they ran into Iranian national police. The Nation explains that is where they were detained. It isn’t all that easy to figure out where the border really is. Locals, however, explain that it is common to see Iranian forces in Iraq.

One hiker is home free

The Iranian government said it would release Shourd to the U.S. government. Of course, this would require $500,000 bail. After making the statement, the government changed its mind in Iran. As a result of health reasons, the government changed its mind again and released Sarah Shourd on bail. This comes from CNN. Ever since the 1979 the Swiss are acting as liaison while Washington and Tehran have no relations. The bail was deposited in Oman. It was deposited into a financial institution account. Iran is still holding Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal in custody.

No proof of espionage

Sources said the backpackers did not cross to the Iranian border ever. People from the area where they were captured have repeatedly said that Iranian police and intelligence operatives openly and notoriously cross the border and detain people. Any judge should be able to take 10 minutes to acknowledge a trespassing charge. There is little evidence that the detention of these people was anything other than politically motivated.

Additional reading

The Nation

thenation.com/article/36562/us-hikers-were-seized-iraq?page=,

CNN

cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/09/14/iran.detained.american/

Tragic or pathetic is really a line Joaquin Phoenix takes based on I'm Still Here critiques

Joaquin Phoenix is a formerly Oscar nominated actor, and a good one at that. In 2008, he declared his drama profession was done and he was going to try and make it in a fresh field. Then he made a controversial appearance on the David Letterman show. He declared he was leaving acting to become a rapper. A film about him and his new career was made, titled “I’m Still Here”. The critiques are beginning to come out, as the film has just hit theaters.

Some type of rap doc

The buzz about the release of the film is it’s an update on Joaquin Phoenix. The infamous Joaquin Phoenix Letterman appearance was, for numerous, the last reference point individuals had for him. He seemed to be coming unglued at that point. A lot of the “I’m Still Here” reviews discuss the state of the man at length. Roger Ebert, in the Chicago Sun Times, makes the point the bulk of the film is about Phoenix having gone totally sideways, and that is apparently the draw. Ebert does not employ a lot to say about anything else within the movie. Ebert also maintained that the unhinged Phoenix is the film’s selling point.

It is Phoenix first and puppet show last

All music documentaries are compared, officially and unofficially, to “This is Spinal Tap,” a “documentary” about a fictional band by Rob Reiner. However, there’s no comparing “I’m Still Here” review to “This is Spinal Tap” on Rotten Tomatoes. “Spinal Tap”: 96 percent Fresh. The reviews for “I’m Still Here” are not as good. It has a rating just over 50 percent. The drug fueled, ridiculous antics of Joaquin Phoenix and lousy production by Casey Affleck are the common threads in many of the reviews for “I’m Still Here”. Joaquin Phoenix’s sister, Summer, happens to be married to Casey Affleck, who is Ben Affleck’s younger brother.

That’s a rap folks

The crux of the film is Joaquin Phoenix has become unhinged, decadent and his rap career isn’t taking off. Since the advent of reality TV, documentary features about people heading for disaster are in vogue in this age of Schadenfreude. The reviews also mention Joaquin’s older brother, River Phoenix. River Phoenix passed away from a drug overdose. This might be the beginning of Joaquin Phoenix going down the exact same path.

Further reading

Roger Bert

rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100907/REVIEWS/100909992

Rotten Tomatoes

rottentomatoes.com/m/im_still_here_the_lost_year_of_joaquin_phoenix/

Super model Livingston attempts frantic mid-air deplaning

Aerial turbulence could be unnerving, particularly for passengers that are less than comfortable with traveling by air in general. Although there might be a lot of turbulence, it is never ok to deplane during a commercial flight. It might be extremely hard to actually achieve that now and days. This is because there is so much modern commercial airline security. However, Playboy model Tiffany Livingston was not thinking about what was possible when she burst from her seat and tried to open the door of in-flight JetBlue Flight 222 from Orlando, Fla., to Newark, N.J. when the plane was at 10,000 feet. The super model is 21 and had a panic attack without medication when on the plane at the time. Livingston was taken into police force custody following the event, however was ultimately released by the FBI. The attack caused Livingston to try to stabilizer herself, reports TMZ, against the door.

Evidently Livingston was mentioned as ‘not just another pretty face’

In 2009, Livingston was in centerfold of the Singapore version of Playboy, VIP but is described as “not just one more fairly face,” but rather as an intelligent young woman. Playboy describes Livingston as hardworking, approachable, and fresh. It said that she used to live in Manchester N.H., and became the girl she is via lots of hard work and manual labor. Rumor is that she’s dated celeb magician David Blaine, but Livingston claims she has found real magic while reading the book “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl. Specifically, she tells Playboy that it has helped her manage her anger, particularly when facing the challenges of the modeling life.

Dealing with air turbulence

FlyingFear.net explains what air turbulence really is. It does not mean the plane has lost control at all. It’s just something that happens. Turbulence is usually predictable and acceptable as it is the interaction of jet stream air moving at different speeds. Most should feel safe in an airplane, especially a commercial airplane. At the very least, they have to be twice as strong as they need to be to withstand turbulence. It wouldn’t have hurt to tell this to Tiffany Livingston during her anxiety attack, although it probably wouldn’t have done much.

Discover more info on this subject

Flying Fear

FlyingFear.net http://www.flyingfear.net/articles/dealing-with-turbulence-anxiety.html

Poole Associates

poole-associates.com/Poole Penthouse in VIP.htm

TMZ

tmz.com/2010/09/10/singapore-surprise-playboy-model-tiffany-livingston-jetblue-airplane-detained-arrested/

Must we be using the federal mortgage refinancing plan?

President Barack Obama gave just a little bit too much in stimulus programs following the 2008 presidential election. Among the first announced was a program called Make Home Affordable, which was a mortgage refinancing plan through the Federal Housing Administration. The loan lender of the applicant and the FHA work together. In this time, they work to make sure the loan benefits all parties as best as possible. Many are worried the cash advance from the Treasury wasn’t spend on the right plan.

Loan refinancing from Uncle Sam

The way the Make Home Affordable plan works is that an individual who wants to modify the bank loans on their home has to apply for the modification. If the application is accepted, the government, working in coordination with the applicant’s lender, sets up a trial program for a few months. The trial is to see if the person is able to meet all payment obligations with the change. The trial period has to be successful. If it isn’t, then there can be no permanent loan refinancing program. It seems like an easy program. However, the question becomes whether enough modifications become permanent to justify the program.

Half within the program succeed

According to the Wall Street Journal , less than 50 percent of all such modifications are successful. In August, an audit of the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP, revealed that only 434, 716 successful permanent modifications have gone through so far. 616,839 trial modifications didn’t end up going through. This is apparently like cash wasted. This is going to hurt the numbers. There is a huge risk in applying. This is why many don’t. The average ratio of debt to income for HAMP participants is 63.5 percent. Federal Housing Administration mortgages only go to those with a debt to income ratio of 41 percent or lower. This is where the bad credit comes for new homes the most.

Stimulus going

This program was intended to help keep people out of foreclosure. Modification should be left to the private market considering 40 percent of applicants cannot do anything.

Find more information on this subject

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704075604575356663725805580.html”>Wall Street Journal

of applicants turn out to be able to do nothing and have no change. Maybe this means the private market should the take the program as it is cut}.

More on this topic

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704075604575356663725805580.html

Asteroid impact concerns heightened following most recent close-miss

Earth barely escaped a collision with two asteroids Wednesday. The brush with disaster was an ominous sign for astronomers and astronauts trying to figure out how the individuals of Earth can unite to deal with the asteroid threat. As mankind scans the skies in more detail, it discovers a greater number of “near-earth objects” that underscore the seriousness of the asteroid threat. To investigate Earth’s possibilities for dodging a cosmic bullet, NASA is putting meteor identification and surveillance on the front burner. On the president’s orders, National Aeronautics and Space Administration is testing the scenarios involved with sending humans to explore a near-earth meteor, which some say could happen by 2019.

Meteors get too nearby for ease and comfort

The two meteors that passed Wednesday were considered small. However they came within half the distance of the Moon. Near-misses like that are commonplace, Donald Yeomans, manager of NASA’s Near Planet Network, told CNN, but most of the time they pass unnoticed. What makes Wednesday’s asteroid encounter noteworthy is the two rocks, between 20 and 60 feet in diameter, were spotted en route. NASA said the Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Ariz., detected the asteroids Sunday morning during routine scanning. Within the CNN article, Yeomans said a greater number of more powerful telescopes was needed. Only then can scientists adequately gauge the potential threat. He said humans were blissfully ignorant of the asteroid threat until scientists started looking for them in the 1990s and realized they were a problem.

Computer animation demonstrates scary scenario

For mankind to survive, the Association of Space Explorers says a united global effort to create an answer to the asteroid threat is absolutely necessary. The ASE president, astronaut Chris Hadfield of Canada, told the Toronto Star that humans can be lucky if a meteor doesn’t hit before they know what to do over it. In 2008, the United Nations received a report from the ASE defining the possibilities accessible for deflecting a killer asteroid. The report said existing technology is capable of deflecting a threatening asteroid. The most plausible methods would be to crash a probe to the asteroid. The impact could check its velocity enough to make the asteroid late in arriving at the point where it would intersect the Earth’s path. Planning for such a mission would need to start 10 to 18 years before the predicted collision. The video below shows what could happen.

Human exploration of meteor in the works

Planning has started to send astronauts to an asteroid within the next 15 years. The project is part of a plan to revamp human spaceflight submitted by the Obama administration earlier this year. As reported by the Houston Chronicle, politicians in Congress prefer revisiting the moon landings of four decades ago, although they are apprised of the asteroid threat. But Lockheed Martin, which has a NASA contract to build the Orion spacecraft, is proposing a quest to a nearby asteroid by 2019. The objective of the mission would be to learn more about asteroids to better understand how to prevent them from striking Earth.

Additional reading

CNN

cnn.com/2010/US/09/08/earth.two.asteroids/index.html?npt=NP1

Toronto Star

thestar.com/article/857006–asteroid-warning-get-ready-for-the-big-one-astronauts-say

Houston Chronicle

chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/7188211.html

International excursion brings Indian superbug to U.S.

Illinois, California, and Massachusetts have all shown cases of the superbug NDM-1. This can be a superbug a British medical journal had brought up last month and has entered the U.S. now. All 3 had recently spent time in India, where the superbug is believed to have originated. The first thought everybody had was that health related tourism for British citizens going to India for inexpensive cosmetic surgery was to blame for NDM-1. But the belief that the American superbug victims weren’t health related tourists is leading scientists to believe the potential of NDM-1 as an international threat is more severe than first thought.

Superbug cases in United States look to have come from India

All cases of the superbug infection within the U.S. and Canada can be traced back to those getting health related care in India. Red Orbit reports the NDM-1 case in California involved a woman who received medical care after a vehicle accident in India. The man in Illinois with the bug traveled in India while already having pre-existing medical conditions requiring him to have a urinary catheter. In Massachusetts, a woman from India had surgery and chemotherapy there before traveling to the U.S.. In all three U.S. cases the superbugs weren’t killed by antibiotics typically used to treat drug-resistant infections, however all of the victims survived. A Belgian who had been hospitalized in Pakistan after an automobile incident was the first known death from the NDM-1 superbug.

Hitchhiking superbug a global threat

All Britons traveling to India for cheap plastic surgery who contracted the NDM-1 disease were recorded within the Lancet last month. The Lancet is actually a medical journal in Briton. In the Lancet article, scientists describe NDM-1 as a gene that mutates bacteria to become resistant to the strongest antibiotics accessible. The NDM-1 gene is spread via all of India, says CBS News. Bacteria carrying the gene seem common. Scientists say the NDM-1 gene is becoming increasingly common in Bangladesh and Pakistan as well. The superbug has found a way to get worldwide. It is hitching rides with any person willing to go to the country and pick it up.

India has too numerous people in it

Medical specialists attending an international meeting of microbiologists and doctors in Boston this week are really concerned about NDM-1, particularly as a result of its prevalence in India. The Boston Herald reports that antibiotics are cheap and sold over the counter in India. If one were to use it inappropriately, it would then become more resistant. The deadly bacteria would become something we couldn’t stop. Poor sanitation facilitates the spread of NDM-1, which thrives in germs that grow within the human gut. Timothy Walsh, one of the authors of the Lancet article, told the Boston Herald that the overpopulated, unsanitary conditions in India will make the superbug spread widely. Although one or two antibiotics can really work for the superbug, there are still more that are needed to fight it.

Additional reading

Red Orbit

redorbit.com/news/health/1916458/superbug_found_in_3_us_states_global_response_needed/

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20016335-10391704.html

Boston Herald

boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/14/superbug_patient_treated_at_mgh/

U.S. officials advise of risk in Koran fire

The Dove World Outreach Center Church, of Gainesville, Fla., made news by stating the objective of the members and Pastor Terry Jones, to set copies of the Koran alight in a protest over several issues, including Muslim extremism. Government officials have asked the chapel call it off. Protests have already started within the Muslim world. General David Petraeus has cautioned the church that should the demonstration of burning the Koran take place, it will put servicemen and women in greater danger than ever before.

Request for Dove World Outreach Center to stop

The commander of United States forces in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, according to the Christian Science Monitor, has asked the church to not partake in any Koran burning. He said that a group of American Christians fire the Koran will achieve nothing optimistic. He insists it will only be doing the Taliban and Al Qaeda a favor, as it can be a recruiting tool in opposition to perceived American bigotry. He also cautioned that as a result, it would make winning over Afghans and others worldwide that much more difficult and put American soldiers in greater danger. The Ground Zero Mosque controversy has already been enough of a strain, and American-Islamic tensions are currently high as it is.

Church to think it over

The Dove World Outreach Center Chapel is weighing the decision to go through with the burnings. Pastor Terry Jones said that the members of the chapel were concerned about the potential impact and are thinking over the planned demonstration, as outlined by CNN. The objective was to burn Korans on an “International Burn a Koran Day” on Sept. 11 this year. However, the caution from Gen David Petraeus has given them pause. The radical elements of Islam were the intended targets of the demonstration are the position the chapel has held all along.

Who’s going to be best served?

Though the pastor and the church he ministers to have the right to protest no matter what they wish and hold any views they wish, General Petraeus is absolutely correct. This protest, should it be carried out, will be a propaganda victory for extremists.

More on this topic

CS Monitor

csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/0907/Petraeus-Dove-World-Outreach-Center-s-Burn-a-Koran-Day-endangers-troops

CNN

cnn.com/2010/US/09/07/florida.quran.burning/?hpt=Sbin

Mortgage modification dips while mortgage loan application submissions improve

Few victories can be pointed to in the housing industry. The real estate industry, and especially individuals seeking to purchase or sell homes, banks looking to lend, and agents looking to get business going again, and it cannot happen a moment too soon. Some signs of life are beginning to show. There was a rise in the number of home loan application submissions for home purchases. There was also fewer applications for mortgage modification. That said, there is a slight catch. Applications to turn existing mortgages into low cost loans are the vast most of mortgage loan activity, which is anemic to say the least.

Much more filing mortgage loan application submissions

More individuals have been filing mortgage applications for purchasing a new home. The Mortgage Bankers Association recorded an increase of 6.3 percent in application submissions for a purchase, according to Reuters, which is the first significant improve since May of this year. Don’t, however, be deceived by that figure. There is a catch. An increase is a rise, however the number of applications turned in to mortgage lenders for a home mortgage is at record low levels. Mortgage loan applications rates are down about 40 percent since May 2009.

Most applications are for modification

The vast majority of mortgage applications are nevertheless for home loan refinancing. Applications for a modification dipped 3.1 percent, a slight decrease since May of this year, however modification application submissions made up almost 82 percent of all home loan applications. Currently, mortgages of nearly any configuration are low interest loans, as the rate for 30-year fixed mortgages is at 4.5 percent, a 20 year low. The MBA began calculating these statistics in 1990, and the current rates are nearly the lowest they have ever been. The low rates make for a good chance to refinance. That said, getting the credit is becoming fantastically hard.

Didn’t we offer a stimulus?

The stimulation programs have not had the effects that people were hoping for. As the tax credit only managed to temporarily prop up home sales, and the federal refinance program barely works, it seems the recovery to housing must come from below. There has to be much more stable income for people. That way they’ll feel confident enough to purchase.

Further reading

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSNLL7KE6FT20100908

Targeting short tail keywords and long-tail keywords

You will find countless ways of succeeding in Internet marketing, through aggressive advertising or by simply knowing how to use keywords properly. Many online affiliate marketers are working harder than ever to control popular, high-ranking short tail keyword. However, longer blends of different keywords called long-tail keywords are what are helping the little guys make money.

Long-tail keywords vs. short-tail keywords

There are two types of keywords you can target: short-tail keywords and long-tail keywords. Because of heavy traffic and fierce competition, short and easy-to-remember short tail keywords are a lot harder to rank high for. Long-tail keywords, on the other hand, are less competed for because they do not generate as much traffic. The power of this type of keyword, however, must not be underestimated. Though long and difficult to remember, these keywords could really make you more money in the long run.

Build web value using short tail keywords

Let’s say, for example, you operate a company site within the wedding industry and would like to gain web attraction by targeting individuals looking for wedding ideas. The phrase “wedding ideas” may be the first keyword term that you might want to target because it sounds like something most people would type in to simplify their search for wedding ideas. However, as a result of the high volume of competition on this keyword term, your chances of easily getting on the first page are not great, and it does involve some work. Do not expect to show up on the first page of search results after promoting your targeted keyword/phrase with just one or two articles. You are going to have to build a catalog of articles that promote your targeted keyword or keyword phrase, with strong backlinks, internally and externally.

How you can benefit with long-tail keywords

It takes time and effort to rank very high for short tail keywords, but it can be done. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have to be a difficult process, especially if you target low-competitive long-tail keywords. Rather than driving all your efforts in ranking number one for “wedding ideas,” why not target various long-tail keywords that are related to your product and/or service, like “wedding ideas on a budget” and “wedding reception decoration ideas”? Having control over these long-tail keywords can definitely guarantee you a respectable position on search engines. And beyond that, they may just be the ultimate source of your success.

The debate rages between manual and automatic transmissions

When shopping for a car, it behooves a buyer to learn about what they are looking to buy. Whether the automobile is at a dealership, website, or private seller. More than just the model should be accounted for. One thing that should weigh in is the transmission. Which variety of transmission ought to factor to the thinking as well. Most vehicles that a person will drive in their life are either automatic transmissions or manual transmissions. In order for consumers to determine which best fits their lifestyles and driving styles, you will find a couple of things to think about.

Some ought to adhere to manual

A manual has some definite benefits, for those acquainted with the clutch. They are more economical typically. Gears can be shifted manually, with greater control in an optimal range called a power band. This decreases workload on the motor. A stick shift typically gets 2 miles to the gallon over their automatic counterparts. Not only that, it’s about $1000 off at the dealership. The increase of computer technology means that the advantage manuals enjoy in that area is rapidly diminishing.

Where you live matters

Before thinking about manual vs. auto, there is another thing to think about. Namely, where an individual lives or plans to live and where they intend to do the most driving. Don’t worry about manual or auto if you live in a flat area without many hills, but seriously think about an automatic if in an area such as San Francisco or Seattle. Manual transmissions involve more activity while driving. If an individual is on a hill in traffic, the steering, clutch, brake, and gas have to handle precisely. Also, if the drivers have to stop on a hill, they must use the parking brake, too. That aside, some hold the opinion that driving a manual is simply more fun.

The catch

When a buyer is interested in getting any car, they are best served by researching that model thoroughly as transmissions do wear down over time. When a transmission goes, even a warranty will not spare you the mental discomfort of the event. Manual transmissions are less mechanically complex than automatics, which also means automatics are far harder to repair, for the DIY repair crowd. Transmissions aren’t cheap to replace. The inexperienced should always have a qualified mechanic perform the repairs.

App authorization process open following long Apple/Flash feud

There is an end to the Apple/Flash feud. This is the feud that began last spring. Apple made a statement on Thursday that shocked most of the world. All of the heavy limits on tools developers are allowed to use on iPad and iPhone applications could be relaxed quite a bit here soon. Apple also explained its app approval guidelines could be made public soon, contributing to the shock. Apple didn’t say that Flash was going to be used now in Steve Jobs’ statement, however now Adobe’s common app toolkit is available. As soon as news reported Apple’s announcement, Adobe stock skyrocketed.

Info about the Apple/Flash feud

Apple made a list of approved languages that iPhone and iPad apps might be made on, which is why last April, the Apple-Flash player fight started. PC World reports that Apple’s policy excluded Adobe Flash CS5 Flash Packager for iPhone and iPad. Flash Packager for iPhone was the anchor feature of Adobe CS5. It was intended to make Adobe’s Flash a cross-platform toolkit for the iPhone’s other successful platforms. Then there was Steve Jobs. He thought that was a terrible plan. That was before of course. All was better Thursday. Now developers can use Flash to build an app that runs on both Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android, while only having to publish it once.

Process for approving apps made public

The Apple app approval process has been changed a bit. It also is available to the public now. The Apple App Store Review Guidelines used to be secret rules that decided on whether or not the iPhone or iPad would allow the developer’s app to be used. Wired reports that uncertainty about App Store approval has been keeping lots of top flight development talent from creating iPhone and iPad apps and leading to a proliferation of “fart apps” (junk applications). Thursday excited many developers. This was because developers couldn’t know if they had done something wrong in the app until it came back from Apple rejected. There was so much wasted time as a result of this. Money was wasted by it as well. Programmers just want to know what the rules are, although what they’re doesn’t really matter, says Wired.

The reason Apple decided something else

Apple didn’t say why it plans to make App Store Review Guidelines public along with letting app development be done by third party tools such as Adobe Flash. Bloggers are making decisions on what they think happened. Philip Elmer-DeWitt at Fortune is just one of these people. Developer feedback, regulation and competition are all possible opportunities. DeWitt says these are probably the most popular. Since Apple typically makes developers do no matter what it wants, he didn’t think it’d be the option of feedback. Apple is probably confronted by new Android tablets and all the Android-powered smartphones. The Apple/Flash feud has caused an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission on Apple. It is investigating the ban on cross-development platforms by Apple. Adobe, which complained to the FTC about Apple, appears to be getting what it wanted.

More on this topic

PC World

pcworld.com/article/205114/apple_lifts_app_store_approval_shroud_for_developers.html?tk=hp_new

Wired

wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/apple-lifts-app-store-flash-ban-publishes-app-review-rules/

Fortune

tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/09/09/why-did-apple-lift-its-ban-on-flash/

Switchflops tend to be all about style versatility

Flip flops aren’t traditionally a stylish mode of shoe. But Lindsay Phillips, 25, had a different, more fashionable idea. During her high school days in Tampa, Fla., she intended a special kind of sandals that boasted really fashionable interchangeable straps. Just a couple of years later, Phillips’ Switchflops business was born. According to AOL Small business, Switchflops is projected to generate $ 30 million in earnings in 2010 alone.

Looking for a style change? Change your Switchflops

Switchflops are a more budget-savvy way for consumers to expand their casual fashion shoe opportunities. Lindsay Phillips’ creation gives consumers many different style combinations from which to choose, thanks to a wide variety of available straps. The accessory opportunities seem endless. Ultimately, it’s rather inexpensive: $ 35 for the sandal sole with a basic strap, and $ 12 each for additional fashion strap choices. Each new strap makes for a fashionable, affordable new adventure. Considering Switchflops’ success, it comes as no surprise the company has expanded into other areas of trend retail such as ballet shoes, children’s sandals and wedges and style accessories such as bags and scarves. And the product line’s success is obvious, as it is carried in over 4,000 stores across the globe.

'Everyone wore flip-flops to school, all of the time’

Phillips saw the need and filled it, displaying a classic entrepreneurial sense. ”Everyone wore them all the time,” said Phillips to AOL. But she noticed where her fashion sense might make them better. Not all people could afford to purchase a pair for each day of the week. Meeting the fashion need with Switchflops was deeply satisfying. By 2004, Phillips had an official patent on the Switchflops idea. By 2007, with the help of experienced CEO Jeffrey Davidson, Phillips got Switchflops off the ground. Growth has been rapid; soon, the business may have an overseas office.

Options lead to much loved products

People love choice. That’s a modern business truism, says AOL. It’s a zeitgeist Phillips has tapped into with Switchflops.

”Everyone wants to be just a little unique, and while we may have the exact same bag, we don’t want it to be exactly the very same,” said Phillips.

Further reading

AOL Small Business

smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/09/01/why-didnt-i-think-of-that-switchflops-the-30-million-school/

The Department of Justice in court versus Arpaio, infamous lawman

The Grand Canyon State has been the main topic of discussion for a while. There continues to be no ruling on the SB1070 The Grand Canyon State law, allowing authorities to verify immigration status of numerous the Obama administration is challenging as a result of constitutional grounds of the law Governor Jan Brewer decried. The Department of Justice has decided to sue Sheriff of Maricopa County, Joe Arpaio, raging on the Grand Canyon State and federal government feud. The Justice Department says that Sheriff Joe Arpaio has not cooperated with an investigation of civil rights abuses.

Suspected discrimination by Joe

Sheriff Joe Arpaio was supposedly trying to “sweep” illegal immigrants by targeting only Hispanics which is why the investigation began. The Maricopa County Sheriff sends deputies into intensely Hispanic areas, where they’ll stop any person for minor reasons, as outlined by the Los Angeles Times. Deputies were intended to check immigration status when there. This practice has been carried out since before the controversial Arizona immigration law was proposed. Sheriff Arpaio didn’t comply when asked by the Justice Department to give documentation of these sweeps. Allegedly, he denied federal investigators access to buildings and refused to hand over requested material.

Lawsuits are expected

The Maricopa Sheriff is no stranger to lawsuits. His jail is called Tent City and has tents in the desert with high fences with barbed wire around it, and many have sued him for family dying in this jail. ABC explains that an investigation because of corruption is being done by the grand jury for Sheriff Arpaio and also the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department made the initial request for documents and other materials more than a year ago. All the documents about these sweeps were found by a federal judge to be ruined. The attorneys suing the Sheriff’s Office had each right to view the documents.

Discover more data on this subject

ABC News

blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/09/justice-department-sues-arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio.html

LA Times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lawsuit-arpaio-20100903,,2874529.story

Investors favor dividend-paying shares rather than bonds

The market has made it so individuals are more considering dividend-paying stocks and shares. Most don’t want to put money within the bank with the record-low interest rates. Numerous companies are sitting on money making it easier to pay dividends. A 15 year high has been reached by businesses. This is for the average bond yield the corporations pay for dividends. Rules on tax rates are special right now. The dividend one is especially low. Safeguarding against inflation is what many want dividend-paying shares for with a revenue stream. If Bush tax cuts end up expiring, dividend-paying stocks will not be wanted anymore.

Everyone hopes to get a dividend-paying stock

You will find a lot of reasons as to why many want dividend-paying stocks. Historically, bond yields far outstrip that of stock dividends. In the last 15 years, there has been a change, explains Bloomberg. U.S. stocks are more profitable than bonds now. There was an increase in payouts in the second quarter. This increase was 6.8 percent. Increasing worker productivity throughout the downturn has made companies cash-rich. Record low rates of interest made it so dividend-paying stocks and shares could possibly be cheap and have a 2010 projected growth of 36 percent. There is another reason dividend yields were pushed so much. It is as a result of the 10 percent drop within the S and P 500. It’s giving investors the chance to buy shares that pay a lot more than bonds, at inexpensive price-to-earnings multiples.

Why dividend-paying stocks are popular

Investors see stock dividends as a safety net in a recession and a hedge against inflation during a recovery as well, according to Linda Stern at ABC News. Numerous think about how dividend checks could be cashed anytime. This helps during a rough economy where bond and shares are losing value. Dividends generally go along with inflation also. There is risk still. Stern uses Bank of The United States and Citicorp stocks and shares, which saw nice dividends disappear through the credit crunch, as an example. Bush tax cuts are planned to expire on December 31 which would mean dividends could possibly be taxed up to 39.6 percent again. Right now, dividend and capital gains are both taxed at 15 percent.

Getting the dividend-paying stock you need

Now is the time to take a look at dividend-paying stocks as a long-term investment, according to Matt Theal at MarketWatch. Theal said investors should watch for companies that pay dividends higher than the return in the credit markets. 3.78 percent has been the average credit industry rate since 1995. 68 S and P 500 have that rate. Theal wanted to know which S and P 500 businesses to deal with. He looked for a dividend provide of 3.78 percent that sold under 12 times earnings usually. Bristol-Myers, Reynolds American Inc., Verizon Communications and Excelon Corp were among 25 companies that came up.

More on this topic

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-06/dividends-top-bond-yields-by-most-in-15-years-as-u-s-cash-pile-increases.html

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=11584528

Marketwatch

marketwatch.com/story/high-dividend-stocks-to-consider-2010-09-08?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Stock exchange climbs as unemployed claims are lowered

Jobless claims are at an all time high. Nevertheless, the number of new jobless claims got a small reprieve most recently. For the last year, employment in the U.S. has been awful. However, the usual holiday employment increase and an additional bump from the United States census hiring people made things just a little better. The housing market is nevertheless within the basement; nevertheless some good news about employment is a welcome change. The unemployment rate is virtually unchanged since November 2009, so this happy news is an empty victory if anything. The news made Wall Street happy, as markets climbed ever so slightly when the news broke.

Brand new jobless cases decrease slightly

The Department of Labor got to release some happy news. There was a reduction within the quantity of new unemployed cases this week. The number of jobless cases dropped 31,000 to a seasonally adjusted 473,000 since last week. That’s encouraging, but the past four weeks average to 486,750. According to Forbes, that’s the highest since November 2009. One must take lower winter unemployment with a grain of salt, though. Winter provides some seasonal employment for retail. The United States of America Census also employed a fair amount of people seasonally.

Unemployed cases spur stock exchange increase

The news of lower jobless claims led to an uptick in the stock exchange, as outlined by the Wall Street Journal. The uptick was modest at best; the greatest gain was a .3 percent boost for Standard and Poor’s. The Dow went up an unbelievable .1 percent, and Nasdaq shot up .2 percent. However, the big news is less the fall in unemployment claims, but the activity concerning 3Par and Dell, as Dell has acquired the data storage business. There’s a large bidding war going on, and it is even bigger news than the Potash saga. Hewlett Packard and Dell are fighting it out for 3Par, and it is causing a huge firestorm of coverage.

The improvement is small

This is not really an indicator of much in the way of unemployment radically decreasing. Fewer employers are currently hiring. Real estate shows few signs of life, and it is believed that up to 10 percent of all homeowners may have foreclosure as a significant possibility in their future.

Further reading

Forbes

forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/08/26/real-estate-industrials-us-economy_7879865.html

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100826-709681.html

Auto loan modification could be the great choice

You need to consider loan modification on more than just your mortgage. You are able to refinance more loans than you would believe, including auto loans. This would be the opportune moment, as it were, to refinance a vehicle loan as auto loans are really quite cheap these days. You are able to make low interest loans, or at least lower interest loans, out of your vehicle loans if you try. Source of article – Auto loan modification could be a great way by Personal Money Store.

House loans aren’t the sole loans which could be refinanced

You are able to get mortgage loan modification on your home. You are able to also get re-loaned on your vehicle loan as well. You will find low rates for vehicle loans right now, so looking into it would be better sooner instead of later. Auto loans are subject to market conditions, just like any other. According to the Washington Post, the interest rates on auto loans are down right now, too. Dealers want to sell cars, and lenders want to lend. That said, bear in mind that dealership financing, and bank financing are a bit different. One is typically more costly than the other. Banks offer lower rates than dealerships, as banks don’t get a bonus for loaning to you at higher interest.

There is a minor problem

There is a slight hitch. There typically always is. Auto loans are tied to your credit score; the higher your score, the lower the rate. Auto loans for bad credit may not be able to be modified. You may have to just sweat it out, if that’s the case. The exact same article within the Washington Post puts high credit rating auto loans at 5.7 percent, but those for low credit score borrowers are as high as 18.5 percent. There are also fees and conditions imposed by each individual lender, so make certain you do your homework.

For those who can, it is a great time for you to refinance

Well, this is accessible more for individuals with good credit, rather than for those who aren’t. Additionally you have to be careful of who offers you loan modification. If you are thinking of entering a loan modification program, check out the company before you commit. Make certain you know who you are handing your money to.

Further reading

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/28/AR2010082800170.html

Go and visit Terry Cullen for Chevy in Atlanta

In the Atlanta or Jonesboro area and looking for a Chevy to buy? Try out Terry Cullen Chevrolet. The dealership has a good array of current Chevy automobiles, including some of the most popular models. There are some great discounts for qualified buyers, and a great selection of quality used automobiles to choose from. So if you are looking for a new Chevrolet, Terry Cullen is the place to go for new cars. Terry Cullen also has new auto credit available, if you would like to take care of financing on site.

Look up Terry Cullen Chevy

Terry Cullen Chevrolet is a great place to go for a new Chevy. If you are near Jonesboro, head down Battlecreek Road. Right across from Sam’s Club sits Terry Cullen Chevy. There is a huge selection of new auto after new vehicle to pick from. There are also plenty of great used cars there too. If you need help financing a vehicle, be it pre-owned car financing, they have plenty of new auto credit available. Just about every little thing you need for getting a used or new Chevrolet is available at Terry Cullen Chevrolet.

Used or new automobiles accessible

There is lots of inventory at Terry Cullen Chevy, including new and used autos. There’s a great Chevy truck selection available. You are able to also find just about each vehicle that Chevy at the moment makes. You can find it here, whatever it is that is Chevy. Be it the Chevy Camaro, the Chevy Equinox, the Chevy Malibu, Chevy Tahoe or Chevy Impala, Terry Cullen has it. If you would rather look at used vehicles, that’s covered too. Terry Cullen has a large selection of good pre-owned automobiles available. If you need Chevy parts, you can order them at Cullen as well. You can even bring your auto in for a tune up. The dealership is the total package.

So there could not be a better time for you to purchase a Chevrolet

General Motors wants to sell a lot of cars. You will find also discounts to be had, for instance for members of the military, members of the General Motors Credit Union, or for recent college graduates. If you’re looking for a new or used Chevy within the Area around Atlanta, you need to look up terry Cullen Chevrolet.

Discover more details on this subject

Terry Cullen

terrycullen.com/HomePage