Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Palin’s Trademark submitting attempts to protect business pursuits

According to 2 patent applications submitted with the United States office, the Palins are seeking a trademark. The filing for trademark protection is a move typically used by celebrities. Politicians rarely file for trademark protection. The family lawyer for the Palins filed two separate applications — one for Bristol Palin, one for Sarah Palin. For somebody who is not famous or a politician, a trademark on a title would cost more than an installment loan would cover. Article source – Palin's Trademark filing seeks to protect commercial interests by MoneyBlogNewz.

A trademark title filed for

The name, “Sarah Palin," was filed to be trademarked by the Palin household lawyer on November 5, 2010. The trademark application cites uses for “Sarah Palin” as “political elections, political issues, educational and entertainment services.” The U.S. Patent office site has the application on there with serial number 85170226. On September 15, 2010, the “Bristol Palin” application trademark cites the uses of the name and trademark for “educational and entertainment services.” Serial number 85130638 is on that application for patent.

Unusual for politicians to do this

A lookup of the trademark application filings shows that political figures trade-marking their names is a very unusual move. Trademark applications were not submitted by Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee, Time Pawlenty, Mitt Romney or Bush. Trademark attorneys told Politics Daily that political trademark applications are very rare.

Exactly what having a trademarked title signifies

Celebrities will often make an effort to protect their brand by getting a trademarked name. A trademark allows an individual to take legal action against everyone using a name for a gain without permission. When a name is trademarked, it’s considered property that can be bought, sold, stolen and misused as Sarah Palin and Bristol Palin are attempting to protect from. Both Sarah Palin and Bristol Palin make a living off of their names rather than being public service figures. That means that they have to get their names trademarked to protect it.

Information from

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark

Politics Daily

politicsdaily.com/2011/02/02/protecting-the-palin-brand-sarah-and-bristol-go-for-trademark-s/

USPTO

tmportal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow?SRCH=Y&isSubmitted=true&details=&SELECT=US+Serial+No&TEXT=85170226



Vegas sports book loses on each side of Super Bowl score

Las Vegas casinos experienced a rare loss on Super Bowl gambling this season. Green Bay’s decisive victory wasn’t what the Vegas sports book had been hoping to see. When all the bettors are paid, Vegas bookies are looking at their worst beating in the Super Bowl in thirteen years. People lost and won money from the short term personal loans they got for their wagering needs.

Super Bowl was not so good news for gambling establishments in Vegas

Las Vegas casinos should have avoid gambling on the Super Bowl this time around. The books did not show it helping much. There are the 2 ½ point favorites. The gambling public was excited with the 31-25 victory shown by the Packers. Many factors show a huge loss for casinos. This is taking into consideration the numbers won't be released until Tuesday by casino officials. The 3 point spread was covered by the Packers that most preferred. When it came to the Packers, there were at least 2 bets which were at $1 million. Most bet the Packers would win the game that had 56 points total while the Super bowl over/under was at 45.5 points. Plus, with Pittsburgh showing signs of life near halftime but down by 11, the Vegas second half line favored the Steelers by 2 1/2-points.

Vegas news is worse

There was a huge loss in Las Vegas with the Super Bowl. This is because the over/under is anticipated to be too low by most that also will bet on the favorite. The favored will hopefully win, if the sports books get what they want. They just want a low-scoring game to take place instead. The favorites have to cover in the win though. If this doesn't take place, there is a lost bet on them. The Packers won by six although they were favored by 2 ½. That means that a huge payday came in to those who bet on the Green Bay Packers. There was an even worse part so this. In the second half, the Steelers were favored by Las Vegas by 2 ½. When the second half started, the Steelers were down by 11. This wasn't a good start. As the 2 ½ point losers, several realized they could bet on the Steelers. This was because in the second half they were 8 ½ point underdogs. The Steelers lost by six. That means those betters also made some money.

The house does not always win

Casinos tend to do well on Super Bowl Sunday which is the busiest gambling day in Las Vegas every year. The Last Vegas sports book got a lot of bets though. This was for each team. There was $82.7 million bet in Vegas sports book in 2010. Casinos made money off of it. About $6.8 million was made. Estimates for Super Bowl gambling in 2011 at Las Vegas are as high as $95-$100 million. Vegas lost $2.6 million in 2008 when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots. In the other nine Super Bowls since 2000, the gambling establishments have averaged a stake of $9.07 million.

Citations

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com/sports/la-sp-super-bowl-vegas-20110207,0,2227070.story

Business Insider

businessinsider.com/super-bowl-vegas-sports-books-lost-money-2011-2

Las Vegas Review Journal

lvrj.com/sports/packers-and-over-makes-it-big-day-for-betting-public-115485929.html



Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Protesters fill Tahrir Square pressing for Day of Departure

Demonstrators have overloaded Tahrir Square in Cairo demanding a "Day of Departure" for Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. For over thirty years, Mubarak has held power in Egypt, but has declined to run for reelection in the fall. Mubarak’s concession to the increasing anti-government demonstrations has little appeased those who want him removed from office. This is one situation where he won’t be able to take out a payday loan and buy off the protesters. Source of article – Protesters fill Tahrir Square pushing for Day of Departure by MoneyBlogNewz.

Nevertheless lots of Tahrir Square demonstrations happening

Tahrir Square in Cairo has been plunged into chaos over the last few days, as protests against the government of Leader Mubarak have been met with retaliatory attacks from Mubarak followers. Mubarak has been told to exit by a ton of anti-government protestors that have filled the square in violence. He is being told to leave in a "Day of Departure" or "Friday of Departure" more specifically. This is what NPR reports. In September, Leader Mubarak has promised not to try and get re-elected. Nevertheless, protestors demand Mubarak to leave now. The international community is hoping Mubarak will leave right away also.

Demonstration location experiencing more Mubarak supporters

The Egyptian army has cordoned off Tahrir Square while anti-government protesters fill up it to capacity. However, pro-Mubarak protesters have infiltrated the area for the past few days, which has led to violent clashes. The Christian Science Monitor explains that the Mubarak supporters did not like journalists much. The journalists would get singled out. While on the scene and fleeing the scene, there were over a hundred incidents of physical assault which included CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was beaten. Foreign and domestic journalists have been in harm’s way, as the Cairo offices of Al-Jazeera were stormed by pro-Mubarak “thugs.”

Mubarak takes a stance and does not waiver

From the beginning of the protests, President Mubarak has been defiant about leaving. There has not ever been a full democratic election confirming him to the office seat even though he has been in for 30 years. In a recent interview, he said that he was tired of public service but claimed that “there can be chaos” and “the Muslim Brotherhood will take over” if he leaves immediately, according to MSNBC. He has invited leaders of opposition groups to begin talks to possibly create a transitional government.

Citations

NPR

npr.org/2011/02/04/133489032/egyptian-protesters-gear-up-for-friday-of-departure?ps=cprs

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0203/Egypt-protests-journalists-under-attack-on-an-unprecedented-scale

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41402303/ns/world_news-mideast/n_africa/



Monday, February 7, 2011

Price of Cyclone Yasi to Australia can be in the billions of dollars

Australia has been enduring a number of the most severe weather ever recorded in the history of the nation. Cyclone Yasi, a huge storm, slammed to the coast of the state of Queensland not too long ago. Just after Queensland experienced some of the most detrimental flooding on record there; the Category 5 storm slammed into the coast with wind speeds upwards of 200 miles an hour. The destruction from Cyclone Yasi will likely cost Australia $2 billion at the very least. Australia has such a high amount of destruction that personal loans alone would never be big enough to cover the costs of repairing the damages. Article source – Cost of Cyclone Yasi to Australia will be in the billions by MoneyBlogNewz.

Devastating agriculture is Cyclone Yasi

The Australian state of Queensland got hit with the Cyclone Yasi hard. This was right after terrible floods happened. Right before hitting, the cyclone went from a Category 4 to a Category 5. The storm was as large as Hurricane Katrina at first. Then, the Christian Science Monitor explained it changed to be the size of the U.S. Queensland is one of the chief agricultural locations in Australia, and destruction is thought to be near catastrophic. The agricultural losses are already thought to be at least $1 billion, with another billion in impaired property. As much as $500 million might be lost by the sugar cane crop in Australia considering 30 percent was lost. The Australian banana crop has also been severely affected, with 75 percent thought to be lost.

Prices of food increased

Reuters reports that world food costs went up after news of the cyclone and crop loss went around. The United States lost a ton of wheat in the snowstorms that hit while Australia lost a ton of banana and sugar cane crops in this storm. Together, the price of bread, sugar and bananas are all going up. American wheat costs already have begun increasing in the wake of the winter storm, which has been nicknamed “Stormageddon.” Nearly half of the United States is covered in snow and ice, with freezing temperatures setting in after the snow storm.

La Nina creating destruction

The Telegraph explains that "La Nina" is the reason for all the terrible weather this year. The phenomenon outcomes in lower ocean surface temperatures and atmospheric pressure, which is the opposite effect that an El Niño has. Results of La Niña periods are often wetter, colder winters in the United States and Canada along with milder summers. In the southern hemisphere, the rainy season usually has heavier rainfall and stronger cyclones.

Information from

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2011/0204/US-sized-Cyclone-Yasi-could-cost-Australia-more-than-2-billion

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/02/03/us-food-prices-idUSTRE71223720110203?pageNumber=1

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8297904/Cyclone-Yasi-La-Nina-and-record-ocean-temperatures-behind-storm.html



Saturday, February 5, 2011

Hospital used in Cuckoo's Nest film passing remains of patients to family members

Remains of patients that died while in a mental facility can be hard to secure at times by the bereaved. The hospital used in the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" is attempting to get remains to the hands of the family members of the dearly departed. OR State Hospital stored unclaimed cremated remains of patients from decades ago, until the room the remains were stored in was re-discovered several years ago. It could take many installment loans for family members to give these people a proper burial.

'Cuckoos Nest’ medical center keeps remains of patients

Oregon State Hospital, a psychiatric medical center in Salem, Ore., has been attempting to place remains of patients who passed away while within the hospital’s care with their families, according to ABC. There was a room of about 3,500 patients who died and had cremated remains left behind which was found in 2004 by legislators touring the hospital. An online database of those who passed away at the medical center between 1914 and 1970 that has remains there has been made by the hospital recently. A memorial can be created in 2012 for the unclaimed patients along with a new psychiatric medical center that the OR facility got together.

Setting for legendary novel and movie

The place in which the “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” movie took place is at the OR State Medical center. Jack Nicholson starred in this 1975 film. While at Stanford, author Ken Kesey worked at a mental health center which was why he wrote the 1962 novel. While looking for an appropriate location to film the film, permission was granted to film at Oregon State Hospital, the largest psychiatric medical center in Oregon. IMDB reports the character Dr. Spivey is the medical center administrator played by Dr. Dean Brooks. The Oregon State Hospital had Brooks as the administrator when this occurred as he has an M.D. in psychiatry.

Mental health effects

The film was credited for altering public perception about the nature of mental illness and psychiatric care, according to The Telegraph, by humanizing people who lived at mental health facilities. The movie made it so that electroconvulsive therapy for mental disorders was stopped. It’s also the reason why treatment standards got better.

Citations

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=12808876&page=1

IMDB

imdb.com/name/nm0111954/bio

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8296954/How-One-Flew-Over-the-Cuckoos-Nest-changed-psychiatry.html



Friday, February 4, 2011

Research proves red light cameras reduce traffic deaths

More cities within the U.S. are relying on red light video cameras. Red light video cameras are looked upon by most motorists as money cows instead of traffic safety equipment. However, new research has proven that not only do red light cameras raise money, they contribute directly to a reduction in deadly crashes. The short term installment loans that cities had to take out in order to put up these surveillance cameras have proven to be worth it.

Less traffic deaths with red light camcorders in place

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety accounts that the red light surveillance cameras do what they are supposed to in cities. The research industry did a study that was released explained the number of traffic fatalities went down within the five years that red light camcorders have been in intersections. There has been a 26 percent decrease. Within the research, research data from 2004 to 2008 were compared together with accident data from 14 large cities with the 48 others that don't have the red light camcorders. There was a severe drop within the traffic deaths for both categories while deadly crash deaths dropped faster in red light camera cities. A decrease in rear-end collisions were shown with the red light video cameras. However, the T-bone collisions dropped significantly.

The numbers for red light cameras

Red light surveillance camera statistics within the research also drew on traffic accident data recorded by the federal government. In 2009, 2.2 million crashes occurred at intersections, about 41 percent of all crashes. About 81,112 individuals were really hurt and 7,358 were killed in those crashes. About 676 of the fatalities and 113,000 of the injuries were caused by red lights being run. About 64 percent of the people who perished, including passengers, other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, were killed by the person running the red light. The researchers suggest that about 815 lives would have been saved if there had been red light cameras used in all 99 cities.

Revenue red light video cameras bring in

When it comes to revenue, red light surveillance cameras are great for cities. Millions of dollars in revenue are made off of them. About $7.2 million in revenue was made from June 2009 to Might 2010 by Washington D.C. This was solely off of the 85,678 red light citations that were made. In the United States about half the states permit red light cameras. There were a few cities that installed them in 2000. These included 25 cities. Now, there are many more people that use red light cameras. In fact, 500 cities use them. The National Motorists Association, a long-time critic of red light cameras, said that longer yellow lights would make intersections safer. Red light video cameras have been banned in many cities with voter initiatives. This was done calling the cameras invasion of privacy.

Information from

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020100021.html?wpisrc=nl_headline

Wall Street Journal

blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/02/01/red-light-cameras-get-a-boost/

Fair Warning

fairwarning.org/2011/02/red-light-cameras-save-hundreds-of-lives-on-roads-report-says/



Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Nevada students organizing to fight spending budget reductions

In Reno, Nevada, university students are gearing up for a battle. These pupils, however, are equipped with figures, quantities and ideas. As the legislature considers cutting schooling financing once more, some pupils are fighting back. The state cannot just take out payday cash advances to fix this issue, so hopefully the students have a good plan.

The NV education cuts

A spending budget deficit that has to balance is a problem that NV has along with many other states. There is a new proposed physical spending budget to the next fiscal year in NV. It suggests that education programs have financing cut by $162 million. The Tobacco Settlement money is one in which the legislature currently is planning on taking a cash advance no fax from. Right now, scholarships are financed with that money. The cash would go other places within the state. These would be for state programs that are running out of funding.

Pupils don't protest

Sit ins and demonstrations aren't being used by pupils anymore to protest. Instead, a brand new way of handling problems like these is being put into action. In order to take on the legislature, pupil governments are starting up committees. Student activist groups are having pre-legislature meetings to go over the financial details and legislation being considered. Buses are being hired to take huge groups of pupils to the statehouse to testify in hearings. The pupils have a ton of information the show legislatures. The legislatures can be forced to listen.

Students argue they are an investment to be made

One extremely significant part of the students' argument is very clear. Students are short-term loans to the system. Sure, the state might get more budgetary money within the short-term. The state might not do well in the end though with less educated professionals. The career center and student-support services have been closed by the University of Reno, NV, already. There’s a reason for the cuts. It means the school will not have to shut down. At the same time, pupils contend that it means they are paying more money for an education that is simply sub-par.

Citations

Nevada News

nevadanewsbureau.com/2011/01/27/amid-budget-cuts-debate-university-students-organizing/